Wellington, FL — March 18, 2018 — The sixth annual Florida International Youth Dressage Championships (FIYDC) were the highlight of competition on the final day of week 10, Sunday, March 18, of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, Florida.
The 2018 Florida International Youth Dressage Championships — presented by Terri Kane, Hampton Green Farm, Sarah Davis, USEF Owners’ Dressage Task Force and Dressage 4Kids — took place alongside senior competition in week 10 at the AGDF. It featured competition for riders in the Under-25, Young Rider, Junior, Children and Pony divisions, offering them a chance to compete on the big stage and showcase their talent at one of the world’s largest and most high-profile dressage competitions.
Mei Mei Newsome, director of Just World International, and Sarah Davis with overall youth champion Natalia Bacariza (ESP) and Terri Kane of Diamante Farms.Photo by Susan J Stickle Photography
There were five youth division winners, with 16-year-old Natalia Bacariza from Spain winning the overall trophy for the highest average score. She beat six other Junior riders, winning all three classes with over 71% on the Yeguada De Ymas’s 11-year-old Don Crusador gelding, Dhannie Ymas — former ride of her trainer Juan Matute Guimon and his kür gold medal-winning 2015 Junior European Championships partner.
“I am super happy about winning; I’ve wanted this for a very long time and I’m really happy that we finally did it,” said Bacariza, who is from Madrid and is the daughter of Cristina Danguillecourt and Javier Bacariza, owners of the Yeguada de Ymas. “I’ve been riding Dhannie for three months. He was ridden by Juan before, so he already knows his job, but you still have to ride him and not make any mistakes. Our best test was the individual [71.716%] and I’m very excited about our journey together.
Spain’s Natalia Bacariza, 16, dominates the Junior ranks riding Dhannie Ymas, by Don Crusador.Photo by Susan J Stickle Photography
“Our highlights were probably the changes and the trot work. We’re finished with the Wellington season now and then we’re going to be competing in Europe — first in Spain then Germany and maybe France,” added the teenager, who has big career aspirations. “I hope to improve my riding and continue my career in dressage and hopefully become another big champion.”
It was another win for Spain in the Under-25 division, with Rodrigo Encinas Fuentes and Van The Man leading the field of 10 entrants. The horse is owned by Cesar Parra, who rode the now 16-year-old gelding by Obelisk at grand prix at AGDF in 2013, 2014 and 2015 before handing the reins over to his young pupil.
Rodrigo Encinas Fuentes, 22, attracts praise for his mature riding en route to winning the Under-25 division of the Florida International Youth Dressage Championships aboard Cesar Parra’s Van The Man.Photo by Susan J Stickle Photography
Fuentes won only one of the three young rider tests, with Natalie Pai (USA) winning the other two on Unlimited, but his average score of 68.094% edged out Pai’s 67.746%.
“I was very happy with the horse; I felt he was truly with me and gave 100%,” said the 22-year-old Madrid native, who was competing at AGDF for the first time. “There are of course still some things I could improve, as always, but I’m truly happy with his attitude and he’s getting better test after test.
“This result means a lot. Just to compete at this level is great, but to win is better! I work really hard to get the opportunities to accomplish my goals, I’m really far from home and I sacrificed a lot,” added Fuentes, who left home at 18 looking for further riding opportunities in Europe before meeting Juan Matute, who invited him to the USA. “He really helped me, and the family opened the doors of their house for me. I learned a lot and its thanks to them, and also to Dr. Cesar Parra, who has treated me like his own son. He’s taught me not just about horses, but also how to be a better man.”
It was Canada’s Beatrice Boucher who came out on top of the 17 competitors in the Young Rider division. Riding Gilles Bergeron’s 15-year-old Del Piero gelding Delfiano, she averaged 69.415% across the three tests.
Beatrice Boucher (CAN) and Delfiano cement their partnership by winning the hotly-contested Young Rider division with an average score of 69.415%.Photo by Susan J Stickle Photography
“The horse belongs to Camille Bergeron’s father and I wasn’t expecting to compete him at all, but I am so happy we can now do the young rider championships,” said the 20-year-old from Quebec, who picked up the ride when Camille no longer had enough time for Delfiano as well as her other horses. “I’ve only been riding him for a year but he’s such a puppy dog and always in your pocket — he’s so nice to be around. He’s never negative, he’s always your team mate and he’s so consistent. He’s a real pleasure and he gives his best all the time.”
The youngest division winner came in the form of 13-year-old Tori Belles from Pennsylvania riding PJ Rizvi’s pony Prince Z to an average score of 67.498%.
“I’ve been riding him for a month,” she said. “He’s been to the European Championships [he was a Dutch team medal winner under Febe van Zwambagt in 2011] and it’s a privilege from PJ Rizvi to show and compete him. He gives you the best feeling ever and supports you — even if you have a little mistake he tries to support you and help you out. I’m hoping to carry on showing him and also go to Lamplight festival of champions.”
