Wellington, FL – January 13, 2018 – Week one of the 2018 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) wrapped up at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, Florida, with Shelly Francis (USA) logging another victory. The AGDF winter season runs for 12 weeks, through March 31, and includes seven CDI shows.

Aboard Doktor — Patricia Stempel’s seasoned 15-year-old Diamond Hit gelding — Francis added the MTICA Farm-sponsored FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3* to her grand prix title from two days previously. The pair scored 70.404% despite being penalized for an error of course.

“Everybody says I’m just getting old, but I used to go off course when I was young too,” said the 59-year-old. “I had a few bobbles in my rides, which you don’t want, but I feel I’m coming out a little stronger than last year.”

Doktor has made huge progress since Francis found him as a spooky five-year-old: “He was very nervous if you moved on him,” she said. “He had this fear-running thing, and it took me a long time to be able to wear a tailcoat. I try not to let him get afraid; for example I put ear plugs in for the awards, and today he was okay. But in the tests he’s really focused.”

Francis’ major aims for the year include the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon and World Cup classes with Doktor and her other grand prix ride, Danilo — with the AGDF season providing the perfect preparation platform. She has been on a health kick to boost her performance.

“I lost 40 pounds of weight in five months and I think the whole picture probably looks a lot nicer,” added the 5’2” rider. “I feel I can sit better, too. It’s the second time I’ve lost weight; I’m one of those women who can swell and shrink.”

Francis finished 1.68% clear of second-placed Jill Irving (CAN) and her Jazz gelding Arthur, with the USA’s Megan Gardner (Zaffier) filling third.

Juan Matute Guimon’s charmed run continued as the Spaniard steered Copernico Ymas — an eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding by San Amour x Don Gregory — to top spot in the FEI Young Rider Individual CDIY, sponsored by his family’s farm Yeguada de Ymas. The 20-year-old has ridden six tests over three days, winning four of them.

Home rider Janne Rumbough swept the day’s big tour amateur division classes with her two grey Spanish geldings. With the 17-hand 16-year-old Junior, by Gaucho III, she topped the FEI Grand Prix for Amateur CDIAm. The 73-year-old rider went on to capture the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle for Amateur CDIAm, presented by Rowan O’Riley, on Armas Zumbel, breaking the 70% barrier with 70.35%. Rumbough has been competing the 15-year-old gelding by Escarzo for a year, and they have never been out of the top three in CDI classes.

The third and final amateur class, also presented by Rowan O’Riley, saw the winner’s rug awarded to Ireland. Sonia Zügel topped the FEI Intermediate I for Amateur CDIAm on her own Hemingway, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding by His Highness x Friedensfuerst. They scored 64.676%.

Heather Blitz (USA) added another blue ribbon to her collection in the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3*, presented by Triple Crown Nutrition. With her own nine-year-old Danish warmblood Praestemarkens Quatero (by Quaterback x Rohdiamant), she garnered 75% exactly, beating the previous day’s small tour winners, Canadian Diane Creech on Robbie W, into second place.

This concludes the first of 12 weeks of competition at the 2018 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival. Next week sees a CPEDI3* Para-Dressage competition at the venue, with the next CDIW taking place January 24-28. For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Results
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: judge E%, judge H%, judge C%, judge M%, judge B%, total

FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3*, presented by MTICA Farm

1. Shelly Francis (USA) on Doktor, Patricia Stempel’s 15yo Oldenburg gelding by Diamond Hit x Renoir I: 69.702, 70.447, 69.489, 71.723, 70.66, 70.404%.
2. Jill Irving (CAN) on Arthur, her own 13yo KWPN gelding by Jazz x Contango: 68.936, 68.723, 67.128, 70.213, 68.617, 68.723%.
3. Megan Gardner (USA) on Zaffier, Karen Newsom’s 14yo KWPN mare by Special D x Renovo: 66.489, 65.957, 65.851, 68.511, 68.085, 66.979%.
4. Megan Lane (CAN) on Zodiac MW, Deer Ridge Equestrian’s 14yo KWPN gelding by Rousseau x Amethist: 66.489, 66.489, 68.511, 65.957, 66.064, 66.702%.
5. Christopher Hickey (USA) on Ronaldo, Cecelia Stewart’s 12yo Danish warmblood gelding by Blue Hors Romanov x Don Schufro: 65.957, 67.128, 64.787, 64.681, 65.532, 65.617%.
6. Michael Klimke (GER) on Royal Dancer 33, his own 12yo Hanoverian gelding by Royal Blend x Le Primeur: 66.596, 65.213, 65.106, 65.426, 65.426, 65.553%.
7. Joanne Vaughan (GEO) on Elmegardens Marquis, her own 19yo Danish warmblood by Michellino x Lucky Light: 64.894, 62.128, 64.894, 63.085, 60.745, 63.149%.
8. Sahar Daniel Hirosh (ISR) on Whitman, Jane Suwalsky’s 15yo KWPN gelding by Rhodium x Saluut: 61.936, 63.957, 62.255, 63.213, 62.255, 62.723%.

• Tweet