Category Archives: Adequan Global Dressage Festival

Competitions, Dressage

Charlotte Jorst Makes Triumphant Return to AGDF with Kastel’s Nintendo

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Charlotte Jorst (USA) and Kastel’s Nintendo ©susanjstickle.com.

Wellington, FL – Two high quality grand prix classes set the tone on the opening day of week five of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL. Charlotte Jorst (USA) rode her own Kastel’s Nintendo to 72.579% and the top spot in the World Cup™ short Grand Prix, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty. At 18 years old, the stallion by Negro was the oldest in the field of 11 starters and emerged the unanimous winner across the five judges.

Duos with firm partnerships were the order of the day in this class. Second-placed Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu scored 71.895% on her long-time partner All In for second, while Spain’s Juan Matute Guimón finished third on Quantico with 70.447%.

“Nintendo feels better and better all the time,” enthused the 55-year-old Danish-born American rider, whose previous competitive outing with the horse was at Aachen, Germany in September 2021. “He’s more and more in front of my leg, he’s more and more up, and he loves the job. He’s so excited to be here; he’s happier than a clam.

“I think the two pirouettes with the one-times in between [were the highlight of the test], because he’s so straight in those ones and those pirouettes — you can come up that centerline and things just happen right after the other in this test. It was just wonderful,” added Jorst, who was riding the modified short version of the grand prix test in competition for the first time with Nintendo.

“I think it’s fun to do another test,” she said. “It’s fun that you do the canter depart and then up the centerline and you have to do the zigzag. The test is kind of nifty, so I’m good with it.”

Wandres and Bluetooth Remain Unbeaten

Frederic Wandres (GER) and Bluetooth OLD won the Grand Prix CDI4*, presented by Helgstrand Dressage. They emerged triumphant from the 10 starters to put an unassailable 73.565% on the scoreboard, with a high mark of 75.435%. The pair remains unbeaten in all three of their starts at AGDF 2022 so far.

“In week one he was a little bit tired,” said the 33-year-old, who works for Hof Kasselmann in Germany. “Today it was a little bit the opposite. I felt like he was more fresh, and I really liked that. Last time I competed in the World Cup Grand Prix and that’s a completely different test, completely different lines. I thought maybe I should go back once to the normal grand prix version, because all the last shows I did the short grand prix.

“Bluetooth is still a young grand prix horse, so it’s not always so easy to switch between these tests. And the normal grand prix version, which we rode today, is a very difficult test; we know that all. I think he’s overall a very elegant and shining horse with no real weak points. For sure the extensions and the piaffe/passage are something he developed very well,” added Wandres, who had a mistake in the one-time changes is an otherwise harmonious performance.

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

Competitions, Dressage

Frederic Wandres Commands at AGDF to Qualify for Summit Farm Future Challenge Final

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Frederic Wandres (GER) riding Dolciario. © SusanJStickle.com.

Wellington, FL – January 30, 2022 – Week three of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) wrapped up on Sunday, January 30, with the second qualifiers of the Lövsta Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series and the Summit Farm Future Challenge Young Horse Prix St. Georges Series.  These classes aim to identify and nurture talented, up-and-coming young FEI horses. Grand finals for both classes take place during AGDF 11.

In unusually chilly conditions, first to go of eight small tour combinations, Germany’s Frederic Wandres, rode Hof Kasselmann’s Dolciario to the top spot in the Prix St. Georges with 72.156%. Both he and second-placed American rider Bianca Berktold — who partnered her own nine-year-old Charmeur mare, Imperial, to 72.009% — qualified for the final.

Eight-year-old Dolciario (by Danciano x Don Frederico) last appeared in the CDI ring at the six-year-old finals at Hagen in 2020 under the Czech Republic’s Eva Niklova. He and Wandres are a brand-new combination, as the horse was ridden by a colleague at Hof Kasselmann’s and Wandres only took over the reins when Dolciario arrived in Florida for AGDF.

“This was the first time we competed together, and it was a very great start,” said the 35-year-old Wandres, who is ranked 18th in the world on his top horse, Duke of Britain FRH. “We were the first starters in the class. That’s sometimes not easy, but we ended up very well. Dolciario was very relaxed with the atmosphere. It was a bit windy and there was enough going on to look at, but he was really focused and concentrated.”

