Draper Therapies’ Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar Brave the Heat and Dance to Victory in CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle

Our Advisory Board is made up of many professional equestrians who are competing at the top of their sport, so being in the winner’s circle isn’t foreign to them. We are very happy to have Katherine Bateson Chandler representing us in the Dressage ring – she is an amazing rider and horsewoman. Alcazar is a relatively new ride for her but they are an amazing team. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for these two! 

Wellington, Florida— Even through the blazing Floridian heat, International Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer Katherine Bateson-Chandler perfected her Grand Prix Freestyle test aboard Jane Clark’s Alcazar to a 72.425 percent and the pair’s first CDI victory of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival 2016 season. The two rose to the top of the leader board with a funky freestyle test set to the tunes of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” Wild Cherry’s “Play that Funky Music,” and Bateson-Chandler’s favorite, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars with “Uptown Funk.” The groovy songs complimented the pair, whose exciting freestyle has been bringing Adequan Global Dressage Festival attendees to their feet each week of the international winter show series.

Bateson-Chandler jumped on the chance to create her season’s freestyle for Alcazar with a myriad of upbeat songs, mixed with the help of Marlene Whitaker. “As soon as I heard ‘Uptown Funk,’ I was like, ‘I’m having that. Before someone else gets it, I’m having that,’” laughed Bateson-Chandler. With primary focus on “Uptown Funk,” Bateson-Chandler and Whitaker designed the entire freestyle around the crowd-pleasing song. “I really love my music because it’s so fun and fits Alcazar well.”

Even with the music on cue, Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar still had to face the unrelenting and challenging mid afternoon heat. “This horse show is rough because it’s boiling out there,” she commented. “We are all doing the best we can, but at this point, we are cooking. I am glad that Alcazar kept doing his job.”

Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding lovingly known as “Lonzie,” have had a distinguished campaign thus far this season, highlighted by being the top American placing in the Adequan Global Dressage Festival’s Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W sponsored by Everglades Dressage. The pair has been improving in both test execution and confidence under the intense stresses of international level competition and the exciting, yet nerve rattling, ‘under the lights’ show environments. “He’s still a green horse and is getting used to having more atmosphere, which is why I keep putting him into more ‘under the lights’ situations. He keeps stepping up to the plate, and I’m really proud of him. He is becoming more and more comfortable in the ring,” Bateson-Chandler remarked. Now gearing up for the finale week of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival season, Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar have their confidence high and ambitions set on performing their very best.

Bateson-Chandler offers training and coaching services through her business KBC Dressage. Her international Grand Prix experience ensures that her students— both human and equine— have the competitive edge necessary for success in the dressage ring. KBC Dressage offers training services, lessons, clinics, and prospect selection for clients. For more information about Katherine Bateson-Chandler, visit www.kbcdressage.com.

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