Wellington, FL – February 20, 2015 – 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 crowd braved the unseasonably cold temperatures to watch the spectacular evening of competition. Carla Jablonski of the Florida Grand Opera along with pianist Andrew Hamilton from the Frost School of Music performed the national anthem.
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.”
Perry rounded out the top three with “Scarlet”, one of her two rides in CDI competition this week. “I’m lucky to be sitting here. I have two wonderful horses, and I’m very blessed to be where I am,” she smiled. “The past two weeks I’ve really bonded with Scarlet and my test tonight I just smiled through the whole thing. I was so happy with her performance and the way she’s really working with the training and she just did great. I love my music, and it just made the experience so much better.”
Tim Dutta, CEO of presenting sponsor for the Week 7 CDI 4*, The Dutta Corporation, congratulated both the CDI 3*/4* classes on their outstanding performances during the “Friday Night Stars” competition. “For us in the dressage community, to have a world-class show facility and a production that meets the same standards, between the quality of riders and the horses, it is a very rare opportunity to be a part of something like this,” continued Dutta. “From European riders, top judges visiting us from around the world, the sport is getting real; the money is real as compared to anywhere else in the world. The first year when we did this we wanted AGDF to be a destination and now I have to say that it is THE destination for the dressage community.”
Judge at C, Susanna Baarup Christensen (DEN), returned to AGDF for the second year in a row and expressed her excitement in the quality of horses and growth of the show in just a single year. She remarked, “It’s fantastic to be here. There are so many high quality horses, which is exciting. It was a very strong class, and the riders were very close together. It was the small things that ended up making a difference.”
Allyn Mann of Adequan®, title sponsor for the entire AGDF circuit, continues to see growth not only in terms of entry numbers, but in the overwhelming sense of community from participants at the show. “This is a wonderful family to be a part of, and it is an incredible thing to experience. I’m so glad that I have had that opportunity to be here and share these moments with everyone,” he expressed.
Several separate awards were given throughout the night to competitors from both CDI and National competition. Carla Bahr and Cyrus were awarded the Best Horse Owner for Overall Highest Percentage at the National Show for their score of 78.18%. Kimberly Herslow was presented with the Winner of the Prix St. Georges Owner Award, for her ride aboard Rosmarin. Jill Irving (CAN), a dedicated rider and dressage enthusiast, presents both awards each week.
Anna Marek (USA) and Unico G used the atmosphere under the lights to their advantage and brought home the win in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 3*, presented by Havensafe Farm, with a 72.025%. Christoph Koschel (GER) and Tiesto followed in second scoring a 71.125%, and Lauren Sammis (USA) and Whitman finished in third receiving a 69.875%.
Marek was thrilled with the performance she was able to get out of “Nico” in front of the large crowd and with the below average temperatures. “Nico was great tonight. At first I was nervous about the atmosphere because I had only done one other Freestyle here under the lights last year, but it really seemed like the atmosphere actually made it better tonight. He was a really good boy, and there’s not much to complain about,” smiled Marek.
The pair recently started rehearsing their routine, re-evaluating their music from last year, and adding more technical movements to the test to make it more challenging. “We’re working on the more difficult movements in the Freestyle. I added the changes on a broken line, and he’s pretty good and reliable in the changes. He and I have been riding Grand Prix for quite a few years, but this is our first time at this level,” explained Marek. “We’re learning together and each time it gets easier. Now I feel like going down the centerline, whether it be in a Grand Prix or a Freestyle, I can trust him and he trusts me and we can ask for more.”
The duo has established an incredible bond on their journey through the levels as Marek first started riding “Nico” at Training Level and has been his only rider up to Grand Prix. “I started riding him right before he turned six. I took him to his first show at Training level, and I remember telling my dad I was nervous to go in the ring just at Training level! He was my first Prix St. Georges horse, the first horse I ever won a Regional on, and the first horse I rode at Grand Prix,” Marek reminisced. “Our partnership is really special, and he is really important to me.”