The test was marred only by a muddled single flying change, but eights all over the rest of the sheet meant the overall marks stayed high enough for the win.

“The best parts were the whole trot tour, and the walk,” said Wandres. “The most expensive mistake was the broken flying change in the end of the extended canter, which was nearly not shown. There was a little bit of a miscommunication and he was not really listening maybe, but we have to get to know each other better and it is easy to prepare better for the next time.

“This series was a start for me and the horse. It’s very good because the other horses were also young horses. That’s something I really like. Now I would like to do some CDIs in the Small Tour,” added Wandres, who thinks Dolciario could be a useful small tour Nations Cup horse for Germany.

In the big tour class, Australian Olympian Kelly Layne snapped up a ticket to the final, riding Fernando to 70.490% at Intermediate II level. Ellen Trouillé’s 10-year-old gelding, by Foundation out of a Sandro Hit mare, was awarded a high mark of 73.382% from judge at H, Mariano Santos Redondo. Layne has been riding him since he was five.

“He was one of those horses that just followed the book,” said Wellington-based Layne. “When he was supposed to learn the flying change, he learned the flying change. He just learned it all like he’d already done it before. By the time he was seven, he was already up to green PSG. At eight he could do the piaffe and passage, but it’s still a little soon to go into the big classes with him. I still want him to get the exposure to the big atmosphere without putting the pressure on him.”

Layne competed in this class in AGDF 1 and was pleased with Fernando’s improvements since then.

“The flying changes were much more secure this week than two weeks ago, and I worked on getting the walk a bit more calm and being braver to let the rein out,” she explained. “He’s always a genius on the pirouettes, so I have to just set him up and let him do his job. I can always add more power to the piaffe/passage, but he was really secure and has amazing rhythm and tempo. As he gets stronger that will be a major feature, and I do believe that he is a big-time show horse. He doesn’t have any weakness in his body physically, and mentally he’s the horse that will go in the big stadium and do his job. They’re rare.”

Layne is a big fan of the developing horse classes: “I love this tour and being a part of it every year. It’s exciting putting horses of the same age a little bit against each other. It’s just a wonderful avenue, and I’m so excited,” she added.

Christina Vinios (USA) continued her unbroken winning streak with Five Rings Farm’s 18-year-old Deauville, by Del Gado. The Wellington-based rider topped the Intermediate II CDI3* with a new personal best of 67.559%. The pair is unbeaten in all four of their international starts, having first stepped into the CDI ring in AGDF 1. Ali Potasky (USA) continued her dominance of the small tour divisions at AGDF 2022, leading the Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3*, presented by VitaFlex. Riding Irintha, Kathy Priest’s nine-year-old mare by Everdale, she scored 71.850%, with a high artistic mark of over 78% from the judge at C, Janet Foy.

Sunday’s result marked the third win for the pair during AGDF 3, and they remain unbeaten in all six of their CDI starts this season.

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

Competitions, Dressage

Susan Pape Is Untouchable with Double Victory and a Personal Best at AGDF

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Susan Pape (GBR) and Harmony’s Eclectisch. © SusanJStickle.com.

Wellington, FL – January 29, 2022 – Week three of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL continued to bring out personal best performances despite unusually cool and windy conditions. The day’s top class, the Grand Prix Special CDI4*, presented by Harmony Sporthorses, was a tussle between the on-form Susan Pape (GBR) and the seven-time Swedish Olympian Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén. The judges found them hard to split, with two favoring Vilhelmson Silfvén and three putting Pape in the lead, with a final score of 72.341%. Ultimately it was Pape and Harmony’s Eclectisch who triumphed after an error of course and moments of tension capped Vilhelmson Silfvén’s score on Devanto to 70.660%. USA rider Susan Dutta rounded out the podium with 68.787% on Figeac DC.

Pape posted yet another personal best with her own and Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation’s stallion Harmony’s Eclectisch, having already done so in her qualifying grand prix. Before this week, the son of Zenon had not won a CDI test at Grand Prix level, but he was on top form to take two winner’s rugs in AGDF 3.

“I thought the test today was really good,” said the 60-year-old. “Eclectisch gave me a really good feeling. He was really in front of me and focused. I had one little hiccup at the end of the two-tempis, but that’s always the rider. He was really super.”

Lots of eights on Pape’s score sheet throughout the rest of the test helped keep the score buoyant despite the mistake.

