Dressage-News

WELLINGTON, Florida, Mar. 4, 2021–Nick Wagman rode Don John to a personal best score to win the Global Dressage Festival CDI3* Grand Prix Thursday, the rider conquering his show nerves to be back in Florida for a second year seeking a place on America’s Olympic team.

Nick of San Diego, California and the 13-year-old KWPN gelding scored 74.478% for the victory, the second at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center this year and beating the previous best of 73.848% the pair logged in their win here four weeks ago.

Jessica Howington of Wellington and Cavalia received 70.913% to place second with Canada’s Diane Creech on Chrevis Christo third on 70.478% in the Palm Beach Dressage Derby event that is the eighth week of the winter-long circuit.

Nick, who moved Don John up to Big Tour three years ago after two years at Small Tour, said, “Normally I get a few nerves in the Grand Prix because it’s the first test of the show, but I didn’t have any today. I even came out and said to Debbie [McDonald, U.S. team coach] that this is the first time I haven’t had any nerves in a long time.

“DJ just felt solid, so I think our strengths were, one, I was able to actually think about my riding while I was in there and actually work on the details that I can sometimes gloss over because I’m just trying to get through it.”

Nick said he “had rotten luck” in the first two shows of the season that turned out to be a false alarm but as the welfare of the horse was paramount, the pair took it easy b efore going back into competition.

With a fresh good start and extending his Florida competition season through the end of March, he hopes to earn results that will put him on a prospective tour of Europe before selection is made of the three combinations plus a reserve for the Olympics in Tokyo at the end of July.

Results:

CDI3* Grand Prix for Special