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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Competitions

Chester Weber won the Advanced Four-in-Hand at Live Oak International

OCALA, Fla.--Chester Weber added another title to his long list of accomplishments, winning his 21st USEF Combined Driving National Championship for Advanced Four-in-Hand Horses on Sunday,  March 17 at Live Oak International.

Chester Weber winning Allen MCMILLANChester Weber coming out of obstacle two (Photo by Allen McMillan)Weber was the wire-to-wire leader, beginning with a commanding lead after Thursday’s dressage test where he scored a 39.59.

Weber then won Saturday’s marathon phase, posting the best time on all seven of the obstacles, amd he secured the win on Sunday with the fastest cones round and only six faults, finishing on a score of 167.45.

“The horses were in really good form,” said Weber. “They showed up with a nice, solid dressage test on the first day. For the cross-country, we drove a combination that I thought would be very fast. It was a super challenging course, but the team handled it very well and took all of the questions and challenges in hand and did a great job with it.”

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Ashley Holzer on Liberty L won the future Challenge Prix St. George

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Ashley Holzer on the 8-year-old Liberty L won the last qualifier for the Future Challenge Prix St Georges.

Ashley Holzer on Liberty L Susan StickleAshley Holzer on Liberty L (Photo by Susan Stickle)Holzer won over 18 competitors with a score of 70.588%.

Jennifer Williams placed second to get the second qualifying slot available on the 9-year-old gelding Babylon Berlin on a score of 69.314%, and Lars Linus of Germany on Visionär, an 8-year-old, finished third with 68.873%.

The qualifiers, and the final, offer riders the opportunity to get their up-and-coming talented younger horses into a championship type environment.

They compete in the main International Arena, gaining exposure to spectators, tents, flags and a bustling VIP tent alongside, without the pressure of competing in a CDI and needing to stable at the venue for days.

Liberty L is so calm that he participated in the 2024 Robert Dover USEF Horsemastership Clinic Week in January with a 12-year-old, “whose foot could hardly get below the flap”.

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McLain Ward on Contagious won the $215,000 Grand Prix at WEF after winning the WEF Challenge

WELLINGTON, Fla.--U.S. Olympic team gold medalist Mclain Ward on Contagious won his second feature of the week in the $215,000 CSI4* Grand Prix on Saturday, March 16 during ‘Saturday Night Lights’ at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

McLain Ward on Contagious WEF G sportfotMcLain Ward on Contagious (Photo by Sportfot)Contagious was also his mount when he won a team silver at the Tokyo Olympics and most recently team gold at the Pan American Games in Chile last summer.

Ward had also won the WEF Challenge Cup on Thursday on First Lady, and he is the first rider this year to win both the Challenge Cup and the Grand Prix in the same week.

“Contagious has been a great partner and I’m very grateful to Beachwood and Lise Revers for having the horse be with me for his whole career," said Ward. "He's getting older now and it’s a little more work, but he's got a huge heart.

“He's had a bit of four fault-itis here in Florida; two great grand prix with one down, but I felt that he'd jump well tonight. It was a very hot night and a quick turnaround for us,”said Ward, who jumped last in both rounds, with only three in the jump-off . “I only jumped three jumps in the schooling area because I didn't want to let him bottom out. He dug in deep and we were lucky to go last.”

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Sharn Wordley on Valentine Car won the $100,000 Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Center

OCALA, Fla.--Sharn Wordley of New Zealand on Valentine Car won the $100,000 Grand Prix and finishing third as well on Saturday, March 15 at the World Equestrian Center as the event took place for the first time under the lights of the WEC Stadium.

Sharn Wordley on Valentine Car Anrew Ryback Sharn Wordley on Valentine Car (Photo by Andrew Ryback) Over a course designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral of Portugal. an FEI Level IV course designer, five were clean from a starting field of 31 competitors from 11 nations.

Going first in the jump-off, Wordley on Valentine Car set a blistering pace, finishing clean in 41.168.

“I knew I had to go as fast as I could on Valentine because Tracy Fenney and Aaron Vale were behind me, and that’s a lethal combination,” said Wordley. “I just tried to put a bit of pressure on them.”

Filippo Pignatti of Italy opted for a clean round on Ideaal Es, finishing in 46.311 seconds.

 Vale chose to retire Cristo Beech, saving him for another night.

Wordley had one more in the jump-off, a younger horse, Brin D’or De Haute Melen Z.

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Germany's Felicitas Hendricks and Frederic Wandres won the Grand Prix Freestyle and Special

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Germany riders continued their domination at the Global Dressage Festival, consistently beating America riders on their home turf.

Felicitas Hendricks onDrombusch OLD Freestyle Susan Stickle Felicitas Hendricks on Drombusch OLD (Photo by Susan Stickle) Germany’s Felicitas Hendricks on Drombusch OLD won the CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle and Frederic Wandres on Bluetooth OLD won the Grand Prix Special in the International Arena at WEF during “Friday Night Stars” on Friday, March 15.

Hendricks, 24, who finished second in the five star Special last year to Wandres, won this year with a score of 77.245%, performing to a disco soundtrack in her first ever five star Freestyle.

