Category Archives: Adequan Global Dressage Festival

Competitions, Dressage

Juan Matute Guimón Makes Triumphant Return to Winning Ways at AGDF

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Juan Matute Guimón (ESP) riding Quantico. ©susanjstickle.com.

Wellington, FL – March 4, 2022 – Spain’s Juan Matute Guimón marked a momentous day with a plus-80% victory in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4*, presented by IDA Development, on Friday, March 4. His win came in the atmospheric evening session in the Global International Arena under lights in week eight of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF).

It was clear from Matute Guimón’s reaction at the final halt how much this performance meant to him. Aside from the pandemic hobbling competition and training opportunities for more than two years, the 24-year-old suffered a brain bleed in May 2020 followed by pneumonia and a long road to recovery.

Winner of the qualifying grand prix, Jan Ebeling (USA), had to settle for second with his talented 12-year-old mare Bellena. He posted 75.52% with some green mistakes. Germany’s Christoph Koschel slotted into third with Dünensee, chalking up 75.355%.

“It’s been quite an emotional comeback,” said Matute Guimón, “because the last time I was here was in 2020 with Don Diego trying to qualify for the Las Vegas World Cup Final. And then we all know what happened after that. Now I’m back, and I’m going all out. I want to do it all. I want to go to all of the shows, the European Championships, World Championships, World Cup Final, everything. I want to be in the top sport, and I must take every opportunity I can.”

“A freakish talent” is how Jan Ebeling describes Bellena, the 12-year-old daughter of Bellissimo M who he rode into second place. Originally bought for her owner Ann Romney to ride, Ebeling picked up the ride when they realized how talented she was.

Third-placed Koschel was riding Dünensee, Diamante Farms’ 13-year-old gelding by Dancier, at his first CDI, performing their first freestyle and making their debut under lights.

“It’s all so new so he was a bit shy and a little nervous, but I think we handled it very well,” he said. “And I used [former top horse] Dom Perignon’s freestyle, which is really difficult, so I think we have to practice it a little bit more. I’m very happy that he behaved so well, because I didn’t know how we would do under the lights.”

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Competitions, Dressage

Ebeling Scoops First CDI Big Tour Win with Prodigious Mare at AGDF

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Jan Ebeling (USA) and Bellena. ©susanjstickle.com.

Wellington, FL – March 3, 2022 – There were no fewer than three grand prix classes on Thursday, March 3, the opening day of week eight of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). At only their second big tour show together, Jan Ebeling (USA) and Ann Romney’s Bellena captured the winner’s sash in the Grand Prix CDI4* (for freestyle), presented by IDA Development, with the day’s highest score at the level. Spain’s Juan Matute Guimón rode into second place on Quantico with 69.848%, while Canadian rider Ariana Chia’s personal best of 69.087% on Fiderflame secured third place of the 11 starters.

Despite Bellena being the equal-youngest horse in the class and making a costly mistake in the pirouette right, she achieved 71.739% and a unanimous victory. Ebeling could not hide his excitement about the young Belissimo M daughter.

“I’m stoked,” grinned the 63-year-old. “She’s a super talented horse. Probably the most talented I’ve ever had in my whole career. She’s still green, so she does stuff that green horses do, but what a horse. I was really happy about my one tempis because we’ve been battling with those, and we’ve always had mistakes here and there. Today was really the first line of 15 without a mistake. We got her when she was nine and she already knew a lot, but she had big gaits and needed to find her balance first, and that’s taken a bit of time.”

Alice Tarjan Takes Top Spot on Youngest Horse

Riding Serenade MF, the youngest horse in the class of 14 starters, Alice Tarjan (USA) topped the Grand Prix CDI4* (for Special), presented by Mission Control. Benjamin Ebeling (USA) captured second with 69.87% on Indeed and Canadian Naïma Moreira Laliberte rounded out the podium with 69.587% for third on Statesman.

Serenade MF was making her CDI debut, and Tarjan has owned the nine-year-old Sir Donnerhall I daughter since she was a foal.

“I bought her — black with white socks — and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s pretty. If I don’t like her, I can sell.’ It turns out the horse moves really well and was super easy to train, so I kept it,” said Tarjan, who won the USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix Dressage National Championship in 2021 with the mare. “But she’s little and downhill. She’s very pretty and super sweet and easy, just not the most impressive thing. However, when you put her together and clock around, that horse lights up.”

