Category Archives: Dressage

The Discipline of Riding Dressage

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, FEI

Pablo Gomez Molina Scores First Grand Prix Victory aboard Ulises de Ymas

Pablo Gomez Molina & Ulises de Ymas. Photo © SusanJStickle.com.

The opening day of an exciting week at the Adequan Global® Dressage Festival (AGDF) saw top talent rise with a new personal best for Spain’s Pablo Gomez Molina in the Iron Spring Farm CDI3* FEI Grand Prix on Thursday morning. Thirty athlete combinations rode down centerline to kick off Week 7 of competition at the venue.

As one of the final entries, Gomez Molina piloted the 13-year-old P.R.E. gelding Ulises de Ymas (Seni Indio x Superior II) to his top-finishing score of 71.087% in the class for the highest honors. Breaking the 70% mark, but still falling short of Gomez Molina’s total, Susan Pape (GBR) and Harmony’s Eclectisch rode into second place with a score of 70.587%. The victory lap was rounded out by the USA’s Anna Marek on Fire Fly, who finished with a score of 69.500%.

USA Scores Home Team Win in Under-25 FEI Nations Cup

The FEI Nations Cup for Under 25 riders, presented by Diamante Farms, was the feature competition on Thursday during opening day of week 7 at AGDF. The under-25 division was a clean sweep for team “stars and stripes” who pocketed the gold with a point total of 139.736. The home nation also secured the silver medal with a finishing score of 135.500. Rivals to the north, Canada landed in the bronze position with a final tally of 133.118.

Benjamin Ebeling (USA) boasted the only score to break 70% in the CDIOU25 Intermediate II, presented by Diamante Farms, which left him both with the team gold and individual first place aboard Ann Romney’s 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding Status Royal OLD (Statesman OLD x Rubin Royal OLD). Ebeling’s performance was a repeat of his victory during the same event last year in which he and the mount scored only a slight fraction below their most recent test on a percentage of 70.647%.

In an impressive performance during her debut as a team rider for the United States, Callie O’Connell clinched the class’s overall second-place position by earning 69.089% for her performance aboard the Ruling Cortes LLC Owned 14-year-old KWPN gelding Eaton H (Wynton x San Remo).

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage

Barbançon and Helgstrand Are Untouchable in Week 5 of AGDF

Morgan Barbançon & Habana Libre A. Photo ©SusanJStickle.com.

France’s Morgan Barbançon and Habana Libre A claimed the winner’s blanket in the day’s headline class, the CDI3* Grand Prix Special, sponsored by MTICA Farm. Barbançon’s 71.66% on her own 11-year-old gelding — by Zizi Top out of a United dam — is their second highest score ever in this test.

Of the 15 starters, the trio of riders on the podium remained unchanged from Friday’s qualifying Grand Prix, but the 22-year-old German sensation Felicitas Hendricks climbed a place to net second. She rode her own 12-year-old gelding Drombusch 2 (Destano x Dimaggio) to 70.362% in the pair’s debut senior international show at the level. Her compatriot Anna-Christina Abbelen, 26, piloted her 16-year-old Samarant gelding Sam Donnerhall to 69.723% and third place.

“I’m extremely happy and it was great to win,” enthused the 30-year-old Barbançon, who is spending her first season in Wellington. “Habana was a wee bit tired today but still tried. The whole passage/trot part was nice, and I was really happy with the walk. The piaffes were a little bit less [powerful] than two weeks ago, but it was cooler then and really warm today.

“I don’t normally get affected by the heat, but yesterday I already had to use a new frack [tailcoat] because it was drenched. This is the second one going to the dry cleaners. But I prefer that to the frostbite I get at home.”

Alexander Yde Helgstrand and Belantis Top Intermediate I CDI1*

Andreas Helgstrand’s 19-year-old son Alexander Yde Helgstrand and Belantis — formerly ridden by Isabell Werth — made it two wins from two starts in AGDF 5, topping Saturday’s hotly contested Intermediate I CDI1*, presented by Centerline Stables. They also won Thursday’s Prix St. Georges class. Helgstrand was also competing his mother’s horse Super Mario in the under-25s, and two wins in that division — at Intermediate II and Grand Prix — brought his tally of CDI blue ribbons for the week to four.

“Today the high points were the two-tempis and the extended trot and canter,” said Helgstrand, who is another rider spending his first season in Wellington. “Belantis is super talented and I really love working with him. He had some more power and energy today, but it was still controlled.”

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

Community/Charity, Dressage

Ellie Brimmer Represents Para Dressage with Elected Seat on USEF Board of Directors in 2023

Ellie Brimmer and London Swing by Lindsay Y. McCall.

