For Immediate Release
Kim Beaudoin for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Wellington, FL – March 2, 2017 – Week eight of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) runs March 2-5 and features the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W, presented by Everglades Dressage, at Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The Palm Beach Dressage Derby exhibition, presented by Yeguada de Ymas, features riders competing at Small Tour level with unfamiliar horses to see who can ride to the best score.

“We look forward to hosting the Palm Beach Dressage Derby class at AGDF again this year,” said Thomas Baur, AGDF Director of Sport. “It’s a unique way to show the fantastic skills of these international-level riders, and spectators will enjoy seeing them figure out how to ride a new horse in the show ring.”

The third annual Palm Beach Dressage Derby Exhibition Class, presented by Yeguada de Ymas, will start on Friday, March 3, at 1:40 p.m. with a Prix St. Georges class, where derby horses will compete with their regular riders for familiarization. The semi-final classes will be held on Saturday, March 4, at 4:20 and 4:50 pm. The final round of competition will take place during the intermission of the Saturday evening FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W, presented by Everglades Dressage.

The 2017 competitors include defending champion Chris Von Martels (CAN), along with international competitors Mikala Munter Gundersen (DEN), Christoph Koschel (GER) and Juan Matute Jr. (ESP).

Riders will draw to see who competes against whom and will also draw for the mounts on which they will compete. The Derby is an educational yet entertaining way to test riders’ skills on a larger scale, but also in an engaging and competitive atmosphere.

Last year, Von Martels went head-to-head with Laura Tomlinson (GBR) in the final round of competition, but ultimately came out on top. Each rider is given a five-minute familiarization period with each of their rides, prior to riding an FEI Prix St. Georges test before a panel of three judges.

The group of horses participating in the 2017 Palm Beach Dressage Derby is composed of Truhana de Ymas, provided by Juan Pablo Molina, Wrazzmattazz, provided by Jaimey Irwin, and Action Ace, provided by Kelly Lane.

Week eight also includes an FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W, presented by Everglades Dressage, on a special night, Saturday, March 4; FEI Grand Prix and FEI Grand Prix Special, presented by Peacock Ridge, on Thursday, March 2, and Friday, March 3, respectively; and the FEI Small Tour, presented by Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center. For more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Photo Credit ©SusanJStickle. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release.