Source: USEF

Verden, Germany - Competition came to a close at the FEI World Dressage Championships for Young Horses in Verden, Germany with the final championship tests. The lone entry to compete for the United States on Sunday was Jennifer Hoffman and Florentinus V, competing in the six-year-old championship. In Sunday's International Final, the Prize of Privatbrauerei Wittingen, the pair finished a valiant 13th after a long week of competition.
 
In Friday's Prize of Mrs. Madeleine Winter-Schulze, a qualifier for Sunday's final, Florentinus V (Florestan-Lady in Red by Londonderry) barely missed automatically qualifying The Westphalian stallion and Hoffman (San Diego, CA) placed 13th in the class but only the top 12 would move on. Saturday's Small Field Final; the Prize of the company ZEDAN provided Florentinus V and Hoffman one last opportunity to earn a spot in the final.
 
Hoffman, who serves as both owner and rider of Florentinus V, grasped the opportunity with both hands putting in a solid performance and showcasing the young horse's talents. Scoring an overall 8.16 on Saturday, which was good enough for third place, the pair earned themselves a place in the final.
 
On Sunday, they returned to perform their third test in as many days in Verden and held their own against stiff European competition. They earned an overall mark of 7.13, with high scores being awarded in the walk and trot, 7.6 and 7.5 respectively.
 
USEF Young Horse Dressage Coach Scott Hassler was impressed with the determination and resiliency the pair showed throughout the championship.
 
"Three straight days of competition was a bit tiring for Florentinus. Jennifer presented him very well; finishing 13th against amazing horses is a great accomplishment."
 
The U.S. was also represented in Verden by Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo (San Remo- St. Pr. Hauptstutbuch by Ramiro's Son II) who also contested the six-year-old championship. This combination completed their championship experience Saturday, Schut-Kery (Thousand Oaks, CA) and Alice Womble's Hanoverian stallion earned an overall score of 7.2 with their 8.2 scoring trot being a highlight.

The 2011 FEI World Dressage Championships for Young Horses five-year-old champion, Woodlander Farouche, continued his winning streak for British rider Michael George Eilberg claiming the 2012 six-year-old title.    
ENDS
 
For more information about the FEI World Dressage Championships for Young Horses including schedules, orders of go and results click here.  

To learn more about the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program visit; http://usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/NatlYHProgram.aspx
 

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email [email protected], or call (859) 971-2277.