Wellington, FL – February 9, 2023 – Ellie Brimmer of Wellington, Florida was named to the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) Board of Directors in January 2023. Brimmer, a current USEF Para-Dressage Development athlete representative, is also on the board of the U.S. Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA). She will serve on the USEF Board of Directors for a four-year term. Brimmer, a sixth-generation equestrian, has been an athlete in the international Para-Dressage world since 2011 and a spokesperson for athletes with disabilities her entire life. Brimmer has traveled the world not only as an athlete but as a friend, volunteer, and supporter of Para-Dressage. She has advocated for the Paralympic discipline helping trainers, riders, and press understand the parallels of Para-Dressage and Dressage as a high-performance sport. Brimmer was a daily call and friend of Hope Hand (1949-2022) who pushed Para-Dressage into the mainstream equestrian world and made it what it is today. Brimmer was there when the term Para-Dressage was in its infancy and she was there when the first U.S. para-dressage rider, Roxanne Trunnell, earned two gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics along with the team bronze medal for the USA, and then once again at the 2022 ECCO FEI World Championships where U.S.A earned a team bronze, an individual silver, and an individual bronze, earning a berth for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Brimmer is looking forward to her four-year term with USEF.

Brimmer expressed, “I’m honored to have been voted onto the USEF Board of Directors as an active athlete representative by my peers. Hope Hand and Lloyd Landkamer, who have both passed away, were my biggest mentors and really pushed me from being a competitor to the national volunteer realm. Both Hope and Lloyd had illustrious service careers, and I think of them often as I’m finding my own voice on this board. Hope spent a lot of time advocating for the para-equestrian board seat and I’m glad I can fulfill this role. My personal goal as a board member is to spend time getting to know the leadership from other breeds and disciplines and find ways to create more interest in and understanding of para-sport. As a board member, I want to serve my small para dressage community and the larger equestrian well.”

Tina Wentz, interim President of the USPEA, stated, “Hope would be so proud to see Ellie fulfill this role with USEF. Hope knew it meant a great deal for the discipline to be represented in this manner and she worked hard to create future seats for the para-equestrian discipline. Ellie will do a fantastic job on the board and we look forward to her representation over the next four years.”

For more information about the USPEA, please visit www.USPEA.org.

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage

Wandres and Bluetooth OLD Extend Winning Streak in Week Five ‘Friday Night Stars’

Frederic Wandres & Bluetooth OLD. Photo © SusanJStickle.com.

Frederic Wandres (GER) and Bluetooth OLD lit up the capacity crowds on a balmy Florida evening for the ‘Friday Night Lights’ FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by Havensafe Farm. The barnstorming duo captured the week’s showcase class with over 80% at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL.

Last to go of the 11 starters, Wandres and Hof Kasselmann’s 13-year-old gelding (Bordeaux x Riccione) demonstrated a rhythmic, powerful, and balanced test that was brimming with expression and elasticity. As a three-year-old in Germany, Bluetooth OLD sold for €1 million ($1.3 million USD), and his quality, talent, and consistency at Grand Prix justify that price tag. This result represents the pair’s fourth straight victory at the 2023 AGDF and the audience began to cheer wildly before the final halt. Wandres finished on 80.565%, with a high score of 82.2%.

Two American ladies joined Wandres on the podium. Ashley Holzer rode her own 13-year-old Sir Donnerhall mare Valentine in just her fourth international Grand Prix Freestyle, filling second place with 77.4%. Just behind Holzer, with 77.27%, came Sarah Tubman on Summit Farm’s stallion First Apple — another 13-year-old.

Wandres, who works for Kasselmann and is an AGDF regular, said, “It was the second Friday Night Lights this season for me and I really love the atmosphere — it’s always so crowded and the people are cheering for everyone. I am very happy with Bluetooth; he gets more and more consistent and the important things are getting better and better. I am really looking forward for what’s coming next.”

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage

Frederic Wandres Does Wonders in Havensafe Farm FEI World Cup Grand Prix

Frederic Wandres & Bluetooth OLD. Photo © SusanJStickle.com.

Two classes brimming with talent highlighted opening day of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) Week 5. The Centerline Stables CDI1* Prix St. Georges and Havensafe Farm CDI-W World Cup Grand Prix set the tone in Wellington, FL. A man who is no stranger to victory, Frederic Wandres (GER) aboard Bluetooth OLD, a 2010 Oldenburg (Bordeaux x Riccione), truly stole the show with their impressive score of 74.913%. A very competitive runner-up score went to France’s Morgan Babançon aboard Bolero scoring a 71.782%, and third went to Ashley Holzer (USA) and Valentine who were not far behind finishing on a score of 71.174%.