It’s easy to forget that Hendricks is still eligible to ride in the Under-25 division and not in senior ranks.

Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén on Devanto was second with a score of 74.565%, while another German, Anna-Cristina Abbelen, finished third on Sam Donnerhall with 73.895%.

“It was super fun," said Hendricks, who with Drombusch is the reigning European Under-25 Championship gold medalist. "I loved it here last year already, and I think we improved from last year, which is something really special. The atmosphere was amazing, the crowd was great and it was super nice to experience a different atmosphere. I love Global, dressage’s usual venue, but it was really fun to come here too and do it at WEF.”

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McLain Ward on First Lady won the four star WEF Cup

WELLINGTON, Fla.--McLain Ward on First Lady won the $62,500 CSI4* WEF Challenge Cup, a qualifier for the $215,000 CSI4* Grand Prix during ‘Saturday Night Lights’, on Thursday, March 14.

McLain Ward on First Lady WEF Cup SportfotMcLain Ward on First Lady (Photo by Sportfot)While this was his first international victory at this year's WEF, Ward has had some top placings with Ilex, Callas and Contagious while preparing his horses to peak for the Paris Olympics.

The WEF Cup had an impressive field of 48 competing over course set by Oscar Soberon, 12 of which were clean.

That number dropped to 10 when Margie Engle and Shane Sweetnam elected not to compete.

Ward, going near the end, was clean in 34.95 seconds.

“She has been very solid and felt great the whole circuit,” Ward said of First Lady, an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare. “I had one grand prix that I had a big score in because we didn’t have a lot of experience with the water and I overrode her, but she’s either been clear or on four faults every time out; it has been a bit frustrating with some of the four-fault rounds and it was nice that it came together today for her, her owner and myself."

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Katherine Bateson Chandler won the CDI3* FEI Grand Prix

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Katherine Bateson Chandler on Haute Couture won the CDI3* FEI Grand Prix over a field of 33 horses in a class that took over four hours on Thursday, March 14.

Katherine Bateson Chandler on Haute Couture Susan StickleKatherine Bateson Chandler on Haute Couture (Photo by Susan Stickle)Bateson Chandler’s 71.913% was a new high score in this test after a rocky start to their competitive career.

Geñay Vaughn, second on Gino, had a new personal best of 69.522%.

She has owned the black KWPN by Bretton Woods since he was 6, and this was the horse’s fourth CDI in his career.

Canada’s Ariana Chia on Guateque IV was third with 69.022%.

Chia broke up the American skein of winners, as all the other riders in the top seven were representing the USA.

Bateson Chandler acquired the ride on Haute Couture, who was reserve for the Netherlands Olympic team for Tokyo with Dinja van Liere, in December 2021, and the pair have had some bumps in the road, with their scores ranging from 61% to 71% over the past two years.

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Germany's Frederic Wandres on Bluetooth OLD won the 5* Grand Prix

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Frederic Wandres of Germany on Bluetooth OLD scored 76.196% to win the CDI5* FEI Grand Prix on Wednesday, March 13.

Frederic Wandres on Bluetooth OD GP Susan StickleFrederic Wandres on Bluetooth OLD (Photo by Susan Stickle)Germany placed first and second, with the 23-year-old Felicitas Hendricks on Drombusch OLD placing second with 71.283%, while Kevin Kohmann was third with 70.826% on 15-year-old Dünense.

It was close at the top as less than one percentage point covered the third to seventh place finishers.

It was the opening day of the five-star week of the Global Dressage Festival.

The CDI5* FEI Grand Prix, a qualifier for the Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle classes, both Friday evening, was held under lights at the Wellington International venue, in the enormous main stadium International Arena.

Wandres, 36, was trending close to the 80% mark in the first half of the test, but a mistake in the one-time changes, which carry a double marking coefficient and were awarded fours and fives from all the judges, dragged the final score below his and Bluetooth’s career high of 77.888%, set at the European Championships in September 2023.

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Andre Thieme won the $200,000 Grand Prix at WEC for his second grand prix win on March 9

OCALA, Fla.--Andre Thieme of Germany on DSP Chakana won the $200,000, CSI4* Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Center on Saturday, Andre Thieme on Andre Thieme onDSP Chakana (Photo by Andrew Ryback)
March 9 over Rodrigo Pessoa, Tiffany Foster and Callie Schott.

Gregory Bodo of France, course designer for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, with Pieter Viste of Belgium, set a formidable track with a tight time that had six clean to go on to the jump-off.

Hallie Grimes, 22, first to return on Karoline of Ballmore, had four faults in 44.99 seconds to eventually place sixth..

Next to go, seven-time Olympian Pessoa of Brazil on Dhalida was clean in a fast 42.32 seconds, putting pressure to the remaining field, but Thieme and his 14-year-old German Sport Horse mare took advantage of knowing the time to beat and was clean in 41.93 seconds.

“It’s hard to just leave it all out there when you’re early to go," said Pessoa. "I knew when I came out, I had left a little something on the table. Andre and his mare are really experienced, so they saw an opportunity and took it. But I couldn’t be more pleased with my mare.”