Christoph Koschel and Tiesto continued to add experience to their resume this season and the horse continues to improve with each outing. “It was really nice to be able to do both routines in one night,” said Koschel, as he also had a ride in the CDI 4* Grand Prix Freestyle later in the night. “It was a good experience for my horse. He started really well and then got a little bit tense throughout the test. I’m really happy with how we did, and it was a really enjoyable evening.”
Lauren Sammis and Whitman rounded out the top three with a great test, even more impressive because it is still early in the pair’s career. “I was pretty nervous. I hadn’t ridden through the whole routine until recently. He has never gone out before under the lights, and I really tried to ride the technical pieces of the test. He’s a green horse, and I’m really pleased with how it all went.”
Whitman is a true “people-pleaser” and puts his head and heart into every day of work. “He has a lot of personality. He’s in your face all of the time, and he is all heart. He comes out everyday and starts to rev like the little engine that could. He throws it all out there, and he does things that he even surprises himself,” she smiled when describing the gelding’s immense personality.
The AGDF 7 FEI CDI 3* competition, sponsored by Havensafe Farm, has been a huge success so far in the early days this week’s competition. The CDI 3* has seen experienced pairs competing alongside partnerships new to the level and that is precisely the environment that makes AGDF so special.
Betsy Juliano, owner of sponsor Havensafe Farm, is proud to be a part of a dressage circuit that offers so many opportunities to riders. “It is so gratifying to see Anna do well here. I met her at the USEF Pipeline Clinic, and it is always great to see young American riders perform so well in competition. I have known Lauren for a long time, and I know she can produce true winners. I’m genuinely so happy for her. Christoph and I have a special bond over the first horse I ever bought from Germany who he had trained,” continued Juliano. “It is thrilling to see him competing in the U.S. and bringing his talents to American soil here at AGDF.”
Kimberly Herslow (USA) and Rosmarin added another win to their collection this week, taking the first place prize in the FEI Intermediaire 1 class presented by Mission Control. Herslow and Rosmarin performed a lovely test receiving a 73.789%. Shelly Francis (USA) and Rubinio finished with an impressive second, as this is the horse’s first CDI competition ever, scoring a 70.632%. Megan Lane (CAN) and San D’Or rounded out the top three with a 70.395%.
AGDF 7 competition continues tomorrow with the CDI 3*/4* Grand Prix Special classes followed by the CDI 1* Intermediaire 1 Freestyle on Sunday. For more information on the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.
Final Results for FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4*, presented by The Dutta Corporation
1. Mikala Gundersen (DEN), My Lady, 75.625%
2. Karen Pavicic (CAN), Don Daiquiri, 72.250%
3. Kasey Perry (USA), Trostuplunds Scarlet, 72.025%
4. Christoph Koschel (GER), Rostropowitsch NRW, 71.525%
5. Juan Matute Jr. (ESP) Don Diego Ymas, 70.925%
6. Charlotte Jorst (USA), Kastels Nintendo, 70.150%
7. Jacqueline Brooks (CAN), D Niro, 68.425%
Final Results for FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*, presented by Havensafe Farm
1. Anna Marek (USA), Unico G, 72.025%
2. Christoph Koschel (GER), Tiesto, 71.600%
3. Lauren Sammis (USA), Whitman, 68.075%
4. Sylvia Gugler (USA), Baudolino, 65.875%
5. Janne Rumbough (USA), Junior, 65.750%
6. Allison Brock (USA), Rosevelt, 65.725%
7. Gary Vander Ploeg (CAN), Degas, 64.350%
Final Results for FEI Intermediaire 1 CDI1*, presented by Mission Control
1. Kimberly Herslow (USA), Rosmarin, 72.474%
2. Shelly Francis (USA), Rubinio, 70.632%
3. Megan Lane (CAN), San D’Or, 70.395%
4. Michael Klimke (GER), Djamba Djokiba, 70.132%
5. Belinda Trussell (CAN), Tattoo 15, 70.079%
6. Tina Irwin (CAN), Fancy That, 69.605%
7. Kasey Perry (USA), Goerklintgaards Dublet, 69.553%
8. Charlotte Jorst (USA), Kastels Adventure, 68.684%
www.globaldressagefestival.com
Source: Press release
