Wellington, FL – January 11, 2018 – The 2018 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) opened the winter season at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, Florida, with Swedish competitor Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven and the 15-year-old Paridon Magi posting a new personal best of 75.87% in the FEI Grand Prix CDIW, presented by Adequan®. AGDF, which hosts seven weeks of CDI competition, runs through March 31.

“It was the best ride I’ve had on him and I was happy that he was open minded and really working with me,” said Vilhelmson Silfven of her 2017 European Championships partner.

She first came to Wellington for the AGDF in 2011 and was so impressed that she has come back every year since.

“It’s such a super preparation for my horses and the best way to keep them in the winter,” added Vilhelmson Silfven, who was second in this class last year. “I gain so much to have them train over here. To have the opportunity to compete again and again, as much as you like, is fantastic.”

It was seven months ago when Shelly Francis (USA) and Doktor last set foot in a competition arena, but the pair were on form to win the MTICA Farm-presented FEI Grand Prix CDI3* with 72.543%, earning over 71% from all five judges. The duo, who are ranked 54th in the world, were last to go, and took over the lead from the penultimate competitor, Susan Pape (GBR) and Harmony’s Don Noblesse.
“Doktor was a bit tight to begin with, chewing and clanking his teeth, so I had trouble finding the rhythm in the early trot work, but I was pleased with him,” said the 59-year-old of her 15-year-old Oldenburg by Diamond Hit. “He’s been a bit of a project; I didn’t do the award ceremony with him because I usually put ear plugs in, but as I was last to go I didn’t have time. Some people might think I’m a chicken but I’d like to live a bit longer; he runs flat out in there.”

The pair has been together since Francis found the horse at Michael Klimke’s barn in Germany. They now progress to the grand prix special on Saturday, where Francis plans to “press for a little more”.

The FEI Prix St Georges CDI3*, presented by Triple Crown Nutrition — the day’s opening class — was clinched by Heather Blitz (USA) on her own nine-year-old Danish warmblood Praestemarkens Quatero (by Quaterback x Rohdiamant). At only his second FEI show, the chestnut gelding logged 71.961%, and was the unanimous winner across the three judges.

Spain’s young talent Juan Matute Guimon stormed the under-25 CDI FEI Intermediate II class with 72.599%, winning by over 6% from first draw. Sponsor Diamante Farms presented the prize to Matute and the long-legged Don Diego Ymas, a 15-year-old black Hanoverian gelding by Don Frederico x Wolkenstein II.

Jennifer Baumert (USA) on Elizabeth Juliano’s Handsome was the only rider to crack the 70% barrier in the day’s second prix st georges class — the ProElite-sponsored CDI1* — finishing on 70.637%. The 13-year-old Hanoverian son of Hochadel (out of a mare by Weltmeyer) beat Lemony’s Nicket, ridden by XXX — who sold to the US for the then record price of €900,000 in Verden, Germany, in 2011 — in to second place.

Competition at AGDF continues tomorrow with a full schedule of classes, including two CDI intermediate I classes, before the first “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W, presented by Adequan®, starting at 7pm. For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Results
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: judge E%, judge H%, judge C%, judge
M%, judge B%, total

FEI Grand Prix CDIW, presented by Adequan®
1. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven (SWE) on Paridon Magi, Lövsta Stuteri’s 15yo Swedish warmblood gelding by Don Primero x Napoleon 625: 76.63, 75.87, 77.283, 76.304, 73.261, 75.87%.
2. Shelly Francis (USA) on Danilo, Patricia Stempel’s 14yo Hanoverian gelding by De Niro x Andiamo: 72.283, 72.826, 73.478, 73.587, 71.087, 72.652%.
3. Jill Irving (CAN) on Degas 12, her own 16yo Hanoverian by De Niro x Regazzoni: 71.522, 73.152, 72.174, 73.261, 69.022, 71.826%.
4. Juan Matute Guimon (ESP) on Quantico Ymas, Juan F Matute’s 12yo Hanoverian gelding by Fighting Fit x Constant: 68.261, 70.543, 70.978, 70.109, 69.565, 69.891%.
5. Megan Lane (CAN) on Caravella, her own and Cathy & Kelsey Lane’s 17yo KWPN mare by Contango x Riverman: 71.630, 67.5, 68.696, 71.196, 68.696, 69.543%.
6. Jessica Jo Tate (USA) on Faberge, Elizabeth Guarisco’s 15yo Westfalian gelding by Florestan I x Brentano II: 66.304, 67.174, 67.283, 67.5, 64.348, 66.522%.
7. Ellesse Tzinberg (PHI) on Triviant 2, her own and Sennett Tzinberg’s 18yo KWPN gelding by Olivi x Saluut: 64.783, 65.326, 67.717, 68.804, 65.652, 66.457%.
8. Jacqueline Brooks (CAN) on D Niro, 19yo Swedish warmblood gelding by D-Day x Napoleon 625: 66.739, 66.304, 65.761, 66.957, 66.196, 66.391%.

FEI Grand Prix CDI3*, presented by MTICA Farm
1. Shelly Francis (USA) on Doktor, Patricia Stempel’s 15yo Oldenburg gelding by Diamond Hit x Renoir I: 72.391, 71.413, 73.478, 72.935, 72.5%.
2. Susan Pape (GBR) on Harmony’s Don Noblesse, Harmony Sporthorses’ 11yo Hanoverian stallion by Dancier x Don Davidoff: 72.283, 69.891, 68.913, 72.717, 68.370, 70.435%.
3. Jill Irving (CAN) on Arthur, her own 13yo KWPN gelding by Jazz x Contango: 68.804, 68.913, 69.457, 68.478, 70.217, 69.174%.
4. Sahar Daniel Hirosh (ISR) on Whitman, Jane Suwalsky’s 15yo KWPN gelding by Rhodium x Saluut: 62.935, 65.435, 63.478, 66.196, 63.696, 64.348%.
5. Stacy Parvey-Larsson (USA) on Benidetto, her own and Linda Woltz’s 14yo Hanoverian stallion by Bellissimo M x Westwall: 63.587, 63.587, 63.370, 60.652, 67.174, 63.674%.
6. Megan Gardner (USA) on Zaffier, Karen Newsom’s 14yo KWPN mare by Special D x Renovo: 64.565, 63.152, 64.239, 61.739, 64.239, 63.587%.
7. Megan Lane (CAN) on Zodiac MW, Deer Ridge Equestrian’s 14yo KWPN gelding by Rousseau x Amethist: 65.543, 63.478, 62.174, 61.413, 64.022, 63.326%.
8. Christopher Hickey (USA) on Ronaldo, Cecelia Stewart’s 12yo Danish warmblood gelding by Blue Hors Romanov x Don Schufro: 62.174, 65.543, 64.022, 61.848, 62.283, 63.174%.

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