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Competitions, Dressage

Jorst and Tarjan Showcase Rising Stars in AGDF 7 to Claim Tickets for Future Challenge Finals

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Charlotte Jorst and Zhaplin Langholt. ©susanjstickle.com.

Wellington, FL – February 27, 2022 – Week seven of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) wrapped up on Sunday, February 27, with further qualifying rounds of both the Lövsta Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series and the Summit Farm Future Challenge Young Horse Prix St. Georges Series.

Danish-born American rider Charlotte Jorst — who has enjoyed grand prix triumphs this season with her top horse Kastel’s Nintendo — proved that she has a worthy successor in her small tour horse Zhaplin Langholt. Jorst topped the Summit Farm Future Challenge riding the nine-year-old to 74.146%, almost five percentage points clear of the field.

Both Jorst and second-placed Michael Klimke (GER), who chalked up 69.264% on the Astrix son Harmony’s Astro, qualified for the final on March 25. Anna Marek (USA) filled third with 69.087% on Donauwelle P. Last to go of the seven contenders, Jorst produced a powerful yet harmonious performance on the leggy gelding by Zonik NOP. Under Danish Olympian Andreas Helgstrand, Zhaplin Langholt won the 2018 Danish young horse championship. Jorst bought him as a five-year-old but injuries and juggling international travel have meant that she has only been riding him consistently herself for the past 12 months or so.

“He’s just incredible,” she enthused. “He’s great in the ring, has a great mind and great gaits. He is the complete package. The past three months he’s been coming along like crazy. He’s so willing and already piaffes and passages, so I think he’s going to be my next [top] horse.

“The trot is always the easiest for him; you can just collect him, and he comes back in balance,” said Jorst, who amassed a smattering of nines in the test. “He’s so willing and wonderful. He really is like Nintendo: he likes being in the ring. He gets in there and he grows and looks at people and thinks they’re all there for him.”

Tarjan Brings Out New Star with a Flourish

In the big tour class, Alice Tarjan (USA) unveiled yet another superstar to come out of her stable. She rode her own eight-year-old Desperado NOP mare Jane to the top spot in the Lövsta Future Challenge with 71.529%. Frederic Wandres (GER) came second on Harrods 3 with 70.793%. The pair is qualified for the finals via their win in AGDF 1. Devon Kane (USA) rode Gyllebo’s Vamos, by Vivaldi, to 64.146% and third place.

“I haven’t really done anything with Jane because it took a little while to bring her along,” said 42-year-old Tarjan. “Usually, we do young horse classes, but she didn’t really show until I did two I2s with her this year. The plan is to get some miles on her because she’s spooky, and she’s never been anywhere.

“She went around the beginning really spooky and impressed. But once she goes to work, man, the horse goes to work, and she’s so honest. It’s so nice to ride a horse like that that’s just easy and straightforward. This class is fantastic for the horses to come and be able to get the experience in the stadium ring. And then especially to have that quality of judges and know that those scores actually count and that they mean something.”

From last draw in the Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3*, sponsored by Donato Farms, Silva Martin (USA) steered Christina Morin-Graham’s 11-year-old Blueberry Hill to a personal best 72.915% victory. The chestnut mare, by the Jazz son Boston, is lightly competed, having only three CDI tests on her record. This was her first international win. Bianca Berktold and Imperial — already double winners this week — also laid down a career best score, of 72.53%, to finish second. Lauren Knopp rounded out the all-American podium, securing third with 69.15% on Amadeus De Massa.

Chloe Gasiorowski (CAN) piloted Susan and Tim Dutta’s 15-year-old Dimaggio gelding Dimacci DC to the winner’s blue sash in the Intermediate II CDI3*. Given the unanimous nod from the five judges, Gasiorowski and Dimacci garnered 68.294% at their first international show together. Formerly campaigned by Susan Dutta, Dimacci has been out of the CDI spotlight since 2019, when he competed on the summer circuit in Europe. Making up a truly international podium, Swiss rider Barbara Bertschinger finished second with 66.471% on Sonnenberg’s Solisco CH, with Luuk Mourits (NED) taking third on Harmony’s Don’t Stop the Feeling with 65%.

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Competitions, Dressage

Schopf and Saumur Go Two for Two with Grand Prix Special Victory

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Carrie Schopf (ARM) with Saumur. ©susanjstickle.com.

Wellington, FL – February 26, 2022 – A beautiful day of competition on Saturday of week 7 of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) culminated in the feature class of the day, the Grand Prix Special CDI3*, presented by Fair Sky Farm. Armenia’s Carrie Schopf and Saumur made it two for two this week, following their win in the qualifier on Thursday with a victory in the Special.

