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

Wellington, FL – March 3, 2019 – Competition on Sunday, March 3, at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) featured freestyle classes and the conclusion of the seventh annual Florida International Youth Dressage Championships (FIYDC). AGDF continues through March 31 at Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

The 2019 FIYDC featured competition for riders in the Under 25, Young Rider, Junior Rider, Children and Pony divisions, offering them a chance to compete on the big stage in the Global International Arena at AGDF and showcase their talent at one of the world’s largest and most high-profile dressage competitions.

This year there were 13 horse and rider pairs in the FEI U25 division, 11 entries in the FEI Young Rider division, six in the FEI Junior Rider Division, one in the FEI Children division, and three in the FEI Pony Rider division. The riders represented four countries, including Canada, Germany, Spain, and the United States.

Natalia Bacariza Danguillecourt (ESP), a 17-year-old from Madrid, Spain, was the division winner in both the FEI Young Rider and FEI Junior Rider divisions. Danguillecourt rode Dhannie Ymas, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Don Crusador owned by Yeguada de Ymas in the Young Rider division. The pair earned a score of 72.843% in the FEI Young Rider Team test on Friday, a score of 72.500% in the FEI Young Rider Individual test on Saturday, and a score of 74.742% in the FEI Young Rider Freestyle on Sunday.

Bacariza rode Romantico Ymas, a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Bellissimo owned by Yeguada de Ymas, in the FEI Junior Rider division. The pair earned a score of 69.596% in the FEI Junior Rider Team test on Friday, a score of 70.882% in the FEI Junior Rider Individual  test on Saturday, and a score of 76.458% in the FEI Junior Rider Freestyle on Sunday.

Bacariza won the overall champion title at FIYDC for the second year in a row, after winning all six of the classes that she competed in with her two different mounts. “They are completely different,” said Bacariza of her two horses. “Dhannie is more with you and he loves being the center of attention. When he goes in the ring he’s like ‘I’m a star’.

“I’m not as confident with Romantico yet because this is my first year competing him, and he hasn’t done CDI before,” continued Bacariza. “It’s a learning process together, but I’m super happy with how it’s going. I’m so happy with the way it turned out. To have the highest overall mark, I was also very, very happy.”

Natalie Pai (USA), a 21-year-old from Wellington, FL, and Unlimited won the Under 25 division, presented by Diamante Farms. The pair earned a score of 68.590% in the FEI Grand Prix on Friday morning and a 71.208% in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle on Sunday.

“I’ve had him [Unlimited] for two years now, and this is my third year doing the U25 youth championships. We’ve come such a long way,” said Pai of her partnership with the 18-year-old KWPN gelding by Jazz x Clairudith owned by Melanie Pai. “It’s always a fun thing to come here and do the championships, and to be able to win is awesome. This was a long week and for him to come out there every single day and just give me everything, that’s amazing. Especially on the very last day when it was really hot, that was great. I’m really proud of him.”

Justine Boyer (USA), a 12-year-old from Wellington, FL, and Lentisco XVIII were the winners in the FEI Children division presented by Alessandro Albanese. The pair rode to a score of 63.538% on Saturday in the FEI Children Team test and a score of 61.071% in the FEI Children Individual test on Sunday.

“We both enjoy showing. He’s very sweet and very strong,” said Boyer of the 18-year-old P.R.E stallion owned by Hampton Green Farm. “My strongest test was today because it was better than yesterday, and we got more forward. Long term I hope to work up to the juniors.”

Scarlett Hansen (CAN), a 14-year-old from Quebec, Canada, and Reve De Glatigny were the division winners in the FEI Pony Division. The pair earned scores of 66.571% in the FEI Pony Rider Team test, 67.207% in the FEI Pony Rider Individual test, and 68.792% in the FEI Pony Rider Freestyle.

“My relationship with my pony is really strong. We love to play together, and he loves treats because he is a pony,” said Hansen of her 14-year-old German Riding Pony by Viersen K. “My pony was born at home, and I trained him myself, so I’m really proud of him. I think we did really good, and I’m really happy.”

Ashley Holzer (USA) and Valentine, her nine-year-old Oldenburg mare by Sir Donnerhall, rode to their third win of week 8 in the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3* presented by ProElite®. The pair earned a top score of 77.933%.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Just World International has teamed up with Dressage4Kids to participate in FIYDC. This year the top three in the divisions will decide together where to donate their prize money.

Second place went to Christer Egerstrom (CRC) and Bello Oriente, his 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Belissimo M, with a score of 70.425%. Marco Bernal (COL) and Germany, his 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Clearway, took third place with a score of 69.967%.

Competition at AGDF will resume for Week 9 from March 8-10. Week 9 features CPEDI 1*/2*/3* Para Dressage, a National Show, and the Challenge of the Americas on Friday, March 8, at 6 p.m. Week 9 is also the second to last chance for riders to qualify for the Iron Spring Farm Future Stars Performance Series in Week 12. 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 ProElite®
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge H% – Irina Maknami, Judge C% – Susan Hoevenaars, Judge B% – William Warren, Total %

1.Ashley Holzer (USA), Valentine, nine-year-old Oldenburg mare by Sir Donnerhall x Renaissance owned by Ashley Holzer: 76.250%, 80.300%, 77.250%, 77.933%

2.Christer Egerstrom (CRC), Bello Oriente, 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Belissimo M x Maradonna owned by Christer Egerstrom: 70.250%, 72.025%, 69.000%, 70.425%

3.Marco Bernal (COL), Germany, 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Clearway x Grace XIII owned by Marco Bernal: 70.000%, 70.650%, 69.250%, 69.967%

4.Michael Klimke (GER), Harmony’s Sanrino RHP, 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding by San Remo x Feldhit II owned by Harmony Sporthoses: 70.500%, 70.075%, 68.750%, 69.775%

5.Tom Dvorak (CAN), Ribot, 17-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Hilltop Reno x Corthena owned by Carla Bahr: 68.875%, 68.675%, 70.500%, 69.350%

6.Christopher Hickey (USA), Straight Horse Zackonik, 9-year-old Danish Warmblood mare by Blue Horse Zack x Romanik owned by Cecelia Stewart: 67.750%,  69.225%, 67.375%, 68.117%

7.Meagan Davis (USA), Royale, 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Routinier x Infinitive owned by Scott Durkin: 69.000%, 68.075%, 66.875%, 67.983%

8.Leif Aho (USA), Classy Sinclair, 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Sir Sinclair x Sacro Santa owned by Lisa Grossi: 69.250%, 69.575%, 64.375%, 67.733%