Dressage returned to World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) for the April Dressage CDI4* presented by Hampton Green Farms on Thursday, April 10, 2025, and welcomed horses and riders into the WEC Grand Arena for competition.
With a partnership that has only spanned just over a month, Alexandra Duncan and Hitmaker were able to put the pieces together to win the Grand Prix CDI3* presented by MARS Equestrian. The pair posted a score of 68.413% in their first CDI competition together following a national show one week ago.
Ivo Jührend (NED) and Black Diamond, an 11-year-old Hungarian Warmblood gelding (Vezér x Undigo) owned by Savannah Show Stables LLC, placed second with a score of 63.978%. Third place with a score of 63.609% went to Charlotte Jorst (USA) and GPF’s S-Express, a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding by Sezuan x Sir Donnerhall I owned by Kastel Denmark.
Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Duncan runs both a dressage training and sales business as well as a jumper sales business in Wellington, FL. She found Hitmaker in Holland where the horse was a breeding stallion and competing at the grand prix level with Dutch rider Jennifer Sekreve. Duncan is based at the Palm Beach Equine Sports Complex, adjacent to the Palm Beach Equine Clinic, which handles all of the breeding and reproduction needs for her three stallions, and the stallions’ breeding programs are managed by Brass Stables in Kentucky.
“I saw his quality, and he just had that ‘it factor,’” said Duncan of the 13-year-old KWPN stallion by Wynton x Cabochon. “I saw him, tried him, and I said, ‘This is it.’ He’s got a lot of good babies in Europe, and it will be nice to start producing some here. Breeding is a big passion of mine. I really want to be able to have top stallions and access to them here.”
While their partnership is brand new, Duncan knows that she has something special in Hitmaker. “We’re developing a really close bond,” she said. “I’ve been spending a lot of time with him, we are getting to know each other, and taking training quietly. We’ve created this bond that really I don’t have words for.”
That bond came into play as Duncan and Hitmaker entered the WEC Grand Arena, which has an incredible atmosphere. “It was really a treat to be able to go in there,” said Duncan, who has competed at WEC – Ocala regularly. “He stayed really focused. As long as I stay calm, he’s right there with me. And I felt relaxed and happy with him.
“I’m still getting to know him in the ring,” she continued. “I took a little bit more risk where I could, but he still needs to get a little bit stronger after traveling and everything. I felt like the lead changes were a highlight, his piaffe/passage was really super, and his pirouettes. I’m not pushing him yet for the full power because everything’s still new, but he really stayed with me and gave me a nice feeling in there.”
Duncan has been training for two months with U.S. Olympic dressage medalist and past team Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover. She expressed, “He has been so positive, enthusiastic, and he has attention to detail. It’s a really good partnership, him and I.”
Duncan and Hitmaker will return to the show ring on Saturday, April 12, for the Grand Prix Special CDI3*.
The Grand Prix CDI4* presented by MARS Equestrian had an Ebeling theme, with son Benjamin and father Jan taking the top two spots. Benjamin Ebeling (USA) and Bellena, owned by Vantage Equestrian Group, furthered their short partnership together with the win with 68.717%, while Jan Ebeling (USA) and Jubi’s Tenacity, owned by Ann Romney, took the second-place spot with 68.065%. Denielle Gallagher (CAN) and Come Back de Massa, a 13-year-old Lusitano gelding (Galopin de la Font x Quixote SDS) owned by Gallagher and Ellen Lazarus, were third with 67.630%.
The April Dressage CDI4* continues on Friday, April 11, with classes for Children’s, Junior, Young Rider, Under 25, Young Horse, and Amateur riders. The Small Tour kicks off with the Prix St. Georges CDI1* at 2 p.m., and the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4* is the main event under the lights in the WEC Grand Arena at 7 p.m.
~ with files from World Equestrian Center
