WELLINGTON, FL – March 21, 2004 – Wrapping up the Zada Enterprises LLC WEF Dressage Classic CDI at the 32nd annual Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, Robert Dover aboard FBW Kennedy owned by Jane Forbes Clark won the Grand Prix Freestyle, CDI***. The duo topped a field of 12 horses. Dover claimed victory with 77.550%. Canada’s Shannon Dueck of Wellington aboard Korona placed second with 72.025%. Cheri Reiber of Toronto, Ontario, placed third scoring 70.375% with her G Tudor. The class was a Qualifying Competition for the 2004 USET Grand Prix Championship/Olympic Selection Trials.

“It’s rare when you’re riding a horse that while you’re going around you’re thinking – this is amazing! The fun that he has with it and the feeling that I’m on just a wonderful, wonderful, animal,” said Dover about his Freestyle with Kennedy. The duo was performing the kur in competition for the first time. Dover choreographed his kur two months ago, but only received his music two days ago, allowing one practice session with it yesterday. Dover worked with Holland-based Hot Neon via phone and email to construct the music. “It is only 65% finished. They’re just geniuses,” said Dover. “The music came together enough just to perform today, but now they’ll get the video and they’ll tweak it and perfect it. Between now and June, we’ll finish it.”

Dover called the piece “Kennedy’s Melodies” because it’s a string of melodies from the 1920s and ‘30s including Charleston music and tunes like Steam Heat, Hernando’s Hideaway, and Bye Bye Blackbird. Dover notes that FBW Kennedy’s personality reminds him of President John F. Kennedy and ‘cool’ music suits him. “Most horses go to the dressage arena and they ask, why? Kennedy goes down the centerline and says, why not? It’s just like President Kennedy’s famous saying, ‘People ask why, and I ask why not’. That’s really the way he is as a horse. He honestly believes so much in his abilities that it brings out this incredible feeling in the rider that anything is possible.”

While Kennedy won both his classes this weekend, Dover’s other Clark-owned mount, Rainier, uncharacteristically placed sixth in the Grand Prix and third in the Special. “He’s done five shows in a row and he had just been shown out pretty much,” Dover said, noting that he picked up his whip for the first time this season five minutes before he and Rainier went in the ring for the Grand Prix. “It was a tactical error because it got him angry and then he did not want to play. Rainier has to be with you, he has to be wanting it.” Dover went off course in the class and explained, “That was part of me not feeling that he really wanted to go, and then I got myself thinking about other things. I went down the centerline when I shouldn’t have.”

Luckily for Dover, in the qualifying procedure for the Selection Trials, he is allowed to drop a score. With the pressure off, the duo had a better performance in the Special on Friday. “He actually was a real gentleman – not on full power like he had been at other shows, but I knew that I already had my score. I had thrown out the score from Thursday. I wanted a nice quiet finish to my season down here with him where he was happy with me and I think I achieved that.”

Dover is now qualified with both horses to contest the Olympic Selection Trials in San Juan Capistrano, CA, in June. “With Kennedy at this moment I am just behind Debbie [McDonald] in second overall for the country. With Rainier I’m fifth in the country. I’m thrilled,” said Dover, and added, “I’m just a happy guy. Again, I have Jane Clark to thank for me being such a happy guy!”

Kathy Riley And Adonis Win Intermediaire Freestyle, CDI

Katie Riley, 32, of Whitehouse Station, NJ, and Jupiter, FL, topped nine entries to win the Intermediaire Freestyle, CDI, scoring 71.475% with Adonis owned by Horses Unlimited. Michael Shondel of Kinnelon, NJ, earned 71.00% with his Wallaby for second place. Patricia Becker of Lake Forest, IL, scored 70.375% for third aboard Tsunami owned by Leslie Richmann.

“It was a lot of fun. Everything just seemed to come together. It felt fantastic,” said Riley who has had the ride on the 11-year-old stallion by Aalborg for 18 months. Riley is the assistant trainer at Cesar Parra’s stable, Piaffe Performance, and has been in training with Parra for four years. Parra formerly rode Adonis and showed him successfully through 2002. Riley’s freestyle music was entitled Miracles, a kur Parra performed with Adonis. “He was kind enough to let me have it,” said Riley. “I love the music. It’s mainly Spanish guitar.”

Riley noted that she was most proud of the tempi changes. “I got 8s on my changes, which have sometimes been a problem, so it was nice to have it all work today,” she said. “The best part was that I was able to have a lot of fun. I love this horse so much. He’s a pleasure and can be so expressive. To have him so there – I could just sit and smile and relax and have a great time.”

As far as her riding goals, Riley said, “I want to be the very, very best that I can. I work very hard. Cesar has been so wonderful. He’s taught me so much. We just keep on working every day. I’m a firm believer in that the day you stop learning, you should just quit.”

Second-placed Shondell is also a student of Parra’s and Riley was pleased that he did well also. “It’s so wonderful. We have a great group of people. We support each other. I’ve been second to Michael sometimes. It’s great, the feeling of really having a team. No one fosters that better than Cesar. I’m as happy when Michael wins and vice versa. We’re very lucky. We have a fantastic group of people and great horses.”

Her win today was a milestone for Riley. “I’m still a little bit in awe. I’ve been consistent, but this is the first time I’ve won in a CDI. It’s really a fantastic feeling right now.”

The class was a Qualifying Competition for the 2004 USET Intermediaire I Championship in California, but Riley has not confirmed plans to participate. Parra has qualified to ride in Athens for Colombia. “We have a very busy summer with Cesar going to the Olympics and showing in Aachen, so I may be in Europe for the summer,” Riley explained. “Either way, it’s exciting. It’s a dream come true. Life is good.”

Julie Watchorn And Quintesse Win FEI Young Rider Freestyle, CDI/Y

Making a clean sweep of all the FEI Young Rider classes, Julie Watchorn of Schomberg, Ontario, riding Quintesse won the FEI Young Rider Freestyle, CDI/Y, topping a field of three entries with a score of 67.100% to notch her third win in this CDI. Jodie Kelly of Destin, FL, riding Weltkaar owned by Laurie Kelly placed second on a score of 65.250%. Jackie Sharp riding Prebor for owner Kaye Triplett of Hillard, OH, scored 57.325% for third.

High Scores

Jane Cleveland with Kavalier earned 74.565% at Fourth Level Test 3 to win the Fourth Level Championship and High Score of the USEF segment of the show. Bill McMullin and Ducan scored 74.286% in First Level Test 3 to win the First Level Championship. Charlotte Bayley and Playboy earned 72.143% in Third Level Test 2 for the Third Level Championship. Michael Shondell and Silver Label received 71.892% for their Second Level Test 2 ride, earning the Second Level Championship.

2004 WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL TICKET INFORMATION

The Winter Equestrian Festival continues in Tampa at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center.

For ticket information for the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational Presented by Publix and The Tampa Tribune at the Raymond James Stadium, visit www.TicketMaster.com or call (813) 253-2782 or Toll-Free (877) 909-9436. Ticket prices range from $20 to $70 for reserved seating at the Raymond James Stadium.

2004 WEF SCHEDULE OF COMPETITIONS

March 24 - 28 Tampa Bay Classic CSI-W (Bob Thomas Equestrian Center)

March 30 - April 3 Tournament of Champions CSI-W (Bob Thomas Equestrian Center)

April 3 Budweiser American Invitational (Raymond James Stadium)

WEF 2004 MILLION DOLLAR GRAND PRIX SERIES

March 28 $75,000 Grand Prix of Tampa, presented by Kilkenny/ICH, CSI-W

April 3 $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational,

Presented by Publix and The Tampa Tribune

CHARLOTTE JUMPER CLASSIC CSI****

Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC

April 9 -11 Charlotte Jumper Classic CSI****

April 11 $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte For the Charlotte Bobcat Cup

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