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Tubman and Tarjan Win Golden Tickets for Future Challenge Finals during AGDF 8

Sarah Tubman (USA) and Balia ©susanjstickle.com.

Wellington, FL – March 6, 2022 – Week eight of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) wrapped up on Sunday, March 6, with the penultimate 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.

These classes aim to identify and nurture talented, up-and-coming young FEI horses, giving them exposure to benefit their development with the biggest of world stages in mind. Grand finals for both classes take place during AGDF 11.

It was the first to go in both classes who kept their noses in front. Sarah Tubman (USA) (née Lockman) piloted Summit Farm’s 10-year-old Bellissimo x Florestan mare Balia to 67.401%. Fellow American Devon Kane clinched second with 65.539% on another 10-year-old, Åsa Björklund’s Vivaldo gelding, Gyllebo’s Vamos.

Tubman, whose Summit Farm team bought Balia from Helgstrand Dressage where she was ridden by Ulf’s wife Eva Möller, said: “We showed small tour last year, so she’s really new to this level. She’s super fun to ride, very electric. I definitely like a mare; I think she would keep going until her legs fell off. She’s super fun, and I really think she has a lot of talent for the future.”

Summersby Blossoms under Alice Tarjan

Alice Tarjan (USA) continues to crank out winner after winner from her training program. The latest to grace the International Arena in Wellington was her own seven-year-old mare Summersby II, by Sezuan x Sandro Hit, who produced 71.617% to top the Summit Farm Future Challenge at Prix St. Georges level. Tarjan was the only rider of the seven starters to break the 70% barrier. Her big tour horse Jane has already qualified for the Lövsta Future Challenge final, courtesy of their win in AGDF 7.

Second-placed Susanne Benne (USA) picked up the second ticket on offer for the final in this qualifier, riding Liebling to 68.921%. Debbie Hill completed the all-American podium, scoring 66.519% on Jantasy Ashlanes.

Summersby, whom Tarjan has owned since she was a foal, is a former young horse in-hand champion and well placed in young horse classes. That latent talent has flourished into a talented competitive spirit under saddle.

Christian Simonson (USA) and Zeaball Diawind sealed their dominance of this week’s two-star small tour, posting their third win from three starts in the Intermediate I Freestyle CDI2*, presented by CabanaCoast. The 19-year-old rider has a harmonious bond with Christina Morgan’s 10-year-old gelding by Fürstenball, and together they posted 76.575%. Their high score, 78.75% from H judge Cesar Torrente, came courtesy of a nine for music and pepperings of eights throughout the test.

In the morning’s Intermediate II CDI2* class, Switzerland’s Barbara Bertschinger claimed the winner’s sash with 66.206% on Sonnenberg’s Solisco CH. Not only does the Swiss rider own the 15-year-old by Sancisco, but she bred him herself out of a Brentano II dam. This is the pair’s first season at big tour level after making their international debut together in 2017.

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

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