Spectravet Performance of the Week: Laura Graves Edges Isabell Werth in Grand Prix Special at Aachen

And on her 30th birthday, no less! This performance is a must-see.

Laura Graves and Verdades. Photo by Shannon Brinkman, courtesy of USEF.org

It’s no easy feat duking it out against a woman so decorated she has been known to sport a gold helmet and gold tails into the show ring. But the former hair-dresser turned America’s dressage sweetheart Laura Graves not only held her own against the flawless Isabell Werth in Aachen this past week, but in fact edged her in the CDIO 5* Grand Prix Special Saturday night.

Laura and Verdades (‘Diddy’) put in a spectacular performance to score 81.824%, with Isabell and Weihegold, a 12-year-old Oldenburg mare putting out a very close 81.059.

This performance also applied to the CDIO Nations Cup competition, and the top notch go around the sandbox helped secure a team silver medal for team USA. Laura and Diddy also took third later in the week in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

Laura being Laura of course couldn’t have been more complimentary to Isabell, or more humble about just being invited to Aachen.

“I always come out to win, but she puts on some tough competition,” Graves said to USET news about competing against Werth. “It’s just whoever has the best details on that day. I’m very proud to be in the top considered for this position at all.”

“It was an amazing opportunity to be invited here to Aachen, to have the best riders in the world to compete against,” Graves stated. “My horse delivered for me and our whole team today. I thank everyone for coming out and supporting us.”

Even better, it was Laura’s 30th birthday! Aachen fans were even nice enough to shower the American rider with a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’, which Laura said was pretty unforgettable. What a way to enter your third decade, Laura. (I mean, I’m 31 and my biggest accomplishment has been having all the laundry done in my house at one time.)

See Laura’s fabulous winning ride here:

Go Laura and Diddy, and Go Riding!

Why SpectraVET?

Reliable. Effective. Affordable.

SpectraVET is committed to providing only the highest-quality products and services to our customers, and to educating the world in the science and art of laser therapy.

We design and manufacture the broadest range of clinically-proven veterinary therapeutic laser products, which are represented and supported worldwide by our network of specialist distributors and authorized service centers.