“I knew I didn’t want to be second, and I had a fast and experienced horse," said Thieme. "I saw Rodrigo go, and I couldn’t really tell how fast he was, but I could at least do the same tracks as he did and rely on my horse’s natural speed.”

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Andre Thieme on Paule S won the $75,000 Grand Prix at HITS

OCALA, Fla.--Andre Thieme, German Olympic veteran, on Paule S won the $75,000 Grand Prix over 24 competitors at HITS  on Saturday morning, March 9.

Andre Thieme on Paule S Andre Thieme on Paule S  The starting field included past winners Aaron Vale, Hunter Holloway and Tracy Fenney, with nine of 24 going clean over Oscar Soberon’s course to advance to the jump-off.

Thieme was clean on both of his mounts and in the jump-off he was clean on Chacco Hearts in 40.96 seconds, but he had been two seconds faster on his first horse, Paule S, who was clean in 38.63 seconds.

“When I walked the course, it looked perfect and I knew it wouldn’t be too easy but also not too difficult,” Thieme said. “I was really happy with my horses. I knew that with Paule going first in the jump off, I could really go for it and set a statement because I had another horse after him. Then I was a little bit more conservative with my second horse because I knew I couldn’t be faster than I was with Paule. Still we ended up first and third so it worked out pretty good!”

Francois LaMontagne of Canada was second, clean in 40.20 seconds on Chanel Du Calvaire.

LaMontagne had won the previous week’s $75,000 Grand Prix.

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Brazil's Luciana Lossio won the $385,000 CSI5* Grand Prix while Jimmy Torano won the $25,000 Hunter Derby

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Luciana Lossio, 49 of Brazil, only found out she would jump her first ever five-star last Sunday night, and six days later, on March 9, riding Lady Louise Jmen she won the $385,000 CSI5* Grand Prix during 'Saturday Night Lights’ at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Luciana Lossio on Lady Louise SportfprLuciana Lossio on Lady Louise Jmen (Photo by Sportfot)“This is unbelievable for me; I've been with this mare for six years, and in the beginning I just wanted to jump 1.20m, but we became so much more,” said Lossio of her 14-year-old mare. “We went higher and higher, and today I'm here in my first five-star and winning alongside these riders that I just enjoy watching."

“She's so confident; she doesn’t change from day to night or from the grass to the sand; she’s perfect,” said Lossio.

Lossio went second to last in a four-horse jump-off over courses designed by Ireland’s Alan Wade. and she beat the then leading time of Nayel Nassar of Eqypt by fourth tenths of a second.

“Friday was International Women's Day, so I think they may have let me win because of that,” said Lossio, an amateur who works full time as a lawyer in Brazil. “Tonight was our night. In the warmup, she was telling me, ‘I want to go.’ She’s very strong and I have to be there trying to keep her in my hands because she really likes to jump.”

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Ireland's Jordan Coyle on For Gold won the WEF Challenge Cup

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Ireland’s Jordan Coyle on For Gold won the $116,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 on Thursday, March 7 over a list of eight in the jump-off during the Winter Equestrian Festival .

Jordan Coylle on For Gold SportfotJordan Coylle on For Gold (Photo by Sportfot)After a podium finish in the week 5 five-star on For Gold, Coyle rode the13-year-old Holsteiner gelding to win this week’s grand prix qualifier with seconds to spare.

Over tracks built by course designer Alan Wade of Ireland, 31-year-old Coyle beat the previous leader Kendra Claricia Brinkop of Germany in a winning time of 36.29 seconds.

Brinkop was second in her debut week at WEF riding In Time to finish clean in 38.34 seconds, and Irish Olympian Cian O’Connor was third on Fancy de Kergane in 39.32 seconds.

“It doesn't feel that fast, but he’s so naturally quick now,” said Coyle of the gelding he added to his string one year ago. “He started off quite a slow horse, but not anymore."

“I have to thank For Gold’s home rider Dermott Lennon for that,” said Coyle. “Since he started with the horse, he has turned inside out; he's just a completely different horse in four or five months. Without Dermott Lennon, I would never have got the horse to this stage.”

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Sam Pegg on Gin Tonic Won the $25,000 Cup at HITS

OCALA, Fla.--Sam Pegg on Gin Tonic won the $25,000 Cup over 28 competitors for his second win in the series on Thursday, March 7 at HITS..

mail 2Sam Pegg on Gin Tonic (Photo by ESI Photography)
Oscar Soberon set the course that had seven go clean to make the jump-off.

Pegg was the only one with two in the jump-off, and on his first, Formidable Diamant, Pegg finished on an eight fault round.

“The first horse is a little bit less experienced,” he said, “and I thought I maybe got there too soon in the the eight stride line, so I was a little more patient to the first jump the second time and I did one less stride coming to the combination. Then I just let him have a good gallop to the last fence.”

Pegg went last on Gin Tonic 158 and shaved almost a full second off of the leading time as he stopped the clock in 35.54 seconds.

“I thought it was a lovely course,” Pegg said. “It was enough of a test but nothing that wasn’t doable. Both of my horses are quite quick and smaller so I don’t have to worry about managing the stride so much and don’t have to let off of the gas.”

