Victory in the Grand Prix Special CDI3* on Saturday, April 16, went to Katie Duerrhammer (USA) and Paxton, owned by Kylee Lourie, at the World Equestrian Center Dressage III show, sponsored by Hampton Green Farm and Discover Dressage. This marked their second win of the week after they took the top spot in Thursday’s Grand Prix CDI3*.
Victory Nr Two
There were 15 entries in the Grand Prix Special CDI3*, and the top six all scored over 70%. Duerrhammer and Paxton led the lap of honor with a score of 73.638%. Jessica Howington (USA) and her own Cavalia finished second on 71.936%. Rounding out an all-American podium, Alice Tarjan and her own Serenade MF placed third on 71.639%.
Saturday’s Special victory was not only a personal best for Duerrhammer and Paxton, but a significant step forward in their experience at the grand prix level. While consistency is important, it was the feeling that Paxton gave her that made Duerrhammer appreciate the performance.
“The final centerline, I don’t think I’ve ever felt him do it like that,” she expressed. “He really took a breath and said that he was safe to stay there, and that was really special to feel.”
After Thursday’s win, Paxton had an easy Friday with a brief hack in the morning followed by hand walks, grazing, recovery therapies, and “very long naps.”
Duerrhammer laughed, “I have pictures of him pressed up against the wall, face all smushed in the shavings, taking a nap like a little boy.”
With the temperatures rising on Saturday afternoon, Duerrhammer felt Paxton was suited for the weather. She explained, “He’s very hot. The pushing power was a little tired today but he’s one that you want to have when it’s hot outside and it’s a long test. He’ll never be lacking in the energy. It may not be as brilliant as in places in the Grand Prix, but he will never feel like he doesn’t have enough energy.”
The experience of two CDI grand prix victories with Paxton has not sunk in yet for Duerrhammer, but she takes it all in stride, remembering that the 11-year-old Westphalian gelding by Dante Weltino OLD x Don Marco is still green at this level.
“I think it’s important to remember that he is only 11. If he comes out the next week and gets a 68%, then that’s okay,” she remarked. “It’s all about the journey and preparing him for things later in his career. Just because he can do it once doesn’t mean he’s going to do it every time. I want to ride who he is today and be appreciative of that. After doing so well today, I’m going to go home and let it sink in a bit. This weekend was extra special because my mom, Elizabeth Johnson, who trained me all my teenage years, was here this weekend from California.”
Ebeling and Indeed Win Freestyle
Under the lights of the Grand Arena at the World Equestrian Center – Ocala on Friday, April 15, 2022, Benjamin Ebeling (USA) and Indeed, owned by Vantage Equestrian Group II LLC, danced their way to victory in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*
Exceeding his own expectations and going in with the goal of a clean test, Ebeling knew the key was nailing his first combination of the entrance in piaffe into the passage.
“That part of it for me felt the best it ever has,” said the 22-year-old rider from California. “I would have to say that my 21 one-tempis down the long side, into my pirouette, directly into the piaffe pirouette, that’s a combination that for her is quite difficult. She’s quite a long horse, so getting really compact in those movements is a little bit difficult for her, but the strength has really come in these last couple of months. That was very evident in that [part of the test]. She loves competing. I go in the show arena, and she lights up. It’s her favorite thing, which is good, because it’s one of my favorite things too.”
While Ebeling is working on a new freestyle for Indeed, he is borrowing the current freestyle from his other top horse, Illuster van de Kampert. The self-proclaimed “Star Wars nerd,” who even based his black tailcoat and helmet to represent Darth Vader “with the red for his lightsaber,” was extremely pleased to end his American winter circuit with a win before he heads to Europe to compete.
“We always talk about keeping the momentum going and I think for her especially, and a little bit too for my confidence with her, these last two classes have been outstanding for me to continue that,” he said. “I can’t thank my owners enough, Vantage Equestrian, and of course my mom for helping me with Illuster. I’m just really lucky to be in this position.”
The amateur rider from New Jersey has brought Donatella along from a four-year-old, and it has been a long journey to grand prix level.
“She doesn’t have the best hind leg mechanic, and the changes were really difficult to put on the horse. Had that horse not had such a good work ethic and try every day, I don’t think there is any way she could do it,” said Tarjan. “Two years ago, I didn’t have a clean left lead change. It was a disaster. It took a village to get a clean change on that horse, so the fact that she can actually do 15 clean one-tempis is sort of a miracle.”
But despite the challenge, Tarjan knew what she had in Donatella and has enjoyed the process of bringing her along. “It’s fun seeing the progression,” she affirmed. “That’s why I love doing it. You get a glimpse of it when they’re four or five and you’re like, ‘Wow, look at this!’, but it takes you years to develop it and show it off here.”
This was Tarjan’s first time competing at WEC – Ocala, and she reveled in the horse-friendly venue.
“It is absolutely fantastic. It’s like a real horse show grounds where you can hand walk them through the trees; there are grass and birds and a natural environment for the horses. The stalls are amazing. It’s a great environment for them,” she said.
Gluch was also able to tick off a goal on her list by competing in this freestyle in the Grand Arena.
“When I saw this facility before I moved here, I said, ‘I want to go down that chute and under the lights. I don’t know when it’s going to happen, but it’s a goal,’” she recalled. “I didn’t know if there would be people in the stands, and it was very full. It was incredible to trot in and see everyone there under the lights. It was a dream come true. To be able to do that tonight in front of a big crowd and representing Kim and Hampton Green Farm well and proud and showing off the breed is really special.”
Anna Marek and Duvel Top Prix St. Georges CDI3*
Local rider Anna Marek of Dunnellon, Fla., topped the Prix St. Georges CDI3* on Friday morning with Cynthia Davila’s Duvel, receiving a score of 73.088% for a personal best. The top four in the class of 15 entries all received personal bests.
Second place went to Olympic bronze medalist Laura Graves (USA) and Sensation HW, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding by Sunday x Dancier owned by Carol and Scott McPhee, who received 72.353% in only their second-ever Prix St. Georges CDI class. Rebecca Cohen (USA) and Tuschomie, a 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare by Tuschinski x Blue Hors Romancier owned by Carol Cohen Hodess, placed third with 69.510%.
Marek has ridden Duvel for two years and has worked through Duvel’s sensitive and quirky nature to arrive at a place where, if he has a clean test, he can score well and win at the CDI small tour.
“It was a big learning curve for me to just figure out how to let him know that he needed to listen to me, and he didn’t need to be scared of what we were doing,” said Marek of the 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Florencio x Metall.
“He’s 14 years old, so at PSG and I-1, he’s like a machine,” she said. “He’s so much fun for me to go in there because normally when I’m riding at this level, they’re younger horses coming up. I’ve never had one that I get to ride a couple of years at these levels and really be able to go in there and nail it. That’s what is so fun about him.”
Marek praised Duvel’s clean test that featured his pirouettes and “big and expressive” changes.
“It was so much fun in this ring,” she added. “It’s absolutely beautiful. Looking up and seeing the hotel and the stands all around, the arena is just huge and magnificent. It was awesome, and it feels like you’re at a world-class event. It’s pretty incredible that I come here to show, and I feel like I’m in a completely different world, but then I can go home 15 minutes away.”
Marek and Duvel will continue to compete at small tour at WEC Dressage III, contesting Saturday’s Intermediate 1 CDI3* and the Intermediate 1 Freestyle CDI3* on Sunday.
- WEC press release - Photo by Q2 Photography.
Related Link
Scores: 2022 CDI Ocala
Katie Duerrhammer and Paxton Win 2022 CDI Ocala Grand Prix