Julie Brougham and Vom Feinsten showed every bit of their international experience today with a harmonious, clean and very accurate Grand Prix at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in the United States.

“He was so precise and did everything I asked,” she said of her 15-year-old German-bred chestnut. It marked the third big event the combination have competed at wearing the silver fern – the Rio Olympic Games, Aachen and now WEG. It’s the stuff bucket lists are made of and something the Australasian freestyle to music record-holder is very proud of.

However, while she will continue to compete on both sides of the Tasman, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are not on her radar.

Today, her 68.991% effort saw her finish in 36thplace in the 77-strong field with the top 30 going on to tomorrow’s Grand Prix Special.

While she fell frustratingly just short of her 69% goal, she was still pleased. Three judges marked her over 69.8%, with her best marks coming from Swedish judge Annette Fransen Iacobaeus who gave the Kiwi combo 71.304%.

It was but one of her goals. “Firstly I just wanted to get in the ring and compete and then finish the test!” She certainly did that, and did the nation proud producing a test that built through to the finish and was executed in a very cool and calm manner.

 “I felt his changes were very good and his zig zag very even and accurate.”

And his collected walk to passage was “done beautifully” and he was excellent with all his transitions. “He was a little flat today though – I think the environment is catching up with him.”

Julie again said how disappointed she was not to be riding at WEG with John Thompson who had to withdraw JHT Antonello before the competition started. “I was so sorry to lose him. I think for us – New Zealand – it is most important we come to international events and show we can do a clean test with no hiccups.”

Dressage chef d’equipe Wendy Hamerton said the whole team was feeling very proud of their effort. “It was a very credible performance in such top company,” said Wendy. “Julie should be delighted with the way Steiny managed the atmosphere.”

Steiny and Julie will head back to Sharn Wordley’s base in Lexington where they will remain until early October when they go into quarantine. There is a CDI in New York state she would love to attend but is reluctant to commit Steiny to so many hours travel and they would still have to return to Kentucky for quarantine.

Full results – https://tryon2018.com/officialresults.

 

By ESNZ HP Media Liaison Diana Dobson

Photos by Libby Law Photography

 

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