WELLINGTON, Fla.--Nick Wagman on Don John won the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3* for Special on Thursday, Feb.11 with a personal best score of 73.848 percent at the Global Dressage Festival.
Nick Wagman on Don John (Photo by Susan Stickle)“This is our first real show in a year, so we were both nervous,” Wagman said. “Don John was pretty hot in there, but he knows his job, so I think that was his biggest strength, despite the fact that I was nervous. He didn’t let me down. I just watched the video, and there are always things that you want to do better. I felt like he was exuberant, but he did look fairly controlled when I watched the re-play. I’m glad that I got this one under my belt, so now we can really focus on getting our confidence back.”
“He’s been around the block a few times now, coming to Florida, so he knows the routine," said Wagman. "I was a little surprised at how hot he was in the warmup, but I think it’s just a weird time of day for us to ride, because he’s been such a steady Eddie since we’ve been here.”
Wagman has his hopes set on the Tokyo Olympics, but this week, the pair is working on having a solid start in the FEI ring after almost a year away.
“There was a lot riding on today because I’m trying to get qualified for the five star, so I just need to get through this weekend." said Wagman. "My number one goal is to have a successful show where we both get our confidence up, and I do what I need to do, and move on to the next one. To win like this is a wonderful bonus.”
“I hope to be invited to the five star, and depending on where we stand after that, we might stay for one more show in March," said Wagman. "I’m not sure if there are any qualifiers in California anymore, so a lot will depend on how we do on Saturday and then at our next show.”
Second went to Canada’s Lindsay Kellock on Sebastien with 72.326 percent, and Susan Pape of Great Britain) on Harmony’s Eclectisch was third with 71.826 percent.
BRITTANY FRASER-BEAULIEU of Canada on All In won Grand Prix CDI-W on Friday, Feb. 12.
Brittany Frase Beaulieu on All In (Photo by Susan Stickle)Coming into the Global International Arena as the final competitor of the day, Fraser-Beaulieu moved to the top of the leaderboard with a final percentage of 73.696.
“I feel really relieved that we had such a good test today,” said Fraser-Beaulieu. “To be honest, I think this was probably our best Grand Prix to date. He was really on the aids and totally focused. Last year I started cutting my warmup to 15 minutes because he’s so big. I take him out and stretch him in the morning and then have a very short warmup. It’s working for us so far, and today he stayed totally with me through the whole ride. It was really incredible.”
Fraser-Beaulieu and the gelding earned their highest Grand Prix CDI-W score ever after competing for the first time in over 10 months.
“I was a little nervous getting back into the ring,” she said. “I had such an amazing finish to last season, and I had almost 10 months of no showing, I was praying I was going to come out strong, but you never know! All In and I have such a long partnership and I know him so well. I’ve had him since he was 5. We’ve shown everywhere, so as long as I know he’s feeling well, and I ride well, I know we’ll have a good test. I just had to get my confidence back and get the nerves out, and then I was able to ride more confidently today.”
“I just decided that I’m going to try for World Cup Finals,” she said. “Things are a little up in the air still with the rest of the season. I’d like to do the five star, to get another Grand Prix Special under our belt for the Olympics. We are just going to take it show by show and see how All In feels. If he needs to go, we’ll go, if he feels tired we will take a break. I’m pretty flexible. We are fortunate to have so many shows here, so we’ll take it as it comes.”
Fraser-Beaulieu’s longtime coach, Ashley Holzer was second on Valentine with a 71.826 percent and Canadian Chris Von Martels on Eclips,was third with a 70.326 percent.
In the FEI Intermediare I CDI 3*, Cesar Parra on Mr. Bumblebee won with 71.853 percent with Kevin Kohmann of German on Five Star placing second with 71.529 percent and Anna Marek third on Felissirana with 71.265 percent.
