WELLINGTON, Fla.--Nick Wagman and Don John won the FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI3* at the Global Dressage Festival on Thursday, March 4.

Nick Wagman on Don John (Photo by Susan Stickle)Wagman notched his second personal best score of the season with a 74.478 percent, almost four points higher than second place finisher Jessica Howington on Cavalia.

“He was really with me the whole time today,” said 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.”

“I haven’t watched the video yet, but the piaffe and passage work felt pretty reliable today," said Wagman. "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.”

After a low key week, Wagman picked training back up and has shifted his original plan for the remainder of the winter season.

“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," said Wagman. "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.”

Second place in the FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI3* went to Jessica Howington on Cavalia with a 70.913 percent, and Canadian Diane Creech was third on Chrevi’s Christo, finishing on a 70.478 percent.

 

BRIAN HAFNER of Ocala, Fla., rode Dream Catcher to 73.043 percent to win Saturday’s FEI Grand Prix in the Open division at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala.

Brian Hafner on Dream Catcher (Photo by Andrew Ryback)Hafner recently relocated to Ocala from Sonoma County, Calif.

"The show venue is quite incredible," said Hafner. "It has to be one of the best show facilities in the world. The World Equestrian Center was one of the big considerations for why I decided to make the move."

Dream Catcher has been with Hafner for the past seven years.

Hafner found the horse as a Third Level mount for owner Wendy Roberts and has since taken over the ride in higher level competition.

"Overall, he’s just a very consistent horse," said Hafner. "He’s very talented at the piaffe. We’re still not at a point where we can execute that and strongly show that consistently in his tests, but this is only his second show competing Grand Prix so we’re all really excited for his potential and being able to showcase his highlights in future shows.

"It’s just so easy to show here," said Hafner, who plans to attend the international-level CDI show in April. "It's super nice to be able to trailer the horses back to our home barn for the night if we want to, or even just go home and relax with a glass of wine at night. It’s just very stress-free and easy on the horses, which is great."