Zhaplin Langholt Makes Winning Grand Prix debut at 2024 CDI West Palm Beach

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2024 CDI West Palm Beach

Danish born American Charlotte Jorst has made a winning international debut aboard Zhaplin Langholt at the 2024 CDI West Palm Beach on 19 - 21 January 2024.

Gold Coast Opener

The 2024 CDI West Palm Beach is the second international dressage competition in Florida of the 2024 calendar year and took riders and spectators off the usual Global show grounds back to the Jim Brandon equestrian center, where once the World Dressage Masters shows were held in the 2000s.

The show is under different management and known for more than two decades as the Gold Coast Opener.

In a small field of six riders, Jorst topped the leader board in the Grand Prix with her 11-year old Danish warmblood gelding Zhaplin Langholt (by Zonik x Stedinger). She posted 69.174% and edged out the Washington state based Aaron Janicki, who is back in Florida for third time in four years. Janicki posted 66.457% for second place on10-year old KWPN mare Jinicole M (by Expression x Gribaldi).

Only Jorst and Janicki went on to ride the Special the next day. Charlotte won with 64.681% and Janicki posted 62.830%

Home Schooled

For Jorst the victory was particularly meaningful as Zhaplin is the first horse she has trained from young horse level to Grand Prix herself.

"Bringing Zhaplin along has been the most rewarding experience of my life," Charlotte told Eurodressage. "I remember him at 5 where he would arrive at the show grounds and when I got on him he started spinning. He must have been rearing and then turned because by the age of 5/6 he just spun. Today he’s the happiest most fun and powerful horse. He loves his job, loves to show and he has my back. I don’t think you can have that without having brought him up from youth."

Charlotte praises his unfased nature in the show ring.

"I don’t have to work him in the arena before the show. He does not look," she said. "He goes on trail rides always and nothing will spook him anymore. He’s my friend in the barn wanting to be ridden first, so it’s been incredibly fun."

What's in Store?

With her top ride Nintendo retired from sport in 2023, Jorst did not purchase a new ready made Grand Prix horse as a schoolmaster, which she has done before. This time around she relied on the youngstock she purchased a couple of years ago to train herself, since two years under the watchful eyes of her trainer, Lars Petersen.

Zhaplin is now the new number one in the barn and she has big plans for him.

With Zhaplin at the 2024 CDI West Palm Beach

"I will continue riding him in CDI's all year improving my scores," she said. "I want to take him to Europe and hopefully ride in Aachen and Paris."

Charlotte has a second iron in the fire in Straight Horse Cosmo, a 9-year old Danish warmblood by Grand Galaxy Win out of Romanik (by Romanov x Don Schufro), which she bought in 2021 at her fixed horse supplier of almost ten years, Helgstrand Dressage.

"Cosmo did developing Grand Prix last year. He’s another great horse," said Charlotte. "By mid February he will be doing national Grand Prix and then he’s also slated to go in the CDI. I’m also considering the Lovsta (tour for developing GP horses) with him."

Four for Grand Prix

The Reno, NV based Jorst spends her winters in Florida. She made her fortune building the Skagen watch brand together with her ex-husband and selling it to Fossil in 2012. Since then she has devoted her time to her passion: horses and dressage.

Schooling Cosmo at Helgstrand Dressage USA in 2023

Alongside Zhaplin and Cosmo, she has two more rising Grand Prix horses coming along: the 10-year old Westfalian mare Federle (by Furstenball x Farewell III) and the 10-year old Danish warmblood gelding Atterupgaards Botticelli (by Benetton Dream x Caprimond), which she bought at the same time as Zhaplin in 2018.

"Federle did one national Grand Prix in December with 68%. Then she got a severe hay allergy and has been recovering," Charlotte explained. "By March she will also be in the Grand Prix ring again. She’s so willing and cool. Botichelli is showing small tour CDI next week. Except for the one tempi changes, he’s ready for Grand Prix. I’m working on getting them on this superb horse.

Time of My Life

Jorst is thrilled to have four stars in the making and feels boosted in her confidence and self-esteem as a rider to have made their horses herself.

"I’m having so much fun with this super group and I’m so grateful," she stated. "It’s giving me such validation that I’ve been able to bring them all along. I’m so not worried about the results I just really enjoy the journey and the daily life with them. I’m also very grateful for my family and my friends and the life I’m able to live. This is a great time in my life."