Week three of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival continued on Friday, January 29, and Christoph Koschel (GER) took the day’s lead in the FEI Grand Prix CDI4* for freestyle, presented by U.S. P.R.E. Association piloting Eaton Unitechno. AGDF 3 continues through Sunday, January 31, and the circuit hosts 10 weeks of international and national dressage competition until April 4. Free live streaming and on-demand of select classes are available to view at GlobalDressageFestival.com.
Koschel and Eaton Unitechno, a 2009 KWPN gelding by Wynton owned by Unitechno, Inc., rode to a score of 70.065%, the only combination in the day’s class to earn above a 70%.
“He felt a bit spicy today,” began Koschel. “The horse is really expressive, but he can do better in the canter tour, so this is definitely something we want to improve. He has competed well lately, but the atmosphere is a little chilly tonight, and he knows this arena, but he was still a little nervous. For a start to this season, I was pretty happy with it.”
Koschel, who is the coach of the Japanese dressage team, took over the ride from one of his team riders and expressed his gratitude for the talented mount. He explained, “He’s been in my stable for a while because he belongs to one of my Japanese team riders. He gave me the ride on this horse, and the horse was a little hot, so he thought it would be good if I took over. It was really kind of him, and his sponsor was very kind to let me ride the horse, so I am thankful for that. I am lucky that I can keep competing him!”
Koschel’s winter plan is to give the gelding more time in the competition arena before taking him back to Europe for the summer. “We want to get as much experience together as we can get,” he continued, “and I am looking forward to my first freestyle with him on Sunday. When he feels good, I want to keep competing and see where we end up. We can do better with more suppleness and less tension, but that will come.”
Canada’s Lindsay Kellock captured second place in the Grand Prix CDI4* for Freestyle, presented by U.S. P.R.E. Association with a 68.739% riding Sebastien, Lindsay Kellock and Enterprise Farm Equestrian LLC’s 2006 Rhinelander gelding by Sandro Hit. Third place was awarded to Michael Klimke (GER) aboard Harmony’s Diablo, a 2010 Hanoverian gelding by Desparados owned by Harmony Sporthorses. They received a score of 65.435%.
Earlier in the day, Jodie Kelly-Baxley (USA) and her own 2011 KWPN gelding Grayton Beach (by Negro) rose to the occasion in the FEI Prix St. Georges CDI1*, presented by Adequan®, earning a 73.676%. Second place went to Germany’s Frederic Wandres aboard Harrods 3, Hof Kasselmann’s 2013 Hanoverian gelding by Hochadel, with a score of 72.529%. Third place went to the USA’s Steffen Peters and Boreas FRF, a 2012 Oldenburg stallion by Bordeaux owned by Five Rings Farm, finishing on a 71.735%.
In the FEI Intermediare-I CDI3* presented by Adequan®, Cesar Parra (USA) and Mr. Bumblebee, a 2008 Danish Warmblood gelding by Sting owned by Equiventure LLC., and John and Karen Blank, earned their second victory of the week with a 71.441%. The second-place score was a 67.677%, awarded to Australian Sally Lofting riding Quinlan CF, a 2009 Oldenburg stallion by Quarterback owned by Janet Rubio. Michael Klimke (GER) and Harmony’s Astro followed in third place with a 67.353%. Harmony’s Astro is a 2013 Hanoverian gelding by Astrix owned by Harmony Sporthorses.
The FEI Grand Prix CDI3* for Freestyle, presented by Horseware Ireland welcomed the win for Frederic Wandres (GER) and Rebroff 6, Hof Kasselmann’s 2009 Rhinelander gelding by Robespierrot. The pair won the class with a 69.761%. Second place in the FEI Grand Prix CDI3* for Freestyle, presented by Horseware Ireland was awarded to the USA’s Jan Ebeling aboard Indeed, Vantage Equestrian Group LI, LLC’s 2008 Danish Warmblood mare by Gorklintgards Indeera, earning a 69.370%. Nora Batchelder (USA) closed out the top three with a 67.065%, riding Sally Seaver’s 2003 American Warmblood mare, W Gangster Girl, by Sieger.
Individuals Contest CPEDI3* Competition During AGDF3
CPEDI3* competition presented by Adequan® and Nutrena® continued at AGDF on Friday January 29, with steady wins for Beatrice De Lavalette (USA) and Clarc in the FEI Para Individual Championship Grade II CPEDI3*, and Rebecca Hart (USA) and Fortune 500 in the FEI Individual Championship Grade III CPEDI3*, both presented by Adequan® and Nutrena®.
It was De Lavalette and the 2007 KWPN gelding by Dreamcatcher’s second day on top of the Grade II leaderboard, and the 23-year-old was pleased with her horse’s performance and score of 72.549%. She said, “He was more in front of the leg today, and I was trying to go in there and wake him up after the extended walk, because yesterday that wasn’t a strength. I was happy with it overall though!”
The pair have only been together for two-and-a-half months, but De Lavalette and the gelding are already meshing well. “My goal for the rest of the season is to score over 70%. Tokyo is also a big goal, but at the end of the day, we will trust the selection committee with making the right decision for the Team.”
