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Tina Konyot And Anna Karenina Win Grand Prix, Section A

WELLINGTON, FL – February 20, 2004 – The FEI dressage classes were fully loaded today with two sections of Grand Prix, the first of two sections of Intermediaire I, and the third section of the Prix St. Georges at the 32nd Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, today.

Tina Konyot, 42, of Stonington, Connecticut, and Stuart, Florida, won the A section of the $1,500 FEI Grand Prix riding Anna Karenina for owner Sally Miller. The pair earned 71.597% from judges Liselotte Fore, Natalie Lamping, and Janet Brown and topped a class of 12 riders.

Konyot has been riding the 12-year-old, 17.1-hand, black Dutch mare by Sultan since May 2003. Owner Miller purchased the mare as a six-year-old from Dutch rider Suzanne van Cuyk (Team Bronze Medalist at the 1993 European Championships riding Mr. Jackson) who continued to train and show Anna Karenina through the small tour. Ms. Miller owns the farm in Connecticut where Konyot spends her summers and has been a client and friend for eight years. She brought the mare to Konyot last spring for help with piaffe and ultimately gave her the ride.

Today’s class was only the third Grand Prix for Konyot and the huge black mare. Konyot competed her in their first grand prix at Ox Ridge this summer, scoring in the 60 percentile. Konyot admitted that the test was premature but at the recent Southern Comfort Zada Cup in Clarcona, FL, the pair won the I-I class and then claimed victory in the Grand Prix earning 68.8%. Konyot credits Michael Poulin for helping her for three days prior to that win.

“She’s an incredible horse,” said Konyot.. “I’m developing more of a rapport with her and she’s becoming my friend.” Konyot introduced the mare to her system of training and riding, which was new and different for the horse. “We went through changes. We all ride differently but I made her more of what I wanted as a Grand Prix horse, and what I expected of a Grand Prix horse. The piaffe was her weakness. That was the question whether she would be a grand prix horse or not.”

That question was answered today. Konyot received 8s on piaffe. “I got a lot of 8s and 9s on the test and I’m very proud of her,” said Konyot. “It’s still a strength issue for her. She’s a huge mover – lots of air-time off the ground. It takes a certain amount of time to develop the strength to be able to carry this big movement.”

Konyot has not committed to an Olympic quest yet with the mare. “One day at a time,” she said. “Yes she has the talent, there’s no question about that. The best have seen her training and the best have made tremendous comments about her, that she is a tremendous, fabulous horse. Whether team now, it’s hard to say. We have a lot of good horses in America, horses that have been competing for a longer time. But you just never know. I’m not pressuring her over what she’s able to accept right now. I’m very, very proud of her and her owner is proud of her.”

In other competition today, Julia Vysniauskas of Canada riding Syntax won the Grand Prix B section scoring 64.514% in the class of 12 entries. Ashley Holzer fo New York, NY, won the third section of the PSG, earning 69.875% with Gambol over 20 horses. Michael Shondell of Kinnelon, NJ, won the Intermediaire I aboard Wallaby, scoring 71.250%, topping a class of 20.

For full results, visit www.stadiumjumping.com

2004 WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL TICKET INFORMATION

Show days for the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival are Wednesday through Sunday. Gates open at 8:00 am. Ticket Prices: Wednesdays are free to everyone; Children 12 and under are admitted free every day; Young Adults 13 to 18 and Seniors are $5 on Thursday through Sunday; Adults are $5 on Thursday and Friday, $10 on Saturday, and $15 on Sunday. The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club is located on Pierson Road off South Shore Boulevard. For additional information, visit www.stadiumjumping.com or call 561-793-5867.

2004 WEF SCHEDULE OF COMPETITIONS

February 18 - 22 Florida Classic/WCHR Spectacular CSI-W/Y CSI-Ch
February 19 - 22 Zada Enterprises, LLC Florida Dressage Classic
February 25 - 29 PDP Capital Wellington Masters CSI***
March 3 - 7 CN Wellington Open CSI-W
March 10 - 14 CSIO United States Cosequin Finale CSIO***
March 18 - 21 Zada Enterprises WEF Dressage Classic CDI***/Y
(Qualifier for Olympic Selection Trials)
March 24 - 28 Tampa Bay Classic CSI-W (Bob Thomas Equestrian Center)
March 30 - April 3 Tournament of Champions CSI-W (Bob Thomas Equestrian Center)
April 3 Budweiser American Invitational (Raymond James Stadium)

2004 WEF MILLION DOLLAR GRAND PRIX SERIES

February 22 $60,000 Idle Dice Classic, presented by Palm Beach Post, CSI-W
February 29 $75,000 PDP Capital Masters Cup, CSI***
March 7 $75,000 CN Wellington Open presented by Estates of Wellington Green, CDI-W
March 12 $50,000 Samsung Nations’ Cup, presented by CN, CSIO****
March 14 $100,000 Cosequin U.S. Open Jumper Championship, CSIO****
March 28 $75,000 Grand Prix of Tampa, presented by Kilkenny/ICH, CSI-W
April 3 $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational, presented by The Tampa Tribune



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