While incredibly proud, an ever-humble Wandres admitted that he and Bluetooth OLD still having room for improvement before achieving even more success. “I thought today went much better than the last time CDI here. He was a little more fresh and forward, even though the weather is a little bit warmer than last time. There are still many things to develop, but overall, it was good. He showed consistency in a test like this, and I thought this world cup qualification here was probably the strongest so far, so I’m very happy.”

Alexander Yde Helgstrand & Belantis. Photo © SusanJStickle.com.

Alexander Yde Helgstrand Takes the Spotlight

All eyes were on Denmark’s Alexander Yde Helgstrand and Belantis during the opening class of AGDF 5 on Thursday morning as the dynamic pair won the Centerline Stables CDI1* Prix St. Georges.

An impressive lineup of twenty-six horses and riders came together for the CDI1*. Only three pairs scored in the 70s, including Amanda Perkowski (USA) and Sontana MF, who placed third with a 70.196%, and Charlotte Jorst (USA) scored a 70.392% aboard Zhaplin Langholt. However, the highest score of 72.206%, a personal best score, went to Alexander Yde Helgstrand (DEN) and Belantis, a 2009 DSP gelding (Benetton Dream Frh 1301 x Expo’se) owned by Helgstrand Dressage USA.

Helgstrand was beyond pleased with his horse’s performance. They have been a team for about two years and all of their hard work, combined with a strong partnership, seems to be paying off. “Today, some of the highlights came from my trot. I felt like I had a really good trot, which is something we have been working really hard on at home, so I was very pleased to see that come together.”

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage

Barbançon Claims Grand Prix Special Victory with New Personal Best Score in AGDF Week 3

Morgan Barbançon & Habana Libre A. Photo © SusanJStickle.com.

Week 3 of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued this weekend, with a victory for France’s Morgan Barbançon and her own Habana Libre A in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI4*, presented by Palm Beach Equine Clinic.

Barbançon’s 74.404% performance aboard the Dutch Warmblood gelding by Zizi Top marked the pair’s highest Grand Prix Special score to date. At 11 years old, Habana Libre A was the youngest horse in the class. The pair finished more than three percentage points clear of second-placed Anna-Christina Abbelen (GER), who rode her own and Silke Abbelen-Mooren’s Sam Donnerhall to 71.234%. Spain’s Pablo Gómez Molina claimed third on the 13-year-old PRE gelding Ulises De Ymas with 69.915%.

“I’m super happy,” said the 30-year-old Barbançon, who is competing at AGDF for the first time. “I’m on cloud nine. Honestly, I thought we would get a 72% or maybe 73%, and I would have been super happy with that. Today, I had such a floaty, fluid ride, and I didn’t push.”

Tarjan Claims Ticket to Lövsta Future Challenge Final

The second qualifiers in the Lövsta Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series and the Future Challenge Young Horse Prix St. Georges Series sent two more combinations through to the Grand Final (which takes place in AGDF 11) from each class. These classes aim to identify and nurture talented, up-and-coming young FEI horses.

In the Lövsta Future Challenge FEI Intermediate II Qualifier, Alice Tarjan rode her own Summersby II (by Sezuan x Sandro Hit) to 70.833%. Ali Potasky rode Inxs into second place with 69.558%, claiming the second qualifying slot.

“It’s a great division,” enthused Tarjan, who rides as an amateur. “I’ve been here the last three years and it’s a super way to get the greener horses into the CDI stadium and in front of the CDI judges without the pressure of a CDI.

“Summersby is a really great horse, and only eight years old. I’m just happy that she stayed with me through the whole test. The horse has to get stronger in the work, but she’s really honest and the atmosphere didn’t seem to affect her at all.”

Pape Posts Second Win of the Week

In the CDI3* FEI Grand Prix Special, presented by ProElite®, Great Britain’s Susan Pape and Harmony’s Eclectisch notched up another victory, adding a 70.021% win to their blue ribbon in the qualifying Grand Prix class.

“Our ride felt nice and powerful today,” said Pape. “Unfortunately, I had a mistake in the twos and the ones on the centerline. But other than that, it was very good. The passage on the left lead was very good for him and expressive. In the canter work, the ones were beautiful, and so was the extended canter.”

Pape and the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion by Zenon, owned by Pape and Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation, have been partnered for a few years, and she reflected on what taking the ride over on the well-trained horse has been like.

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage

Wandres and Bluetooth Dance to Personal Best in Friday Night Stars at AGDF

Frederic Wandres & Bluetooth OLD. Photo © SusanJStickle.com.