“He has fluid half-passes, he has very good canter work, and expressive passage,” she enthused of the 13-year-old, whose next show will be the five star in AGDF 7. “The piaffe is maybe his weakest point at the moment, but he’s still maturing and getting there. He’s built quite upright; he’s a typical Dutch horse with a high neck and that’s the way he goes.”

Pape made it five wins from five starts with her two horses across AGDF 3.

“This was such an incredible week for me, quite amazing,” she said. “It’s never happened before, not that I can think of. It’s been really wonderful, and also really nice being able to ride with people in the grandstand.”

Her other win on Saturday came courtesy of Harmony’s Giulilanta in the Intermediate I CDI1*. A test peppered with eights helped hand victory to the 11-year-old Jazz daughter whom Pape co-owns with Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation.

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

Competitions, Dressage

Michael Klimke Claims 3* Freestyle on Youngest Horse in the Class at AGDF

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Michael Klimke (GER) on Domino 957. © SusanJStickle.com.

Germany’s Michael Klimke laid down 74.110% to claim the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*, presented by Beatrice Marienau Dressage, on Friday, January 28, of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). Partnered with Domino 957, Uwe Kappel’s mare by Den Haag, Klimke was untouchable, edging out the previous day’s grand prix winners Benjamin Ebeling (USA) and Indeed. Ben’s father Jan Ebeling (USA) finished third with 73.14% on Bellena.

At 10 years old, Klimke’s ride Domino 957 was the youngest horse in the class and competing at her first CDI at big tour level. She contested small tour classes at AGDF in 2021, but this marked her first international win. The pair was awarded a high score of 75.875%.

“Yesterday in the grand prix she wasn’t too hot in the piaffe, which is normally her highlight,” said Klimke. “I’ve been long enough in the sport of the training of young horses up to grand prix that I don’t get completely crazy tonight because my horse won the freestyle. I’m super happy about the whole circuit, and thankful to the organizers, to everybody, that makes it happen.”

Paula Matute Guimón Caps Career-Defining Week to Win Freestyle under Lights

Spanish rider Paula Matute Guimón pulled off the biggest win of her career, piloting her own and Julie McAllister’s 14-year-old Delagronge to the blue ribbon in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4*, presented by U.S. P.R.E. Association. The second “Friday Night Stars” evening freestyle at AGDF also provided a personal best for Matute Guimón and the De Niro stallion of 74.480%.

It was an international podium, with Germany’s Christoph Koschel finishing runner-up on the striking grey Lusitano Favorito 11 (71.670%) and Mikala Münter (USA) filling third on Salsa Hit with 71.425%.

“I honestly didn’t expect those results,” said the 26-year-old Matute Guimón. “The victory is amazing, but I want to keep improving. Winning is a very nice reward, and it means a lot. Of course, we all like the color blue, but I wasn’t expecting it. I have great competitors next to me, who work very hard. I’m super happy, and I’m going to remember this week forever.”

This was Matute Guimón’s first four-star freestyle win.

“This freestyle [music] used to belong to my brother with Don Diego and I took over, and I think now I can say that it’s mine,” she added. “The horse was a little bit challenging today, but we still made it happen.

“This win means a lot to me,” continued Matute Guimón. “It’s been many years watching from the outside trying to figure out what it takes to come back, so I really am enjoying every second of this. I’m so happy, so grateful to the team behind me, the owners for believing in me, for believing in us, and for making this dream come true.”

Judge Janet Foy said: “Paula and I spoke last month at a CDI, and she had a little issue with some of her choreography. I was thrilled that tonight she came back after a big disappointment there and fixed it, rode beautifully, and did a great job.

“The quality of the horses keeps getting more and more amazing at this circuit,” she continued. “I’m really looking forward to judging the five-star and seeing how these horses are progressing through the season. There are world-class horses, and we have world-class riders here as well. To have the Friday nights again is very, very special.”

Runner-up Christoph Koschel found his horse, Favorito 11, during a clinic in Portugal.

“I train a few team riders from Portugal, and I found him there,” explained Koschel, who rode to music from “Peter and the Wolf.” “The guys said his head is a little too big, so they didn’t want to have him. I said I’d always wanted a Lusitano. It was just for fun, and I wanted to see where I can get to, and so I bought him when he was five, and now we’re in the international ring.

