Dressage-News

WELLINGTON, Florida, Jan. 29, 2022–Katie Duerrhammer and Quartett won the Global Dressage Festival CDI3* Grand Prix Special Saturday for the first Big Tour victory for the partnership.

Katie of the Denver suburb of Greenwood Village and the 14-year-old German Sport Horse gelding were awarded 71.510% for the win, close to their personal best and enough to top the lineup of nine rider and  horse combinations. The pair had placed second in the Grand Prix Thursday.

Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, New Jersey in the international debut of the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Donatella M placed second on 70.659%, after fifth place in the Grand Prix. Donatella is Alice’s second international Grand Prix mount behind, Candescent, a Hanoverian mare now 12 year, that she began competing at CDI Grand Prix two years ago.

Canada’s Pia Fortmüller and Frieda, who won the Grand Prix Thursday, were third in the Special on 70.255% with fellow Canadian Megan Lane on Zodiac MW in fourth on 69.702%.

Coming after second and third placings at the World Cup in Ocala, Florida last month the win was emotional for the 33-year-old rider.

Katie, who is coached by Adrienne Lyle where both are based at TyL (Thank you Lord) farm, first competed Quartett two years ago at Small Tour and moved up to international Grand Prix a year later.

She described Quartett, owned by Kylee Lourie, as “one of those horses who gives 10,000 per cent every day. I want to ride the best I possibly can because he deserves that as he tries so hard. I think we’re getting to the point where every last thing is counting, he’s really rising to the occasion.”

Katie, who was wiping away tears of happiness at the experience, said: “I’ve wanted this for so long. Adrienne has been so amazing, I’ve worked with her so long now; her and Kylee Lourie, who owns both the farms we’re at here and in Denver, it’s very. very exciting to feel like it’s coming to fruition now. It’s fun for Kylee to be a part of it and be so excited. It’s nice to make her feel proud.

“He tries so hard he doesn’t have to work very much at home. He does a lot of hacking and gets to hand out and gets to bring his party tricks here . It seems to work really well forn his body and his brain.

Her immediate plans are to qualify Quartett for the Festival of Champions, the American championships in late summer, and compete in a Nations Cup, scheduled for late March.

Results:

CDI3* Grand Prix Special