Katie Duerrhammer and Paxton Set Personal Best To Win Grand Prix CDI3*
International dressage returned to World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Ocala, FL, on Thursday, April 14, 2022, with CDI3* competition. Triumphing with a personal best score of 73.217%, Katie Duerrhammer (USA) and Paxton came away with their first large tour victory in the Grand Prix CDI3*.
In a field of 26 entries, Duerrhammer and Paxton, an 11-year-old Westphalian gelding by Dante Weltino OLD x Don Marco owned by Kylee Lourie, had a high score of 75.326% from the judge at B, Gabriel Martin Armando.
Second place went to Benjamin Ebeling (USA) on Indeed, a 14-year-old Danish Warmblood mare by Hofrat x De Niro 6 owned by Vantage Equestrian Group LLC. They scored a personal best, posting a final total of 72.848%. Third place went to Alice Tarjan (USA) on Serenade MF, her own nine-year-old American Hanoverian mare by Sir Donnerhall x Don Principe. They scored 72.087% in only their fourth show at FEI grand prix level. The only Canadian to crack the top 10 was Megan Lane and Zodiac MW, who were 10th with 68.587%.
Ben Ebeling took over the ride on Indeed from his father and coach, Olympian Jan Ebeling, this winter and this is their sixth show together. He also works with Christoph Koschel and Gary Rockwell and thanked the team that helped him get to this point.
Recognizing Indeed’s improvement for a personal best, he remarked, “She’s just risen to the occasion time and time again at the shows. Step by step, she’s getting better; a couple percent here, a couple percent there. I’m really feeling it in the every-day training. She’s quite a long horse, but I think the engagement from the hindquarters has taken her a bit and now she’s really understanding the idea. Today was honestly the best out transitions in the piaffe/passage that I’ve had. That’s something that I’ve been really working on and was a little frustrated about, but today she really came to the party and she’s just fantastic. I’m really happy about it.”
“I can’t thank the organization at WEC enough,” he said. “It’s a fantastic show grounds, and I’ve been so excited to come and see it. This really provides a great space for atmosphere. I’m really looking forward to the freestyle tomorrow night.”
For Duerrhammer, the long road with Paxton and the challenges that came with him led to a wave of emotions as she left the ring in happy tears after her test.
“To go in there tonight in a venue he’s never been in and for the first time take a deep breath and say, ‘Ok, we can do this’ was huge,” she related. “I feel like he really trusted me, and I haven’t had him feel like he felt tonight, ever. It was very emotional. He’s not been easy. For everybody involved, Adrienne [Lyle], me, his owner, everybody, they have had so much faith in him when I haven’t always. To have him go in there and say, ‘Let’s do it’ was just incredible.”
Duerrhammer has shown previously at WEC with her veteran mount Quartett and was excited to compete in the Grand Arena with the dramatic backdrop of The Equestrian Hotel.
“It’s an amazing ring,” she said. “He loved it. The ring itself, you walk in and it’s incredible. The footing is amazing. To be in there and have it be a personal best and have him rise to the occasion is really special.”
Duerrhammer has ridden Paxton for four years. This is their first year competing at open grand prix level, and only their fourth FEI show in grand prix. Knowing he is a hot, spooky horse, she put in a considerable amount of time with groundwork and clicker training to build a relationship and trust. Paxton now does the Spanish walk, stands on podiums, and more.
“It’s been really special to see how he’s become more open to the work in dressage and taking the pressure better because of getting him more wanting to have a relationship,” she explained. “I spend a lot of time with him because I think he’s a horse that mentally has to be 100% on your side.”
In a presentation following the Grand Prix awards, Ariana Chia (CAN) was presented with the Best Turned Out Award for her horse Fiderflame. Gifts given by Ariat, Arista Equestrian, Black & White Dog LLC, Blue Lotus Studio, Kelsey’s Captivating, LM Boots, Odette Boutique, and A Sudden Impulse Boutique – WEC’s official merchandise store – were given to Chia for Fiderflame’s exemplary style in the CDI Veterinary Inspection.
Grand Prix class results here.
Ben Ebeling & Indeed Reach For The Stars In Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*
Under the lights of the Grand Arena at the World Equestrian Center – Ocala on Friday, April 15, 2022, Benjamin Ebeling (USA) and Indeed, owned by Vantage Equestrian Group II LLC, danced their way to victory in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* at the World Equestrian Center Dressage III show, sponsored by Hampton Green Farm and Discover Dressage.
Ten entries competed in the freestyle in the Grand Arena under the lights and with the stands full of cheering spectators. Ebeling and Indeed, in only their third Grand Prix Freestyle together, took the win with a score of 76.940%. His music and interpretation of it from the movie “Star Wars” scored an 8.5 from the panel of judges.
Exceeding his own expectations and going in with the goal of a clean test, Ebeling knew the key was nailing his first combination of the entrance in piaffe into the passage.
“That part of it for me felt the best it ever has,” said the 22-year-old rider from California. “I would have to say that my 21 one-tempis down the long side, into my pirouette, directly into the piaffe pirouette, that’s a combination that for her is quite difficult. She’s quite a long horse, so getting really compact in those movements is a little bit difficult for her, but the strength has really come in these last couple of months. That was very evident in that [part of the test]. She loves competing. I go in the show arena, and she lights up. It’s her favorite thing, which is good, because it’s one of my favorite things too.”
While Ebeling is working on a new freestyle for Indeed, he is borrowing the current freestyle from his other top horse, Illuster van de Kampert. The self-proclaimed “Star Wars nerd,” who even based his black tailcoat and helmet to represent Darth Vader “with the red for his lightsaber,” was extremely pleased to end his American winter circuit with a win before he heads to Europe to compete.