Twelve competitors entered the stadium to strut their stuff, where towards the end of the class, Jessica Howington (USA) and her 15-year-old KWPN mare by Sir Donnerhall I x Gribaldi shot to the top of the leaderboard with a 70.149%. Just after her was Carrie Schopf and Saumur (Sancisco OLD x Tanzmeister I) who rode to a personal best of 70.979% to just edge out Howington for the blue ribbon.

“Anybody can win on a given day, especially when the scores were as close as they were today,” reflected Schopf. “But it’s really gratifying to have your work and your thought process rewarded.”

Schopf is an amateur rider who does have grooms who help her with her horses, but for Saumur, she does it all herself.

Their partnership was on full display today as Schopf utilized the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding’s technical prowess in combination with her own enjoyment of the test to excel in the extensions.

She explained, “This is a very forward test in the trot work especially, and it’s forward that if you swing with them, you can really capture that energy. You can really let them sail, so I just stepped on the gas pedal and went!”

Boucher and Mourits Post Wins

Earlier in the day, Beatrice Boucher (CAN) continued her successful week with Summerwood’s Limei after besting the field of 14 competitors in the Intermediate I CDI1* class. This marks Boucher’s second international win in as many days with Monica von Glahn’s nine-year-old Hanoverian mare by Londonderry x Weltmeyer. The pair earned particularly strong marks in the flying changes with 7.5s and 8s, propelling them to a personal best score of 70.912%.

In the Intermediate A CDI3* class, Luuk Mourits (NED) rode Harmony’s Don’t Stop the Feeling to a win with a score of 68.235%. The 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Don Primus x Noble Roi xx, owned by Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation, bookended the performance with strong passes down the centerline and shined throughout both the extended and collected trot work.

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Competitions, Dressage

Wandres and Bluetooth OLD Connect for Win in Five-Star Freestyle at AGDF

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Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD. ©susanjstickle.com.

Wellington, FL – February 25, 2022 – The week seven’s “Friday Night Stars” showcase at the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) on Friday, February 25, 2022 was hosted in the spectacular International Arena at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. German rider Frederic Wandres capitalized on his already lucrative season, winning the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, on Bluetooth OLD with 81.165%. Laurence Vanommeslaghe (BEL) filled second with an energetic performance on Edison (79.430%) and Spain’s Juan Matute Guimón finished third on Quantico (78.925%).

“Bluetooth is getting better and better,” said Wandres of the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Bordeaux. “I get more and more the feeling that I can ride during the test, and he offers me a very good feeling. I’m super happy about his development here in the Wellington season. For him the season is finished now, and he has a few more weeks here to rest a little bit and enjoy the Florida sun before he goes home. Then we are looking forward and trying to take these things which we achieved and developed here together with us to Europe.”

Second-placed Vanommeslaghe was pleased with her conclusion to the five-star week with Edison, the 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Glock’s Johnson TN that she rode to a freestyle victory at AGDF 5.

Third-placed Matute Guimón relished the opportunity to ride in the atmospheric jumping arena with Quantico, his 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games mount, as well as in the class with his sister Paula.

Lyle and Salvino Are Unbeatable

Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Salvino made it two wins from two starts in AGDF 7 when claiming the Grand Prix Special CDI5*, presented by Havensafe Farm. The 15-year-old stallion by Sandro Hit — part of the silver medal-winning USA team at the Tokyo Olympics — posted 79.511%, with a high score of 81.489% from judge Monique Peutz-Vegter.

Lyle finished 10 percentage points clear of second-placed Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén (SWE), who scored 69.617% with Devanto. Germany’s Christoph Koschel rounded out the international podium, claiming third, just a whisker behind Vilhelmson Silfvén, on 69.511% with the Lusitano gelding Favorito 11.

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Competitions, Dressage

Saumur and Carrie Schopf Scoop First International Grand Prix Win at AGDF

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Carrie Schopf (ARM) aboard Saumur. ©susanjstickle.com.

Wellington, FL – February 24, 2022 – The bonanza of dressage in week seven of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued with the two three-star grand prix classes on Thursday, February 24, 2022. It was a momentous day for Armenian rider Carrie Schopf. The American-born 64-year-old recorded her first international grand prix win with long-time partner Saumur. They posted a personal best of 69.087% to top the Grand Prix CDI3*, presented by Fair Sky Farm, vanquishing 14 other combinations. Americans filled the remaining podium places — a pattern repeated across the day — with Codi Harrison second (67.652%) on Katholt’s Bossco and Jessica Howington and Cavalia taking third with 67.261%, despite an error of course.

