It was a bonanza of Grand Prix classes on the opening day of week three of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL, with two four-star classes and two three-star contests. It was a day replete with personal best scores and first international wins. AGDF, which hosts seven weeks of CDI competition, runs through April 3.

Winning Unanimously

The day’s top score came from British rider Susan Pape, who scored a new best of 73.239% to lead the Grand Prix for Special CDI4*, presented by Harmony Sporthorses. Riding her own and Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation’s Harmony’s Eclectisch, Pape convinced all five judges, winning unanimously with scores up to 74.348%. This was the 13-year-old Zenon stallion’s first CDI grand prix win. They beat Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén (SWE) and Devanto, double winners from AGDF1, by almost four percentage points. Canadian Diane Creech finished third with Chrevis Christo.

Photo – Susan Pape with judge at C Janet Foy and Luuk Mouritz on behalf of class sponsor Harmony Sporthorses. (©susanjstickle.com)

On Fire

“Eclectisch was on fire, and it was an awesome feeling; absolutely special,” enthused the 60-year-old, who was last to go in the class. “He was really focused and in front of me, and to win was fabulous. [There were] no mistakes, no rubber legs. I sometimes have problems with the changes, but it’s not the horse, it’s me.

“I think the canter work was without any mistakes and with a lot of expression. He did lovely pirouettes [the right pirouette scored a nine], and the changes are always big. Going down the last centerline I thought, ‘Ahh that’s cool.’ Hopefully I can preserve this ride and put it into the special. That would be awesome.”

Click to watch Susan Pape’s winning test. ©Richard’s Equine Video

This is Harmony’s Eclectisch’s fifth consecutive season in Wellington and the second year he has contested grand prix level. Pape has been riding him since he was seven, and the pair were on the bronze medal-winning British team in the Nations Cup at the World Equestrian Festival CHIO in Aachen, Germany, in 2021.

“He hasn’t done so many shows actually,” said Pape. “Here in Wellington, you have one CDI after the other, but in Europe it’s different, so we try to pick really nice shows. Aachen was incredible. Being on the team and getting third place was really nice.

Time and Focus

“Eclectisch is such a pal in his stall, and no matter where he is he always feels at home. As long as he’s got food — he tends to be a little bit chunky — he’s happy and a lovely personality,” added Pape, who has up to 90 horses back at her home base in Germany. “This is really nice being here with four horses, and I have the time and the focus.”

Pape will head back to Europe in March for her farm’s breeding season and plans to compete in Hagen, Germany.

Results: Grand Prix for Special CDI4

Place, rider, nationality, horse, horse information: 

E, Jacques van Daele (BEL); H, Yuri Romanov (RUS); C, Janet Foy (USA); M, Thomas Lang (AUT); B, Mariano Santos Redondo (ESP)

1. Susan Pape (GBR) on Harmony’s Eclectisch, her own & Harmony Amateur Sports’ 13yo KWPN stallion by Zenon: 72.609, 72.935, 74.348, 73.152, 73.152, 73.239

2. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén (SWE) on Devanto, Lövsta Stuteri AB’s 13yo gelding by De Chirico: 67.065, 70.978, 69.565, 68.587, 69.239, 69.087

3. Diane Creech (CAN) on Chrevis Christo, her own & Louise Leatherdale’s 19yo Danish Warmblood gelding by Chrevi’s Cavallo: 64.565, 67.065, 68.696, 68.804, 66.957, 67.217

4. Jessica Howington (USA) on Cavalia, her own 15yo KWPN mare by Sir Donnerhall I: 67.283, 68.696, 65.109, 66.739, 66.739, 66.913

5. Susan Dutta (USA) on Figeac DC, her own & Tim Dutta’s 13yo Oldenburg gelding by Fackeltanz OLD: 67.065, 69.13, 64.457, 65.543, 65.217, 66.282

6. Kevin Kohmann (USA) on Dinamico, his own 12yo Oldenburg gelding by Dylano: 62.935, 61.413, 60.217, 61.413, 59.348, 61.065

Dressage resumes on Friday morning with eight classes across the day, including juniors, young riders, Small Tour and two Grand Prix freestyle classes during “Friday Night Stars” in the evening under the lights. For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.