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Canada’s Francois LaMontagne won the $75,000 Grand Prix over Tracy Fenney at HITS

OCALA, Fla.--Canada’s Francois LaMontagne on Chanel du Calvaire won the $75,000 Grand Prix at HITS over a field of 16 on Saturday, March 2.

Francois Lamontagnei on Chanel du CalvaireFrancois Lamontagne on Chanel du CalvaireNine were clean in the first round, including Tracy Fenney, Aaron Vale, Devin Ryan and two for LaMontagne, over a course set by Meghan Rowlins of Canada.

LaMontagne on  Chanel du Calvaire was clean in 35.43 for the win.

“She's been going well since the beginning of the circuit this year,” LaMontagne said. "She has been feeling better and younger than ever, so she's been going great but I just hadn't won any grand prix so far. Still I felt that everything was good and in the right place so it was just a matter of time and luck. All the stars were aligned today for me."

“Nine was a really good number to have so we had a really good jump off today,” he said. “Tracy pushed me enough, but it was still beatable, and Aaron started better than I did. I think it helped to have my first one go in so I could ride it once and see how the strides worked out. I wanted to do seven strides with Chanel in the jump off, but she jumped a little sticky to the first one so I had to go for the eight and lost a little bit of time there.”

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Ben Maher won again, on Point Break in the $200,000 Grand Prix at WEF

WELLINGTON,Fla.--British Olympic champion Ben Maher had a banner week during Nations Cup week at the Winter Equestrian Festival, capping it off with a victory in the $200,000  CSIO4* Grand Prix on Point Break on Sunday, March 3.

 Ben Maher on Point Break Sportfot Ben Maher on Point Break (Photo by Sportfot)Five were clean in the first round over courses designed by Steve Stephens and Nick Granat, but Maher was the only one to finish clean in the jump-off, finishing in 41.40.

Coco Fath was second with a single time fault on Aventador 5, and Belgium’s Zoe Conter was third on La Una with the fastest four fault round, finishing in 42.34.

Australia's Sharn Wordley on Champion League was fourth with four faults in 46.22, and Ireland's Tom Wachman on Berlux Z was fifth with 28 faults.

“This is probably the biggest grand prix he's won,” said Maher of Point Break, a horse he’s had in his string since the stallion was 6. “It wasn't so long ago he was spooking off every golf cart, but he was always a very talented horse and he's progressed on very nicely."

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Will Coleman placed first and second with Boyd Martin third at Grand Prix Eventing in Aiken

Quotes reprinted from the Eventing Nation story by Sally Spickard and the Aiken Post and Courier

AIKEN, S.C.--Will Coleman of Gordonsville, Va., won Grand Prix Eventing on Chin Tonic HS and also placed second on Off the Record at Bruce's Field in Aiken on March 2.

Will Coleman on Chin Tonic HS Beth HarphanWill Coleman on Chin Tonic HS (Photo by Beth Harpham)Chin Tonic led after his dressage score of 26.5 and a clean show jumping round in the rain on March 1, then was clean cross country, finishing 10 seconds over the optimum time to finish on 30.5, while Off the Record was fifth going into cross country but was only one second over the time to finish on 33.2.

Martin on Federman B placed third on 35.3, and on Commando 3, who had a frangible pin down, placed 17th, but Tsetserleg had a problem at the bank, fence 21, and Martin opted to retire on him.

Both Coleman and Martin used Aiken as part of their efforts to make the Eventing team for the Paris Olympics.

Capt. Mark Phillips made this year's course more difficult to complement the increased prize money of $100,000.

“I’m tickled to be back here. It’s such a wonderful place,” Coleman said. “There is so much equestrian history. I drove by the [Aiken] Training Track this morning. What a great place. Don’t ever change anything.”

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The U.S. team finished third in Wellington Nations Cup behind Ireland and Canada

WELLINGTON, Fla.--The U.S. Jumping Team that was giving experience to two young riders and to two new horse and rider combinations finished third in the Nations Cup competition in Wellington on Saturday, March 2.

N C team Wellington Devyn TretheweyU.S. Nations Cup team in Wellington (Photo by Devyn Trethewey)In the first of two international Nation Cup competitions hosted in the U.S. this year, the U.S. Jumping Team finished on 24 faults behind the gold medal team of Ireland that had10 faults and the Canadian silver medal team with 20 faults.

The team of Laura Kraut on Bisquetta, Zayna Rizvi on Exquise du Pachis, Karl Cook on Carcole de las Roque and McLain Ward on Ilex was led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland.

"We achieved our objective of giving experience to to riders and new horses while still making the podium," said Ridland.

The Wellington Nations Cup had two interesting aspects.

The first round was held at 4:30, starting and ending in full daylight, and the second round was held at 7:30 under lights in front of an enthusiastic sell-out crowd, two completely different conditions.

And from the 39 riders that competed, there was not one double clear round, a very unusual occurrence.

Steve Stephens set a course that caused faults over a number of different fences and was very difficult while not causing any major problems or injuries.