Saumur, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding whom Schopf competed at the European Championships in Rotterdam in 2019, was fresh and full of energy, even after his test.

“You can see how much energy he has, and sometimes he makes himself tense because he wants to do more than I want him to do,” explained Schopf, who is based in Germany and has ridden Saumur since he was eight. “My goal was to have a test that flowed, and where he felt comfortable and wanted to do his job and to be a team with him.”

Alcazar Is King of the Castle after Break from Competition

After a year out of the CDI ring — and a career of almost 100 international tests — Katherine Bateson-Chandler’s ride Alcazar showed he has lost none of his sparkle. Jane Forbes Clark’s 17-year-old gelding by Contango led the Grand Prix CDI3* (the qualifier for the freestyle), presented by Premier Equestrian, with 68.826%.

Bateson-Chandler spearheaded an American clean sweep of the podium: Hope Cooper claimed second with 68.500% on Hot Chocolate W and Susan Dutta finished third, riding Don Design DC to 67.174%.

“I’ve had him since he was six,” said Bateson-Chandler, who also nursed him back to health following colic surgery in the summer of 2016. “I hate to say he feels like my old shoe, but he does. He had a big break, so I changed up my warm-up this time and it was one of the best, most honest feelings I’ve had in the ring with him.

“It’s really fun to have one that you know that well and you’ve trained yourself,” she continued. “He’s really my friend, and we’ve spent so much time together and been through so many different travels. It’s a nice feeling, when they want to keep going in there and doing it at his age with the amount of showing he’s done.”

A unanimous and high-scoring win in the Prix St. Georges CDI3*, presented by Donato Farms, handed the winner’s sash to Bianca Berktold (USA), riding her own Imperial. First to go in the all-American field, Berktold and the nine-year-old KWPN mare by Charmeur pulled off a 73.000% performance, almost 2% higher than their previous best in this test. Judge at E, Germany’s Katrina Wüst, awarded the pair over 75%. Berktold and Imperial have finished on the podium in all four of their 2022 AGDF starts, and this week marks their first three-star show.

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Competitions, Dressage, Para-Equestrian

Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton Make Triumphant Return to AGDF

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Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton. ©susanjstickle.com.

Wellington, FL — February 22, 2021 — The 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued with week 6 national competition from Friday, February 18, through Sunday, February 20, which included top competition of all levels at Equestrian Village.

On Friday, spectators were treated to the return of United States Paralympic Gold Medalist, Roxanne Trunnell, and her Paralympic mount Dolton, owned by Flintwoode Farms LLC and Karin Flint, to the show ring for the first time since their golden performance in Tokyo. They executed a beautiful test in the Para Equestrian Team TOC, and followed that up on Saturday with an equally splendid test in the Para Equestrian Individual TOC class, to come away with wins in both.

Dolton, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Danone I x Londonderry, received scores in Friday’s test of 82.678% from the judge at C Debby Savage (USA) and 84.642% from the judge at B Sandy Osborn (USA) for an overall score or 83.660%. In Saturday’s test, Dolton and Trunnell earned a score of 80.000% from the judge at C Kem Barbosa (USA) and 81.428% from the judge at B Debby Savage for an overall score of 80.714%, more than five points ahead of second place finisher Charlotte Merle-Smith (USA) who scored 75.293% with Guata.

“Dolton felt outstanding. He always is so relaxed on the Global show grounds that he gives me the feeling he really is enjoying what he does, and how the horse feels about his job is always a top priority for me,” commented Trunnell. “I think the best part of my tests were the serpentines. Dolton is such a big horse that the serpentine really allows him to swing through his body and bend, plus he gets to really show off that drool-worthy, sexy walk of his.”

Friday’s FEI Prix St. Georges class was won by Julie McKean (USA) with Fling For U, a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare by Blue Hors Don Romantic x OO Seven, with a score of 73.823%. They garnered praise for their lateral work, notching scores of eight on both the half-pass to the left and to the right and were able to just edge out Vanessa Creech-Terauds (CAN) and Daniel L who scored 73.529%.

