Dressage-News

WELLINGTON, Florida, MAR. 18, 2022–Germany won the Global Dressage Festival CDIO3* Nations Cup Friday for the second year in a row with the United States silver and Canada bronze.

Benjamin Ebeling, 22 years old who took over riding Indeed two months ago was the top Grand Prix combination with a Special score of 72.149%, not enough to keep the Dutta Corp. USA team in the lead as Christoph Koschel on Dünensee as the last ride in the two-day competition moved Germany to the top with 70.702%. Christoph coaches Ben Ebeling of Moorpark, California.

German team rider Frederic Wandres on Dolciario got his team off to a strong start with 73.176% as the top score in the Small Tour.

This event kicked off the trans-Atlantic series that now moves to Europe but does not count toward the final standings as there were only three nations competing.

The final team standings: 1.Germany 433.337; 2. USA 432.265; 3. Canada 409.091.

Three of the four horses on the German team are owned by Americans–Soccer City ridden by Lars Ligus is owned by Katherine Kuss of Loxahatchee, Florida, Harmony’s Sanrino RHP ridden by Michael Klimke is owned by Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation of Kiowa, Colorado and Dünensee ridden by Christoph Koschel is owned by Terri and Devon Kane’s Diamante Farms of Wellington.

Michael Klimke said, “Last year it was a really big surprise and it motivated us for this year. We all had a top day yesterday and today it got very close again a little bit again like last year where Christoph (Koschel) had to ride to a certain point to win. It was a lot of fun to ride here again with these colleagues, and congratulations to Team America and the young boy (Benjamin Ebeling) who made us all nervous with a 72%, we all got sweating!

“To win it a second time for the whole team is very special. I’m disappointed there were only three teams, especially when you know more nations had more riders, and that the series was not counting for the FEI series overall. For the Germans it doesn’t matter so much, but for United States and Canada, it would be good if it counts and gives points for the overall series.”

“Winning the Nations Cup for the second time here is really something super,” said Frederic Wandres who ride Dolciario in the eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding’s first Int. 1.

Ben Ebeling, who took over the ride on Indeed from his Olympic team rider father, Jan, said: “Last year was really incredible to be selected for a Nations Cup team in my first year at Grand Prix. That was really fun. I had a great team last year, and the same thing with this year. One thing that I always find with the USA teams is that there is so much team spirit.”

Thomas Baur, a manager of the Global circuit, expressed disappointment that there were not more teams.

Australian riders in Wellington have participated in the Nations Cup since the first event here but health issues in two families prevented involvement this year.

Although several Spanish riders are currently in Wellington the national federation reported, “It seems that our horses, for different reasons will not be able to take part in the NC.”

Results

CDIO3* Nations Cup Grand Prix Special

CDIO3* Nations Cup Intermediate 1