Morgan Barbançon Rides Bolero to CDI4* Freestyle Victory in Last Musical Performance of French Rider’s Inaugural Florida Winter Circuit

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Morgan Barbançon on Bolero in the final Freestyle of the French rider’s inaugural and victorious Global Dressage Festival winter circuit. © 2023 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

WELLINGTON, Florida, Mar. 24, 2023–A “super happy” Morgan Barbançon rode Bolero to victory Friday night in the Global Dressage Festival CDI4* the last musical performance of the French rider’s inaugural Florida winter circuit.

The win on the 17-year-old KWPN gelding under the lights before thousands of spectators on a score of 76.400% was “the cherry on the cake” of the three months of international competitions on three horses Morgan brought to Wellington.

Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén, a seven-time Olympian for Sweden, was runner-up on 75.715% on Devanto, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding.

Dong Seon Kim, the Korean amateur competing Galleria’s Bohemian for only the second Freestyle together, placed third on 73.215%. Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour rode the horse to Tokyo Olympic Freestyle bronze before Dong Seon bought the 13-year-old Westfalen gelding.

Morgan said of her Wellington experience, “I didn’t think it would turn out this well. The horses have evolved so much throughout the weeks, especially my young horses. It’s amazing to be in one spot and to be able to compete so much without having to travel so much and for them to gain the experience and the mileage without draining them from the transport. It’s been a mega experience.”

Tinne, who has competed on the Florida circuit every year since 2011, agreed that not having to travel so much and just being in one spot “is fantastic for the horses.”

“I was surprised today when I came to the warm up,” she said. “I thought he would may be a little tired but he was wild outside, and I didn’t know what I’d have when I came in. But then when he came he was like, ‘OK, I’m going to work’. So I’m really happy with the test, but the feeling outside the ring was a little too exciting.”

Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén of Sweden on Devanto. © 2023 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

Dong Seon said that after being ridden by Cathrine since Bohemian was five “it takes a special character to get to know the horse and finally after two months and several shows I know the horse a little bit better than I first did here and it’s quite unfortunate that this is the last show in Wellington because if I had a few more I think I could make it a little bit better.”

Of his experience riding Bohemian, “In general he can be quite opinionated at times, you’re not going to get anything done by trying to muscle him around because he’s a very smart and opinionated horse, so you really have to understand him.

I don’t have any pressure because I’m not a professional rider and I don’t want to compare myself to them and I cannot ever in my life ride like Cathrine so I don’t feel pressure about that, I just try to do it in my way.”

Bohemian will go back Galleria’s stables in Germany with some shows possible over the summer, he said, but he wants to come back as soon as possible to Wellington, maybe as soon as October.

Dong Seon Kim and Galleria’s Bohemian. © 2023 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

Results:

CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle

Judges:Hans-Christian MatthiesenMaria CollianderMichael OsinskiAgnieszka MajewskaHenning Lehrmann
PlaceScoreNationAthleteHorseEHCMBSpectators
1.76.400FRAMorgan BarbançonBolero75.32577.17575.87576.67576.95075.360 (3)
2.75.715SWETinne Vilhelmson SilfvénDevanto74.85077.80076.97573.47575.47576.392 (1)
3.73.215KORDong Seon KimGalleria’s Bohemian72.60072.77574.42573.82572.45075.636 (2)
4.72.740GERMichael KlimkeDomino 95771.05073.15073.37573.27572.85070.904 (5)
5.72.285ESPPaula Matute GuimónDelagronge72.05072.40072.50072.75071.72572.436 (4)
6.68.215AUSJemma HeranTotal Recall69.22567.77564.30070.10069.67570.441 (6)