Pia Fortmuller and Frieda Victorious in Future Challenge PSG Final

In the $10,000 Summit Farms Future Challenge Prix St. Georges Final at the 2021 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival, Canada’s Pia Fortmuller took home the victory with her 10-year-old Hanoverian mare Frieda (by Furstenball), scoring a 74.852%. Jodie Kelly-Baxley (USA) on her own 10-year-old KWPN gelding by Negro, Grayton Beach, earned second place with a 72.734%, while Kelly Layne (AUS) brought home third on Fernando, Ellen Trouille’s nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Foundation, with a 71.911%.

Fortmuller also placed 4th in the $15,000 Lövsta Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series final aboard Kartsevo Goldfinch, her own 10-year-old KWPN gelding by Jazz.

Fortmuller has had Frieda since she was two years old and has developed a dynamic relationship with her that she hopes will welcome a promising future. “My biggest goal today was to give her confidence and consistency,” she explained. “She was 110% consistent with me and was with me the whole time. It means the world to have this opportunity with her. I have big hopes for her future, so today was a huge milestone for us.”

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She continued, “The extra six months coming into this final really gave her more time to get more confident. We finished off the last CDI here (in March 2020) with a major breakthrough. I had taken a step back with her the year before and didn’t show, and I came back out at small tour and she really found her confidence in the higher levels of collection, so to have some time to get that developed further was helpful.”

Fortmuller also noted the mare’s sensitivity and explained how she has made her a more articulate rider:

“She is very sensitive, very loyal, and knows her people,” she said. “In terms of trainability, she’s the type of horse that doesn’t want to make a mistake. That means that I really have to up my game and hold myself accountable. If there’s a mistake, it’s my fault. Her sensitivity is a wonderful thing and has really made me a better rider.”

Fortmuller plans to continue on with the mare’s training and compete in the 2021 Lövsta Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series this season. “This series is such a valuable building block in the horse’s career,” she went on. “In Europe they have many classes like this, and to be able to get into the big ring is inspiring for the horses and the riders. I’m excited to continue participating in them and look forward to the future.”

Watch their winning performance here:

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AGDF Director of Sport Thomas Baur concluded, “It’s crucial to have these series because it brings up the next generation of FEI horses. For Global, it’s really important to have these classes. I’d like to extend my congratulations to the winners, but also to the other competitors, as we have seen a lot of talent and a lot of hope for the future. And finally, it’s remarkable that the winners of these two finals were both mares by Furstenball.”

Competition at AGDF will resume with AGDF 3 January 27-31. Competition highlights will include the FEI Grand Prix and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4*, presented by the U.S. PRE Association, FEI Grand Prix and FEI Grand Prix Special CDI4*, presented by Havensafe Farm, FEI Grand Prix and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 3*, presented by Horseware Ireland, FEI Grand Prix and FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3*, presented by ProElite, Small Tour CDI3*, Small Tour CDI1*, and the CPEDI3* presented by Adequan® and Nutrena, as well as national competition. For more information and to see a full list of results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.