Alexandra Duncan and her new stallion Hitmaker returned to the winner’s circle on Saturday, this time in the Grand Prix Special CDI3* presented by MARS Equestrian. The pair scored 68.723% to lead the class.

(Photo:  Alexandra Duncan and Hitmaker. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.)

He Really Gave Me A Good Feeling

“I’ve never ridden this test on him yet, so it was kind of just getting in there, but he really gave me a good feeling,” said Duncan. “I love the Special test with all the transitions: from the extended to the passage to the piaffe work. I love how the half-pass lines flow because you can really show off their power and then it shows a degree of collection work, so it’s one of my favorites to ride.

“It’s not about winning; it’s always about the partnership, but it’s exciting,” said Duncan of her second straight victory. “It’s really exciting, especially with a new horse, and I couldn’t ask for more.”

A Pleasure To Be Around

Duncan pointed out that while she is always aware that he is a stallion, the kind and sweet Hitmaker is a pleasure to be around in the barn. Hitmaker will not do any active breeding for the first year while they focus on competition.

Really Well Behaved

“He is really well behaved,” she described of the 13-year-old KWPN stallion (Wynton x Cabochon). “I don’t even tie him up to braid him. He just stands in his stall, I stand on my shavings bag and I braid him, and he’s just like, ‘Okay.’ It’s really sweet.”

Second place with a score of 64.638% went to Charlotte Jorst (USA) and GPF’s S-Express, a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding by Sezuan x Sir Donnerhall I owned by Kastel Denmark. Ivo Jührend (NED) and Black Diamond, an 11-year-old Hungarian Warmblood gelding (Vezér x Undigo) owned by Savannah Show Stables LLC, placed third with a personal best score of 62.043%.

Grand Prix Special CDI4* Full Results Here

Grand Prix Special CDI3* Full Results Here

Intermediate I CDI1* Full Results Here

Full Show Results and Ride Times Here

The April Dressage CDI4* concludes on Sunday, April 13, with the final classes for Children’s, Junior, Young Rider, Under 25, and Amateur riders, while the Intermediate I Freestyle CDI1* rounds out the Small Tour. Dressage returns to WEC – Ocala on May 22-25 with CDI3* and national competition.