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Aaron Vale on Prescott won the $100,000 Grand Prix CSI3* at the World Equestrian Center

OCALA, Fla.--Aaron Vale on Prescott won the  $100,000 Grand Prix CSI3*  in an 11 horse jump-off  over a course set by Catsy Cruz of Mexico at the World Equestrian Center on Saturday, March 2.

Aaron Valeon Prescott March 24 Andrew RybackAaron Vale on Prescott (Photo by Andrew Ryback)Anna Dryden on Gipsy Love set the initial pace in the jump-off, but Samantha Schaefer on James Bond HX finished in 41.33 seconds to take the lead and eventually place third.

Daniel Coyle of Ireland came close to winning with a fast round on Legacy, but he had a rail down, leaving the door open for Vale.

“I really shaped out to fence one, and got the six done easily in the turn," said Vale. "We caught that nice enough I was able to get eight down to the next oxer, and I think everybody else did nine. Then he actually grabbed a shoe landing, and I wasn’t sure what was happening, but for three or four strides he was scrambling. By the time everything cleared, the next oxer was going to be really long, but I had to win the class, so I took it. Then I was able to be patient to the combination, and after we landed that, I could just let his speed do the rest.”

With a time of 37.30 seconds, Vale ultimately had the win.

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Caroline Mawhinney on Stella Levista won the U25 Semi-Final Grand Prix

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Caroline Mawhinney on Stella Levista won the $32,000 U25 Semi-Final Grand Prix under the lights of the International Arena on Friday, March 1 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Caroline Mawhinney on Stella Levista SportfotCaroline Mawhinney on Stella Levista (Photo by Sportfot)The penultimate competition of the series had 50 competing over the course set by Steve Stephens and Nicholas Granat, with seven going clean.

Six of the seven were clean again in the jump-off.

Coming in to a time to beat of 34.99 seconds, set by eventual third place finisher Tom Wachman of Ireland on Obora’s Laura, Mawhinney quickly knocked more than a second off, finishing in 33.11 seconds.

“I've had her for over four years now and she truly is incredible," said Mawhinney. "I couldn't ask for a better horse. She's really small and a little crazy, but has the biggest heart in the world, She's given me so many achievements. She's really made me the rider that I am, and I owe her everything.”

Mawhinney, 18, on Stella Levista also won the same semi-final back in 2022.

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Kevin Kohmann on Dünensee won the Grand Prix Freestyle at the Festival

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Kevin Kohmann on Dünensee won the  FEI World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle on Friday night, March 1 during Week 8 of the Global Dressage Festival, and with the win secured his place in the World Cup Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in April.

 evin Kohmann on Dunensee GP Freestyle Susan Stickle Kevin Kohmann on Dunensee (Photo by Susan Stickle)The 35-year-old Kohmann, who is having a good season with Dünensee, scored 75.07%.

Riders in the final group of horses had to contend with heavy rain, but Susan Dutta and Ellen McCarthy of Great Britain placed second and third despite the downpour.

Dutta on Don Design DC scored 72.8% to place second., and McCarthy was third on the youngest horse in the class,  Brave Heart, with a score of 71.855%.

There are three starting spots allocated at the FEI World Cup Final to the North American League, and Anna Marek and Ben Ebeling already have two of them.

Kohmann now joins that list and will head to his first World Cup Final.

“Tonight’s test started off really well with my halt, but then the next movement screwed me and I said to myself ‘Kevin, just ride safe!’"said Kohmann. "I got a little ahead of the music, but my horse was 100% with me. He really helped me out, so thank you Düne.”

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Australian Jemma Heran won the 3* Grand Prix and Kevin Kohmann won the World Cup Grand Prix (2)

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Jemma Heran, 27 of Australia, won the CDI3* Grand Prix with a new personal best on Saphira Royal 2 on Thursday, Feb. 29 at the Global Dressage Festival.

Jemma Heran on Sapira Royale 2 Susan StickleJemma Heran on Saphira Royale 2 (Photo by Susan Stickle)Heran scored 70.717% to win her first international victory.

Her trainer, Frederic Wandres of Germany, placed second on Joy Game, scoring 69.913% in the horse’s debut CDI.

At just 10 years old, the Davino gelding was the youngest horse in the class.

Three of the top four competitors had new personal bests, including the Canadian riders who were third and fourth: Danielle Gallagher scored 69.239% on Come Back De Massa, and Camille Carier Bergeron was fourth on Finnländerin  on 69.087%.

Heran has owned Saphira Royal for just over a year.

“I saw her at a show in Europe and I thought she was spectacular,” said Heran. “She was small-ish, elegant, super flashy moving, fine boned — my style of horse. Today she was amazing. She was full of energy, super fit and ready to go. We had a little mistake in the ones, but she looked up at the crowd and she’s just so epic. She tries her heart out for me like not many other horses I’ve ridden.”

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Paul Halpern on Esra won the $25,000 Cup at HITS

OCALA, Fla.--Paul Halpern on Esra won the $25,000 Cup on Thursday, Feb. 29 at HITS in a five horse jump-off from the starting field of 18..

Paul Halpem on EsraPaul Halpem on EsraWith three of the five in the jump-off going clean, Halpern won in the fastest time of 39.17 seconds.

