WELLINGTON, FL - January 30, 2008 -Todd Flettrich of Wellington, FL, competed Amadeus owned by Cherry Knoll Farm in the Gold Coast Opener Festival CDI-W/CDI-Y Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm on January 25-27, 2008, at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, and earned his first qualifying scores for the 2008 USEF National Grand Prix Championship/Olympic Games Selection Trials.

Flettrich and Amadeus, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding, were among the 29 horses representing five countries that competed in the FEI Grand Prix CDI-W on Friday. Flettrich and Amadeus earned a score of 66.292% for eighth place. "I had no mistakes," commented Flettrich. "Amadeus is still a bit jet-lagged from the return trip from Germany, so the test lacked a little bit of luster, but it was a good ride."

Flettrich declared Amadeus for the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI-W, and competed against a field of 15 horses on Saturday, earning 67.640% for third place. "I was much more pleased with this test," Flettrich said. "I went for it a little bit more. I rode it well and definitely Amadeus put in his best effort. Amadeus was not feeling his best, but he kept on trying for me. My top score was from the German judge [Peter Engel], who I consider the hardest judge, so I was very pleased with that."

Describing the highlights of his Grand Prix Special, Flettrich said, "My pirouettes to the one-tempis to the pirouettes were super. Amadeus's half passes were very expressive."

In preparation for the Selection Trials qualifiers on the 2008 Florida winter circuit, Flettrich and Amadeus trained in Germany for six months with Olympian Hubertus Schmidt and competed in four European shows. The duo returned to the U.S. just over a month ago. The Gold Coast Opener CDI-W was their first competition since their return to the U.S. "It's difficult to go from six months in Germany to being in the U.S. again and Amadeus has had to re-acclimate," Flettrich noted. "I know what he has in him and that we didn't present our best test yet. There's more to come from this horse."

Having earned his first qualifying scores for the 2008 USEF National Grand Prix Championship/Olympic Games Selection Trials, Flettrich considered the Gold Coast Opener a successful outing. "I'm very happy with the results from this CDI," Flettich said. "This was a very competitive field of international horses and I'm thrilled with how Amadeus measured up to this caliber of competition."

Flettrich and Amadeus will compete next at the 2008 PhelpsSports.com Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W in Loxahatchee, FL, on February 29 to March 2.

Todd Flettrich
Todd Flettrich, based in Wellington, FL, and Coatesville, PA, 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 has also previously coached professionals including Silke Rembacz and Lauren Sammis. Sammis trained with Flettrich during the past two seasons in Florida, including the qualifiers for the 2007 Pan American Games Selection Trials; she was named to the U.S. team for Brazil where she earned a Team Gold Medal and Individual Silver Medal. Flettrich is currently accepting a limited number of clients in Florida for the 2008 season. For more information, call Todd Flettrich at 484-459-2749.

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