Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

WELLINGTON, Florida, Jan. 29, 2021–Christoph Koschel rode Eaton Unitechno to victory in the CDI4* while Frederic Wandres won the CDI3* Grand Prix in his Big Tour debut on Rebroff to make it German Day in top sport at the Global Dressage Festival Friday.

Both riders are based at Hof Kasselmann in Hagen and are sharing stables here in Wellington for the winter-long circuit of seven CDIs, though Christoph is a veteran of eight years of competitions in Florida but for Frederic it is a completely new experience.

Christoph and Eaton Unitechno, a 12-year-old KWPN gelding, scored 70.065% for the win, in the first outing for the pair this year. The horse was competed successfully here last year by Masanao Takahashi, a prospective Japanese Olympic team rider. Christoph is coach of the Japanese dressage team but Japan’s federation has changed qualifying requirements for the Tokyo Games so that unlike 2020 the nation’s prospects are not expected to show on the Global circuit.

Canadian Olympic team prospect Lindsay Kellock and Sebastien, a 15-year-old Rhinelander gelding, placed second on 68.739%. Lindsay is a 2019 Pan American Games team gold medalist while Sebastien is owned by Enterprise Farm of the United States and Lindsay.

Germany’s Michael Klimke on Harmony’s Diabolo, owned by Harmony Sporthorses of Kiowa, Colorado, was third on 65.435%.

In the CDI3* Grand Prix, Frederic Wandres and Rebroff won with a score of 69.761% in their first Big Tour event on the first day ever competing in the United States. (see separate report)

U.S. Olympic rider Jan Ebeling of Moorpark, California and Indeed placed second on 69.370% with Nora Batchelder of Williston, Florida on W Gangster Girl third on 67.065%.

Christoph Koschel said Eaton Unitechno “felt a bit spicy” in the competition, perhaps due to the sun setting in late afternoon and a little chilly by Florida standards .

The goal now, he said, was to get the horse’s “positive power” under control.

“There were mistakes and we can do better,” he said, “but It’s a good start.

“We want to get as much experience together as we can get, and I am looking forward to my first freestyle with him on Sunday. When he feels good I want to keep competing and see where we end up. We can do better with more suppleness and less tension, but that will come.”

Results:

CDI4* Grand Prix for Freestyle

CDI3* Grand Prix for Freestyle