Category Archives: Adequan Global Dressage Festival

Competitions, Dressage

Team Canada Conquers CDIO-U25 Nations Cup

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Beatrice Boucher and Baldacci ©SusanJStickle.

Wellington, FL – March 17, 2021 – The 10th week of the 2021 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) commenced on Wednesday, March 17, featuring the Nations Cup CDIO-U25 presented by Diamante Farms, and welcoming the first win for a Canadian U25 Team in five years of the Under 25 Nations Cup at AGDF.

First in the ring for Team Canada was Beatrice Boucher, who rode Camille and Gilles Bergeron’s 2006 KWPN gelding by Havidoff, Baldacci, to a score of 65.323%.

She began, “I just went in and tried my best to get through the test. It’s the first CDI that I’ve done with this horse, and I’ve only ridden him in two shows to qualify for this show, so I don’t know him very well in the show ring.”

It is the 23-year-old’s first season competing in the U25 division, and she noted that she wants to spend a bit more time perfecting her performance before heading the Grand Prix in a year or two. Of her first Nations Cup experience, Boucher said, “It’s really special to be on a team with these two riders, so it feels very exciting. They’re great teammates, and the whole experience has been fun.”

Second in for the Canadians was 21-year-old Vanessa Creech-Terauds riding Fleur De Lis L, Diane Creech and Louise Leatherdale’s 2009 Hanoverian mare by First Dance, earning a 66.529%.

The senior team CDIO contest is at the half-way mark, with four teams — the USA, Canada, Germany, and Australia — fighting for the spot atop the podium. Team Germany, consisting of Michael Klimke, Kevin Kohmann, Christoph Koschel, and Frederic Wandres, is in the lead with a score of 223.333.

The United States of America team of Katherine Bateson-Chandler, Benjamin Ebeling, Adrienne Lyle, and Jennifer Williams sits just behind in second with 222.370. Canada (Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, Lindsay Kellock, Naima Moreira Laliberte, Chris Von Martels) waits in third with 217.848, while Australia trails behind on 192.239.

In the FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI3*, presented by Iron Spring Farm, the USA’s Sabine Schut-Kery won her third consecutive AGDF class with Alice Womble’s 2006 Hanoverian stallion by San Remo, Sanceo, earning a personal best score of 75.978%. Nick Wagman (USA) and Don John, Beverly Jean Gepfer’s 2008 KWPN gelding by Johnson TN, earned second place with a 73.196%. Third went to Anna Buffini (USA) on her own 2008 Hanoverian mare by Don Frederico, FRH Davinia la Douce, scoring a personal best of 71.348%.

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

LaGoy-Weltz and Rassing’s Lonoir Close Out AGDF 8 with Ticket to FEI World Cup Final

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Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Rassing’s Lonoir ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – March 7, 2021 – Week eight of the 2021 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) concluded on Sunday, March 7, with another win for USA’s Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Rassing’s Lonoir in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W, presented by Wellington Agricultural Services.

LaGoy-Weltz had her sights set on the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg, Sweden and the ride secured her ticket for the North American League after earning another personal best, 83.570%.

“I think there was relief when we came down that final centerline,” admitted LaGoy-Weltz. “There was a small fear that since this was the last World Cup qualifier, something would go wrong, and you really just hope you make it to the end of the test.”

Though the pair was just on the cusp of 90% for their artistic marks, LaGoy-Weltz noted that she wasn’t sure how it went until the pair left the arena and she got feedback from her team.

“I don’t always know how it went,” she said. “I’ll come out like, ‘Was it good?’ and everyone’s like, ‘It was amazing!’ I think we are all such perfectionists, and we are always finding things here and there that could be better. He’s quite extravagant so I don’t always know what his legs are doing under me. When you come out and everyone is excited, there is relief. He’s such a special horse, and though he is getting older, it just seems like we are just getting better, and I feel very lucky that it’s going that way.”

LaGoy-Weltz didn’t alter her freestyle since the last time she rode it in the International Stadium, and explained her reasoning on keeping it the same, though she and the 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding by de Noir owned Mary Anne McPhail and LaGoy-Weltz do have other variations of it.

