The CPEDI3* Grade III Grand Prix Test A kicked off the Para Dressage classes at Hagen today. The event was won by Rebecca Hart (USA) and Fidertanz mare Floratina. They have been a combination for exactly a year now and celebrated their anniversary with a personal best score of 76.500 percent. Dutch Paralympic athlete Rixt van der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq came second ahead of another Paris 2024 hopeful, Chiara Zenati and Swing Royal IFCE.

Photo – Rebecca Hart (USA) & Floratina (© Foto Rüchel)

It was another win and another tick of the box for the U.S. Para-team in the Grade II event: Fiona Howard has only recently taken over the reins on the Hof Kasselmann owned Diamond Dunes but this pairing has proven to be win-win situation. With a 76.264 percent Howard easily won over Pepo Puch (AUT) and his long-time partner Sailor’s Blue and Roberta Sheffield (CAN) with Fairuza.

American Hattrick

Kate Shoemaker and the grey Vitalis daughter Vianne made the American hattrick complete in the Grade IV Grand Prix. The pair continued their recent winning streak that started in Doha with a great performance today and 74.769 percent. French Paralympian Vladimir Vinchon and Pegase Mayenne came second ahead of Danish Pia Wulff Jelstrup with Zafia.

Four-time World Champion, European silver and bronze medallist, and Paralympic bronze medallist Sara Morganti (ITA) managed a double in the Grade I Grand Prix. She rode her European championship mount Mariebelle into first place on 73.403 percent and her Tokyo 2020 partner Royal Delight into second place with 73.056 percent. Singaporean Gemma Rose Jen Foo and Mona Lisa completed the podium.

The Grade V test was won by Lena Malmström from Sweden and her homebred mare Fabulous Fidelie on 72.479 percent. Lisa Cez (FRA) and Stallone de Hus were the runners-up ahead of Carmen Grønvold Johannessen with Hoejgaardens Santos.

Full Results

Comments from around the showground:

Rebecca Hart (USA): “I feel fantastic! This is the final observation event for the U.S. Paralympic team selection and to come out with a mare that I think is so special and get a personal best is great. We have been building up to this over the last two months and worked on the harmony, the flow and a few of the technical things. I am a Grade III competitor, I can’t use my legs. Floratina has been an able-bodied horse her entire life and to be able to transition from an able-bodied cue to my Para cue has taken time. We have taken time to develop that partnership and that really came out in the ring today. She’s just the most amazing horse, she wants it as much as I do. I’m so lucky to have her.”

Laura Conz (ITA): “I am here looking after Sara Morganti and Francesca Salvadè from the Italian team and Pepo Puch from Austria. I am very happy to be able to help them. As soon as we knew there was going to be a CPEDI here in Hagen, we immediately said that this is going to be our selection event for the Paralympic Games. It’s a super place with a great organisation and the right atmosphere as a preparation to go into the Paris stadium. It’s the perfect opportunity for our Para riders. We don’t often have the chance to ride in a stadium other than in a championship, so we are grateful to the Kasselmann family and their team. We can do this every week!”

Francois Kasselmann (Host): “Without events like this it would be very difficult to host Olympic and Paralympic Games. This show is a qualification for a lot of countries, so it was most important to add it to the calendar.”