“Today’s jump off worked in her favor because it was more turning related as opposed to running,” Halpern said. “There was a leave out in the first line that I did to get the inside turn off the water; she's nifty in her turns so I got that done well and had a nice turn to the double, then we managed to do the leave out on the way home too which isn't her strength but I kept going and hoped it worked out and it did.”

Halpern has ridden the mare for seven years, and he's the only one who has competed her throughout her lifetime.

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Ben Maher won again, riding Ginger-Blue in the WEF Challenge Cup to beat Karl Cook

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Ben Maher of Great Britain on Ginger-Blue won the $32,000 CSIO4* WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 on Thursday , Feb. 29 at the Winter Equestrian Festival

Ben Maher on Ginger Blue SportfotBen Maher on Ginger-Blue (Photo by Sportfot)The class was the first jumper competition of Nations Cup week and served as a qualifier for Sunday’s $200,000 CSIO4* Grand Prix.

Maher, the reigning Olympic champion, on Ginger-Blue, barn name Cookie, beat a field of 64 in the one-round, two-phase format class over a course designed by Steve Stephens.

Maher was clean in 69.44 seconds, and Karl Cook on his 2023 Pan-American Games mount, Caracole de la Roque was second in 70.38 seconds.

Charlotte Jacobs on Rincoola Milsean was third, clean in 71.03 seconds.

“It's always special to win any FEI competition, especially here in Wellington; there's a lot of good horse and rider combinations any week,” said Maher. “But, as you see, this week there's a lot of people that fly in especially for this week, so to start it like this is a confidence boost.”

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Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut and McLain Ward are gearing up for the Paris Olympics

WELLINGTON, Fla.--With five star competiton beginning at WEF, many of the top riders are bringing out the horses they hope will carry them to the Paris Olympics.

McLain Ward on Callas AachenMcLain Ward on Callas in Aachen last year
Three of those riders, Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut and McLain Ward, have more than one horse that has already started winning at the top levels.

A few other riders that look like possibilities for the Paris team include Lillie Keenan, who has been winning top ribbons at WEF, and Aaron Vale and Callie Schott, who had outstanding performances in the Abu Dhabi Nations Cup.

Karl Cook and Jessie Springsteen have also  been doing well at WEF

The present method of choosing championship teams has resulted in a spectacular skein of championship medals.

Following the conclusion of WEF and Thermal, a team of 10 riders will named to compete in Europe, and the Paris squad will be named from that group.

For the 10, four will be the top four on the riders ranking list and the riders average ranking list, three will be the riders of the top three horses on the horses ranking list, and three will be discretionary picks.

The first chooses riders with multiple winning horses, the second chooses riders with only one winning horse, and the third allows a panel of selectors led by Ridland to chose three additional top riders.

Under that system, riders with only one horse, like Lucy Davis who made the team in Rio, and Adrienne Sternlicht, who made the Tryon team, are on an equal footing with riders with a number of horses.

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Kate Kyros won the U25 Grand Prix Freestyle and individual gold in Nations Cup

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Kate Kyros (of Australia finished Nations Cup week with a gold medal on Sunday, Feb.25 at the Global Dressage Festival.

Kate Kyros on Chemistry Susan StickleKate Kyros on Chemistry (Photo by Susan Stickle)Kyros, 19 years old, won the CDIO Under-25 Grand Prix Freestyle, and with it the Nations Cup individual gold, scoring 73.50 on Chemistry.

Two USA riders joined her on the podium, both with personal best scores.

Josh Albrecht, 22, on Goldenboy Vinckenburgh scored 70.13% to win the silver medal, while 21-year-old Dennesy Rogers scored 68.8% on Chanel to win the bronze.

“I was very emotional,” said Kyros, who rode to an Alice in Wonderland soundtrack. “Turning from my final piaffe pirouette I was thinking, ‘I am going to cry!’ I’m so ridiculously proud of him today. This is huge. I was nervous because he’s never done a freestyle with this big atmosphere before, and he’s been a little nervous with the clapping, but the minute I got in there today I just knew I had him, we were totally together and we were going to be fine."

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Laura Chapot on Chandon Blue won the $62,500, CSI2* Grand Prix at WEF

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Laura Chapot on Chandon Blue won the $62,500, CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday, Feb. 25 at the Winter Equestrian Festival

Laura Chapot onChandon Blue in 24 SportfotLaura Chapot on Chandon Blue (Photo by Sportfot)Chapot on her longtime partner, the  19-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Chandon Blue owned by Laura and her mother Mary Chapot, was one of 11 in the jump-off from the starting field of 44.

Anthony D’Ambrosio’s jump-off course proved difficult to master, resulting in no clean rounds, so Chapot won with the fastest four fault round, finishing in a time of 35.64 seconds.

“I was a little bit surprised that there weren't any clears when I went in,” Chapot said. “But I knew I shouldn't really change the plan because I could start to get too careful, and then I did get a little too careful at the end and he did have the rail down.”

“He's got a naturally fast pace, so I wanted to try and keep it smooth and moving everywhere and hoped all the rails stayed up,” she said. “Obviously it was very unexpected to have a bunch of horses go in there and end up on four faults, so you have that in the back of your mind that you could have a rail too. You might as well keep going and then even if you have one down, you'll end up in the top of the mix.”

