The Grand Finale American Equestrians Got Talent (AEGT)  showcased eight Golden Ticket winners from live auditions in Wellington February 8th and Ocala March 8th with and one wild card winner competing for the coveted prize of $10,000.

Photo” © Founder of Discover Dressage, Kimberly Van Kampen with
AEGT2023 Winner Kiara Charles. All photos ©AEGT Photographer, Lily Forado 

Kiara Charles won first prize, Carly Cantor placed second and Ilan Tarrab finished third. Other incredible performances included Gabriela Juron, Agustin Puga, Francesca Wight, David Beaty, Alyssa Marie-Coon and Daniela Maya.

Celebrity Judges Were a Part of the Entertainment

The celebrity judges panel had their hands full scoring each contestant who all showed a depth of talent that this competition has become known for. The judges spanned the diversity of the equestrian world represented in Ocala and Wellington. They were Olympic Dressage Rider and trainer Shelly Francis, Matt Martin, hunter jumper trainer, Mark Bone, trainer and hunter judge, Tami Bobo, race horse breeder and owner of Kentucky Derby Contender “Simplification”, and Ron Davis, well-known documentary film director, writer and producer.

They nailed their scores from 1-10, giving entertaining and insightful comments to the delight of a sold out crowd at the Golden Ocala Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club, Ocala, Florida.

Carol Cohen-Hodess long time Wellington equestrian supporter and Margaret Swanson, a Jumper rider were AEGT’s mistresses of ceremonies. They kept the show moving and sold out audience engaged throughout the evening.

Sold Out Crowd Helped Pick the Winners

Among the many guests in attendance were Ocala Mayor Kent Quinn and Tokyo Olympic Dressgae Team Silver Medalist Sabine Shut-Kery, in town to deliver a master class on dressage, part of a 3* Dressage Week at The World Equestrian Center. Equestrians from all disciplines: Western, Racing, Jumping and Eventing filled the tables joining in on the audience participation for judging and bidding on some incredible auction items.

First place winner and enchanting talent Kiara Charles sang George Gershwin’s “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess”. Dressed in a pretty blue dress, Kiara showed off her amazing vocal and her charming voice. Judge Ron Davis commented, “I loved it, it was so sultry, your look is so original and your sound too. You are a star”.

Online bidding for contestants began after the auditions, during the show, audience members could text a vote for the performers.

Over the Top Items at the Lively Live Auction

There was a live auction, with auctioneer John Henderson. Attendees playfully battled each other to win one-of-a-kind experiences: CDI package at World Equestrian Center, VIP Table at Wellington International, Lugano Car of the Year Experience in Napa Valley, Private jet flights with VeriJets, a luxurious dinner at Mar a Lago, and a wonderful condo in Snowmass, Colorado.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the United States Equestrian Federation USEF Emerging Athlete Program for Dressage, Robert Dover USEF Horsemanship Clinic, Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest, Florida Youth Dressage Championships and Youth Dressage Programming at the Festival of Champions.

The AEGT Tradition Continues

This signature event was created by Robert Dover, six-time US Dressage Olympian. In 2012, it began with a “So You Think You Can Dance” competition in the VIP tent in Wellington and flourished from there.

2013 began AEGT and was managed by Dover through 2018. Close to $2 million for Dressage High Performance Competition and Training Programs. Discover Dressage, founded by Kimberly Van Kampen, has supported the event for the past five years. Now held in both Wellington and Ocala, the Ocala event was at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club, Ocala, Florida on Saturday, April 15th, 2023.

Revamped for 2023, the event combined two great equestrian communities: Wellington and Ocala.

Special thanks to all who have supported this event and tis great program supporting the future stars of US Dressage.

About Discover Dressage

Discover Dressage, founded by Kimberly Van Kampen, is a 501c3, which supports and underwrites American Equestrian Got Talent. This fundraiser event supports the USEF Emerging Athlete Program for Dressage, Robert Dover USEF Horsemanship Clinic, Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest, Florida Youth Dressage Championships and Youth Dressage Programming at the Festival of Champions.

For more information about Discover Dressage, a Florida 501c3 nonprofit organization, go to www.discoverdressage.com. For more information about USEF’s Emerging Athlete Program for Dressage, go to www.usef.org.