Judges Have to Determine Winner of America's Equestrian's Got Talent Week 3

Kayden Muller-Janssen and Jimmy DiBattista (Photo: G. Cizadlo)

It was too close to call for Robert Dover, MC of the America’s Equestrian’s Got Talent competition, to determine a winner for the third week of auditions. Nine acts competed in Tuesday night’s competition held at the White Horse Fashion Cuisine in Wellington. All acts are seeking a spot in the line-up for the Finale to be held Sunday, March 20 at the Global Dressage Facility boasting a $10,000 Grand Prize donated by Robert Ross, PA of Keller Williams Luxury Equestrian Real Estate.

This week’s line up, sponsored by Taylor Harris Insurance Services, was a tough competition filled with singers who were in the Finale from the 2015 competition. Taylor Hughes, owner of Taylor Made Café, and Teegan James were both final four competitors from last year and showing off their improved performances tonight. The judges agreed that both of these competitors had improved sounds from last year.

Other competitors from last year included Jenna Wyatt with her heartfelt rendition of Martina McBride’s “A Broken Wing” and 13 year old Kayden Muller-Janssen sang “Hallelujah” with the help of guitarist Jimmy DiBattista.

Teegan James (Photo: G. Cizadlo)

After the judge’s unanimously coming to the conclusion that all of the acts that performed this week were showing “amazing” talent compared to last year, the top three as voted by the audience’s cheering came down to Teegan James, Zachary Duckworth (for the second week in a row) and Kayden Muller-Janssen.

The judges for tonight’s audition included Grand Prix dressage rider and owner of Team horses in Dressage, Show Jumping and Para-Equestrian, Ms. Margaret Duprey; CEO of Phelps Media and “virtual wall-flower” as quoted by Robert Dover, Mr. Chip McKenny; Olympic Medalist in Show Jumping and one of our greatest US Team riders, Laura Kraut; and DJ/Producer at Wild 95.5 from West Palm Beach to Miami, Mr. Carmine Gialanella. Laura, after about the fourth act tonight, said to Robert, “I’m glad that I won’t have to pick who comes back to the second round, because all of these acts are amazing!”

Little did Laura know that after the second round, even with using his applause meter app on his phone, Robert determined that there was a tie in the loudness of the cheering between Teegan James and Kayden Muller-Janssen and that the judges would have to come to a unanimous decision as to who would win. After some serious discussion, the judges chose Kayden to win tonight’s audition and therefore secure a spot in the Finale.

Zachary Duckworth (Photo: G. Cizadlo)

The Finale competition technically starts the instant that a finalist wins their audition night. The scores for the Finale are going to be calculated using 25% of the amount of money that each competitor can fund raise between their winning night and the day of the Finale, 25% on the number of unique voters each competitor gains between the night that they win their audition night and the night of the Finale, and 50% from the judge’s selections on Finale night. If you would like to vote or donate to your favorite contestant so far, see the voting instructions below.

Join us again next week, when we return to Wednesday night, February 3 at the White Horse Fashion Cuisine at 7:45 PM to determine the next finalist for the Finale at America’s Equestrians Got Talent. If you can’t join us in person, be sure to tune in to the live feed from The Chronicle of the Horse website, www.coth.com. For reservations call 561-847-4549. If you want to audition, contact Robert Dover at rdover2@aol.com.

Week 1 Winner: AlixWHO? Text AEGT3 to 71777 to vote for AlixWHO for the Finale.
Week 2 Winner: Hillary Eder Text AEGT4 to 71777 to vote for HillaryEder for the Finale.
Week 3 Winner: Kayden Muller-Janssen Text AEGT5 to 71777 to vote for KaydenMullerJanssen for the Finale.