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Daniel Coyle on Farrel won the $100,000 Grand Prix CSI3* at the World Equestrian Center

OCALA, Fla.--Daniel Coyle of Ireland on Farrel won the $100,000 Grand Prix CSI3* and was also third on Quintin over Aaron Vale on Obi Wan in a thrilling jump-off on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the World Equestrian Center.

Daniel oyle on Farrel Andrew RybackDaniel Coyle on Farrel (Photo by Andrew Ryback)FEI Level III course designer, Peter Grant of Canada set the three-star course in the Grand Prix,, and 15 competitors from eight nations were clean to go on to the jump-off that turned into a back-to-back battle between the United States and Ireland.

Both  Vale and Coyle had two in the jump-off, initiating a gripping fight between these two top riders.

Vale was the first rider to go clean and very fast on Prescott, finishing in 39.74 seconds to set the pace.

Several tried to beats Vale’s time, but it was Coyle who rose to the challenge with his first ride, Quintin, stopping the clock nearly a second faster at 38.52 seconds.

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Andre Thieme won the $75,000 Grand Prix at HITS

OCALA, Fla.--Andre Thieme of Germany on Paule S won the $75,000 Grand Prix in a 12 horse jump-off on Saturday, Feb. 24 at HITS.

Andre Thieme on Paula SAndre Thieme on Paule SBernardo Costa Cabraln set the course for 29 competitors in the first round.

Thieme had three in the jump-off, two of which were clean and one had four faults, but he said his plan all along was to try to win on his 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding Paule S, which he did, finishing clean in 37.11.

“I was really happy today with all three of my horses,” he said. “My chestnut mare, DSP Chakaria, is on her way back so I already knew in the jump off I wouldn’t plan to go fast with her. I knew the first one was the horse to get it done and I took all of the risks I could.”

“The horse that won here today is a little nervous so I’m very happy for him to have held it together so well today,” Thieme said. “He is just starting to do the grand prix. The second horse is on her way back from a small injury, and the last horse is pretty new to me. So this is really the perfect place to be with all of them.”

Harold Chopping of Canada on Quadrant 3 placed second in 39.73 seconds, and Jonathan McCrea, a winner earlier in the week, was third on Kannascha in 41.98 seconds.

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Richard Vogel on United Touch S edged out McLain Ward on Callas in the 5* Grand Prix at WEF

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Richard Vogel of Germany on United Touch S won the $385,000, CSI5* Grand Prix, just edging out McLain Ward on Callas in a jump-off that suited United Touch's huge stride on Saturday evening, Feb, 24 during ‘Saturday Night Lights’ at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Richard Vogel on United Touch S SportforRichard Vogel on United Touch S (Photo by Sportfor)The jump-off favored leaving strides out over tight turns, and with his big step making it easy, United Touch left out a stride from one to two and also to the last fence to win in 42.04 seconds over Ward,, who made tight turns but couldn't leave out the strides to finish second in 42.39

Live stream announcer Karl Cook said Ward has been helping Vogel, and that Vogel had said how much he had been helped.

Waiting in the ingate for the podium ceremony, Ward, who has a strong family life, had in his arms his daughter Madison, who had her face painted, one of the entertainments for children during ‘Saturday Night Lights.'

After the podium awards, Ward popped a champagne bottle he had snuck in and sprayed Vogel, then poured some champagne down his back in congratulations before taking a sip himself.

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Kevin Kohmann won an individual gold medal in the Grand Prix Special at the Festival

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Kevin Kohmann on Dunensee won the FEI Nations Cup CDIO3* Grand Prix Special on Saturday, Feb. 24, the second and final set of individual medals at the Global Dressage Festival.

Kevin Kohmann on Dunensee.Sara StickleKevin Kohmann on Dunensee.(Photo by Susan Stickle)Kohmann was overcome with emotion to win the gold medal.

Michael Klimke on Domino 957 scored 67.766% to win the silver medal.

At just 20 years old, Erin Nichols won bronze on Elian Royale, scoring 67.128%.

“It was super standing up there, I’m speechless right now,” said Kohmann, who switched nationalities from his native Germany three years ago. “This is my second time riding a Nations Cup for the US and I had tears during the anthem."

“I am so thrilled to have won even though today wasn’t really the test that I wanted it to be,” he said of the small mistakes in his performance. “He had a bit more go, so we’re going to change the strategy for our next warm-ups, for day number two especially. It seems that the horse has so much energy, which is great, but it was too much today for me to manage through the test, so we missed the suppleness and looseness that we normally have.”

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Rodrigo Pessoa won the $65,000 Grand Prix at TerraNova

MYAKKA CITY, Fla.--Six-time Olympian Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil on Chili won $65,000 FEI 1.45m Grand Prix over Dermot Lennon of Ireland on King Kannan GP, Amanda Derbyshire of Great Britain on Destine To Be and four time Olympian Beezie Madden,, who no longer competes internationally, on Hummer..

Rodrigo Pessoaon Chill EQ MedaiRodrigo Pessoa on Chill (Photo by EQ Media)Manuel Esparza of Mexico set the course for 30 competitors from nine nations with 11 returning for the jump-off.