“It’s still the same pattern and the same music,” she commented. “Marlene Whitaker made it for us and it’s really still the first draft, but I feel like she got it quite good, and I like familiarity. We have versions with small tweaks, but I feel like I know this one well, and it works, so why change it? It’s quite a challenging pattern. There’s a lot in it, and it takes a lot of focus to ride, on his part and mine, but I like it a lot and I think Marlene did a fantastic job with all of it.”

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

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PBIEC to Amend New Horse Show Entry Restriction

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Wellington, FL – March 6, 2021 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) is amending one measure of the restrictions that were put in place on March 3, 2021, at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) for the Winter Equestrian Festival and Adequan® Global Dressage Festival.

Previously, ESP was not accepting any new entries to WEF and AGDF that had not previously shown this year.

Management has consulted with USEF, the State of Florida Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Industry, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and WEF/AGDF Official Veterinarians, Palm Beach Equine Clinic, to adjust this measure.

As of Monday, March 8, new horse show entries will be allowed if:

  1. The horse has not showed outside of Wellington venues in the last 10 days.
  2. The horse has not been exposed to horses that have competed at venues outside of Wellington.

Please note that all other restrictions are still in place and are as follows:

  1. Anyone shipping horses into the PBIEC and Equestrian Village facilities will be required to sign a declaration stating that the horses entering the facility have not competed at other Florida venues outside of Wellington or been in close contact with horses that competed in other Florida venues outside of Wellington within ten (10) days prior to their arrival.
  2. Starting Monday, March 8, any horses shipping onto the property (both WEF and AGDF grounds) will require a health certificate or statement on official licensed veterinarian letterhead and must be dated by Veterinarian within seven (7) days of arriving.
  3. ESP will require all barns on PBIEC and Equestrian Village show grounds to maintain a temperature log with twice-daily temperatures recorded and recommend posting on each horse’s stall door. Random checks by approved veterinary staff may be implemented.
  4. ESP and USEF strongly recommend that equestrians do not ship horses throughout the state for the foreseeable future. In addition, we encourage you to cease any European imports you may have scheduled to Florida. We urge those with recently imported horses to isolate and monitor them for 10 days. Horses imported from Europe in the last 14 days and going forward will not be allowed into PBIEC or Equestrian Village show grounds.
  5. Any horse on the show grounds with a fever of unknown origin or of suspicious origin must be reported to ESP Management. It is always better to err on the side of safety. Isolation stalls will either be available on the grounds or at a local veterinary practice if the need arises.

It is our shared responsibility to keep our horses safe. Similar to the suggested protocols in place for humans due to COVID-19, we urge all equestrians to please remember and abide by the following biosecurity measures:

  • Take all horses’ temperatures daily and report any horse with a temperature above 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit or any signs of respiratory or neurological disease to your veterinarian and/or show management
  • Take the temperature of all horses prior to shipping to WEF or AGDF, and do not bring any febrile horses to the show.
  • Avoid mixing of horses where possible; practice equine ‘social distancing’.
  • Ensure good hygiene and biosecurity at the show and your home farms.
  • Make sure your horses are currently vaccinated for influenza and EHV. Under no circumstances should a horse that has been vaccinated compete within 7 days.
  • You should be able to document your horse’s normal temperature before arrival. Please do not ship horses with elevated temperatures. It is recommended that you establish a log of temperatures taken at least twice daily. If there is an elevated temperature for more than a 24-hour period, please consult your local Veterinarian immediately.
  • Every effort should be made to minimize stress and commingling of horses shipped long distances. Extra hours on a horse van or moving from stable to stable is the fastest way to compromise your horses’ and your neighbor’s horses’ health.
  • Please take the time to review equine good hygiene practices and impress its importance to your grooms and barn managers in everyday care.

