By Alice Collins for Wellington International 

Three female Olympians filled the podium in the Lövsta Stuteri CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle on March 28, during the season’s final edition of the popular ‘Friday Night Stars’ gala evening. U.S. Olympic team bronze medalist from Rio 2016 Kasey Perry-Glass and Heartbeat W.P. logged their third international win of the 2025 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL. They scored 75.915%, with a high score of 77.675% from the judge at B, Kurt Christensen. 

Ashley Holzer— a four-time Olympian for Canada before electing to ride for the U.S.—set a new combination high score for second place, piloting Hawtins San Floriana to 74.84%. Camille Carier Bergeron (CAN) rode her Paris Olympic partner Finnländerin into third place with 73.37%. 

Perry-Glass debuted the now 13-year-old Heartbeat a year ago at AGDF and has been fine-tuning the Charmeur x Ferro gelding’s performances inside the boards, aided by Adrienne Lyle who came up with their floorplan. 

“There was a lot of power and a lot to contain, but I’m starting to be able to manage it,” explained Perry-Glass, who rode to a bespoke Tom Hunt soundtrack featuring the sound of a heartbeat. “Sometimes ‘Heart’ tries to overpower me, but tonight he proved that he can keep the power underneath me. It’s about figuring out what works for him, but once I get in the ring, he’s a true showman and he stepped up. 

“Tonight was fun, and it’s hard to say that sometimes because you have a lot of pressure on yourself,” continued Perry-Glass, who is grateful for the plentiful and flexible opportunities to show that AGDF affords. “We don’t have anything like this anywhere else in the States. To be able to give our horses experience in a stadium that’s actually really difficult to ride in is awesome. I get to know my horse a little bit more each time.”

The duo plans to contest one more show in Florida before heading to Europe for the summer, with Hagen and Aachen CDIs in Germany pencilled in on the calendar.  

Holzer also rode to Tom Hunt music with a patriotic American twist on the 13-year-old Hanoverian, San Floriana (San Amour x Florestan). They produced a new personal best despite only having received the new music three days before the class. Holzer bought the British-bred mare, whom she co-owns with Diane Fellows, just over a year ago from Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin. 

“She’s really the first trained horse I’ve taken over the ride on, and I found that a bit tricky,” explained Holzer. “I struggled to feel that bond with her. I took her to Carl’s last summer and worked on trying to create a partnership. It’s really just in the last few weeks that I’ve started to feel that she’s speaking my language. She really tries so hard, and it’s special when you feel a horse start to become your teammate.”

Of her choice of patriotic music, she added: “I’m an immigrant. I came to the states a number of years ago when I met my husband. The music spoke to me about America welcoming people. I’m a new American and I’ve been embraced by this country.” 

Carier Bergeron rode to a Joost Peters soundtrack on Finnländerin, a 15-year-old Fidertanz x Donnerhall mare whom she co-owns with her father, Gilles Bergeron. 

“That test was one of the times she’s felt the most relaxed and most connected with me—very accessible,” said the 25-year-old. “The trot tour felt like a win to me, and the piaffe/passage. We had some bobbles in the canter tempis at the end of the test, but other than that I was really happy with her.”  

Judge at C Janet Foy (USA), who is herself a ballroom dancer, said, “That was really fun for the judges. I’m a dancer, so there was a lot of great stuff going on in there. The top five or six horses were really special and did a great job. It’s a great way to finish the season.” 

The class doubled up as part of one of the 24 qualifying events held around the country for the inaugural season of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage, with the final set for mid-November in California. Anna Marek (USA) currently sits atop the rankings with 88 points, with Germany’s Evelyn Eger (85 points) in second and the USA’s Karen Lipp (70 points) in third.  

Click for full results from the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle, sponsored by Lövsta Stuteri

Dressage competition in week 12 resumes on Saturday, March 29, with both the Diamante Farms CDI3* and the Coastal Steel Structures CDI4* Grand Prix Special classes. There is also action in Young Riders, Ponies, Amateurs, and young horse classes, as well as at all levels in the national rings this weekend. The AGDF 2025 season wraps up on Sunday. 

AGDF 2026 will kick off in the new year, with the opening week slated for January 7-11 at the same Wellington facility. For more information and results, and to watch all the classes hosted by Wellington International in the main arena on live stream, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com. 

Click for full results from all classes in AGDF 12.