Esparza’s CSI2* grand prix course had 15 jumping efforts and a time allowed of 75 seconds and included three combinations - an oxer-vertical two stride, a vertical-oxer one stride and a vertical-vertical one stride.

“We play a little bit sometimes in the difficult lines, we go a little lower,” Esparza said. “We have a chance to go a couple centimeters up when we need it. This group is a really nice group of horses and riders. I think this is a fair track for them.”

Fifth in the jump-off order, Derbyshire was clean in 37.38, taking the lead from four-time Olympian Beezie Madden on Hummer Z by eight-tenths of a second.

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More Articles ...

  1. Victoria Colvin and Tiffany Morrissey won sections of the National Hunter Derby
  2. Felicitas Hendricks won the Grand Prix Freestyle at the Festival
  3. Daniel Bluman won the Welcome Stake at TerraNova over Amanda Derbyshire
  4. Ben Maher won the WEF Challenge Cup over Kent Farrington
  5. Germany won the Dressage Nations Cup over the USA at the Global Dressage Festival
  6. Jonathan McCrea on Jannan S won the $25,000 Cup at HITS
  7. Daniel Coyle won the Kevin Babington Foundation Benefit Classic
  8. Shariah Harris leads Work To Ride polo team to win in U.S. Open Women's Polo Championship
  9. Amanda Derbyshire dominated at TerraNova with wins in both Grand Prix
  10. Tracy Fenney on MTM Apple won the $75,000 Grand Prix at HITS
  11. Nick Haness on McQueen won the Hunter Spectacular under the lights at WEF
  12. Jessica Howington on Serenade MF won the Grand Prix Special at WEC
  13. Ireland's Phillip McGuane won the WEF Challenge Cup
  14. Anna Marek on Fayval wins again, but this time at the World Equestrian Center
  15. Amanda Derbyshire on Otto BH won the $32,000, 1.45m Welcome Speed at TerraNova
  16. Nick Haness Won Three Championships in Hunter Divisions at WEF
  17. Sharn Wordley on Hagelin won the $75,000 Grand Prix at HITS
  18. Ben Maher won the $62,500 5* 1.50m, and Grace Debney won the $62,500 2* Grand Prix at WEF
  19. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén and Ashley Holzer placed first and second in the Grand Prix Special at the Festival
  20. Inexperienced U.S. team finishes a great sixth in Abu Dhabi
  21. Darragh Kenny won the $385,000 Grand Prix as Ireland swept the top three spots at WEF
  22. Alise Oken jumped clean in the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi in preparation for the Nations Cup
  23. Anna Marek on Fayvel won the Grand Prix Freestyle at the Global Dressage Festival
  24. Anna Marek and Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén win at the Global Dressage Festival
  25. Kent Farrington on Toulayna won the WEF Challenge Cup
  26. Tracy Fenney won the $24,500 Grand Prix at HITS
  27. Grace Debney and Shane Sweetnam win at WEF
  28. Daniel Coyle placed first and second in the $100,000 Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Center
  29. Paul O'Shea won the $215,000 Grand Prix over 19-year-old Mimi Gochman at WEF
  30. Aaron Vale on Obi Wan won the $75,000 Grand Prix at HITS
  31. Jennifer Hannan on Mindful beat top Derby rider Jimmy Torano on Laskano in the $25,000 International Hunter Derby at WEF
  32. Kent Farrington on Landon won the $62,500 WEF Challenge Cup
  33. Dorothy Douglas on MTM Pablo won the $100,000 Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Center
  34. Kristen Vanderveen on Bull Run's Faustino de Tili won the $75,000 Grand Prix at HITS
  35. Amy Millar on Christiano won the 1.50m Classic at WEF
  36. Ben Ebeling on Escona 8 won the Prix St. George Future Challenge at the Festival
  37. Tiffany Foster won the $215,000 Grand Prix while Zayna Rizvi won the 1.45m Amateur Jumper Classic at WEF
  38. Susan Pape won the Grand Prix Special at the Festival
  39. Richard Vogel on Cepano Baloubet won the $32,000 1.50m at WEF
  40. Felicitas Hendricks won the Freestyle on Drombusch OLD
  41. Nicola Philippaerts on Derby de Riverland won the WEF Challenge Cup
  42. Felicitas Hendricks won again on Drombusch OLD at the Global Dressage Festival
  43. Germany's Richard Vogel won the $140,000 Grand Prix while Natalie Dean won the $31,020 U25 Grand Prix at WEF
  44. David Jennings on Follow Me won at HITS
  45. Rodrigo Pessoa on Gonzalo won the $50,000 National Grand Prix over Darragh Kenny at WEF
  46. Richard Spooner on Halcon won the $100,000 Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Center
  47. Abigail McArdle and Amanda Derbyshire tie for the win in the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup
  48. Kristen Vanderveen placed first and second in the $75,000 Grand Prix at HITS
  49. Paul O'Shea on Hellcat won the $32,000 1.45m at WEF
  50. Aaron Vale on Constantin de Hus won the $25,000 at HITS

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