“He was a little scared under the lights in the canter tonight,” added Koschel, who explained that the horse was due to make his CDI debut last year, but it was delayed due to white line disease in his hoof which took a year to clear up. “It’s really his first time away from home, but I was really happy with my ride.”

Mikala Münter was delighted to be back on a grand prix podium.

“It’s just amazing to be back; it’s been many years,” said Münter, referring to the stellar career of her former top ride, My Lady. “I got Salsa Hit in training, and nobody ever thought he was going to make it to this level. He was very spicy. A lot of people have seen me fly around the show grounds with this horse over the years, so I’m thrilled that he can keep it all together and he’s made it to this level. And I’m sure he’s going to get even better once I get everything cleaned up.”

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

Competitions, Dressage

Lövsta Future Challenge Qualifying Series Kicks Off with High Scoring Win for Wandres at AGDF

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Frederic Wandres (GER) on Harrods 3. ©SusanJStickle.

Wellington, FL – January 16, 2022 – The first week of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, Florida wrapped up on Sunday, January 16, with the opening qualifiers of the Lövsta Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series and the Summit Farm Future Challenge Young Horse Prix St. Georges Series under brooding skies. Both classes aim to identify and nurture talented, up-and-coming young horses. Grand finals for both classes will be held during AGDF 11.

Germany’s Frederic Wandres capped a week already replete with winner’s sashes — both courtesy of his Grand Prix horse Bluetooth OLD — with victory in the Lövsta Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series competing in the FEI Intermediate II test. He rode the nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding Harrods 3 to 74.352%.

Wandres, who successfully competed Harrods at last year’s AGDF in Prix St. Georges, said: “I felt already last year that there is so much talent in him, and we just have to bring it into the arena now, which is sometimes not that easy. At home you feel what your horse can do, but to bring it inside is something else. But I’m super happy with him and he feels fantastic.

“For competing in the Intermediate II, you have to train all of the exercises step by step,” he continued. “Then you have to bring it all together, like a puzzle, and connect it. The piaffe-passage, the whole pirouettes, and the changes, that takes so much energy out of the horses — more than you expect sometimes. You have to do it step by step over the winter and then try to bring it together. The horse is getting more power by doing it.”

With threatening skies that would open up at the conclusion of competition, Wandres was confident that Harrods would be solid no matter what.

“He can handle nearly all kinds of weather. I thought the connection of the whole test was good. I had a small mistake in the two tempis, but that can happen to a young horse. I felt he was in front of me and willing to do everything,” added Wandres, who praised the Hochadel gelding’s good temperament. “I love him, and I think he’s exactly where he has to be.”

Kelly Layne (AUS) filled the runner-up spot with a 72.381% test on Ellen Trouillé’s 10-year-old Foundation gelding, Fernando. She went one better in the Summit Farm Future Challenge Young Horse Prix St. Georges class, winning it from last draw with 67.734% on the nine-year-old Safira 66. The mare is another owned by Trouillé, who bought her at the Hanoverian auction in Germany.

“She’s always been scared about things on the ground and nervous even of the rider, so you have to be really careful,” explained Layne, who competed Samhitas at the Tokyo Olympic Games. “Safira is super sensitive to ride, and you have to be gentle. I just coaxed her round out there today to give her a good experience, and I’m thrilled that we are the winners. It wasn’t really expected, but I think that’s the quality of horse I’m sitting on. I can’t believe in my life that I get to sit on a horse like that. She’s like flying a kite, and it feels like you’re going to lift off any second.”

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

Competitions, Dressage

Vilhelmson-Silfvén and Devanto Top the Leaderboard with New Personal Best Score at AGDF

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Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén (SWE) on Devanto. ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – January 15, 2022 – The seven-time Swedish Olympic rider Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén took home the winner’s blanket and sash in the Grand Prix Special CDI4*, presented by Palm Beach Equine Clinic. Riding Lövsta Stuteri’s 13-year-old Devanto, Vilhelmson-Silfvén logged a new record score for the Holsteiner gelding at the level – 73.425% – despite a blip in the first set of one-time changes. Overall, they were rewarded with a smattering of eights in the test and a nine for extended canter. Runner-up spot went to Susan Dutta (USA) on her own and her husband Tim’s 13-year-old gelding Figeac DC with 68.596%.

