Isabella Thorpe of Chilmark took first place at the Children of the Americas Dressage Invitational (CADI), hosted by Bear Spot Farm in Concord last week.
The international weeklong event brings together the best young riders ages 12-14 from Central, South, and North America. CADI gives riders a chance to represent their countries in an international event, develop and perform a freestyle, and receive coaching from top dressage trainers over a full week of training and competing, according to a press release.
CADI riders coming from more than 600 miles away have the option of riding borrowed horses. This year, 16 riders competed in CADI 2015 for Honduras, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Argentina, and the U.S.
The riders spend two days training and preparing with top coaches and apprentices, followed by two days of competition where they ride the Children’s FEI test and perform their individual Freestyle.
Isabella Thorpe, riding her own horse, Reina, scored 73.94 percent to take first place in the A division. Azul Menzi Batticni of Argentina scored 75.79 percent to take first in the borrowed-horse division.
