Mikala Gundersen (DEN) and My Lady added another win at Week 7 of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), this time taking home the prize in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 4*, presented by The Dutta Corporation. Gundersen and My Lady performed a nearly flawless test receiving a 75.625%, followed by Karen Pavicic (CAN) and Don Daiquiri in second with a 72.250% and Kasey Perry (USA) aboard Trostruplunds Scarlet in third with a score of 72.025%.
The weather was crisp, but the wind has significantly decreased compared to yesterday making it more of a pleasant atmosphere for both horses and riders. “I had a very fresh horse tonight, but very focused in the warm-up. It was the best warm-ups I’ve had so far here overall. She can be a bit difficult in, and it didn’t feel like that tonight,” said Gundersen. “I think she was really good in the ring. She was still a little tense from yesterday in the big atmosphere, but she was able to do a lot of the movements really well. I felt some of my highlights would be the changes and the passage work, for sure.”
The pair, who has had a string of very consistent performances at AGDF this season, continue to strengthen the accuracy of their tests. “There were still a few bobbles, and those are things I need to work on removing so that we don’t lose points,” she commented.
With the win in the CDI 4* Grand Prix Freestyle, Gundersen was awarded the Adequan® High Score Award for the Grand Prix Freestyle and Janne Rumbough, owner of My Lady, was presented with the “Best Horse Owner Award for the Grand Prix Freestyle” sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. Rumbough and Gundersen decided together that they would donate the $5,000 owner’s prize to the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center, a local therapeutic riding school located in Loxahatchee, FL.
Pavicic and Don Daiquiri removed errors that hindered their Grand Prix test from the day prior and put in a lovely ride that ultimately placed them second in the class. “I was really happy with Don Daiquiri tonight. I had a few small mistakes in our Grand Prix test yesterday, specifically in our one-tempis, and tonight we didn’t miss a single one,” she stated. “Our canter pirouettes weren’t as strong as they usually are, but I’m very happy overall with the test.”
“Dono” and Pavicic have built a very strong partnership over the years, and it is clear through their results at international competition around the world. “We’re getting better and better and now we have our eyes set on the World Cup in April. He’s come a really long way. It’s all about the relationship you create, and that’s what you need to succeed at the top levels of this sport.”
FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4*, presented by The Dutta Corporation
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge E%, Judge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total%
1. Mikala Gundersen (DEN), My Lady, 2000 Danish Warmblood mare owned by Janne Rumbough, Michellino x Marion x Ritterstern: 74.375%, 76.000%, 77.000%, 76.750%, 74.000%, 75.625%
2. Karen Pavicic (CAN), Don Daiquiri, 2002 Oldenburg gelding owned by Jayne Essig, Don Cardinale x Nedstatte III x Rubinstein I: 71.250%, 74.250%, 72.000%, 72.750%, 71.000%, 72.250%
3. Kasey Perry (USA), Trostuplunds Scarlet, 1999 Danish Warmblood mare owned by Diane Perry, Blue Hors Don Shufro x Ramona x Blue Hors Romancier: 71.625%, 71.500%, 71.750%, 75.500%, 69.750%, 72.025%
4. Christoph Koschel (GER), Rostropowitsch NRW, 2002 Westphalian gelding owned by Gabriela Koschel, Rockwell x Windcandela x Coriograf B: 71.875%, 72.625%, 71.750%, 71.875%, 69.500%, 71.525%