Further biosecurity protocols and additional resources can be found here:

United States Department of Agriculture Information on Equine Herpesvirus

American Association of Equine Practitioners FAQ on Equine Herpesvirus

United States Equestrian Federation Biosecurity Measures for Horses at Home and at Competitions

ESP has longstanding protocols to manage such events and will provide isolation facilities if and as required. Experience has taught us that early identification is key when dealing with disease outbreaks, and this requires cooperation from everyone within the community.

If you have any questions or concerns about your horse’s health, please contact our veterinary partners: Palm Beach Equine Clinic at 561-793-1599.

For more information, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Wagman Secures Second Victory of the Week aboard Don John at AGDF 8

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Nick Wagman and Don John ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – March 6, 2021 – The Adequan® Global Dressage Festival continued on Saturday, March 6, marking another top placing this week for the USA’s Nick Wagman and Don John in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3*, presented by The Dutta Corp. Wagman and Don John, Beverly Jean Gepfer’s 2008 KWPN gelding by Johnson TN, claimed another personal best, this time a 77.319%, which brought tears of joy to the Californian’s eyes after a week of winning performances.

“This one hasn’t sunk in yet,” revealed Wagman. “I think it’s going to take a moment to process this! I was more concerned about the rain all day and then to go and pull off a ride like this is just WOW! A lot of credit goes to him; he really pulled it together, and we didn’t let each other down… or I didn’t let him down; that’s a better way to put it.”

The middle of the class was put on an hour-long hold due to rain, and Wagman explained that “DJ” was hot in warmup, but handled it all like a pro.

Wagman reviewed, “I went in there and DJ was really hot in the warmup and it was a little muddy from the rain, but as soon as I went into that arena, he was just totally with me. I went in and was like, ‘Okay, we got this!’ For me, it’s just about trying to ride a clean test, and actually I think I pushed for a little more brilliance, and that all seemed to kind of fall into place today.”

The pair has been together for several years and began competing internationally together in 2015. Their partnership has had its share of obstacles, but Wagman noted that their journey together means more to him than he could truly comprehend.

“We’ve been through so much,” he expressed. “He’s just so amazing. I’m filled with emotion. We’ve come from first level to this. We have been through the wringer and back. Just when you think you’re back on track, something else happens, so we’ve just had this rollercoaster ride. It could all change tomorrow, but just to know that we really can do it feels amazing.”

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Rassing’s Lonoir Dominate FEI Grand Prix CDI-W

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Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Rassing’s Lonoir ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – March 5, 2021 – Week 8 of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued on Friday, March 5, and welcomed a win for the USA’s Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Rassing’s Lonoir in the FEI Grand Prix CDI-W, presented by Wellington Agricultural Services. With their score of 75.739%, LaGoy-Weltz and Rassing’s Lonoir, a 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding by de Noir 3 that she co-owns with Mary Anne McPhail, soared to the top of the leaderboard in the final class of the day, qualifying them for Sunday’s Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W.

LaGoy-Weltz began, “I feel like he really stayed with me today. Our goal for today was to just go in there and have a clean test, and it was almost clean, apart from a little jig in the walk, but I’m not too worried about that. For me, he gives a lot, and my goal was to keep him back and more collected with more brilliance. That was the plan, and I feel like we executed that well. I feel like we have ridden that line for a while where I keep him quiet but there is less brilliance, or there is brilliance but then it’s hard to keep the consistency, so it’s just getting better and better.”

The score was enough to give the pair a personal best, and LaGoy-Weltz said, “It feels really awesome to get a personal best, especially when it feels like it was just another day in the office. We were already really happy with the last show, and in the last show if it had been clean, our score would’ve been closer to this type of score. This one would’ve been even higher if it was totally clean, so I’m feeling good about it.”

The duo has their eyes set on the 2021 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final at the end of March, and LaGoy-Weltz said that she won’t put pressure on herself in regard to the Olympics just yet. “For the moment,” she explained, “our strategy is to just focus on the World Cup Final. We had a different plan, but our timeline got pushed back, so I made the decision to just focus on World Cup at this point and take the pressure off trying to squeeze in Grand Prix Specials before that as well. I’m trying to do my best with that, and then take the Olympics as it follows. We want to do as well as we can and see where it goes from there.”