Devanto was formerly campaigned at Grand Prix by Germany’s Juliane Brunkhorst. Vilhelmson-Silfvén did her first CDI on him at AGDF exactly a year ago, and this was their eighth CDI test.

“It’s a gift to get a ready-made horse,” said the 54-year-old Vilhelmson-Silfvén. “But that’s not to say it’s easier, because you really have to make them your own. You have to learn how they work, and they have to learn how you work. You have to give them time to understand you. I get to understand how a horse like Devanto – with all this power – how he reacts, if he reacts, if he’s too tense, or if he’s over ambitious. He’s very sensitive, and I like that.”

Unanimous Victory for Britain’s Susan Pape at Small Tour

It was the final competitor in the Intermediate I CDI1*, Susan Pape, who swept the class with a unanimous first place from the five judges. The British rider, 58, rode Harmony Sporthorses’s 11-year-old Jazz x Flemmingh mare to 72.265% at only the pair’s second international show together. They had more than 2.6 percentage points in hand over second-placed Shannon Dueck (CAN) on As You Wish.

Christina Vinios rode Deauville in the pair’s first international show to a winning 66.265% in the FEI Intermediate A CDI2*. Five Rings Farm’s 18-year-old Oldenburg gelding is by the De Niro son Del Gado and out of a Gervantus I mare.

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

Competitions, Dressage

Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD Transmit Winning Signal with Freestyle Personal Best at AGDF

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Frederic Wandres (GER) and Bluetooth OLD. ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – January 14, 2022 – The first “Friday Night Stars” evening freestyle of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, Florida did not disappoint. The highlight class of week one, the FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by Lövsta Stuteri, produced top-drawer dressage, personal bests galore, and a winning score of over 81%.

The 34-year-old German rider Frederic Wandres pulled off another powerful, supple, and enchanting performance for 81.065% aboard Elena Knyaginicheva and Sergey Knyaginichev’s 12-year-old Bordeaux gelding Bluetooth OLD, who only started international grand prix in the spring of 2021.

Anna Buffini (USA) rode her own FRH Davinia La Douce, by Don Frederico, into second place, and Ashley Holzer (USA) finished third on Dr. Diane Fellows’s Hochadel mare Havanna 145 (77.25%).

“I felt super tonight,” said Wandres, who also topped the Grand Prix and whose freestyle was made by Michael Erdmann. “My best score was 79% in Aachen in the four-star CDI, but today 81% is really something fantastic and incredible.”

Jennifer Williams’s Millione Records Second Win with Personal Best Freestyle Score

It was nip and tuck in a high-quality tussle for the top spot in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4*, presented by CabanaCoast. Both Jennifer Williams (USA) and Susan Pape (GBR) scored over 77%, but it was Williams who emerged triumphant, taking her prize-money earnings to $5,500 in 24 hours.

Riding the 19-year-old gelding Millione, who is six years older than any of his challengers, Williams pulled off a career-high score of 77.175% — with Pape trailing by just 0.17 percentage points aboard Harmony’s Eclectisch. This was the second career personal best set by the Millione Partners’ gelding Millione, by Milan, in two days.

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Jorst Concludes AGDF 2021 with Victory in FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*

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Charlotte Jorst and Kastel’s Nintendo ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – April 4, 2021 – The 2021 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) resumed its final day of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL on Sunday, April 4. Victory and a personal best score went to Charlotte Jorst (USA) and Kastel’s Nintendo in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty.

Jorst and Kastel Denmark’s 2003 KWPN stallion by Negro rode to a “Pirates of the Caribbean”-themed freestyle, highlighting the horse’s big movement and showcasing his talent for the piaffe and passage. The test ultimately won them a 77.400%. “It feels great to hit a personal best,” began Jorst “but to be honest, now it has me wanting more!”

She continued, “I’ve had lessons with Debbie [McDonald] this week, and that has really seemed to help me finesse those little things that needed to be finessed. He was great in the Grand Prix, so yesterday I just walked him out. Today, I just warmed up a little beforehand to keep him fresh. He loves it, and he really loves his job.”

The pair, based on the West Coast for the remainder of the year, has enjoyed Florida this season and Jorst admitted that each season she likes it more and more. “This season I’ve been here longer than I ever have in the past,” she explained. “There’s just so much kindness here. I feel like in this community in Florida is one family. For me, this has been an incredible season full of personal growth and friendships. It’s really been an incredible season for me on all fronts, and it never ceases to amaze me how incredibly supportive this community is.”

The FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle CDI3* was topped by Dongseon Kim (KOR) and his own Lord Nunes, a 2012 Rheinlander stallion by Lord Loxley I, who earned a 72.850%. Second place went to Elaine Cordia Van Reesema (USA) on her own 2010 KWPN gelding, Fellow (Amazing Star), earning a score of 70.075%. Third was rounded out by Spain’s Paula Matute Guimon on Deborah Ann Berger’s 2005 Hanoverian gelding by White Star, Legacy’s Walentino, with 69.150%.

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Yvonne Losos De Muñiz Rides to Second Personal Best Score of Week at AGDF

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Yvonne Losos De Muñiz and Aquamarijn ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – April 3, 2021 – It was Yvonne Losos De Muñiz (DOM) and Aquamarijn who notched another victory on Saturday, April 3, at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), this time in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 4*, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate, after riding to yet another personal best score of 80.745%.

“Right now I think I’m still on cloud nine,” said Losos De Muñiz after her performance with the 2005 KWPN mare by United. “The whole week has been incredible. As I mentioned yesterday, I am incredibly satisfied in knowing that the training is working, that I’m on and she’s on.”

She continued, “I’m thrilled where I ended up. I’ve reached all of my personal goals, and right now I’m exactly where I wanted to be going into this next part of training while setting up for the Olympics, so I’m going to go on vacation now! This season I made my freestyle more difficult, and there was a period of time once or twice after riding it that I have been tempted to back off and tone it down, but I knew that if I could ride it at home then I could ride it here. I just needed to figure out the amount of pressure where, when, and how, and today I figured it out. We nailed it, and it was such a cool feeling going down that center line, and I just wanted to cheer the whole way. It’s really an amazing feeling when you’re at that point with your equine partner; there is no other feeling in the world. It’s pretty amazing.”

Losos De Muñiz also credited the quality and atmosphere of the AGDF venue, saying, “The atmosphere here [at AGDF] is amazing, and while I know that there are other incredible venues out there, I think that this venue here offers us so much in every aspect. I couldn’t ask for a better place to compete throughout the winter.”

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Losos de Muñiz and Aquamarijn Earn Victory in FEI Grand Prix CDI4* for Freestyle

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Yvonne Losos De Muñiz and Aquamarijn ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – April 2, 2021 – Week 12 of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued on Friday, April 2, with a win for Yvonne Losos De Muñiz (DOM) and Aquamarijn in the FEI Grand Prix CDI4* for Freestyle, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

Losos De Muñiz and the 2005 KWPN mare by United rode to a personal best score of 74.196%. “I’m through the roof,” she began. “I think it’s one of the first times in my riding career with her that I’ve actually gone in and have had the control, the relaxation, the activity, all of those words that we use and search for in dressage, I actually went in there and went ‘WOW, I’ve got it. Now what do I do with it?’”

The pair was originally supposed to be competing at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Sweden this week, but after it was cancelled, Losos De Muñiz and the mare regrouped. “Because we had all of that time off last year due to COVID,” she explained, “our buildup was for the World Cup Final. It’s such a satisfaction for me to see that my training, my planning, is peaking now when the Final would be taking place. I never thought I’d get a 74% with her; she’s a bit of a difficult character, but it all fell into place today. It’s just years and years of practice and trial and error. It all just lined up for us. She was in there saying, ‘Yes ma’am, how much do you want from me?’ and that was an amazing feeling.”

Though Losos De Muñiz originally tried the mare while searching for a horse for a client, she quickly decided to make the purchase with her husband. “In the beginning,” she remarked, “she gave me a lot of power, and I knew that if I could get that on my side it would be amazing. We decided to try, but I never saw her as my top horse. I always saw her as my backup, because we always need that, but I thought she’d be a cool one to bring up the levels. She’s gone from my backup [horse] to my number one. She’s very opinionated, but I am too. In the beginning we did clash, but I got over that quickly. It’s the coolest thing when you’ve got such a powerhouse with such an opinion, who is on your side going, ‘Let’s do more!’ She’s there knowing her job and wants to do it right, and that’s a great feeling.”

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