Week 10 provided the last qualifying opportunities in the two prestigious developing horse classes, the Lövsta Future Challenge Intermediate II and the Buffalo Wild Wings Prix St. Georges Future Challenge at the 2024 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL. The grand finals of both classes take place during AGDF 12.

The qualifiers—and the final—are designed to offer riders the opportunity to get their up-and-coming talented younger horses into a championship type environment. They compete in the main International Arena, gaining exposure to spectators, tents, flags and a bustling VIP tent alongside, without the pressure of competing in a CDI and needing to stable at the venue for days.

Photo – Ashley Holzer & Liberty L, winners of the Buffalo Wild Wings Prix St. Georges Future Challenge. (© SusanJStickle.com)

The season’s final qualification round winner in the Buffalo Wild Wings Future Challenge Prix St Georges was the USA’s Ashley Holzer. From the 18 horses entered, she rode her own eight-year-old Liberty L to 70.588% and the top spot. Her compatriot Jennifer Williams nabbed the second qualifying slot available, riding her own nine-year-old Bordeaux gelding Babylon Berlin to 69.314%. Lars Linus (GER) and Hof Kasselmann’s Visionär, an eight-year-old by Vilancio, finished in third with 68.873%.

Solid Citizen

Liberty L is such a solid citizen that he participated in the 2024 Robert Dover USEF Horsemastership Clinic Week in January with a 12-year-old, “whose foot could hardly get below the flap”.

“He went out there in that main ring and did a second level test,” said Holzer. “He is just a saint of an animal and a real pet. He’s such a fun, lovely horse and I don’t have a day when I don’t have a great ride on him. He’s a Glock’s Toto Jr x Charmer and some people say that bloodline can be a little temperamental, but he’s proving them wrong. He’s fabulous and his mind is always with me.”

Holzer, who calls him ‘Loco’ at home, has owned the horse since he was four after finding him through a friend in Holland who thought the pair would be a good match.

“The highlight for me is that he’s not even eight yet and he went in that ring and concentrated,” she added. “He does amazing pirouettes and flying changes; having a horse that wants to play and really enjoys his work is lovely.”

Learning the Atmosphere

On the developing young horses series, she added, “ The horses have to be able to go into atmosphere and not feel that it takes away from their concentration. I have not used this main ring enough for the young horses, and this class really gives us the opportunity to do that, with a little less stress. They’re able to be out in the paddock at home — all mine go out for hours a day — and then come here and try the test.

“I’m very thankful to Diane [Fellows, of sponsor Buffalo Wild Wings] and Lövsta. We really need to take advantage of these great opportunities to give our horses a little bit of confidence, and for us riders too to know that they won’t be scared of things. Loco had never done a victory gallop before today, and now I know that it won’t be a problem. That’s great to know that for my future of training with him. Without these classes, you don’t know that.

“We’re living and learning with these young horses,” concluded Holzer, who trains with Katherine Bateson Chandler and—when possible—Carl Hester and Robert Dover. Hester will be in Wellington to lend a helping hand for the season’s final CDI during AGDF 12 .

Full list of qualified combinations for the Buffalo Wild Wings Prix St Georges final (listed in qualification order):

Ben Ebeling/Escona
Rebecca Cohen/Kai van Wittgenstein P
Pablo Gomez Molina/Farinel De Fonteabeti
Caleb Scroggins/Veneziano‘s Rhapsody
Catherine Haddad/Sola Diva
Jill Irving/Knight
Signe Kirk Kristiansen/Suarez
Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven/Kane
Ashley Holzer/Liberty L
Jennifer Williams/Babylon Berlin

AGDF 12 (March 27-31) heralds the final CDI competition of the 2024 season and features a CDI4* at Equestrian Village, as well as a national show. For more information, results and to watch the live stream, visit the Global Dressage Festival website.

Click for full results from AGDF 10.