Dressage-News

WELLINGTON, Florida, Jan. 27, 2021–Benjamin Ebeling celebrated more “firsts” than riding Indeed to win the Global Dressage Festival CDI3* Grand Prix Thursday–his first CDI Grand Prix on the  14-year-old mare and the first time he and his father, Olympic rider Jan Ebeling, competed in the same Big Tour competition (whom he beat).

The 22-year-old Ben and the Danish Warmblood Indeed scored 68.196%. Jan who turned over the ride on Indeed two months ago after competing at Grand Prix on the horse for two years placed third on Bellena, 12-year-old Hanoverian mare, with a score of 65.957%. The 12-year-old Hanoverian mare is owned by Ann Romney, who is also a partner in Vantage Equestrian Group II that owns Indeed.

Germany’s Michael Klimke debuting Domino, 10-year-old Westfalen mare, at Big Tour was runner-up on 67.174%.

“That was a lot of drama,” said Ben who is based at his parent’s farm in Moorpark, California, “for the first time my dad and I suited up in our whites and went in the same class. That was really fun. I’m so lucky to be riding here in Wellington and training with him. And really beating him is the utmost appreciation for his training.”

Ben described the highlight as the elegance displayed by Indeed, much different than the strength of piaffe/passage for Illuster van de Kampert, the horse on which he experienced considerable success on both sides of the Atlantic in 2021 and continues to compete.

Canada’s Pia Fortmuller rode Frieda in the horse’s Big Tour debut to win the CDI3* Grand Prix for the Special on 70.457%. Pia has developed the Hanoverian mare from a youngster, through the World Young Horse Championships as a five-year-old and on the Global winter circuit at Small Tour.

Katie Duerrhammer of Greenwood Village, Colorado on Quartett scored 69.870% for runner-up with Kerrigan Gluch of Ocala, Florida on Mejorano HGF in third on 69.217%, a personal best score for the partnership.

Results:

CDI3* Grand Prix for Freestyle

CDI3* Grand Prix for Special