In Saturday’s FEI Prix St. Georges class, there were 11 competitors in the open section where Christopher Hickey (USA) rode to the win with 72.794% aboard Valentin, a 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding by Dalwhinnie x Regazzoni. Their consistent marks across the test propelled them to the top spot, just ahead of Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Nexolia Feodoro, who scored 72.353%.

Seven riders contested the open section of the FEI Grand Prix class, but it was Eliane Cordia van Reesema (USA) who excelled from start to finish with Codiak. Codiak, a 13-year-old Rheinlander gelding by Cristallo 7 x Carabas, demonstrated exceptional passage and pirouettes for marks of eight, which boosted his score with Cordia van Reesema to a 74.239%. Second place went to Lisa Marriott (GBR) and Valucio DH Z, who finished with 69.347%.

Competition concluded on Sunday with another notable display from 2020 Olympic team silver medalist Adrienne Lyle who rode Fürst Dream, a stallion by Fürstenball OLD owned by Betsy Juliano LLC, to a remarkable score of 96.000% in the USEF Young Horse Test for 4 Year Old class. Judges Sandy Osborn (USA) and Kem Barbosa were impressed with the trot and canter rhythm reflecting suppleness and natural balance.

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Competitions, Dressage

Genay Vaughn Claims Ticket for Summit Farm Future Challenge Final at AGDF

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Genay Vaughn (USA) riding Fleur Noir WSHS ©susanjstickle.com.

Wellington, FL – February 13, 2022 – Week five of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) wrapped up on Sunday, February 13, with the third qualifying round of both the Lövsta Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series and the Summit Farm Future Challenge Young Horse Prix St. Georges Series.

In the Prix St. Georges class, it was 27-year-old Genay Vaughn who staked her claim to a ticket for the final, scheduled for March 25. Riding her own and her mother Michele Vaughn’s Fleur Noir WSHS, an eight-year-old American-bred mare by Fürstenball, she posted 69.97% to head up the seven-strong class on an unseasonably rainy day.

Vaughn, who is based at Starr Vaughn Equestrian in California and has owned the mare since she was five, said: “I didn’t really know if we should compete or not, but the ring dried out throughout the day. We just did a nice short warm-up and went right in, and I think that was the best way to tackle it. When I first got her, she was really behind for her age, but I could tell right from the first ride that she was really trainable, really willing. And I love mares — I have a lot. When you get them on your side, they work so hard for you.”

Nicole Levy’s Faith in Imposant MC Is Richly Rewarded

In the big tour class — depleted of entries thanks to a morning of heavy rain — Nicole Levy (USA) rode her own Imposant MC to a 67.352% victory. The nine-year-old KWPN gelding by Bretton Woods was competing at only his second CDI show, having stepped in for the first time at AGDF 2021. Levy has also produced her horse since he was five and last year was sixth in the country in developing grand prix.

“We just started the national grands prix in the middle of January,” said the 39-year-old, “so he’s pretty new to this stuff, but he’s trying really hard. He has big gaits, so sometimes he gets tired with the compression required of the collection and can lose stamina, but that’s normal for a young horse.”

Jennifer Williams (USA) saved her best performance with Joppe K for the end of the week. The pair laid down a new personal best of 73.865% to top the Intermediate I Freestyle CDI2*. At just eight years old, The Joppe Partners’ gelding was the youngest in the class.

It had been four years since Eliane Cordia Van Reesema’s ride Codiak had set foot in a CDI ring, but the American rider made a triumphant return with Jewel Court Stud’s jumping-bred 13-year-old by Cristallo. Last to go in the Intermediate II CDI2*, they delivered a 70.265% to clinch the class. They edged out Portugal’s Tiago Ernesto and the Lusitano stallion Hobbit Interagro, whose 70.077% marked a new personal best. Barbara Bertschinger (SUI) finished third, riding Sonnenbergs Solisco CH to 67.441%.

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Competitions, Dressage

Benjamin Ebeling with Indeed Claims His First Four-Star Win at AGDF

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Benjamin Ebeling (USA) and Indeed ©susanjstickle.com.

Wellington, FL – February 12, 2022 – Saturday’s showcase class, the Grand Prix Special CDI4*, presented by MTICA Farm, was a close-fought battle, with Benjamin Ebeling (USA) coming out on top on February 12 at the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF).

Ebeling rode Indeed, Vantage Equestrian Group II’s 14-year-old daughter of Hofrat, to 72.255% in the pair’s first grand prix special at their first four-star show. Belgium’s Laurence Vanommeslaghe was just 0.1 percentage points adrift, clocking 72.106% on her own 15-year-old Hotline gelding, Havalon. Sarah Tubman (USA) rounded out the podium, riding First Apple to third place with 70.255%.

