Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

WELLINGTON, Florida, Oct. 30, 2014–Young German rider Kevin Kohmann has joined Devon Kane at her family’s Diamante Farms in a lineup of professionals building a competitive training center.

“I want to create an ambience of having a barn, a business and horses that are very competitive but is enjoyable,” said Devon, 27 years old and a North American Young Rider gold medalist.

“We have a handful of nice, younger riders who enjoy each other’s company. We’re also a little bit competitive so we keep each other on our toes. We’re both young and ambitious and egg on each other.”

Kevin, at 26 years of age, decided to base his business at Diamante when the estate of 21 stalls and indoor and outdoor arenas on 10 acres (4 ha) was refurbished following American Olympic team bronze medal winner Michelle Gibson moving back to Georgia after more than a decade as Devon’s in-house trainer. Plans to build a new farm not far from Diamante were put on hold.

“I have known Kevin socially and at shows since he arrived in Wellington,” Devon said. “But we really got to know one another about two years ago when I called him for help with a talented young horse of mine. Kevin was wonderful to work with the horse, and I enjoyed his enthusiasm and concern.”

Kevin, who became engaged last year to American Chase Hickok, a 24-year-old who was also a Young Rider medalist and is competing in the Under-25 division, said: “As a young professional I thought it was very important to surround myself with the very best that the sport has to offer.

“Diamante Farms has set itself apart as one of the pre-eminent facilities here in Wellington. The quality of the riding, the care and, of course, the beautiful facility are all wonderful. I’m very excited to start my business here and look forward to a long relationship with Devon and Diamante.”

A German certified judge who specializes in working horses in hand and on the double-longe to train piaffe and passage, he was an assistant trainer with Cesar Parra and more recently the Wellington-based Israeli Oded Shimoni.

Devon has worked with German Olympian Hubertus Schmidt and took her Destiny, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Diamond Hit x Rubinstein) to Europe this summer with plans to compete at some top shows. However, an injury kept the horse out of the show ring.

She began competing Destiny, a horse she bought at the age of five, at CDI Grand Prix in February.

Hubertus will hold regular training session at Diamante during the winter circuit as he has for years.

With Kevin at Diamante, Devon said, “It is so beneficial to have another young professional to work side by side with. Having both grown up with the German classical system and ridden and trained with Hubertus, we find that many of our theories and philosophies are very similar. It is so advantageous to have another professional you can bounce ideas off of and to always have an extra set of eyes on the ground.”