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

Wellington, FL – March 4, 2021 – The 2021 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) resumed competition with AGDF 8 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, on Thursday, March 4, and welcomed a victory in the FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI3*, presented by The Dutta Corp. for the USA’s Nick Wagman and Don John. AGDF 8 continues through Sunday, March 7, and the circuit hosts 10 weeks of international and national dressage competition until April 4. Free live streaming and on-demand of select classes are available to view at globaldressagefestival.com.

Wagman and Beverly Jean Gepfer’s 2008 KWPN gelding by Johnson TN, Don John, notched their second personal best score of the 2021 AGDF season with a 74.478%, almost four points higher than second place finisher Jessica Howington (USA) and her own Cavalia.

“He was really with me the whole time today,” began Wagman. “Normally I get a few nerves in the Grand Prix because it’s the first test of the show, but I didn’t have any today. I even came out and said to Debbie [McDonald] that this is the first time I haven’t had any nerves in a long time. DJ just felt solid, so I was able to actually think about my riding while I was in there and actually work on the details that I can sometimes gloss over because I’m just trying to get through it.”

Watch their winning ride! ©Richard’s Equine Video

Wagman continued, “I haven’t watched the video yet, but the piaffe and passage work felt pretty reliable today. My right pirouette felt super. I made the mistake in the ones today, and that was just all me. I got to the end and was like, ‘Oh, don’t make a mistake!’ and I ended up overriding. But overall, it was a pretty honest test, so I am pleased with it.”

The pair had a successful ride in the FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI3*, presented by CabanaCoast during AGDF 5, but had to withdraw from the Special. After a lowkey week, Wagman picked training back up and has shifted his original plan for the remainder of the winter season.

Wagman explained, “We had rotten luck the past two shows, so hopefully we are done with that and we get to get through this show with some success. We extended our trip, and we’ll stay through the end of March. Then we will go back home and if we need a third score, we will go out to Rancho Marietta in California.”

Second place in the FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI3*, presented by The Dutta Corp. went to Jessica Howington (USA) on Cavalia, her own 2007 KWPN mare by Sir Donnerhall with a 70.913%, while Diane Creech (CAN) earned third on Chrevi’s Christo, Louise Leatherdale and Diane Creech’s 2003 Danish warmblood gelding by Chrevi’s Cavallo, finishing their day on a 70.478%.

Earlier in the day, Kevin Kohmann (GER) and Equitas LLC’s 2010 KWPN stallion by Amazing Star, Five Star, topped the FEI Prix St. Georges CDI3* with a score of 71.275%. Second place went to the USA’s Cesar Parra on Mr. Bumblebee, Equiventure LLC and John and Karen Blank’s 2008 Danish Warmblood gelding by Sting, with 70.294%. Dongseon Kim (KOR) rounded out the top three with his own 2012 Rheinlander stallion Lord Nunes by Lord Loxley I, with a score of 69.608%.

In the FEI Prix St. Georges CDI1*, Germany earned the top two placings, first with Christoph Koschel on Imposant, a 2013 KWPN gelding by Chameur owned by Holga Finken and Koschel Dressage GmbH, with 73.039%. Second went to Frederic Wandres and Quizmaster, Hof Kasselmann’s 2012 Hanoverian stallion by Quasar de Charry. Third place was awarded to Steffen Peters (USA) and Boston Strong, Christina Vinios’ 2010 Oldenburg gelding by Bordeaux, receiving a 72.108%.

Competition at AGDF 8 will continue tomorrow with a full schedule of classes, including the FEI Intermediaire-I CDI3* and the Palm Beach Dressage Derby before the FEI Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI-W, presented by Wellington Agricultural Services beginning at 3 p.m. For more information and to see a full list of results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Results FEI Grand Prix CDI3* for Special, presented by The Dutta Corp.:

Place, rider, nationality, horse, horse information: judge E%, judge H%, judge C%, judge M%, judge B%; final score

E, Katrina Wüst (GER); H, Peter Storr (GBR); C, Elisabeth Max-Theurer (AUT); M, Jane Weatherwax (USA); B, Kari McClain (USA)

1. Nick Wagman (USA) on Don John, Beverly Jean Gepfer’s 2008 KWPN gelding by Johnson TN: 75.761, 73.804, 74.022, 75.978, 72.826; 74.478%

2. Jessica Howington (USA) on Cavalia, her own 2007 KWPN mare by Sir Donnerhall: 69.239, 72.717, 71.413, 70.978, 70.217; 70.913%

3. Diane Creech (CAN) on Chrevi’s Christo, Louise Leatherdale and Diane Creech’s 2003 Danish warmblood gelding by Chrevi’s Cavallo: 71.522, 70.761, 69.130, 70.000, 70.978; 70.478%

4. Susan Dutta (USA) on Figeac DC, Tim and Susan Dutta’s 2009 Oldenburg gelding by Fackeltanz: 67.826, 70.435, 67.500, 67.174, 65.761; 67.739%

5. Pablo Gomez Molina (ESP) on Ulises De Ymas, Yeguada De Ymas S.L. and Cristina Danguillecourt’s 2010 PRE gelding by Seni Indio: 65.435, 68.261, 68.043, 65.978, 68.261; 67.196%

6. Ariana Chia (CAN) on Fiderflame, her own 2010 Oldenburg gelding by Fidertanz: 66.304, 67.609, 65.652, 66.413, 67.717; 66.739%

7. Jill Irving (CAN) on Degas 12, Jill Irving and Windhaven Farm’s 2002 Hanoverian gelding by De Niro: 65.543, 64.674, 68.152, 67.283, 66.957; 66.522%

8. Reese Koffler-Stanfield (USA) on Bingo, Kikiv L Courtelis and Reese Koffler-Stanfield’s 2006 KWPN gelding by Goodtimes: 66.304, 66.522, 65.435, 66.739, 66.413; 66.283%

9. Michael Pineo (USA) on Farrington, his own 2010 KWPN gelding by Jazz: 63.478, 64.674, 65.543, 66.087, 65.109; 64.978%

10. Dongseon Kim (KOR) on Diamond Royale, his own 2007 Oldenburg mare by Diamond Hit: 67.500, 63.696, 63.478, 63.804, 65.761; 64.848%

Photo credit: © SusanStickle. These images may only be used in relation to this press release and with credit.

Video Credit: ©Richard’s Equine Video