“We always talk about keeping the momentum going and I think for her especially, and a little bit too for my confidence with her, these last two classes have been outstanding for me to continue that,” he said. “I can’t thank my owners enough, Vantage Equestrian, and of course my mom for helping me with Illuster. I’m just really lucky to be in this position.”
Coming in second place in their third time in the Grand Prix Freestyle as well were Alice Tarjan (USA) and Donatella M, her 11-year-old Oldenburg mare by Fürstenball OLD x Jazz Time 2. They scored 74.040%.
The amateur rider from New Jersey has brought Donatella along from a four-year-old, and it has been a long journey to grand prix level.
“She doesn’t have the best hind leg mechanic, and the changes were really difficult to put on the horse. Had that horse not had such a good work ethic and try every day, I don’t think there is any way she could do it,” said Tarjan. “Two years ago, I didn’t have a clean left lead change. It was a disaster. It took a village to get a clean change on that horse, so the fact that she can actually do 15 clean one-tempis is sort of a miracle.”
But despite the challenge, Tarjan knew what she had in Donatella and has enjoyed the process of bringing her along. “It’s fun seeing the progression,” she affirmed. “That’s why I love doing it. You get a glimpse of it when they’re four or five and you’re like, ‘Wow, look at this!’, but it takes you years to develop it and show it off here.”
This was Tarjan’s first time competing at WEC – Ocala, and she reveled in the horse-friendly venue.
“It is absolutely fantastic. It’s like a real horse show grounds where you can hand walk them through the trees; there are grass and birds and a natural environment for the horses. The stalls are amazing. It’s a great environment for them,” she said.
Third place in the freestyle went to local Ocala rider Kerrigan Gluch, who rode Mejorano HGF, an 11-year-old PRE gelding owned by Kim Van Kampen’s Hampton Green Farm, to 73.725%. This was their first grand prix freestyle in a CDI, and it was particularly emotional for Gluch knowing that the music originally came from Hampton Green Farm’s Olympic horse Grandioso, who is also Mejorano’s sire. Gluch felt the freestyle, designed by Marlene Whitaker, highlighted his trot half-passes and the piaffe/passage in a high degree of difficulty, noting that the compact grey “thrives in those moments.”
Gluch was also able to tick off a goal on her list by competing in this freestyle in the Grand Arena.
“When I saw this facility before I moved here, I said, ‘I want to go down that chute and under the lights. I don’t know when it’s going to happen, but it’s a goal,’” she recalled. “I didn’t know if there would be people in the stands, and it was very full. It was incredible to trot in and see everyone there under the lights. It was a dream come true. To be able to do that tonight in front of a big crowd and representing Kim and Hampton Green Farm well and proud and showing off the breed is really special.”
Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* results here.
Duerrhammer and Paxton Seal Double Victory With Grand Prix Special CDI3* Win
Victory in the Grand Prix Special CDI3* on Saturday, April 16, went to Katie Duerrhammer (USA) and Paxton, owned by Kylee Lourie, at the World Equestrian Center Dressage III show, sponsored by Hampton Green Farm and Discover Dressage. This marked their second win of the week after they took the top spot in Thursday’s Grand Prix CDI3*.
There were 15 entries in the Grand Prix Special CDI3*, and the top six all scored over 70%. Duerrhammer and Paxton led the lap of honor with a score of 73.638%. Jessica Howington (USA) and her own Cavalia finished second on 71.936%. Rounding out an all-American podium, Alice Tarjan and her own Serenade MF placed third on 71.639%. Two Canadians were top-10: Ariana Chia and Fiderflame (5th, 70.213%) and Megan Lane with Zodiac MW (6th, 70.106%)
Saturday’s Special victory was not only a personal best for Duerrhammer and Paxton, but a significant step forward in their experience at the grand prix level. While consistency is important, it was the feeling that Paxton gave her that made Duerrhammer appreciate the performance.
“The final centerline, I don’t think I’ve ever felt him do it like that,” she expressed. “He really took a breath and said that he was safe to stay there, and that was really special to feel.”
After Thursday’s win, Paxton had an easy Friday with a brief hack in the morning followed by hand walks, grazing, recovery therapies, and “very long naps.”
Duerrhammer laughed, “I have pictures of him pressed up against the wall, face all smushed in the shavings, taking a nap like a little boy.”
With the temperatures rising on Saturday afternoon, Duerrhammer felt Paxton was suited for the weather. She explained, “He’s very hot. The pushing power was a little tired today but he’s one that you want to have when it’s hot outside and it’s a long test. He’ll never be lacking in the energy. It may not be as brilliant as in places in the Grand Prix, but he will never feel like he doesn’t have enough energy.”
The experience of two CDI grand prix victories with Paxton has not sunk in yet for Duerrhammer, but she takes it all in stride, remembering that the 11-year-old Westphalian gelding by Dante Weltino OLD x Don Marco is still green at this level.
“I think it’s important to remember that he is only 11. If he comes out the next week and gets a 68%, then that’s okay,” she remarked. “It’s all about the journey and preparing him for things later in his career. Just because he can do it once doesn’t mean he’s going to do it every time. I want to ride who he is today and be appreciative of that. After doing so well today, I’m going to go home and let it sink in a bit. This weekend was extra special because my mom, Elizabeth Johnson, who trained me all my teenage years, was here this weekend from California.”
Grand Prix Special CDI3* results here.
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