Wellington, Fla.—Feb. 9   

While only a handful of combinations in the world have reached the elusive 80 percent mark in the Fédération Equestre Internationale Grand Prix test, Laura Graves knew from the time she started competing at the level that Verdades was capable, it was just a matter of time.

With her eye on the prize for the last three years, Graves has slowly raised her average score with the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.