Shawna and Come On III scored a rare CDI small tour hat trick at the Gold Coast Opener on January 25-27. They won the Prix St. Georges on Friday, the Intermediare I on Saturday and the Intermediare I Freestyle on Sunday. This feat - winning the entire small tour at a CDI - happened only a handful of times in the United States in 2007. These three wins extend Shawna’s “Wellington Winning Streak” to 5 since the season began earlier this month.
Shawna and Come On won Friday’s Prix St. Georges class with a 69.050% and Saturday’s Intermediare I class with a 70.100%. Saturday’s class was a tie that was broken in her favor on the strength of her collective marks. Sunday’s Intermediare I Freestyle featured music put together by fellow Aikenite John Davis, a professional producer and musician. John helped to put together a rockin’ soundtrack that shook up and excited the early Sunday morning crowd. The freestyle featured music from the Black Eyed Peas, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Body Rockers, The Scorpions, Queen and Joe Cocker. Shawna and Come On III had an excellent ride and scored 75.300% for the win.
These wins put Shawna in a very strong position to qualify for the USEF National Intermediare I Championships in California later this year.
Shawna also rode Tonya Rowe’s Rigo to two wins and a second place this weekend. Rigo won his Second Level Test 4 class on Sunday with a 73.572%. This was an important class because it was Rigo’s second required qualifier for the 2008 USDF Regional Championships. With this win, Rigo is qualified for the Championships on only the 27th day of the year.
Video from this weekend’s event (and dozens of Shawna’s other rides) is available on her YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/hardingdressage.
The horses have two weeks off before Come On III competes again at Cosequin Wellington Dressage on February 8-10.
