ORO DRESSAGE BY THE LAKE:
After his 71.812 win in the Sunday FEI Grand Prix, dressage superstar Vom Feinsten was officially retired. In a moving ceremony after his test (during which you could have heard a pin drop), Steiny had his saddle removed while commentator Kerrin Beatson ran through the horse’s extensive list of achievements both here in NZ and overseas. These included Rio Olympics, WEG 2018 in Tryon and breaking the Australasian Freestyle record at HOY in 2015, to name a few. Owner and rider Julie Brougham spoke of their incredible partnership and thanked her family, friends and followers for their support throughout their journey. “It meant so much, especially when you’re in another country all on your own,” said an emotional Brougham. “Thank you so much.”
Following Julie for second place in the Grand Prix was Vanessa Way and NSC Andreas on 70.036, with Melissa Galloway third on Windermere J’Obei W (69.384). Cooper Oborn took fourth spot with his mare Aphrodite.
View full FEI Grand Prix results here: https://bit.ly/3uaUcGZ
Young South Island rider Maddie Collins and her pony Buckton Denniston were hugely popular, the pair attending the show with support from DressageNZ, Majestic Horse Transport, Oro Equestrian and Christine Weal Equestrian. Maddie previously featured on Seven Sharp after HOY was cancelled and Land Rover stepped in to help get her to HOY 2022. However DressageNZ saw the possibility of getting Maddie up to Takapoto and made it happen (you can read more about this here https://bit.ly/3e9LfIm). The pair posted great scores in both their classes, the McKenna King Medium 4C and the Equissage Zilco Medium Freestyle. Well done Maddie!
The results in the FEI Young Rider Team Test (sponsored by Greg Smith Dressage) were very different to the day before, this time the field was led by Rebecca Williamson and Don Tobio with a winning score of 68.309. Ben Weir was second with NPE Del Rico (66.25), followed by Madison Schollum and Kinnordy Golda. Into fourth was Waikato combination Anna Wilson and Neversfelde Rupert, with fifth going to Lucy Cochrane and Gymanji.
Sophie de Clifford and Riverrock Nigella were unbeatable in both the Fountain City Prelim tests, winning both with solid mid-70s scores. Over in the Nga Whetu Rakau Novice Samantha Belsham and Dolcetto II danced home with the red ribbon, finishing on a very deserving 79.214%. Lucarne Dolley and HPH Sir Wolkentanz took out the Dressage Rider Training Zilco Elementary Freestyle (72.733) just fractions of a percent ahead of second placegetters Emily Lawrie and Davonte (72.15).
The Equissage Zilco Medium Freestyle class went to Vanessa Way and her outstanding NSC Furst Rock DW, scoring 75.5 in a strong field of combinations. Melissa Galloway repeated her Saturday Advanced Medium win aboard Windermere Integro (71.474), this 5C test being sponsored by Balanced Saddle Fitting NZ.
Casey Burton and Fanfare MH scooped the Back on Track Zilco Advanced Freestyle, a beautiful test that earned them 74.258. Wendi Williamson and Vanessa Way tussled for the top of the Bates Saddles FEI Inter I scoreboard, Wendi and Bon Jovi MH gaining precious fractions of a percentage for the win on 71.397. Vanessa and NSC Timbermill Prequel settled into second with 71.25. No-one could catch Gaylene Lennard and the supersonic Jax Johnson in the Zilco FEI Inter A/B Freestyle (sponsored by Williamson Water & Land Advisory), the pair clear winners with a 73.25 score.
Story by Jessica Roberts Equestrian 
NZL-Sophie de Clifford rides Riverrock Nigella. Final-1st. Class 103 Fountain City Saddlery Preliminary Test 1D. 2021 NZL-Oro Dressage by the Lake – at Takapoto Estate. Lake Karapiro. Waikato. Sunday 2 May. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
NZL-Julie and David Brougham retire Vom Feinsten. 2021 NZL-Oro Dressage by the Lake – at Takapoto Estate. Lake Karapiro. Waikato. Sunday 2 May. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
NZL-Julie Brougham rides Vom Feinsten. Final-1st. Class 903: Waikato Equine Veterinary Clinic FEI Grand Prix (2021). 2021 NZL-Oro Dressage by the Lake – at Takapoto Estate. Lake Karapiro. Waikato. Sunday 2 May. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
NZL-Cooper Oborn and Aphrodite take the Zilco Grand Prix Musical Freestyle Series. 2021 NZL-Oro Dressage by the Lake – at Takapoto Estate. Lake Karapiro. Waikato. Saturday 1 May. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
2021 NZL-Oro Dressage by the Lake – at Takapoto Estate. Lake Karapiro. Waikato. Saturday 1 May. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography