Frederic Wandres Debuts Rebroff at Wellington CDI3* Grand Prix for First USA Victory for German Olympic Squad Rider
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By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
WELLINGTON, Florida, Jan. 29, 2021–Frederic Wandres made his Grand Prix debut on Rebroff Friday to win the Global Dressage Festival CDI3* in the German Olympic squad rider’s first day ever competing in the United States.
Frederic of Hagen, Germany and the 12-year-old Rhinelander gelding scored 69.761% that the rider said may not have been “super high” but as the first Grand Prix for the duo he did not want to push the horse.
Earlier Friday, Frederic rode Harrods in the CDI1* Prix St. Georges for second place on 72.529%.
United States Olympic rider Jan Ebeling of Moorpark, California on Indeed placed second on 69.370% with Nora Batchelder of Williston, Florida on W Gangster Girl, an American Warmblood Pinto, in third on 67.065%.
Frederic was “very happy” to have his first win on his first competition day in the United States, having missed out on the World Cup in Final in Las Vegas for which he was selected on Duke of Britain but the event was canceled because of coronavirus.
Although Friday’s result of 69.761% was not what he described as a “super high score” but he said he was proud of his first ever Grand Prix on Rebroff.
“You have to get a feeling in the test and how much you can ask in some exercises that was maybe a little bit shy from my side,” said the 33-year-old rider. “I also wanted to have a safe ride, so in the end I was really happy we won and he was super behaved. For the next rides I for sure can ask a little bit more.
“There is a lot more in there, I know that. In the things like piaffe and passage and extended trot I can take more risk but now I know how he is with me and how much I can ask so maybe in the Freestyle without over-asking the horse for a little bit more.
“It will also be the first freestyle for him, so a little bit challenging.”
“Super happy” was the way he described being in Wellington as there as so few shows in Europe between now and the outdoor season beginning at the end of April.
Although there were not many spectators at the Global grounds–it’s not open to the general public–but those that were on the grounds, “the Americans are cheering a lot and they are with the rider; that I really like.”
He said his top horse, Duke of Britain, on which he is a member of the German Olympic squad, remained at home in light work ahead of selection events for the Games in Tokyo in July but possibly more likely for the European Championships in Hagen in September.
His plans are to stay in Wellington until the end of March, possibly competing on a German Nations Cup team during the circuit.
