Kim Beaudoin for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL – March 22, 2017 – The final week of the 2017 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL, kicked off on Wednesday, March 22, with the first FEI Nations Cup CDIO-U25, presented by Diamante Farms, side-by-side with the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup™ CDIO 3*, at Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL.
The final week of AGDF competition runs from March 22-25, 2017, and features the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup™ CDIO 3* as well as the FEI Nations Cup CDIO-U25, and the last “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle of the season.
It was a red, white, and blue victory today as the USA “A” Team bested the competition in the FEI Intermediaire II 16-25* CDIO, which determined the team medals for the FEI Nations Cup CDIO-U25, presented by Diamante Farms. The team consisted of 22-year-old Anna Buffini (USA) on her Sundayboy, a 1999 KWPN gelding (Kennedy x Eezelma x Zevenaar), who earned a score of 70.500%; 24-year-old Sean Sierra Keasler (USA) and Lux Stensvang, a 2002 Danish Warmblood gelding (Lobster x Verona Stensvang x Diamond) owned by Keasler, who earned 67.263%; and 20-year-old Kerrigan Gluch (USA) with HGF Brio, a 2005 Andalusian stallion, owned by Hampton Green Farm, who rode to a 62.158%. Debbie McDonald served as Chef d’Equipe.
Buffini had the second highest score of the day, riding in just behind Juan Matute Guimon of Spain, who rode Don Diego Ymas to a score of 71.026%.
Kerrigan Gluch and HGF Brio |
Gluch noted, “This is my second team experience. I was lucky enough to be able to compete as a team rider when we did the Nations Cup in Hagan. It’s amazing to have people your own age supporting you, riding with you, which is really good in the dressage world. It’s really cool to be on a team where you have the same goals and aspirations.”
Sean Sierra Keasler and Lux Stensvang |
Said Blythe of her first CDIO-U25 Nations Cup experience, “I feel so fortunate to be here on a horse that I’ve only been riding for a short amount of time. It was a bit of a stretched goal for us to make this team, and I’m so lucky that we were able to make that happen. It’s such a wonderful experience to be surrounded by people with similar goals and that are going through similar things. I think that U25 is a great way to close the gap between Young Riders and the Grand Prix.”
USA Team A, USA Team B, and Team Canada pose together atop the podium after receiving their medals in the inaugural FEI Under 25 Nations Cup CDIO 3* presented by Diamante Farms at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). |
Tetreault commented on the dynamic of the Canadian team, “I did Young riders with Tanya, so it has been fun to do the U25 together years later. It was overall a very great experience, and I’m glad I did it. I had a lot of fun.”
Members competing at the 2017 FEI Nations Cup™ CDIO 3* presented by Stillpoint Farm at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival grounds before the start of competition. |
Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Lonoir |
The Senior teams competing in the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup™ consist of Canada, USA, and Spain. Individuals competing include riders from Australia and Guatemala. Riders can represent their countries in Grand Prix as well as in the Small Tour.
Lisa Wilcox and Galant |
Lisa Wilcox (USA) and Galant, a 2006 Belgian Warmblood (Escuro x Bellisima) owned by Jacqueline Shear, earned the second highest score In the FEI Grand Prix CDIO 3* with 70.560%. Settling with the third highest score was Canada’s Megan Lane and her own Caravella, a 2001 KWPN mare (Contango x P. Riviera x Riverman) earning 70.080%.
Megan Lane and Caravella |
Tina Irwin and Laurencio |
Shelly Francis and Danilo |
Shelly Francis and Danilo in their presentation ceremony with judge Lee Tubman (USA) and Cora Causemann of AGDF. |
Final Results: FEI Intermediaire II 16-25* CDIO U25, presented by Diamante Farms
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge E%, Judge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total %
1. USA Team A: 137.763
Anna Buffini (USA), Sundayboy, 1999 KWPN gelding by Kennedy x Eezelma, owned by Anna Buffini: 71.184%, 67.763%, 73.026%, 70.263%, 70.263%, 70.500%
Sean Sierra Keasler (USA), Lux Stensvang, 2002 KWPN gelding by Lobster x Verona Stensvang x Diamond, owned by Sean Sierra Keasler: 66.184%, 67.237%, 67.895%, 66.316%, 68.684%, 67.263%
Kerrigan Gluch (USA), HGF Brio, 2005 PRE stallion, owned by Hampton Green Farm: 61.184%, 63.421%, 60.526%, 59.737%, 65.921%, 62.158%
2. USA Team B: 134.315
Kaitlin Blythe (USA), Don Principe, 1999 Hanoverian stallion by Donnerhall x SPS Papagena x Prince Thatch xx, owned by Maryanna Haymon: 69.079%, 68.553%, 66.974%, 67.368%, 68.158%, 68.026%
Genay Vaughn (USA), Donarweiss GGF, 2001 Hanoverian stallion by Deniro x Sps Highlight x Hohenstein, owned by Starr Vaughn Equestrian Inc: 65.526%, 65.789%, 64.737%, 66.711%, 68.684%, 66.289%
Molly Paris (USA), Countess, 2002 Danish Warmblood mare by Don x Compeed x Solos, owned by Molly Paris: 66.316%, 65.921%, 65.921%, 67.368%, 65.658%, 66.237%
Team Canada: 132.079
Mathilde Blais Tetreault (CAN), 2001 KWPN gelding by Jazz, owned by Mathilde Blais Tetreault: 68.026%, 67.632%, 67.237%, 67.500%, 67.105%, 67.500%
Tanya Strasser-Shostak (CAN), Action Tyme, 2000 Oldenburg gelding by Aktuell x Ann Lady af Hvarre x Aleksander, owned by Evi Strasser: 64.737%, 62.763%, 66.053%, 65.132%, 64.211%, 64.579%
Individual Rider:
Juan Matute Guimon (ESP), Don Diego Ymas, 2003 Hanoverian gelding by Don Frederico x Wie Platine x Wolkenstein II, owned by Juan F Matute: 71.711%, 70.263%, 70.921%, 71.053%, 71.184%, 71.026%
Photo Credit: ©SusanJStickle. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release with credit.