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Nick Wagman and Don John Score Another Personal Best to Kick Off Week 8 of AGDF

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Nick Wagman and Don John ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – March 4, 2021 – The 2021 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) resumed competition with AGDF 8 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL on Thursday, March 4, and welcomed a victory in the FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI3*, presented by The Dutta Corp., for the USA’s Nick Wagman and Don John.

Wagman and Beverly Jean Gepfer’s 2008 KWPN gelding by Johnson TN, Don John, notched their second personal best score of the 2021 AGDF season with a 74.478%, almost four points higher than second place finisher Jessica Howington (USA) and her own Cavalia.

“He was really with me the whole time today,” began Wagman. “Normally I get a few nerves in the Grand Prix because it’s the first test of the show, but I didn’t have any today. I even came out and said to Debbie [McDonald] that this is the first time I haven’t had any nerves in a long time. DJ just felt solid, so I was able to actually think about my riding while I was in there and actually work on the details that I can sometimes gloss over because I’m just trying to get through it.”

Wagman continued, “I haven’t watched the video yet, but the piaffe and passage work felt pretty reliable today. My right pirouette felt super. I made the mistake in the ones today, and that was just all me. I got to the end and was like, ‘Oh, don’t make a mistake!’ and I ended up overriding. But overall, it was a pretty honest test, so I am pleased with it.”

The pair had a successful ride in the FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI3*, presented by CabanaCoast, during AGDF 5, but had to withdraw from the Special. After a low-key week, Wagman picked training back up and has shifted his original plan for the remainder of the winter season.

Wagman explained, “We had rotten luck the past two shows, so hopefully we are done with that and we get to get through this show with some success. We extended our trip, and we’ll stay through the end of March. Then we will go back home and if we need a third score, we will go out to Rancho Marietta in California.”

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

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PBIEC Update on EHV-1 Measures

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Wellington, FL – March 3, 2021 – In light of new information that Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) received regarding a positive Equine Herpes Virus-1 case in the Ocala area, management is taking active measures to protect horses at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) and Equestrian Village during the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). There are currently no reported cases of EHV-1 in Wellington.

The following announcements regarding biosecurity protocols and requirements are as follows:

  1. Due to this development, ESP will not be accepting entries from horses that have not previously shown this year at WEF and AGDF starting immediately on Wednesday, March 3, until further notice. Decisions regarding lifting this rule will be made following consultation with USEF, the State of Florida Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Industry, and WEF/AGDF Official Veterinarians, Palm Beach Equine Clinic.
  2. Although no known positive cases of horses have been identified in Wellington, ESP is attempting to control transmission of the EHV-1 virus by restricting access to the PBIEC and Equestrian Village showgrounds of horses from outside the immediate vicinity of Wellington.
    Following veterinary advice, anyone shipping horses into the PBIEC and Equestrian Village facilities will be required to sign a declaration stating that the horses entering the facility have not competed at other Florida venues or been in close contact with horses that competed in other Florida venues within ten (10) days prior to their arrival.
  3. Starting Monday, March 8, any horses shipping onto the property (both WEF and AGDF grounds) will require a health certificate or statement on official licensed veterinarian letterhead and must be dated by Veterinarian within seven (7) days of arriving (see number 6 below).
  4. ESP will require all barns on PBIEC and Equestrian Village show grounds to maintain a temperature log with twice-daily temperatures recorded and recommend posting on each horse’s stall door. Random checks by approved veterinary staff may be implemented.
  5. ESP and USEF strongly recommend that equestrians do not ship horses throughout the state for the foreseeable future. In addition, we encourage you to cease any European imports you may have scheduled to Florida. We urge those with recently imported horses to isolate and monitor them for 10 days. Horses imported from Europe in the last 14 days and going forward will not be allowed into PBIEC or Equestrian Village show grounds.
  6. A Statement of Health must be signed by a licensed veterinarian within 7 days of arrival at PBIEC, documenting that the horse has:
    a. Received regular and consistent vaccination against Equine Influenza and EHV-1/4 with most recent booster being within 180 days and not within 7 days (as per USEF GR 845). Under no circumstances should a horse that has been vaccinated compete within 7 days.
    b. Not shown symptoms of or been treated for EHV-1/4 within the past 28 days
    c. Not been at a facility under quarantine for EHV-1/4 or exposed to any horses showing symptoms of EHV-1/4 within the past 28 days
    d. Current vaccination against WNV, EEE, WEE, Tetanus, and Rabies is strongly recommended

