Jan Ebeling Scoops First CDI Big Tour Win on Opening Day of AGDF 8

There were no fewer than three grand prix classes on Thursday, March 3, the opening day of week eight of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL. AGDF, which hosts seven weeks of CDI competition, runs through March 27.

At only their second big tour show together, Jan Ebeling (USA) and Ann Romney’s Bellena captured the winner’s sash in the Grand Prix CDI4* (for freestyle), presented by IDA Development, with the day’s highest score at the level. Spain’s Juan Matute Guimón rode into second place on Quantico with 69.848%, while Canadian rider Ariana Chia’s personal best of 69.087% on Fiderflame secured third place of the 11 starters.

Photo - Jan Ebeling (USA) was full of praise for his Grand Prix CDI4* winner Ballena, the 12-year-old daughter of Belissimo M, who he thinks has team potential. (©susanjstickle.com)

Despite Bellena being the equal-youngest horse in the class and making a costly mistake in the pirouette right, she achieved 71.739% and a unanimous victory. Ebeling could not hide his excitement about the young Belissimo M daughter.

Feeling Stoked

“I’m stoked,” grinned the 63-year-old. “She’s a super talented horse. Probably the most talented I’ve ever had in my whole career. She’s still green, so she does stuff that green horses do, but what a horse. I was really happy about my one tempis because we’ve been battling with those, and we’ve always had mistakes here and there. Today was really the first line of 15 without a mistake. We got her when she was nine and she already knew a lot, but she had big gaits and needed to find her balance first, and that’s taken a bit of time.”
JanEbeliln.Bellena.GPCDI4StarforFS.22G81861.©susanjstickle.com.
Jan Ebeling with judge from C Elisabeth Max-Theurer, and Lauren Knopp of class sponsor IDA Development. ©susanjstickle.com

Judge Elisabeth (Sissy) Max-Theurer admonished Ebeling after his test.

“I was really proud of Ballena’s piaffe/passage today, but I’m still a little intimidated to put it on the spot, so I started early and Sissy came and said, ‘Now, why are you doing your piaffe so early?’ So I guess next time I have to have it right on the centerline, not so early,” added Ebeling, who believes the horse has team potential.

“It took a long time, but I think we’re finally getting to a point where she’s grown into her own. There’s still a lot to do, and I’m taking it one step at a time, but being on another team would be amazing. But if I look at the competition, it doesn’t exactly sleep — even in my own family,” concluded Ebeling, referring to his son Benjamin, an up-and-coming dressage star.

Friday Night Lights

Dressage resumes on Friday, March 4, with a jam-packed day and evening of competition. “Friday Night Stars” in the evening under the lights features the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4* to music, presented by IDA Development, as well as the ever-popular Adequan® Palm Beach Derby final, in which riders perform a Prix St. Georges test on an unfamiliar horse, competing head-to-head. Daytime action includes the World Cup™ Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle, supported by Sapphire Stables, as well as contests at small tour, junior, young riders, and amateurs. 

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Results: FEI Grand Prix CDI4* (for Freestyle), presented by IDA Development
E, Kari McClain (USA); H, Cesar Torrente (COL); C, Elisabeth Max-Theurer (AUT); M, Katrina Wüst (GER); B, Christof Umbach (LUX)

1. Jan Ebeling (USA) on Bellena, Ann Romney’s 12yo Hanoverian mare by Belissimo M: 72.609, 72.826, 69.565, 71.522, 72.174, 71.739

2. Juan Matute Guimón (ESP) on Quantico, Juan Matute Azpitarte’s 16yo Hanoverian gelding by Fighting Fit: 70.217, 69.891, 68.37, 71.196, 69.565, 69.848

3. Ariana Chia (CAN) on Fiderflame, her own 12yo Oldenburg gelding by Fidertanz: 69.565, 71.63, 67.826, 67.935, 68.478, 69.087

4. Christoph Koschel (GER) on Dünensee, Diamante Farms’ 13yo Hanoverian gelding by Dancier: 69.239, 70.326, 65.217, 69.348, 68.696, 68.565

5. Lisa Marriott (GBR) on Valucio DH Z, her own 13yo Zangersheide gelding by Va-Vite: 66.196, 68.478, 67.5, 68.913, 68.587, 67.935

6. Pablo Gómez Molina (ESP) on Ulises De Ymas, Javier Bacariza, Cristina Danguillecourt & Yeguada de Ymas S.L.’s 12yo PRE gelding by Seni Indio: 68.37, 68.696, 65.978, 68.913, 67.391, 67.87

7. Jessica Jo Tate (USA) on Derby, Cackie Vroom’s 16yo Oldenburg NA gelding by Donnerwerth: 65.109, 65.978, 63.478, 63.913, 62.717, 64.239

8. Evi Strasser (CAN) on Disney Tyme, her own 14yo Oldenburg gelding by Diamond Hit: 63.696, 64.022, 64.239, 63.37, 64.239, 63.913

9. Paula Matute Guimón (ESP) Delagronge, her own & Julie McAllister’s 14yo Oldenburg stallion by De Niro: 59.891, 63.261, 61.196, 60.217, 60, 60.913

10. Joanne Vaughan (GEO) on Al Martino 10, her own 18yo Holstein gelding by Almoretto: 62.065, 59.565, 56.957, 58.913, 56.304, 58.761