The evening’s showcase class, the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4*, presented by Havensafe Farm, saved the best for last. Jessica Jo Tate (USA) piloted Elizabeth Guarisco’s 17-year-old gelding Faberge to their first ever Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) victory in week eight of the 12-week winter spectacular held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, Florida. AGDF 2020 runs for 12 weeks, through March 29. Tate has been riding the son of Florestan I for 11 years and has had her eye on winning a cooler from AGDF for much of that time.

Dongseon Kim (KOR) finished second on Belstaff, with the in-form Japanese Olympian Kiichi Harada once again gracing the podium, this time filling third on Egistar with 70.745%.

Photo – Jessica Jo Tate (USA) and Faberge top the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4*, presented by Havensafe Farm, with 73.425%. (©️Susan Stickle)

Tate, who splits her time between South Carolina and Wellington, said: “I’m so proud and really pleased with my horse. We haven’t shown since Devon [in September], so we’ve been doing a lot of fitness with him. He really was so with me tonight and had a lot of energy. He loves the crowd, so that’s always fun to bring a horse like that here. I’ve always wanted to win a cooler at Global, so this was amazing that I got to put one on for the four-star freestyle. It was really a special evening and for sure a highlight of my career so far. We’re just totally thrilled.”

Watch Jessica Jo Tate’s winning test here. Courtesy of Richard’s Equine Video.

Tate, who rode to music made by Marlene Whitaker, added: “Faberge is like a Labrador Retriever. He is the most friendly, kind-hearted, wonderful horse. We always need to work on our energy, so riding at night in the cool weather like this helps us. He just has the most wonderful workman-like character, and he really tries his heart out for me.”

Betsy Juliano of the class sponsor Havensafe Farm said: “We’re privileged in this place and in this venue to see horses progress year after year after year. JJ is an example of that, with this horse – I’ve seen her compete this horse year after year, and tonight here we are. I’m thrilled!”

Second-placed Dongseon Kim (KOR) was having his final ride in the international arena on Belstaff, as he marks his retirement from the sport at this show after a decade to pursue a career as an investment banker. He rode his own Brentano II stallion to 72.43%, with two of the five judges placing him first.

“I really wanted to win, but it didn’t go as planned,” he said. “I really practiced the one-tempis to make sure there were no mistakes, but these things happen. This is my first international season with him, so I think there were still some miscommunications, but I’m still really happy.

“The horses are going to be sent to my good friends in Europe who are much, much better riders than me and who can give them the best career that they deserve. I’ll still ride for fun at the weekends, and maybe I would like to come back eventually.”

Stephen Clarke, who presided from C, said: “The way the riders interpreted the music I thought was great, especially for the crowd. I think it’s so good for the sport when you see riders really taking some risks and really developing these freestyles in an interesting and difficult way. It makes it fun and brings the sport forward.”

Kiitchi Harada had a busy evening. He was third in the four-star freestyle on Egistar, and won the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*, presented by Summit Farm on his other ride at the level, Fairytale S. He logged his first ever international win on the Noa Co Ltd’s 16-year-old Reve D’Or gelding with a freestyle borrowed from his trainer Christoph Koschel just hours earlier. 

“It was my first freestyle with Fairytale,” said Harada, who is vying for a place on the Japanese team for this year’s Olympics. “I learned the music just today, a few hours ago, but it really fit to him. I feel the horse loved the freestyle and expect maybe he’ll do much better later on. Egistar was hot today and a bit difficult for me to control. Maybe Egistar was a little bit jealous of Fairytale.”

Harada was most closely pursued in the three-star class by Nora Batchelder (USA) who finished second with 71.835% on Andrea Whitcomb’s 12-year-old Fidertanz gelding Faro SQF. Third went to another Japanese rider, Akane Kuroki, who is still getting to know her new ride Zuidenwind 1187, a stallion by OO-Seven. They scored 71.49% after winning the qualifying grand prix.

Week eight of the 12-week AGDF continues on Saturday with eight international classes, including the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3*, presented by The Brooke USA and the Mission Control-sponsored FEI Grand Prix Special CDI4*, which kicks off at 15.45pm. Adrienne Lyle (USA) will be bidding to do the double on Salvino, having topped the qualifying grand prix class on her Tokyo Olympics hopeful. AGDF 2020 runs for 12 weeks, through March 29. For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Results
Place, rider, nationality, horse, horse information: judge E%, judge H%, judge C%, judge M%, judge B%, final score

FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4*, presented by Havensafe Farm 
E, Gabriela Valerianovna (CZE); H, Ulrike Nivelle (GER); C, Stephen Clarke (GBR); B, Peter Storr (GBR); M, Irina Maknami (RUS)

1. Jessica Jo Tate (USA) on Faberge, Elizabeth Guarisco’s 17yo Westfalian gelding by Florestan I: 73.75, 71.95, 74.9, 74, 72.525, 73.425 

2. Dongseon Kim (KOR) on Belstaff, his own 13yo Hanoverian stallion by Brentano II: 74.225, 73.275, 72.375, 71.325, 70.95, 72.432

3. Kiichi Harada (JPN) on Egistar, Hanuka Taguchi’s 17yo KWPN gelding by Cabochon: 70.3, 72.45, 68.55, 73.125, 69.3, 70.745

4. Karen Lipp (USA) on Whitney, Kathleen Oldford’s 15yo Hanoverian mare by White Star: 69.55, 67.2, 72.25, 70.275, 68, 69.455

5. Jessica Kozel (USA) on Denzello, Jeevraj Grewal’s 17yo Hanoverian gelding by De Niro: 68.3, 66.725, 68.525, 71.625, 69.05, 68.845