Information on the current known positive EHV-1 case can be found here: https://equinediseasecc.org/alerts.

Given the seriousness of the EHV-1 outbreak in Europe (the case in Ocala is similar in nature but unrelated to the neurological strain of EHV-1 impacting Valencia, Spain and other European countries), which has unfortunately resulted in multiple horse deaths, ESP implores everyone to do their part in order to keep your own horses safe, as well as those of your fellow competitors.

Any horse on the show grounds with a fever of unknown origin or of suspicious origin must be reported to ESP Management. It is always better to err on the side of safety. Isolation stalls will either be available on the grounds or at a local veterinary practice if the need arises.

It is our shared responsibility to keep our horses safe. Similar to the suggested protocols in place for humans due to COVID-19, we urge all equestrians to please remember and abide by the following biosecurity measures:

  • Take all horses’ temperatures daily and report any horse with a temperature above 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit or any signs of respiratory or neurological disease to your veterinarian and/or show management
  • Take the temperature of all horses prior to shipping to WEF or AGDF, and do not bring any febrile horses to the show.
  • Avoid mixing of horses where possible; practice equine ‘social distancing’.
  • Ensure good hygiene and biosecurity at the show and your home farms.
  • Make sure your horses are currently vaccinated for influenza and EHV. Under no circumstances should a horse that has been vaccinated compete within 7 days.
  • You should be able to document your horse’s normal temperature before arrival. Please do not ship horses with elevated temperatures. It is recommended that you establish a log of temperatures taken at least twice daily. If there is an elevated temperature for more than a 24-hour period, please consult your local Veterinarian immediately.
  • Every effort should be made to minimize stress and commingling of horses shipped long distances. Extra hours on a horse van or moving from stable to stable is the fastest way to compromise your horses’ and your neighbor’s horses’ health.
  • Please take the time to review equine good hygiene practices and impress its importance to your grooms and barn managers in everyday care.

Further biosecurity protocols and additional resources can be found here:

United States Department of Agriculture Information on Equine Herpesvirus

American Association of Equine Practitioners FAQ on Equine Herpesvirus

United States Equestrian Federation Biosecurity Measures for Horses at Home and at Competitions

ESP has longstanding protocols to manage such events and will provide isolation facilities if and as required. Experience has taught us that early identification is key when dealing with disease outbreaks, and this requires cooperation from everyone within the community.

If you have any questions or concerns about your horse’s health, please contact our veterinary partners: Palm Beach Equine Clinic at 561-793-1599.

For more information, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

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Notice Regarding European Equine Herpes Virus Outbreak

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We have all seen the troubling news this week regarding the Equine Herpes Virus outbreak in Europe. We have no reports of any horses with EHV-1 in the Wellington area.

We would, however, like to remind competitors at the Winter Equestrian Festival and Global Dressage Festival that it is our shared responsibility to keep our horses safe. Please remember the following:

  • Take all horses’ temperature daily and report any horse with a temperature above 101.5oF or any signs of respiratory or neurological disease to your veterinarian and/or show management
  • Take the temperature of all horses prior to shipping to WEF or AGDF and do not bring any febrile horses to the show
  • Avoid mixing of horses where possible; practice equine ‘social distancing’
  • Ensure good hygiene and biosecurity at the show and your home farms
  • Make sure your horses are currently vaccinated for influenza and EHV

We have longstanding protocols to manage such events and will provide isolation facilities if and as required.  Experience has taught us that early identification is key when dealing with disease outbreaks and this requires co-operation from everyone within the community.

