AGDF 8 to Feature Special Saturday Night FEI Grand Prix Freestyle

The FEI Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Everglades Dressage will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 5 (Photo: Susan Stickle)

Wellington, FL - The Adequan® Global Dressage Festival is proud to welcome the celebrated Palm Beach Dressage Derby back to Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), as competitors will contest FEI CDI-W competition presented by weekly sponsor Everglades Dressage. Competition is set to commence on Wednesday, March 2, and continue through Sunday, March 6.

The well-attended FEI Grand Prix Freestyle competition will be hosted under the lights and begin at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, instead of the usual Friday night event, just for this week's competition.

The start of AGDF 8 began this afternoon and featured the FEI Junior Rider Team class and FEI Young Rider Team class in the Global International Ring, while tomorrow, Thursday, March 3, will include the FEI Prix St. Georges, presented by Peacock Ridge Farm, beginning at 8:00 a.m., and the Derby Prix St. Georges beginning at 2:15 p.m.

Adrienne Lyle, champion of last year's derby competition at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby at AGDF (Photo: Susan Stickle)

The FEI Grand Prix, presented by Today's Equestrian with Diane and George Fellows, will be the main event on Friday, March 4, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and continuing through 5:50 p.m. The FEI Intermediaire I, presented by Peacock Ridge Farm, will be hosted in the Van Kampen Covered Arena simultaneously, with an estimated start time of 10:00 a.m.

A number of FEI Young Rider, Junior Rider, and Amateur classes, along with the FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle, presented by Peacock Ridge Farm, will precede the main event on Saturday. The FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W, presented by Everglades Dressage, begins at 7:00 p.m.

The Palm Beach Dressage Derby, a historic staple for the dressage community of southern Florida, will conclude with a true derby-style competition on Sunday, March 6. The Palm Beach Dressage Derby will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, and feature four top international riders who will compete aboard a selected group of Prix St. Georges horses in traditional derby format. The riders will include Laura Tomlinson (GBR), Chris Von Martels (CAN), Juan Matute, Jr. (ESP), and reigning champion Adrienne Lyle (USA). Renowned judge Lilo Fore (USA) will commentate the competition.

The FEI Grand Prix Special, presented by Today's Equestrian with Diane and George Fellows, is also on Sunday starting at 9:45 a.m.

For more information and to see a full weekly schedule, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.