from edited press release/Jump Media
Devon Kane and Alicia Grace’s 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare Fling for U claimed the blue ribbon in the FEI Prix St. Georges Open class at the World Equestrian Center Dressage XV show Aug. 28 in Ocala, Florida.
In their first competition together, Kane and Fling For U (Blue Hors Don Romantic x OO Seven) scored 73.529% for the win. Grace purchased the mare less than two months ago and, since she was unable to make the trip to Ocala, Kane took over the ride in the class.
Devon Kane and Fling For U won the Open division of the FEI Prix St. Georges class. Photo by Erica Hills Photography.
| “We love the horse,” Kane said. “It was very nice of her to share the horse with me. Walking through the barn, and yesterday when I took her into the arena, she was just checking everything out like, ‘Cool, cool.’ She’s very happy to be at the show and seems very cool with everything. She’s a fun ride. She’s definitely a mare. She likes her person and once she has her person, she’ll do it for you. She’s happy to do her work.” It was an encouraging first start for Fling For U, and Grace will show the mare at Small Tour in the future. “The test was really great,” Kane continued. “I rode a little safe and went in to see how she feels, where she gets nervous or where she gets confused or backed off. She really didn’t, and she stayed with me really well. At the first halt, she looked up and I asked her to keep going, and she did. It was a nice ride.” Kane competed at the April CDI at World Equestrian – Ocala and appreciated the opportunity to also bring horses to a national-level show. “I have to say, all of the horses here really love the ambience of everything,” she remarked. “None of our horses are overwhelmed with it. They’re just taking it in and, if anything, they feel even better. The footing is riding really well. It’s soft, but springy, so it gives you what you really want to feel right before you go in the test. We love showing up here; it’s been really super. “It is very nice to have national shows here,” she continued. “We’re talking with people in other parts of the country and the world right now and they’re so hot and humid and miserable. I said, ‘I’m going to go show in the air conditioning!’ It’s lovely. I have eight horses here. We will be back for the CDI in October for sure.” Kane also appreciated the opportunity to stay directly on the horse show grounds at The Equestrian Hotel. “The hotel is really cool,” she said. “I was very impressed.” |
