As reported by dressagedaily.com, the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach was a resounding success with competitors and fans.

The 2011 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach finished in spectacular style on the evening of Friday March 11th, as eight of the world’s top dressage pairs performed Grand Prix Freestyles for a sold out audience of 1200 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. The performances got progressively more exciting as the evening progressed, with the final competitor, Olympic and World Equestrian Games medalist Steffen Peters of the United States, putting the crown on the evening with a dynamic and nearly flawless ride on Ravel that earned him 84.55%, the highest score ever awarded at the WDM Palm Beach. Tinne Vilhelmsson Silfven of Sweden rode Favourit to 77.975% and second place, while Peters’ team-mate from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Tina Konyot was third with 76.775% on Calecto V.

Peters’ victory was just one of several causes for celebration for the WDM Palm Beach’s sponsors, organizers and participants. The fact that the event took place at all in 2011 is a remarkable achievement in itself. Following the announcement from the hosts of the 2009 and 2010 WDM Palm Beach in late November that the event had been canceled, it appeared that the North American leg of the world’s richest dressage series, which is also North America’s only CDI5*, would disappear from American soil. But in January, Wellington Classic Dressage made a three year agreement to produce the WDM Palm Beach. When the Goodman family and International Polo Club Palm Beach stepped up to become presenting sponsors, the WDM Palm Beach’s future was secured. Financial support also came from Ravel’s owner, Akiko Yamazaki.

In little more than a month, International Polo Club, International Polo Club Catering and Wellington Classic Dressage spared nothing in their preparations. Paying attention to every detail, they created an event that served not only the dressage community, but also a wider public – giving North Americans a rare opportunity to witness top international dressage at close proximity. “I want to thank the organizers for setting up this competition in such a short time,” said WDM founder and CEO Anthony M. Kies on Friday evening. “To the Goodman family, we thank you very much. Without you and Akiko this was not possible. I think we had a fantastic show tonight.” The Grand Prix Freestyle, whose competitors received 60,000 of the 100,000 Euros in prize money awarded at the WDM Palm Beach, was the center piece of a Southern France-themed gala affair. Featuring a five course dinner and wine from many of France’s top wine regions – from Champagne to Bordeaux – International Polo Club Catering literally transformed the arena at the Jim Brandon Center to resemble an elegant evening in the French countryside.

WDM Rider Rankings Following WDM Palm Beach 2011 (top 10):

1. Anja Ploenzke (GER)
2. Michal Rapcewicz (POL)
3. Tinne Vilhelmsson Silfven (SWE)
4. Anne Van Olst (DEN)
5. Christa Laarakkers (NED)
6. Valentina Truppa (ITA)
7. Steffen Peters (USA)
8. Adelinde Cornelissen (NED)
9. Evi Strasser (CAN)
10. Anky Van Grunsven (NED)

Dressage Masters In Palm Beach Has Been Sold Out

Recently reported by dressagedaily.com, the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach has been Sold Out.

The World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5 presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach got off to an auspicious start on Wednesday, March 9th as all 15 horses were presented to the FEI Ground Jury and passed the mandatory inspection. They will go on to compete in the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle over the next two days. The highlight of the WDM Palm Beach is Friday evening’s Grand Prix Freestyle, which will be accompanied by a ringside gala dinner inspired by the food and wine of Southern France. Friday evening’s performance, which will accommodate 1200 spectators, is now sold out. Following the CDI3* Grand Prix of the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II, which is being held concurrently with the WDM Palm Beach, two combinations from that class have accepted invitations to compete in the WDM Palm Beach. Gary Vander Ploeg of Canada and Yvonne Losos de Muñiz of the Dominican Republic will join the 15 American, European and Canadian riders who were previously invited. Additionally, there has been one change to the original list of competitors: following the withdrawal of Canada’s Evi Strasser, another Canadian, Jacqueline Brooks, will take her place with Gran Gesto. Brooks has been a member of the Canadian Dressage Team at the Olympics and World Equestrian Games, and is a Pan American Games team silver medalist. A total of nine nations will be represented at the WDM Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, including several of the world’s leading horse and rider combinations.

Prior to the start of competition on Thursday, riders had an opportunity to train and familiarize their horses with the competition arena. Danish Olympian Anne van Olst, whose horse Exquis Clearwater moved to the competition venue on the weekend, says she is impressed with the work the organizers have done to create a world class atmosphere. “So far everything looks great. They have created a beautiful ambience and the stables are very good. The people are incredibly friendly and have done their best to make us feel comfortable and welcome.”

Pierre St. Jacques is one of six Americans competing in the WDM Palm Beach, and he agrees with Van Olst’s first impression of the venue. “In the short amount of time they’ve had to put this together, they have done a fantastic job,” he says. “The atmosphere is as nice as any show in Europe. This is what we need more of in the US.”

In addition to a complete transformation of the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center to resemble the countryside of Provence, the footing for the competition arena and warm up areas has been enhanced with German Geo Textile footing, a state of the art fibre that is used at many world class venues. “The footing is great,” says WDM Palm Beach competitor Shannon Dueck.

The West Palm Beach event, the World Dressage Masters is unique in the United States, as the only five star FEI dressage competition on the North American continent. Worldwide the show is also the richest dressage series in history, with 400,000 Euros in prize money – 100,000 of which will be awarded at the World Dressage Masters in Palm Beach this year.