For Immediate Release
Deirdre Sullivan for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Wellington, FL – February 24, 2019 – Competition on Sunday, February 24, at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) featured freestyle classes from the Young Rider level to Intermediate I. They closed out competition during the seventh week of AGDF, which continues through March 31 at Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Jan Ebeling (USA) and Bellenna had the last test of the day and rode to a win in the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3* presented by the Wellington Regional Medical Center. 

Ebeling and Bellenna, a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Belissimo M owned by Ann Romney, earned a score of 76.500% with their freestyle designed by Karen Robinson. “First of all, it’s a very green horse so we’re keeping the lines fairly simple,” said Ebeling of his partner Bellenna. “The horse has fantastic basic gaits; the walk, extended walk, collected walk are really great. Those are always places where she can score high.”

“Right now we’re not focusing so much on one tempi; we’re focusing on getting her stronger in the canter. She’s got a big engine, but she needs to build up the muscle,” continued Ebeling. “Overall I think every day she’s gotten better. She’s learning to focus and we’re very hopeful. She is an awesome horse.”

Ebeling found places to simplify the test for his green mount. He said, “I think the most difficult thing is the half pass to a pirouette to a half pass, and I simplified that a little bit. I had a little bit of a cheater line in there, [it was a] half pass, and then I went straight a little ways, and then pirouette. I kind of put it into a few pieces instead of putting it all together.

“It’s fun, I’m lucky to have the horses that I have and the sponsorship behind me. It takes a horse, and it takes a rider, but it takes a village to really make it happen,” concluded Ebeling.

Second place went to Classy Sinclair, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Sir Sinclair x Sacro Santa owned by Lisa Grossi and ridden by Leif Aho (USA), who scored 74.458%. Ariana Chia (CAN) and her own Fiderflame, a nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Fidertanz x SPS Rose, placed third with a score of 73.417%.

Competition at AGDF will resume for Week 8 from February 27 – March 3. Week 8 features the Palm Beach Dressage Derby presented by Havensafe Farm, and the “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W also presented by Havensafe Farm. For more information and to see a full list of results, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com. 

Final Results: FEI Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3* Presented by Wellington Regional Medical Center 

Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge H% – Natacha Waddell, Judge C% – Christof Umbach, Judge B% – Linda Zang, Total %

1.Jan Ebeling (USA), Bellena, 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Belissimo M x Wellfair owned by Ann Romney: 78.750%, 76.625%, 74.125%, 76.500%

2.Leif Aho (USA), Classy Sinclair, 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Sir Sinclair x Sacro Santa owned by Lisa Grossi: 74.625%, 73.500%, 75.250%, 74.458%

3.Ariana Chia (CAN), Fiderflame, 9-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Fidertanz x SPS Rose owned by Ariana Chia: 71.125%, 71.750%, 77.375%, 73.417%

4.Jaimey Irwin (CAN), Laurencio, 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Laurentio x Pasadena owned by Tina Irwin: 70.750%, 74.000%, 74.875%, 73.208%

5.Alison Famiglietti (CAN), Let’s Dance, 10-year-old Oldenburg mare by Fidertanz 2 x Lilymaus owned by Peter Howe: 69.250%, 70.625%, 66.875%, 68.917%

6.Virginia Yarur (CHI), E Rava, 10-year-old KWPN gelding by Don Jovi x Nendyrava owned by Virginia Yarur: 67.000%, 69.000%, 68.000%, 68.000%

7.Lori Bell (CAN), Flirt, 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Florencio x Arkona owned by Lori Bell: 68.375%, 66.375%, 68.125%, 67.625%

8.Franziska Seidl (SUI), Con Brio SDF, 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Sir Sinclair x Windfall SDF owned by Franziska Seidl: 68.625%, 67.250%, 63.250%, 66.375%