The experienced pony Prince Z carries 13-year-old Tori Belles to honors in the Pony division.Photo by Susan J Stickle Photography
The final winner was another to hail from Canada. Lily-Rose Lemaire, 14, rode the former broodmare World Lady, 18, to the Children’s title.
“My ride was very good this weekend and I’m so happy. My horse was with me and I think it’s my best ride with her,” said Lemaire, who only took up riding three years ago and began the partnership with World Lady six months ago. “This was my first CDI in Wellington as I had only done national shows before. This is my first season in Wellington and it is a beautiful place.”
Canada’s Lily-Rose Lemaire, 14, only began riding three years ago but pilots the 18-year-old former broodmare World Lady to the Children’s title.Photo by Susan J Stickle Photography
Sponsor Terri Kane of Diamante Farms, who sponsors the under-25 division throughout AGDF and supports FIYDC, said: “This is the future of dressage and if these kids aren’t out there competing, then our sport will die. It’s very important for people in the dressage community to show that we support them and that we care.”
Of the entries from six different nations, she added: “It’s exciting. Just like for our national and international athletes, it’s very important for these athletes to compete against other countries to make themselves better. We had a huge junior group this year, so hopefully they continue riding and go into the u-25 and hopefully a lot of these riders will go on to become professionals and continue to compete after they age out of the u-25.”
Jennifer Baumert made it three wins from three starts on Handsome in week 10. PBIEC is a lucky venue for the American duo, who have won a staggering eight classes this season.
Jennifer Baumert (USA) and Handsome rubber-stamp a superb AGDF season, winning their eighth small tour class of 2018.Photo by Susan J Stickle Photography
Baumert posted 75.2% on Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Juliano’s 13-year-old Hochadel gelding, with fellow American Jodie Kelly-Baxley on Caymus, by Sir Sinclair, slotting in to second (74.175%) and Canada’s Brittany Fraser filling third with Jill Irving’s Sir Donnerhall gelding, Soccer City (72.875%).
“He’s awesome,” grinned Baumert. “I was pumped in there because Debbie [McDonald] psyched me up to get him really in front of me and taking every opportunity I could between movements to push him up in front and come into every movement with a lot of power. And we did that!
“She was amping me up because I’m one of those people that wants everything to be really pretty and harmonious and nice, and she pushes me to shake it up and come out of my comfort zone. This is a great way to close, as it’s our last show at Global. We’re hoping to go to Tryon [for the test event CDI in April] and the national championships at small tour.”
Baumert, who was competing Handsome at the AGDF for the second successive year, usually returns to her Ohio base in April, but is staying on in Wellington this year.
Jennifer Baumert with judge from H, India’s Sunil Shivdas, during the prize-giving.Photo by Susan J Stickle Photography
“We’re going to stay until the team goes off to Europe to take advantage of Debbie’s help until then, so I’m looking forward to that,” she said. “That’ll probably be until June, when it’s really hot here in Florida, but Havensafe Farm has lots of trees and a covered ring and it always feels about 10 degrees cooler there, so I’m hoping that’ll work out for us.”
This concludes action in week 10 of the 2018 AGDF, which was the largest dressage show ever held outside Western Europe. The circuit hosts its final week of competition on March 28-31, and includes the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup team event. For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.
Results
Place, rider, nationality, horse, horse information: judge H%, judge C%, judge B%, total
FEI Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors
H, Clive Halsall (GBR); C, Sunil Shivdas (IND); B, Janet Foy (USA)
1. Jennifer Baumert (USA) on Handsome, Elizabeth Juliano’s 13yo Hanoverian gelding by Hochadel x Weltmeyer: 73.875, 74.6, 77.125, 75.2%.
2. Jodie Kelly-Baxley (USA) on Caymus, Beth Godwin’s 11yo KWPN gelding by Sir Sinclair x Contango: 72.25, 75.775, 74.5, 74.175%.
3. Brittany Fraser on Soccer City, Jill Irving’s 11yo Hanoverian gelding by Sir Donnerhall x Weltmeyer: 72.625, 74, 72, 72.875%.
4. Pablo Gomez Molina (ESP) on Fürst Fiorano Ymas, Yeguada de Mas SL’s 11yo Westfalian gelding by Fürst Piccolo x Donnerbube I: 73.25, 71.775, 72.75, 72.592%.
5. Nora Batchelder (USA) on Faro SQF, her own 10yo Hanoverian gelding by Fidertanz x Rotspon: 70.25, 74.875, 69.5, 71.542%.
6. Anna Marek (USA) on Einstein JP, her own KWPN gelding by Democraat x Contango: 70.75, 71.175, 70.625, 70.85%.
7. Lori Bell (CAN) on Flirt, her own 10yo Oldenburg gelding by Florencio x Donnerhall: 71.5, 69.375, 69.375, 70.083%.
8. Tom Dvorak (CAN) on Cyrus, Carla Bahr’s 9yo Oldenburg gelding by Contucci x Corthena: 67.75, 69.825, 70.625, 69.4%.