Dressage-News

WELLINGTON, Florida, Feb. 11, 2021–Nick Wagman rode Don John to victory in the Global Dressage Festival CDI3* Grand Prix Thursday, with all three top placegetters from three different countries posting personal best scores.

Nick of San Diego, California and the 13-year-old KWPN gelding scored 73.848% to easily beat the pair’s previous best of 70.587% set a year ago at this same Palm Beach International Equestrian Center grounds in the rider’s campaign to earn a place on America’s team for the Olympics delayed a year because of coronavirus.

This was also the first Big Tour win for Nick and Don John outside their California home base, that includes competitions in Florida and Europe in the pair’s three years at international Grand Prix.

Canada’s Lindsay Kellock on Sebastien logged a career high Grand Prix personal best 72.326% to place second, beating the previous high of 71.587% on the 15-year-old Rhinelander gelding that the duo set in Devon, Pennsylvania more than two years ago.

Susan Pape of Great Britain on Harmony’s Eclectisch placed third on 71.826% to surpass the previous top result of 70.522% posted here last month.

Nick Wagman, 47 years old, admitted that he was nervous in the duo’s first Big Tour of the year.

“He was pretty hot in there,” he said of Don John, “but we turned up centerline, and he knows his job, so I think that was his biggest strength, despite the fact that I was nervous. He didn’t let me down.

“I felt like he was exuberant but he did look fairly controlled when I watched the (video) re-play. I’m glad that I got this one under my belt, so now we can really focus on getting our confidence back.

“One down now! We just have to get the cobwebs off, because show nerves are not our friend.”

He plans to do the Global CDI5* later this month, he said, and depending on how their standing in the U.S. rankings he might stay for the Palm Beach Dressage Derby in early one more show in March.

Results:

CDI3* Grand Prix for Special