The 10th week of the 2021 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) commenced on Wednesday, March 17, featuring the Nations Cup CDIO-U25 presented by Diamante Farms, and welcoming the first win for a Canadian U25 Team in five years of the Under 25 Nations Cup at AGDF.
Beatrice Boucher and Baldacci. (©SusanJStickle)
First in the ring for Team Canada was Beatrice Boucher, who rode Camille and Gilles Bergeron’s 2006 KWPN gelding by Havidoff, Baldacci, to a score of 65.323%.
She began, “I just went in and tried my best to get through the test. It’s the first CDI that I’ve done with this horse, and I’ve only ridden him in two shows to qualify for this show, so I don’t know him very well in the show ring.”
It is the 23-year-old’s first season competing in the U25 division, and she noted that she wants to spend a bit more time perfecting her performance before heading the Grand Prix in a year or two. Of her first Nations Cup experience, Boucher said, “It’s really special to be on a team with these two riders, so it feels very exciting. They’re great teammates, and the whole experience has been fun.”
Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Fleur de Lis L. (©SusanJStickle)
Second in for the Canadians’ was 21-year-old Vanessa Creech-Terauds riding Fleur De Lis L, Diane Creech and Louise Leatherdale’s 2009 Hanoverian mare by First Dance, earning a 66.529%.
Creech-Terauds commented that in contrast to Boucher, she and Fleur De Lis L have a longstanding relationship.
“I started with Fleur five years ago, and we went from the Junior division to the young rider division, and now the U25,” she said. “This is our first year doing the CDIO-U25 together, so it’s been a really amazing journey because we know each other so well. It’s really fun going out there into the ring with her.”
The mare is a homebred mount from Leatherdale Farms, and Creech-Terauds noted how special it is to see how far she has come. “With Fleur,” she explained, “my goal is to just continue in the U25, and if we can do some Grand Prix classes together, we have a lot of time together. We have a lot of potential, so I’m very excited for the future with her.”
Camille Carier Bergeron and Acoeur sealed the deal on the Canadian CDIO-U25 victory. (©SusanJStickle)
Camille Carier Bergeron was the last to go in the class and sealed the deal as the anchor rider with a 69.412% on Acoeur, Gilles Bergeron’s 2007 Württemberg gelding by Acordelli. After two riders each for the teams from Canada and United States, it came down to Carier Bergeron and Acoeur to put in a strong score to garner the gold medal. They did just that, bringing Canada’s team total to 135.941%.
“Before we went into the arena,” stated Carier Bergeron, “I knew around where I needed to be scoring, but I was more focused on Beatrice and Vanessa, and where their scores were. Once I got on my horse I didn’t think about it. I was just trying to do my best and go for it.”
The 20-year-old just came off of a successful week at AGDF8 where she was overall champion of the 2021 Florida International Youth Dressage Championships, placing first with Acoeur in the CDIU25 16-25 Division.
Watch the winning ride for Team Canada!
“I’ve had Acoeur for three years now,” said Carier Bergeron. “This year has been a really good year for us, and I feel like we’ve gained a lot of experience in the CDI ring. We’re more confident when we go in the ring now, and he’s so steady. He’s just a horse that wants to give his all, and he’s very steady, very calm.”
She concluded, “My goal is to continue to get better in the U25, and then maybe compete in some Grand Prix classes. I’d like to take Acoeur to the Grand Prix this year, and that will be our first ever, so that’s our goal. We go day-by-day and aim for that.”
The United States of America took home second place in the CDIO-U25 presented by Diamante Farms with an overall team score of 135.295%. Rosemary Julian-Simoes on Rankrado, Rankrado LLC’s 2004 ZfDP stallion by Ranko, contributed a score of 65.471%. Codi Harrison (USA) on Katholt’s Bossco, her own 2007 Danish Warmblood stallion by Blue Hors Don Schufro, were awarded a 67.177%; and Hope Cooper (USA) and Hot Chocolate W, Mary Mansfield’s 2005 Hanoverian gelding by Hochadel scored a 68.118%.
The senior team CDIO contest is at the half-way mark, with four teams — the USA, Canada, Germany, and Australia— fighting for the spot atop the podium. Team Germany, consisting of Michael Klimke, Kevin Kohmann, Christoph Koschel, and Frederic Wandres, is in the lead with a score of 223.333.
The United States of America team of Katherine Bateson-Chandler, Benjamin Ebeling, Adrienne Lyle, and Jennifer Williams sits just behind in second with 222.370. Canada (Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, Lindsay Kellock, Naima Moreira Laliberte, Chris Von Martels) waits in third with 217.848, while Australia trails behind on 192.239.
In the FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI3*, presented by Iron Spring Farm, the USA’s Sabine Schut-Kery won her third consecutive AGDF class with Alice Womble’s 2006 Hanoverian stallion by San Remo, Sanceo, earning a personal best score of 75.978%. Nick Wagman (USA) and Don John, Beverly Jean Gepfer’s 2008 KWPN gelding by Johnson TN, earned second place with a 73.196%. Third went to Anna Buffini (USA) on her own 2008 Hanoverian mare by Don Frederico, FRH Davinia la Douce, scoring a personal best of 71.348%.
Competition at AGDF 10 will continue tomorrow with a full schedule of classes, including the FEI Prix St. Georges CDI3*, presented by Horseware Ireland, the FEI Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3*, presented by Wellington Regional Medical Center, and the FEI CDIO-U25 Grand Prix presented by Diamante Farms. The FEI Grand Prix Special CDIO3*, presented by Stillpoint Farm beginning at 1:05 p.m. will determine the team medals. For more information and to see a full list of results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.
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