Frederic Wandres (GER) returned to the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, Florida and to his customary winning ways with the elegant and powerful Bluetooth OLD. In week three’s highlight class, the CDI4* FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by USPRE Association, the pair posted a new career high score of 81.805%.

Wandres and Bluetooth repeated their podium topping performance from the previous day’s qualifying FEI Grand Prix class. In a truly international podium, second-placed Morgan Barbançon (FRA) also produced a career-high freestyle score during “Friday Night Stars” on her own 17-year-old KWPN gelding Bolero (Glock’s Johnson TN x Vincent), notching up 77.895%. Sweden’s Caroline Darcourt was just 0.065 percentage points behind, logging 77.83% on Lord Django in the horse’s second ever Grand Prix Freestyle.

“I am very happy today,” beamed Wandres, who is based in Germany at Hof Kasselman but is a seasoned competitor at AGDF. “This is the first time for me this season under the lights and I am always looking forward to coming back. I was a little nervous about how it would go because with this special atmosphere, you never know how the horses will handle it, but Bluetooth took it in a positive way. I had a much better feeling than in the Grand Prix; he was way fresher and forward, and it felt like one of the best tests that he has offered me.”

Susan Pape Tops ProElite CDI3* Grand Prix

AGDF regular Susan Pape (GBR) topped the ProElite CDI3* Grand Prix earlier in the day, riding Harmony’s Eclectisch to 70.826%. The 14-year-old stallion received a smattering of eights throughout the test.

“I think the extended canter was pretty good,” enthused Pape, who is based in Germany and is riding at AGDF for the eighth time. “His pirouettes were very nice, his twos were very nice, and all of his canter work is a highlight.”

Pape, along with her sponsor Harmony Sporthorses, bought the son of Zenon x Olivi when he was a rising eight-year-old.

“He was owned by a Swedish woman [Ida-Linn Lundholm] who competed him in the World Championships for young horses’ level, where he was very successful,” explained Pape, who usually produces horses up the levels herself. “At that time, we were looking for an upcoming Grand Prix horse. This time my sponsors wanted to buy me this nice horse. He’s been here [at AGDF] almost every year since then and started here in the Prix St. Georges, and we worked our way up to the Grand Prix.”

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage

Frederic Wandres Seeing Double at Adequan Global Dressage Festival

Frederic Wandres & Hot Hit OLD. Photo © SusanJStickle.com.

Frederic Wandres (GER) earned a career high score on Friday in the FEI Grand Prix at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival and returned this weekend to also score victory in the CDI3* Grand Prix Special, presented by Barnwalkers. Wandres rode Hot Hit OLD, a 12-year-old by Blue Hors Hotline x Diamond Hit to a score just shy of eclipsing his personal best yet again with a 74.34% in the Grand Prix Special. The back-to-back wins came from Wandres during Lloyd Landkamer Memorial week.

Wandres is jumping into his third season at AGDF, a place he has been developing Hot Hit in the international ranks since his first trip to Florida. “I’m very happy with how he managed the cold and windy weather conditions and the atmosphere here,” said Wandres of the striking grey gelding. Wandres plans to focus on one CDI in February with Hot Hit before using him in the CDIO3* Nations Cup for Germany during AGDF 7.

Fuqua, Degele Close Out AGDF 1

Closing out opening week of the AGDF, Kat Fuqua claimed the CDIY Young Riders Freestyle, presented by Diamante Farms, with a score of 69.800% on her own Dreamgirl, 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Speilberg x Goodtimes). The final salute came from Heidi Degele in the CDI1* Intermediate I Freestyle, presented by Harmony Sporthorses, aboard Ibistrona, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Don Tango B x Sunny Boy 124) with a 69.250%.

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage

Adrienne Lyle Claims FEI World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle

Adrienne Lyle and Salvino. Photo © SusanJStickle.com.

The first “Friday Night Stars” evening of musical freestyle action during the 2023 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL lived up to its stellar billing despite unseasonably chilly temperatures.

The week’s highlight class, the FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by Lövsta Stuteri, produced top class dressage, personal bests on the podium, and a winning score of over 83%.

Adrienne Lyle (USA) and the 16-year-old stallion Salvino made it two for two in the Lloyd Landkamer Memorial week when they scooped the blue ribbon with 83.54% for a harmonious test brimming with expression and power. Lyle and Betsy Juliano’s Sandro Hit x Donnerhall son topped the previous day’s qualifying Grand Prix with 77.5%. In the freestyle, second placed Sarah Tubman (USA) kicked off her Wellington season with a personal best of 78.25% on another stallion, the 13-year-old First Apple, while third placed Caroline Darcourt (SWE) and Lord Django contested their first Grand Prix freestyle and pulled out a 78.17% performance.

