WELLINGTON, FL - February 7, 2004 - Robert Dover riding FBW Kennedy owned by Jane Clark won the $1,250 USET Grand Prix Special at the 32nd Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, today. A featured competition of the Wellington Dressage show, February 5-8, at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, the class was a Qualifying Competition for the USET Grand Prix Championship and the 2004 Olympic Selection Trials. The judges unanimously chose Dover and FBW Kennedy as the winning pair. Maryal Barnett at H awarded 372; Jessica Ransehousen at C tallied 391; and Lorraine MacDonald at B marked 392, resulting in a score of 77%.

"Seventy-seven is the highest I've ever gotten in a Grand Prix," said Dover, noting that he has earned higher scores in the Freestyle. "There aren't horses that do much higher than a 77 in a Grand Prix. That is the score of an Olympic medal winner. If that happens in an Olympics, you would be fairly certain that you would be standing on a podium. So knock on lots of wood, we don't jinx it, we keep going calmly forward."

Dover, a five-time Olympian, left no question how the score made him feel. "I'm elated, elated, elated. The horse is totally marvelous. You're riding on the edge between brilliance and electricity that could go the other way, but he is so clever that even when something sets him off for a second, I can say in my mind, "Kennedy," and he comes back to me." That kind of attentiveness paid off today when a photographer standing near H set off a rapid fire of clicks that Kennedy interpreted as clucking, which sent him forward abruptly in what looked like a spook or blow-up at the start of the test. The duo regained their composure immediately. "When I was turning to go from the passage to the canter, he heated up again," said Dover, regarding the moment when Kennedy seemed to pick up the pace in anticipation of the transition, "but the lovely thing about him is that I'm able to have a conversation with him in my mind and with my body and he comes back to me right away and says, OK we're fine."

Dover gave much of the credit for Kennedy's responsiveness to his former rider and trainer, Lone Jorgenssen, who owned the 13-year-old Wurtemberg gelding from age four until Ms. Clark acquired him approximately four months ago. "Lone Jorgenssen did a lovely, lovely job and loves him to this day," said Dover. "I spoke to them yesterday and they were so thrilled for us." Dover and Kennedy won the USET Grand Prix yesterday on a score of 75.694%.

In today's elite class of four competitors, Arlene 'Tuny' Page riding her own Claire earned 73.80% for second place. Shelly Francis aboard Gala for owner Patricia Stempel scored 65.60 % for third. James Armstrong riding GustaaF for owner Patsy Ward received 64.20% for fourth place.

Page's mare Claire put in an outstanding performance but a bobble in the second pirouette cost them points. "This was better than yesterday," said Page, who scored 70.417% in the USET Grand Prix. "Today things are starting to feel easy - even the hard things are starting to feel easy. She's very happy to have me support her in the work versus me saying, now you must do this and you must do that. That's good for me too because I'm inclined to ride a little bit that way. When I'm at the place when I can start to ride in a more harmonious way, then I know that I'm on the right track."

Page is currently training with Denmark's Lars Petersen as well as US Dressage Team Coach Klaus Balkenhol while they are in Wellington. "It's wonderful. They're great. They work together like this," Page said, crossing two fingers. She also gets long distance advice from her long-time mentor Israeli Oded Shimoni. "He's my telephone consultant."

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 4 - 8 Bayer/USET Foundation Gold Coast Jumper Classic CSI***
February 5 - 8 Wellington Dressage (Qualifier for Olympic Selection Trials)
February 11 - 15 Kilkenny/ICH Internationale CSI***
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 8 $50,000 Bayer/USET Foundation Wellington Cup, CSI***
February 15 $50,000 Kilkenny/ICH Internationale Cup, CSI***
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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