In the World Cup™ Grand Prix,  Kevin Kohmann (USA) laid claim to the winner’s blanket, riding Dünensee to 68.891%. Fellow American Susan Dutta finished just 0.152 percentage points behind with her long-time partner Don Design DC, the Dutta Corp.’s 14-year-old gelding by Der Designer. Argentine rider Micaela Mabragaña, who was last to go in the class of nine, finished third. She and her Pan-Am Games

Photo – Kevin Kohmann & Dünenseehe, winners of the World Cup™ Grand Prix, presented by Piaffe Lounge. (© SusanJStickle.com)

Kohmann said, “Dünensee has already surpassed all the goals I had for him — even if we quit today, I’m just so grateful to the horse. Keri Kane, who is the owner — and my mother-in-law — is so generous and kind and supportive that even when things don’t work out so well, like today where I didn’t get enough points, it means it’s not stressful for me. Today in the zig-zag I gambled a bit and lost because I tried to show the judges a perfect zig-zag, and then there was a late change. But he and I have a relationship going here that is something special.”

Little Tricky

Kohmann rode the Dancier son as a five-year-old and he then had a succession of riders as he was a little tricky. When Dünensee finally came back to Kohmann, it was a combination of his wife Devon Kane and his friend and trainer Christoph Koschel who urged him to compete the horse, even though Kohmann was unsure he could coax high quality performances from him in the ring.

“They told me, ‘That’s your horse,’ and I said, ‘No, it’s not,’ and they were right,” admitted Kohmann. “So thanks to them for pushing me to do this. We built a relationship after that first show, and at this point we both love each other. I come in the barn and he yells for me.”

Kohmann will head into Friday night’s World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle in pole position, seeking a win and 20 ranking points that would see him earn a starting berth at the World Cup™ Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in April.

Personal Goals

“My personal goal is to ride once in a five-star — that would make me really happy,” added Kohmann, “And, if tomorrow works out, we’re going to the World Cup™ final. That’s a goal I didn’t think even existed for me, but now it’s very close.”

Like Heran, Kohmann plans to spend the summer competing in Europe, based at Kasselmann’s.

“I’d love to make it into the top eight to go to Europe, but either way we’ll stay in Europe because last year when we went it sling shotted us into the show ring so much better,” he concluded. “If we make it into the top eight, the U.S. will determine which shows we go to. If not, then we’re going to go for the prettiest castle I can ride in front of!”

Week eight of the 12-week AGDF continues on Friday with eight classes, including the World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle and the final of the Palm Beach Dressage Derby during the evening session under lights, dubbed ‘Friday Night Stars’. Daytime action includes a CDI1* FEI Prix St. Georges, sponsored by Blucreeq Spirits, and the next round of the Lövsta Future Challenge FEI Intermediate II for developing grand prix horses. AGDF 2024 runs for 12 weeks, through March 31. For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.