Lyle is chasing down one of three starting places allocated to North America for the FEI World Cup™ Final in Omaha, NE in April. Her top score of 86% came courtesy of the Dutch five-star judge at H, Mariette Sanders- van Gansewinkel.

Of her performance, Lyle said, “I’m super thrilled to be here again at this amazing venue and I was happy to see how packed it was despite this cold weather. Salvino felt great — he was fiery and very excited to be here.

“We did most of the things on my terms, and some of the things on his terms — but like any good relationship, it’s all about compromise, and he feels great,” added Lyle of Salvino, whom she rode on the silver medal USA team at the Tokyo Olympics.

Frederic Wandres Earns Career High Score

Earlier in the day, the 35-year-old German rider Frederic Wandres rode Hot Hit OLD to a career high score in the CDI3* FEI Grand Prix, presented by Barnwalkers — the qualifier for Saturday’s Grand Prix Special. All five judges placed the pair first, awarding 75.348% overall, improving on their previous best by over 1%.

“The consistency of the test today was the winning thing,” said Wandres. “He had not been out since August, so he has had a bit of a break, but he came back very good and my feeling was strong.

Wandres has ridden Hot Hit at Hof Kasselmann, where he works, since the grey gelding by Blue Hors Hotline x Diamond Hit was six. The now 12-year-old already has an impressive resume, and this victory took his unbeaten streak to five.

For more information and a full list of results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage

Adrienne Lyle Tops FEI World Cup Grand Prix

Adrienne Lyle and Salvino. Photo © SusanJStickle.com.

The 2023 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival opened on Thursday, January 12, with a victory for U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Adrienne Lyle. She and Salvino, a 2007 Hanoverian stallion (Sandro HIT x Donnerhall) won the FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix, presented by Lövsta Stuteri, to start the final leg of their FEI World Cup™ Final qualifying bid in style.

All three grand prix podium finishers scored over 70%, with Lyle and Salvino topping the list with a 77.5% as the last to compete. The class was a qualifier for the FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle, which takes place under the lights on Friday night during the first of the “Friday Night Stars” series.

“He’s just always so incredible in the ring,” said Lyle of her mount from the Tokyo Olympic games. “He went in again today with another mistake free test. He really clicked into the rhythm for the piaffe and passage work. I think we still have more in the tank for the freestyle, so I’m excited about that.

“It should be nice and cool weather tomorrow with a packed house and he loves both those things,” continued Lyle of Salvino, owned by Betsy Juliano.

Of her grand prix test, Lyle discussed the high points, saying, “The piaffe, passage, and last centerline were super. I love feeling him finishing a test with that much energy and enthusiasm.”

Fellow U.S. rider Sarah Tubman and First Apple, and 2010 Dutch Warmblood stallion (Vivaldi x T.C.N. Partout) finished in the runner-up position with a score of 70.5% for owner Summit Farm. Rounding out the podium, Sweden’s Caroline Darcourt posted a score of 70.283% riding Lord Django, a 2010 Hanoverian gelding (Stalypso x Londonderry) for owner Lövsta Stuteri.

Caroline Darcourt Leads Off for Sweden

Opening the day on Thursday, Caroline Darcourt stole the show in the CDI1* FEI Prix St. Georges, presented by Harmony Sporthorses. Five scores broke into the 70% range, but Darcourt and Bournonville, a 2013 Danish-bred gelding (Bon Bravour x Loudini) owned by Lövsta Stuteri, topped the list with a 73.029%.

“It feels very good to be back in Florida; it’s been three years since the last time I was here,” said Darcourt of her return to Wellington. “I’m very happy to be here with this horse and the win, I would say, was over my expectations. I’m really thrilled about it.”

Great Britain’s Susan Pape finished second on a score of 72.756% riding Harmony’s V-Plus for owner Harmony Sporthorses. In third, Charlotte Jorst (USA) and Federle posted a 71.882% for owner Kastel Denmark.

Darcourt spoke highly of Bournonville after their test, saying, “He’s been with us since he was late seven, and he has a very sensitive side. Now I feel he’s finally secure with me and he really likes the ring and his job. He is so rideable and has all the qualities.

“I would say the trot work felt very fluid and he was with me the whole time and really listened to me,” said Darcourt of her Prix St. Georges test. “The canter work and the first pirouette I was happy with, but there is more to work on. With him, the goal now is to keep moving up.”

For more information and a full list of results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.