WELLINGTON, Fla.--Frederic Wandres of Germany on Bluetooth OLD won the CDI-W World Cup Grand Prix and the World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle on Feb.10 while France’s Morgan Barbançon on Habana Libre A won the CDI3* Grand Prix Special on Feb. 11
Wandres scored 74.913 percent to beat Babançon on Bolero, scoring a 71.782 percent, and third went to Ashley Holzer on Valentine who was not far behind, finishing on a score of 71.174 percent in the Grand Prix.
“I thought today went much better than the last time CDI here," said Wandres. "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."
“Sometimes in the arena he can become a little bit shy, and you have to figure out how much pressure you can give him that doesn’t turn in the other direction,”said Wandres. “It’s about getting self-confidence for him, so that he gets a good feeling. In the end, he has to come out of himself more and more, so that is something we are working on.”
Wandres, again on Bluetooth OLD, won the Grand Prix Freestyle during the ‘Friday Night Stars’.
Last to go of the 11 starters, Wandres scored 80.565 percent, with a high score of 82.2 percent.
AS A 3-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.
Ashley Holzer on Valentine, in just her fourth international Grand Prix Freestyle,was second place with 77.4 percent, with Sarah Tubman on First Apple third.
“It was the second Friday Night Stars this season for me and I really love the atmosphere, it’s always so crowded and the people are cheering for everyone." said Wandres. "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.”
Bluetooth OLD — who was bred by Paul Schockemöhle’s Gestüt Lewitz — was formerly ridden at national Grand Prix by Ingrid Klimke, and Wandres took over the reins almost two years ago.
“In the beginning we needed time to come together as he’s a very sensitive horse,” said Wandres. “He needs routine and it took a little while to figure all that out. Now I know him and he knows me and we know what we can risk and what we can’t — that’s the positive thing about a partnership. Coming down the centerline is what the spectators see, but behind that there is so much more to think about and do; it’s a 24/7 passion for all of us and if it all comes together in the arena, then even better.”
“Yesterday in the Grand Prix she was really willing, but tonight was a huge question mark,” said Holzer, who rode for Canada at four Olympic Games before switching nationalities. “This is a lot of atmosphere and you pray to God the PTSD doesn’t come back. She was a little tricky in the warmup. Katherine [Bateson-Chandler] was helping me and we didn’t do much of the grand prix work in the warmup and I finally felt her relax."
“In the ring, she slowly came more and more to me as the test went on. That last centerline, my mare was back. It’s a journey with these horses and you have to find the right solution and find a way forward. I feel so happy that this path is working for her,” said Holzer.
A large field of 28 contested the FEI Grand Prix CDI3*, which served as a qualifier for Saturday afternoon’s CDI3* Grand Prix Special.
France’s Morgan Barbançon on Habana Libre A scored 71.174 percent to win over two young German riders, Anna-Christina Abbelen (26) on Sam Donnerhall who was second with 70.913 percent while 22-year-old Felicitas Hendricks made her senior international Grand Prix debut on Drombusch 2 and was third with 70.565 percent.
“Here you can compete, compete, compete without having to travel all the time,” said Barbancon. “If I calculate all the shows I could have done in Europe for all the shows I’m doing here, I saved almost 30,000km of travelling for the horses.”
Barbançon on Habana Libre A won Saturday's headline class, the CDI3* Grand Prix Special.
Barbançon’s 71.66 percent 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 Felicitas Hendricks climbed a place to second on Drombusch 2 on 70.362 percent in the pair’s debut senior international show at the level.
Her compatriot Anna-Christina Abbelen, 26, rode Sam Donnerhall to 69.723 percent and third place.
“I’m extremely happy and it was great to win,” said 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," he said. "This is the second one going to the dry cleaners. But I prefer that to the frostbite I get at home.”
Barbançon, who is based in Switzerland, has ridden and produced Habana since he was a youngster, bringing him up through the levels from young horse classes.
He is one of three Grand Prix horses she has brought to AGDF.
“Havana is a big baby that tries so hard,” she said. “It’s all about not making mistakes because when he does he gets so stressed. That’s why I don’t push him in there for the moment. I want him to figure out that it’s cool and a good experience. He was maybe too cool in there, and in those piaffes I could have maybe kicked a bit more and woken him up. He was really peace and love today — next time I can push a notch more.”
She concluded, “It’s just so nice to be here, as it’s not so many kilometers for the [horses to get to the] shows and Habana can get experience. It’s all about making him confident. He’s still a big baby, but he tries so hard for me.”