-- GDF press release, Photos © Sue Stickle
Kevin Kohmann (USA) pulled off the performance of a lifetime in the Grand Prix Freestyle at the 2025 CDI-W Palm Beach Dressage Derby on Friday, February 28, during “Friday Night Stars” at the 2025 Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL.
Riding Dünensee to a new personal best of 79.24%, Kohmann sealed his place in the 2025 World Cup Final—which will be his second, consecutive final.
From last draw, Anna Marek (USA) gave it her best shot, riding Fire Fly to 77.64% and second place, leaving her in fourth on the North American League World Cup standings with just three spots up for grabs. Kohmann will join Adrienne Lyle and Geñay Vaughn in Basel, Switzerland (April 2-6).
The class also doubled as a qualifier for the new US Equestrian Open of Dressage, which features 23 qualifiers—seven of which are at AGDF—before the final in California in November. Germany’s Evelyn Eger and Karen Lipp (USA) are currently tied at the top of the standings with 60 points.
Complex Floorplan
Kohmann rode a complex floorplan to upbeat music by Avicii—his favorite DJ—which includes ‘Wake Me Up’ by Hinterland. There was a high degree of difficulty right from the outset: halt to canter and straight into a double pirouette to start. The test also included changes on curving lines and a full piaffe pirouette in the middle of the walk section. Kohmann punched the air as he nailed the final halt right on cue. Judge at B, Portugal’s Miguel Gonçalves, rewarded their uphill, well-balanced test with the high score of 80.175%.
“That’s twice now that we’ve ridden a personal best,” said the 36-year-old Kohmann, referring to the pair’s 77.575% in Friday Night Stars during GDF 3—their previous high score. “It’s coming together more and he’s helping me every time in the ring. I cannot thank the horse enough. I trust him and he trusts me. This arena is not so easy, but we know our freestyle, we like the music, and it flows nicely.”
Kohmann has a long history with Dünensee, Diamante Farms’ 16-year-old Dancier x Davignon gelding, having first ridden him as a five-year-old. He went to Hubertus Schmidt's barn, where he was ridden by Ivan Nieto, and then Kohmann’s coach Cristoph Koschel got the ride for a while in an attempt to sell it. The horse ended up back in the USA, where he proved invaluable to Kohmann's career. He has a home for life now at Diamante Farms.
Kohmann’s success was manifold on Friday as he also won the 1* FEI Intermediate I on another Diamante Farms horse, scoring 70.617% on the 10-year-old mare Scala (by St Schufro x Belissimo M).
Marek Went Full Power
“Following Kevin I had nothing to lose, so I decided to go for it and take some risks I might not normally on Firefly,” said Marek, who has ridden the horse for almost four years. “But today it all worked out. He was really good and I was proud of him.
“He already showed grand prix before I got him, but he was scared in the piaffe and he couldn’t always do the ones—I still can’t always get them—but overall he’s the horse that has taught me probably more than any other in terms of learning patience and building a relationship. He has the biggest heart,” added Marek, who is hoping to qualify for the US Open Final with Fire Fly.
PTSD
Carier Bergeron is another who has had a tricky time riding the one-time changes clean in the ring on her horse Finnländerin, but she pulled off two clean lines of them under the lights.
“Tonight was really great because I got my one-times,” said Carier Bergeron of her Paris 2024 Olympic partner. “I almost got PTSD with those one-times, but tonight I killed them, so that was cool. After Paris this year is all about doing freestyles and having fun. Tonight it felt like all the pieces came together.”
Related Links
Scores: 2025 Palm Beach Dressage Derby
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2025 World Cup Qualifiers and Final
Kohmann in Pole Position for World Cup Final Starting Spot at 2025 Palm Beach Derby