Vilhelmson and Perry-Glass Rule GP Special Classes at 2025 CDIO Wellington

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2025 CDIO Wellington

-- GDF press release - - Photos © Eurodressage - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED / NO SCREEN SHOTS for social media

The second and final set of individual medals was awarded in the FEI Nations Cup CDIO 3* Grand Prix Special on Saturday 22 February 2025 during week seven at the Global Dressage Festival (GDF) in Wellington, FL.

After leading the Swedish team to bronze on Thursday in the opening leg of the 2025 series, Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén struck individual gold in the Special riding Lövsta Stuteri’s Hyatt to a clean sweep and 73.638%—a new combination best in this test.

Jemma Heran piloted her own 13-year-old Totilas gelding Total Recall into the silver medal spot with 68.489%. At this show in 2024, Heran’s trainer Frederic Wandres garnered team gold for Germany and individual freestyle bronze riding Total Recall.

To add to the multitude of flags on the podium in this year’s Special, Wandres’ partner Lars Ligus represented Germany and picked up bronze, riding Hof Kasselmann’s 15-year-old Sandro Hit gelding Santiago to 67.404%. Erin Nichols was the top finishing U.S. rider, slotting into fourth with 67% on the 16-year-old Elian Royale.

Fruitful Season

Vilhelmson Silfvén is enjoying a fruitful season with the 13-year-old Hyatt. The pair have won three of their four starts at the 2025 AGDF and finished second in the other.

“I’m so happy it went well this weekend too, because after the great first weekend we had [after a competition break of seven months] there was pressure for it to go well, and it went even better,” said the seven-time Olympian and AGDF regular. “She was a bit spooky in the grand prix, but today, she was perfect and that special test is a perfect test for her.

“It’s really special to represent your country and, being so far away from home, it’s a big responsibility and there were some extra nerves as a result,” she added. “Today, I could trust that I could have Hyatt’s power on without her looking at a flower or the people opening and closing doors. She was so focused on me that I could put in a lot of energy. She’s so ambitious; I just have to breathe, and she does it.”

Hyatt’s next show is slated to be the CDI5* during week 10 of AGDF, followed by the summer in Europe and possibly the Nations Cup competition in Lier, Belgium, in mid-May.

“Hyatt is a sensitive horse and it’s a responsibility when they’re so willing and want to do so much,” concluded Vilhelmson Silfvén, who heads up the team at Lövsta Stuteri. “She goes in the paddock and out on hacks. Yesterday, I only walked her and let her eat grass. I like to spend a lot of time with my horses so they trust me—that’s so important—and you can show that in the test.”

Perry-Glass Leads Dutch-Bred Sweep

Dutch-bred KWPN horses were untouchable in the day’s other top level class, the 3* Grand Prix Special, filling the first four places. Kasey Perry-Glass finished clear of the chasing pack to net the blue ribbon for the second time in GDF 7, riding Heartbeat WP to 72.362%, yet another combination high score produced this week.

All but one of the athletes in the class represented the U.S., but Great Britain’s Susan Pape broke the stranglehold, slotting into second with 70.851% on Harmony’s Giulilanta, a 14-year-old Jazz x Flemmingh daughter. Caroline Roffman rode Libertee into third place with 68.617%. At just nine years old, the Franklin x Donnerhall gelding owned by Carben Farms was the youngest horse in the class.

Perry-Glass was delighted with Heartbeat’s progress over the week, saying of her mother Diane Perry’s 13-year-old Charmeur gelding: “The last centerline was a tricky spot for us last year and in the grand prix he got really hot. I love to be able to show that final ‘Wow!’ on the final centerline and ‘Heart’ gave it to me today. It’s nice to have a horse with that energy.

“Over the past few months, I’ve been leaning on my core group of girls and feeling like I can hone in on my ride. For a long time, I’ve felt like a pilot up there, and now I’m starting to be able to slow down the test in my mind and really start to produce more,” she continued.

Perry-Glass acquired Heartbeat at the same time that her mother-in-law passed away, and the association is strong and emotive for the Rio Olympics team bronze medalist. She also credits help from her home groom and fellow rider, Meghan Laffin, for the trajectory she and Heartbeat are on.

“Heart is like a toddler,” laughed Perry-Glass. “He’s a ‘people horse’ and he’s attached himself to me and Meghan. He’s used to being outside all day, so here at the show we get him out of his stall to walk every hour or two.

“I planned to start the season a bit late. I feel this horse doesn’t need a whole lot of miles over the season and I’d really like to go to Europe if that’s on the cards, so I’d like to keep the energy and the spark,” concluded Perry-Glass, who is aiming for the CDI5* in GDF 10 as Heartbeat’s next show.

If interested in photos, please send me an email. Florida rates apply for this horse show as our colleague Sue Stickle is the official photographer.

Vilhelmson and Perry-Glass Rule GP Special Classes at 2025 CDIO Wellington

Fruitful Season

Perry-Glass Leads Dutch-Bred Sweep

- Photos © Astrid Appels - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED / NO SCREEN SHOTS for social media