Nick Wagman Rides Don John to Personal Best Score to Win Wellington CDI3* Grand Prix–VIDEO HIGHLIGHT

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Nick Wagman and Don John riding to victory in the Global Dressage Festival CDI3* Grand Prix. © 2021 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

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

Judges: Katrina Wüst Peter Storr Elisabeth Max-Theurer Jane Weatherwax Kari McClain
Place Score Nation Athlete Horse E H C M B
1. 74.478 USA Nick Wagman Don John 75.761 73.804 74.022 75.978 72.826
2. 70.913 USA Jessica Howington Cavalia 69.239 72.717 71.413 70.978 70.217
3. 70.478 CAN Diane Creech Chrevis Christo 71.522 70.761 69.13 70 70.978
4. 67.739 USA Susan Dutta Figeac DC 67.826 70.435 67.5 67.174 65.761
5. 67.196 ESP Pablo Gomez Molina Ulises de Ymas 65.435 68.261 68.043 65.978 68.261
6. 66.739 CAN Ariana Chia Fiderflame 66.304 67.609 65.652 66.413 67.717
7. 66.522 CAN Jill Irving Degas 12 65.543 64.674 68.152 67.283 66.957
8. 66.283 USA Reese Koffler-Stanfield Bingo 66.304 66.522 65.435 66.739 66.413
9. 64.978 USA Michael Pineo Farrington 63.478 64.674 65.543 66.087 65.109
10. 64.848 KOR Dongseon Kim Diamond Royale 67.5 63.696 63.478 63.804 65.761
11. 63.978 USA Michael Bragdell Qredit Hilltop 65.109 63.478 62.174 64.348 64.783
12. 59.848 USA Jill Hardt Erivo 59.348 59.348 60.217 58.913 61.413
13. 58.174 USA Pamela Aide Bon De Niro P 54.783 57.609 59.457 60.217 58.804
SC. USA Jennifer Hoffmann Rondoro Noblesse
RT. JPN Masahiro Kosaka Eddieni