Alice Tarjan (USA) and Donatella M. ©️Susan Stickle.
Wellington, FL – March 9, 2020 – National dressage competition continued in week nine of the 2020 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, Florida. There was action in pony divisions, youth riders, young horses, small and big tour, as well as USEF qualifiers and the Future Challenge classes.
Three combinations picked up tickets for the Future Challenge developing horse finals — which take place in the main arena in week 12 — two in the small tour class presented by Summit Farm, and one at big tour, which is sponsored by Lövsta. The worthy recipients at small tour were Sarah Lockman (USA) and Stephanie Collamb (USA), with the single big tour qualifying slot going to Alice Tarjan (USA).
Tarjan rode Donatella M, by Fürstenball, at the mare’s first show in 18 months, so she was understandably not expecting to bag a victory.
“I’m thrilled, as she hasn’t been in the ring for a year and half and we’ve just been at home in New Jersey training,” said Tarjan, who is based at White Fences in Loxahatchee while in Florida. “I bought her at the beginning of her four-year-old year, did some four-year-old classes, then third level when she was seven, and now she’s going to be nine this year.
“I wasn’t expecting this win at all, especially because she can be a bit hot and spooky and scared of other horses in the warm-up and today it was windy and cold, so I wasn’t expecting her to be this great,” continued the 40-year-old, who scored 68.456%. “She’s very honest, but we lost a lot of points today for the easy stuff like center lines and transitions, so we’ve got to get back out in the ring and smooth that out.”
Tarjan, who trains with Lars Petersen, added: “Lars was really happy as we really weren’t expecting much and did better than we thought we would. I bought ‘Corvin’ from her breeder in Maryland after seeing a video because she had really nice gaits. She’s super sweet and easy in the barn, one of the easiest I have.”
She was full of praise for the new Lövsta Grand Prix Future Challenge classes, saying: “I think the series is great, particularly for Corvin as she doesn’t have to go and compete against the more seasoned horses. It’s good to get them out and get experience without the pressure of an open class.”
Tarjan also commandingly topped an FEI Grand Prix class on Friday riding Candescent, a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare by Christ. The pair scored 74.022%
For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.