The 2017 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) returns to The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) this year on January 12 to March 25, featuring dressage stars competing on an international stage in the equestrian epicenter of Wellington, FL. In its sixth year, AGDF is pleased to welcome competitors, spectators, and vendors back to celebrate the highest level of dressage sport in North America.
“The AGDF has become a very special event for PBIEC and Wellington,” said Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo. “Every year, we have more people coming to watch, and the local community is becoming engaged with the sport of dressage. We look forward to seeing more incredible sport in 2017.”
AGDF will feature seven weeks of CDI competition in 2017, with each of those weeks including a concurrent national show. The circuit features four weeks with FEI World Cup qualifying events, a CDI 5*, CDI 4*/3*/1*, and a CDIO 3*.
AGDF Director of Sport Thomas Baur stated, “The level of dressage increases every year at AGDF. We have worked very hard to make AGDF one of the best dressage competitions in the world, and we feel that this year will be better than ever.”
The season will begin with the Lloyd Landkamer Memorial CDI-W (Jan. 12-15), presented by The AMCI Group to benefit Brooke USA and organized in remembrance of Lloyd Landkamer. Lloyd was the show manager of AGDF and an influential member of the dressage community until his passing in 2015.
The second week of the 2017 circuit (Jan. 20-22) will welcome the growing para-dressage tour back to AGDF, as the first of two CPEDI 3* competitions will take to The Stadium. Both CPEDI 3* weeks will host riders from around North America as they vie for top titles in team and individual competition. The second CPEDI 3* will be hosted during AGDF 9 from March 10-12. CPEDI competition is presented by Mane Stream courtesy of Rowan O’Riley, Mission Control, Adequan®, and Nutrena.
Two special competitions are the CDI 5* in February and the CDIO 3* in March. Many of the best dressage horses and riders in the world will compete in AGDF’s CDI 5* week, presented by Diamante Farms, on February 9-12, which features the highest possible international rating in dressage.
The finale of the season on March 22-25, Wellington’s CDIO 3* presented by Stillpoint Farm, remains the only Nations Cup competition for dressage in North or South America outside of championship events. It is once again part of the FEI Nations Cup series. Each year, more international riders make the journey to compete in the coveted event, and it stands as a special conclusion to the AGDF circuit. New to the schedule this year, there will also be a CDIO for Under 25 riders, giving up-and-coming riders the chance to compete on a team.
Each week of international competition at AGDF features “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Musical Freestyles, which bring the crème de la crème of dressage out to shine under the bright lights of the Global Pavilion at PBIEC. The evening is a highlight for riders and spectators alike, as international competitors show their freestyles set to music in a fun evening of sport and entertainment. Special musical acts, such as a string quartet or the Yale a capella singing group, are featured in between amazing dressage performances.
With ten weeks of competition and divisions for every level, the AGDF is widely recognized as an innovative and world-class event for the sport of dressage. Each of the seven CDI weeks hosted at AGDF this year will feature large and small tour competition, while also offering FEI Amateur, Under 25, Junior, and Children’s Divisions to generate more opportunities for a diverse group of competitors to experience all that AGDF has to offer.
Equestrian Sport Productions looks forward to hosting everyone this year as the AGDF maintains its incredible development and welcomes everyone to enjoy the event this winter. For more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.
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