5. Juan Matute Jr. (ESP) Don Diego Ymas, 2003 Hanoverian gelding owned by Juan Matute, 2003 Hanoverian gelding, Don Frederico x Wie Plantine: 69.750%, 70.875%, 71.375%, 71.625%, 71.000%, 70.925%
6. Charlotte Jorst (USA), Kastels Nintendo, 2003 Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Kastel Denmark, Negro x Rodieni R x Monaco: 69.750%, 71.750%, 70.125%, 70.875%, 68.250%, 70.150%
7. Jacqueline Brooks (CAN), D Niro, 1999 Swedish Warmblood owned by Brookhaven Dressage Inc., D day x Alitalia x Napolean 625: 68.125%, 71.250%, 65.875%, 68.625%, 68.250%, 68.425%
FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*, presented by Havensafe Farm
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge E%, Judge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total%
1. Anna Marek (USA), Unico G, 2001 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Anna Marek, Negro x Kleora x Animo: 72.500%, 72.375%, 73.375%, 72.125%, 69.750%, 72.025%
2. Christoph Koschel (GER), Tiesto, 2000 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Hof Beckerode GMBH, Gribaldi x Nadie x Ferro: 71.125%, 72.375%, 71.250%, 70.750%, 72.500%, 71.600%
3. Lauren Sammis (USA), Whitman, 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Jane Suwalsky, Rhodium x Camora x Saluut: 69.875%, 66.375%, 68.125%, 68.000%, 68.000%, 68.075%
4. Sylvia Gugler (USA), Baudolino, 1998 Hanoverian gelding owned by Sylvia Gugler, Convoi x Datina x Dux: 67.000%, 64.625%, 62.500%, 65.625%, 69.625%, 65.875%
5. Janne Rumbough (USA), Junior, 2003 PRE gelding owned by Janne Rumbough, Gaucho III x La Nin III x Brioso VI: 62.875%, 67.250%, 64.875%, 65.625%, 68.125%, 65.750%
6. Allison Brock (USA), Rosevelt, 2002 Hanoverian stallion owned by Claudine & Fritz Kundrun, Rotspon x Lore x Lauries Crusader xx: 67.625%, 64.750%, 64.375%, 64.750%, 67.125%, 65.725%
7. Gary Vander Ploeg (CAN), Degas, 1999 Oldenburg gelding owned Jean & Gary Vander Ploeg, Donnerhall x Pretty Lady x Prinz Miro: 61.750%, 66.125%, 67.500%, 62.875%, 63.500%, 64.350%
FEI Intermediaire 1 CDI1*, presented by Mission Control
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge E%, Judge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total%
1. Kimberly Herslow (USA), Rosmarin, 2005 Hanoverian gelding owned by Kimberly Herslow, Rosentanz x Hauptstutbuch Wolkentaenzerin x Weltmeyer: 72.237%, 72.105%, 73.289%, 72.895%, 71.842%, 72.474%
2. Shelly Francis (USA), Rubinio, 2006 Westphalian gelding owned by Patricia Stempel, Roh Magic x Patrizia x Philipo: 69.605%, 70.921%, 72.895%, 70.132%, 69.605%, 70.632%
3. Megan Lane (CAN), San D’Or, 2006 Westphalian gelding owned by Deer Ridge Equestrian, Sandro Hit x Pavaroittie W x Cocktail: 71.579%, 68.289%, 69.737%, 72.237%, 70.132%, 70.395%
4. Michael Klimke (GER), Djamba Djokiba, 2007 Westphalian gelding owned by Michael Klimke, Damon Hill x Whoopy x Wessex: 71.842%, 69.079%, 68.553%, 69.605%, 71.579%, 70.132%
5. Belinda Trussell (CAN), Tattoo 15, 2003 Westphalian gelding owned by Belinda Trussell, Tuareg x Renaissance x Ramio’s Son: 69.605%, 68.684%, 68.421%, 69.605%, 74.079%, 70.079%
6. Tina Irwin (CAN), Fancy That, 2006 Oldenburg mare owned by Christine Faux, Donerschwee x Falaise x Frelherr: 70.658%, 69.211%, 70.658%, 67.105%, 70.395%, 69.605%
7. Kasey Perry (USA), Goerklintgaards Dublet, 2003 Danish Warmblood owned by Diane Perry, Diamond Hit x La Costa x Olympic Ferro: 70.132%, 70.263%, 69.737%, 66.974%, 70.658%, 69.553%
8. Charlotte Jorst (USA), Kastels Adventure, 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Kastel Denmark, Special D x Sunette S x Mondriaan: 68.289%, 69.868%, 67.105%, 69.474%, 68.684%, 68.684%