THERMAL, Calif. — Anna Marek added her name to the history books on November 14, at Desert International Horse Park as she became the first rider to win a CDI5* Grand Prix on the West Coast. Marek’s victory aboard Fayvel in the CDI5* Grand Prix, presented by the Brad & Kathy Coors Foundation, marked the start of the inaugural US Equestrian Open Dressage Final, as the new series brings the highest level of dressage to Thermal, Calif.
Marek and Fayvel, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Cynthia Davila, were awarded a 70.804% for the win under the lights on Friday night.
Anna Marek and Fyvel. Photo by Terri Miller
Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena, owned by Ann Romney and Vantage Equestrian Group II, LLC, secured second place with a 70.522%, and Germany’s Felicitas Hendricks brought home third with a close 70.500% aboard Drombusch OLD.
“I had a very excited Fyvel to start in my test!” said Marek, whose only low marks came during her first extended trot. “After the first extended trot, I was kind of like, ‘Hey buddy, we got to calm down here and get ready for the next movement.’ After that, the rest of the test just floated so nicely. What I loved about it was the energy that I had, but he was rideable at the same time – other than the first extended trot!”
Marek, who trains with Anne Gribbons, continued, “I’m always really relieved when I have a good grand prix because Anne has drilled it into my skull since I very first started riding grand prix that the most important thing is riding a good grand prix and setting the impression. So, that’s always where my nerves come in, in that first grand prix.”
Possibly adding to Marek’s nerves was a slight tack malfunction just prior to her test. As she warmed up, Marek quickly realized that the piece of her bridle holding up the noseband had broken.
Anna Marek and Fyvel topped Friday night’s CDI5* Grand Prix. Photo by Terri Miller
“I just said to Anne, ‘Anne, something on the bridle just broke!’” explained Marek. “I have the world’s best groom, and Kate whipped out some of the strong string that she braids the horses’ manes with and tied it together somehow. Then I said to them, ‘What happens if it breaks?’ They were like, ‘Just keep going!’ So, then we laughed about it and off we went!”
With the tack malfunction out of the way and a win in the CDI5* Grand Prix now under her belt, Marek will turn her attention to Saturday night’s CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle and the grand finale of the US Equestrian Open Dressage Series.
Marek came into the weekend as the overall US Equestrian Open Dressage Series leader, earning her a $12,500 bonus for her consistent results throughout the offered qualifying events. Now with $200,000 in prize money on the line at the US Equestrian Open Dressage Final, Marek will certainly be looking to continue that consistency, and she is looking forward to performing her freestyle in front of the California crowd.
“[Fayvel’s] freestyle is very fun,” said Marek, who hails from Dunnellon, Fla. “It always seems to get the crowd excited, and I already clearly have a very excited Fyvel. So, as long as I can keep a lid on Fyvel’s energy, it’s just going to be a really great dance.”
Saturday night’s featured competition, at what Marek describes as “one of the most beautiful show venues that I’ve ever been to,” will kick off at 4:45 PT/7:45 ET. Spectator admission is free, and a livestream is also available on USEF Network.
To learn more about the US Equestrian Open, click here, and for full results of Friday’s CDI5* Grand Prix, click here.