In their first-ever trip into an FEI show ring, Benjamin Ebeling and Escona 8 made it a winning one in the Prix St. Georges CDI1*. With a personal best score – albeit their only score in FEI competition – of 69.971%, they led the lap of honor. They received a high score 71.618% from the judge M. The judge’s panel included William Warren, Carlos Lopes, Clive Halsell, Michael Osinski and Cesar Torrente.

It was a slew of personal bests at the top of the class with Jennifer Williams (USA) and Babylon Berlin, her own eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Bordeaux 28 x United, receiving 68.823% for second place. A personal best of 68.147% for Siena Harris-Gissler (USA) and Electra DDJ, her 14-year-old KWPN mare by Vivaldi x Igelsias, led to their third-place finish.

Photo – Benjamin Ebeling and Escona 8 topped their first-ever FEI competition in the Prix St. Georges CDI1*. Photo by Q2 Photography.

“She felt ready,” said Ebeling of the eight-year-old Rheinlander mare by Escolar x Sir Donnerhall. “A couple of weeks ago we did our first real Prix St. Georges in Ocala at the national show. She felt so ready to go and no mistakes. I thought, ‘Let’s rip the band aid off.’

Good Experience

“It’s a good experience for a young horse that’s away from home and to go for the first time into a real competition arena,” he continued. “Having this amazing stadium is a really good experience for a young horse like her.”

Ebeling noted that her first FEI test included highlights such as the changes and trot half-passes. “They are so amazing and so much fun to ride. She just floats,” he said.

Ebeling has been riding Escona 8 for a year and a half, having found her in Germany with trainer Christoph Koschel and Francois Kasselman. It was an easy decision when he saw her come out of the barn for the first time.

“I thought, ‘Yeah, that’s the one,” he remembered. “She’s such a big mover. The strength is still coming for her. It takes a little bit to develop this kind of horse, but I’m so proud of her. She’s really coming into her own. She’s got amazing natural gaits. In the walk she’s got so much overtrack, especially in the extended walk. The trot, the knee action comes to her naturally. The canter is getting nice and quick. It was so open. She’s got a lot of shoulder freedom, and that is something that is so cool.”

Awesome Partnership

“It’s been a really awesome partnership,” he said of the arrangement with Hof Kasselman. “I can’t thank Francois Kasselman and my parents enough for the ride on this horse. I’ve been really lucky to work with Christoph and with my dad. That combination of training, ownership and management has been really super.”

While Escona 8 will not continue on to the FEI Intermediate 1 class this week, Ebeling feels very excited for the horse’s future. “She’s still working towards I1, but stay tuned,” he said. “It’s pretty awesome to win, but I have to say it’s really telling of the horse. She has so much talent.”

Judge at C Clive Halsell and Jennifer Glass of World Equestrian Center join Benjamin Ebeling and Escona 8 in the winner’s presentation. Photo by Q2 Photography.

Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI-W Results

Prix St. Georges CDI1* Results

Full Show Results and Ride Times

The World Equestrian Center December Dressage CDI-W continues on Friday, December 8, with the Intermediate CDI1* at 8:30 a.m. followed by the FEI Junior Team CDIJ, Grand Prix for Special CDI3* at 10:15 a.m., Intermediate II CDIU25, Prix St. Georges CDIAm, and the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.wec.net.