Ebeling took over the reins of Indeed — one of only two mares in the 11-strong class — from his Olympian father Jan Ebeling and this is only the new pairing’s second CDI. From penultimate draw in the class order, they climbed from a third-place finish in the qualifying grand prix on Thursday. He attributed his success to a last-minute change of plan.

Teenage Rider Christian Simonson Steps Up to Senior Ranks in Style

Christian Simonson (USA) has made the difficult step from the young rider division to senior competition in style, underscored by his resounding victory in the Intermediate I CDI1*. He scored 72.117% riding Zeaball Diawind, with whom he won three gold medals at the North American Youth Championships in 2021, setting a young rider record score (of 78.935% in the freestyle) in the process. The duo was unbeaten in six consecutive tests in 2021 and have come out all guns blazing in 2022.

Luuk Mourits (NED), who is part of the Harmony Sporthorses team, piloted Harmony’s Don’t Stop The Feeling to the winner’s sash in the Intermediate A CDI1*. Competing in their third AGDF season in a row, this was the pair’s first run through the Intermediate A in a CDI and it resulted in a unanimous win and 68.647% — with one judge awarding 71.176% to the 13-year-old gelding by Don Primus.

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Competitions, Dressage

Laurence Vanommeslaghe Scores Commanding Freestyle Win at AGDF

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Laurence Vanommeslaghe (BEL) and Edison. ©susanjstickle.com.

Wellington, FL – February 11, 2022 – Week five’s “Friday Night Stars” showcase at the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) produced top-drawer dressage and a huge new personal best from Laurence Vanommeslaghe (BEL) to win the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4*, presented by Helgstrand Dressage, on Friday, February 11, 2022.

Vanommeslaghe rode Edison to their first-ever CDI victory and a career best of 79.115%, just edging out the winners of the qualifying Grand Prix, Frederic Wandres (GER) and Bluetooth OLD, who were second with 79.045%. Third-placed Benjamin Ebeling — last to go of the 10 riders — clinched third riding Illuster Van De Kampert to 77.370% for the USA.

After the pandemic-induced drought of shows, the spectators were keen to show their support, and almost immediately after Vanommeslaghe began her test, whoops rang out, and the crowd clapped along to her bold heavy metal-themed soundtrack.

“I was so delighted,” beamed Vanommeslaghe. “I was very tense because there was a lot of public for me, and it was our first international show in a long time. I could really feel the support of the crowd. My tension went away when I could hear them. I think the horse likes the music — and the public — he really likes to move in rhythm with the music.”

Judge at C Jane Weatherwax, who awarded over 80%, said: “Music that powerful could be a bit much for the horse, but your horse is so powerful, and it really worked — especially the music for the passage. It was very fun. There was interesting choreography in the class. I think most of the riders chose their degree of difficult wisely and were able to pull it off.”

Second-placed Wandres said of Bluetooth OLD: “I had a very good feeling during the test. For me that’s very important, because I had some shows when I started with him where he was a little bit shy, and I could not take what he offered me in the warmup into the ring. So that is already much better, and we find more and more together.”

Wandres is another rider on the hunt for a start at the Championships in Herning, and third-placed Ebeling is also eyeing a spot there. Both riders plan to contest the five-star show at AGDF 7.

“It was such a big environment in there tonight,” said Ebeling. “There was a little bit of tension from my horse. The show organizers do such a great job of advertising the show, so of course there was a big audience, and he got a little excited. We had some mistakes related to tension, but overall, I was very pleased.”

Charlotte Jorst and Kastel’s Nintendo Claim World Cup Freestyle

Charlotte Jorst (USA) chalked up her second win in as many days on the 19-year-old Kastel’s Nintendo in the World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty. Dancing to a soundtrack from “Pirates of the Caribbean” — complete with pirate motif on both her stock and the horse’s ear bonnet — Jorst laid down 79.075% to edge out Spain’s Juan Matute Guimón, who was second with 78.050% on Quantico. Anna Buffini (USA) finished third with 77.605% on FRH Davinia La Douce.

Two judges awarded Jorst over 80%, and she was delighted with Nintendo’s improvements from the last time they rode this test, in Aachen, Germany last September.

At 19, Nintendo was the oldest horse in the class, but thanks to his routine of ample trail riding and daily turnout, he is still fit and fresh in the ring.

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.