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AGDF 5 Welcomes Win and Personal Best Score for Nick Wagman and Don John

Nick Wagman and Don John ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – February 11, 2021 – The 2021 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued competition during AGDF 5 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL on Thursday, February 11, with a win for the USA’s Nick Wagman and Don John in the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3* for Special, presented by CabanaCoast.

Riding to a personal best score of 73.848%, Nick Wagman and Beverly Jean Gepfer’s 2008 KWPN gelding by Johnson TN didn’t let their nerves hinder their day’s performance.

“This is our first real show in a year, so we were both nervous,” Wagman began. “Don John was pretty hot in there, but he knows his job, so I think that was his biggest strength, despite the fact that I was nervous. He didn’t let me down. I just watched the video [before the awards ceremony], and there are always things that you want to do better. I felt like he was exuberant but he did look fairly controlled when I watched the re-play. I’m glad that I got this one under my belt, so now we can really focus on getting our confidence back.”

Wagman continued, “He’s been around the block a few times now, coming to Florida, so he knows the routine. I was a little surprised at how hot he was in the warmup, but I think it’s just a weird time of day for us to ride, because he’s been such a Steady Eddie since we’ve been here.”

Wagman has his hopes set on the Tokyo Olympics, and his overall plan here in Florida will cater to that goal, but this week, the pair is working on having a solid start in the FEI ring after almost a year away. “There was a lot riding on today because I’m trying to get qualified for the five star, so I just need to get through this weekend. My number one goal is to have a successful show where we both get our confidence up, and I do what I need to do, and move on to the next one. To win like this is a wonderful bonus.”

For more information and results, please visit www.GlobalDressageFestival.com.

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