Articles: Horse News

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Wellington, FL - March 9, 2010 - Todd Flettrich rode Cherry Knoll Farm's Otto to excellent scores at the 2010 Palm Beach Dressage Derby, competing on March 5-6. The pair scored a 67.872% for a fifth place finish in Friday's FEI Grand Prix for GP Special and then moved up to take third place honors on Saturday with a 68.792% in the Grand Prix Special.Otto is a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood that Flettrich has worked on forming a good partnership with over the last year. The combination has shown a marked improvement in the past months as they continue to finish at the top of the CDI classes in Wellington.

Flettrich and Otto received an overall score of 67.872% to take fifth place honors in Friday's FEI Grand Prix for GP Special. The pair received a score of 67.660% from the judge at 'E' Ernes; 68.723% from the judge at 'H' Markowski; 66.809% from the judge at 'C' Eisenhardt; 67.234% from the judge at 'M' Lamping; and 68.936% from the judge at 'B' Geikie.

Moving up on the second day of competition, Flettrich and Otto scored a 68.792% in the Grand Prix Special and received third place honors. Following an excellent test, the pair received a score of 68.542% from the judge at 'E' Fore; 69.792% from the judge at 'H' Clarke; 70.000% from the judge at 'C' Ernes; 66.875% from the judge at 'M' Eisenhardt; and 68.750% from the judge at 'B' Zang.

Commenting on the Grand Prix Special, Flettrich stated, "I think my halt was good, which sounds like a very small thing, but we lose points in that. Yesterday he stepped back in both halts and those are major points to give away, so I think I had that today. I also tried to go more for my extensions today because I think that I was a little conservative in yesterday's test."

Flettrich had a slight misstep in the Special when he went off course across the diagonal, but regardless, the scores reflected a brilliant test. "I basically did the first part of the Grand Prix instead of the Grand Prix Special," Flettrich declared.

"At this show, which is so nice, I think that my connection with him is better; my riding connection, not just my mental connection. The contact was better, which is nice. It is windy here; the palms are blowing, the tents are flapping, and I don't feel that he lost his concentration at all, just me," Flettrich added with a laugh.

A common focus point is the consistency between the warm-up and the show ring, and Flettrich acknowledged that Otto was excellent in that aspect. "I think he was better in the ring today than he was in the warm-up, so that is great," he smiled. "That is just knowing how to prepare him for the test I think."

Overall, Flettrich was very happy with his test and is getting closer to the goal of higher scores. "I think I am not too far from my 70% and if I would not have gone off course I think I might have received a 70% from the one judge," he said. "I had a 70% from one judge, so we still scored very well. His piaffe is his biggest strength. He gets pretty consistent nines in his piaffe now, and he got nines the last two days. He was a little slow going from the walk to piaffe today, but once he was in it he was good. I think the pirouettes were good and my changes were all good, so I was pleased."

Flettrich and Otto will continue working on their partnership and connection in the hope of improving from show to show. "It has to look even easier," he expressed.

Todd Flettrich is based in Wellington, FL, has earned his USDF Silver and Gold Medals, and is a graduate of the USDF 'L' Judge Program. Flettrich competed at the North American Young Riders Championships (NAYRC) four times and won the Individual Gold Medal and Team Silver in 1991. Flettrich served as Region 1 Coach and Chef d'Equipe at NAYRC from 1988 through 1994. His student Catherine Malone won the Individual Gold in 2005. Flettrich's current mounts are owned by Cherry Knoll Farm. For more information, call Todd Flettrich at 484-459-2749.