Dressage-News

WELLINGTON, Florida, April 2, 2021–Alice Tarjan rode Candescent to a personal best score to win the Global Dressage Festival CDI3* Grand Prix Special Saturday, the first Big Tour victory for the adult amateur rider.

Alice of Oldwick, New Jersey and the 11-year-old Hanoverian mare scored 72.702% for the win. The pair was the United States developing Grand Prix champion in 2020 after a highly successful Medium Tour.

Jennifer Williams of Roy, Washington on Sueño Hit placed second on 71.170% with Jessica Howington of Wellington on Cavalia third on 71.149%.

Alice, who has had Candescent since the horse was four years old, described her as both a “freak of nature” and a “bit of a monster.”

“She’s super cool and a lot of fun,” she said, “but she is funny because she’s hot and cold all at once, so it’s been a bit of a challenge to get her trained to this level, and then to get it to be a bit more harmonious.

“We’ve been doing a lot of national shows this season trying to get her more experience in the ring and trying to get her to settle a bit. She’s been very electric and hot in here, and a lot of horse to deal with, but she’s very honest. It’s been a struggle to get her to relax and have her show everyone what she can do in the competition arena.

“The warmup was a disaster, I was actually considering scratching because she was a bit wild and in a mood, so I was nervous it would be a disaster. I was really happy that the test was clean, and I was not expecting this win at all, so I’m very happy with her and the result.

“Physically I think the horse is just a freak of nature, but it comes with it’s issues. In some ways she’s incredibly gifted, but in some ways it’s a lot to hold together and working for you.”

In the CDI4* Grand Prix for the Freestyle, Yvonne Losos de Muñiz of the Dominican Republic and Aquamarijn won with a personal best score of 74.196%.

Australia’s Kelly Layne on Samhitas was second on 71.326% with Christoph Koschel of Germany on Eaton Unitechno third on 65.913%.

“I’m through the roof,” Yvonne declared after her ride. “I think it’s one of the first times in my riding career with her that I’ve actually gone in and have had the control, the relaxation, the activity, all of those words that we use and search for in dressage, I actually went in there and went ‘WOW, I’ve got it, now what do I do with it!?’”

Aquamarijn, Yvonne said, has gone from backup to her No. 1 horse.

“She’s very opinionated,” she said, “but I am, too. In the beginning we did clash, but I got over that quickly. It’s the coolest thing when you’ve got such a powerhouse with such an opinion, who is on your side going ‘let’s do more!’ She’s there, knowing her job and wants to do it right, and that’s a great feeling.”

Yvonne said she plans to go to Europe next month to trained leading up top the Olympics in Tokyo in July.

Charlotte Jorst of Reno, Nevada on Kastel’s Nintendo, 18-year-old KWPN stallion, won the CDI3* Grand Prix for the Freestyle with a personal best score of 73.456%

Results:

CDI4* Grand Prix for Freestyle

CDI3* Grand Prix Special

CDI3* Grand Prix for Freestyle