Second place in the FEI Para Individual Championship Grade II CPEDI3*, presented by Adequan® and Nutrena® went to Alanna Flax-Clark (USA) and her own 2004 NRPS gelding El Paso by Elegant, with a score of 66.919%. Laurietta Oakleaf (USA) earned third with a 56.313% aboard Comte de Baccara C, a 2007 KWPN gelding by Johnson TN, owned by Oakleaf and Tammi Nowicki.
Hart, who finished second in yesterday’s Team Test, came into the day’s ride with a new game plan that earned her a 72.941%. She said, “We read all of the judges’ comments from yesterday and really took those to heart. We worked on the connection, the outline, and the harmony in the test, so it was nice to get that feedback and deliver.”
Hart and the 2010 Oldenburg gelding by Fidertanz 2, owned by Rowan O’Riley, have been working on perfecting the basics. She explained, “We’ve been working hard on the little things during COVID, getting his walk to be clearer and more through and focusing on those simple things that add up to bigger things.”
The FEI Para Individual Championship Grade III CPEDI3*, presented by Adequan® and Nutrena® saw second place go to the USA’s Charlotte Merle-Smith and Guta, a 2011 KWPN mare by Vivaldi, with a 71.323%. The third-place position was rounded out by Lauren Barwick (CAN) and Lee Garrod’s Sandrino, a 2012 Westfalian gelding by Spirit of Westfalia, with a 69.265%.
First place in the FEI Para Individual Championship Grade I CPEDI3*, presented by Adequan® and Nutrena® went to Roxanne Trunnell (USA) and Karen Flint’s Dolton, a 2012 Hanoverian gelding by Danone I, with a 79.345%. Second place honored Sydney Collier (USA) and All In One, a 2009 Hanoverian gelding by Abanos owned by Going for Gold LLC and Katie Robicheaux, who earned a 73.155%. Third place went to Deborah Stanitski (USA) and her own 2006 Danish Warmblood mare by de Noir, Skovlunds de Nice, with a 68.512%.
Kate Shoemaker was once again the winner of Grade IV, this time in the FEI Para Individual Championship Grade IV CPEDI3*, presented by Adequan® and Nutrena®. Shoemaker piloted Solitaer 40, a 2007 Hanoverian stallion (Sandro Hit) owned by Kate, Craig, and Deena Shoemaker, to a score of 73.252%. Shoemaker also earned another win in the FEI Para Novice Test B Grade IV CPEDI1* with Barneby 29, a 2011 Hanoverian gelding by Benetton Dream FRH, owned by Kate, Craig, and Deena Shoemaker, earning a 72.857%.
The FEI Para Individual Championship Grade V CPEDI3*, presented by Adequan® and Nutrena® welcomed Cayla Van Der Walt (RSA) as the winner, earning a blue riding Daturo II, a 2006 gelding by Mirlito XI owned by Van Der Walt and Christine Heathman, with a 68.611%. Second place went to Cynthia Screnci (USA) and Eragon VF, a 2009 KWPN gelding by Don Romantic owned by Cynthia Screnci and Volado Farms, with a 63.968%. Third place went to Katie Jackson (USA) and Scrabble, her own 2006 Hanoverian gelding by Sandro Hit, with a 62.183%.
Competition at AGDF 3 will continue tomorrow with a full schedule of classes, including the FEI Intermediare A CDI3*, and the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3* presented by ProElite, before the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI4*, presented by Havensafe Farm, beginning at 1:10 PM. For more information and to see a full list of results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.
FEI Grand Prix CDI4* for Freestyle, presented by U.S. P.R.E. Association:
1. Christoph Koschel (GER) on Eaton Unitechno, Unitechno, Inc.’s 2009 KWPN gelding by Wynton: 68.043, 71.630, 70.435, 71.739, 68.478; 70.065%
2. Lindsay Kellock (CAN) on Sebastien, Lindsay Kellock and Enterprise Farm Equestrian LLC.’s 2006 Rhinelander gelding by Sandro Hit: 67.283, 69.457, 68.804, 70.109, 68.043; 68.739
3. Michael Klimke (GER) on Harmony’s Diablo, Harmony Sporthorses’ 2010 Hannoverian gelding by Desparados: 64.891, 64.674, 66.196, 65.978, 65.435; 65.435%
4. Güenter Seidel (USA) on Equirelle, Leatherdale Farms and Louise Leatherdale’s 2009 KWPN mare by Florett AS: 63.478, 62.717, 63.478, 63.478, 63.804; 63.391%
5. Ivo Juhrend (NED) on Cover Girl, Jaron Verheij’s 2007 KWPN mare by Johnson TN: 62.174, 65.000, 62.935, 61.739, 61.739; 62.717%
6. Jaron Verheij (NED) on Dutch D-Day, his own KWPN gelding by Johnson TN: 62.717, 64.239, 64.348, 63.261, 57.609; 62.435%
7. Joanne Vaughn (GEO) on Al Martino 10, Joanne Vaughn’s 2004 Holsteiner gelding by Almoretto: 59.348, 64.783, 62.174, 59.130, 61.304; 61.348%
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