If you have any questions or concerns about your horse’s health, please contact our veterinary partners Palm Beach Equine Clinic at (561)-793-1599.

For more information, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Benjamin Ebeling Bests FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3* on Final Day of AGDF 7

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Benjamin Ebeling and Illuster Van De Kampert ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – February 28, 2021 – Week seven of the 2021 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) concluded on Sunday, February 28, with a win for USA’s Benjamin Ebeling on Illuster Van De Kampert in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3*, presented by Hygain Feeds.

Ebeling and Illuster Van De Kampert, Amy Roberts Ebeling and Nuvolari Holdings, LLC’s 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Spielberg, topped the competitive class with a score of 75.170%, almost five full points ahead of the second place score.

“It’s really a testament to my coaches and the team behind me,” expressed Ebeling. “For me, it’s really important to give thanks to them. They help me so much day to day, and I wouldn’t be here without them.”

The high score was also a personal best for Ebeling and the gelding, their second of the week after placing first in Friday’s FEI Grand Prix CDI3* with a 73.326%. “Today was the most comfortable that Illuster has felt in that arena,” said Ebeling. “Of course, it’s a big atmosphere for any horse, but he’s naturally a hot horse. The arena can be a bit of a challenge for him. Every time we go in there he’s settling down and for me mentally, that’s a big win.”

He continued, “Today his strength was definitely in the canter work. The first trot half-pass I was very happy with, and that last centerline is always so fun to ride too.”

The pair made their senior international Grand Prix debut at AGDF this season after competing in the Under 25 division and have notched several top placings since, with the day’s Special marking their third big tour win.

Proving that hard work pays off, the team also has several eyes on them as they are coached by Ebeling’s father, Olympian Jan Ebeling, Japanese dressage team coach Christoph Koschel, and also receive help from retired five-star judge Gary Rockwell and former USA dressage team coach Robert Dover.

Ebeling explained, “Usually I’m talking to Robert Dover the night before a test, and one thing that he’s always telling me is maintaining a good connection with power and collection. It’s something that we talk about often, and I really feel like I brought that into the arena today.”

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo Maintain Momentum to Win FEI Grand Prix Special CDI5*

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Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – February 27, 2021 – Week 7 of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued on Saturday, February 27, with a second victory for the USA’s Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo, this time in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI5*, presented by Palm Beach Equine Clinic. Schut-Kery and Sanceo, Alice Womble’s 2006 Hanoverian stallion by San Remo, marked their highest Grand Prix Special score to date, earning a 77.468%, more than four points higher than second place finisher Lindsay Kellock (CAN).

“I feel so much joy and have happy tears,” began Schut-Kery. “It’s very emotional. Aside from those feelings, to ride the test, you are focused in there of course, but it’s also joyful. It’s an amazing feeling to have an animal like that to respond to you in there with such small aids and cues. That amazing feeling is still there for me after 30-plus years, how we can communicate with an animal like that.”

The personal best score for the pair comes after a successful win on Thursday in the Grand Prix CDI5*, and Schut-Kery noted her appreciation for the team that supports the duo and has helped them get to this point.

“During the awards,” Schut-Kery explained, “I thought, ‘My gosh, there are so many people on my team, and I want to thank the ones behind me that keep a horse at that level.’ The coaches, vets, farriers, grooms, and the owners of course. When you have such a nice ride, one that you’ve been working up to, those are the things that go through your head.”

Schut-Kery noted that though Thursday welcomed a victory, it wasn’t her favorite performance, and she was happy that she was able to stick to her plan to really ace the Grand Prix Special. She said, “How many times in your life do you have a plan and you hope you can stick to it, but it doesn’t go right? This really feels like it all went to plan today. My goal was the special. I did it a week before in the National show to prepare because we had been out of the ring since November, so today was nice. Thursday was a little disappointing on my part as a rider, so it’s nice that today it worked out so well. It’s one of those special moments, and I know that I will always have to work hard for it, but it’s a moment of joy.”

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