Germany’s Felicitas Hendricks Rides Drombusch OLD to Victory in Nations Cup CDIO3* Freestyle for 6th Straight Win
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By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
WELLINGTON, Florida, Feb. 23, 2024–Germany’s Felicitas Hendricks rode Drombusch OLD to victory in the Nations Cup Freestyle Friday night for the sixth straight win and domination of this year’s Global Dressage Festival Big Tour circuit.
Felicitas and her 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding were awarded 79.100% and gold for the musical performance under the lights before a full house despite unseasonably chilly weather.
Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén, Sweden’s seven-time Olympian on Devanto in a resurrection of the rider’s “Puttin’ On the Ritz” Freestyle took silver on 77.415%.
German team rider Frederic Wandres on the Totilas offspring Total Recall, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding borrowed from his student Jemma Heran of Australia, earned bronze on 77.080%.
“I think I said that probably after the first start, and I’m going to say this after the sixth start, too,” the 23-year-old Felicitas said acknowledging that the crowd clapped in rhythm on the final centerline. “Every test needs to be ridden, it’s not like it just comes by itself. So I’m very grateful to have a horse that wants to do it every single time and he just never disappoints. I mean he’s always ready to go and today was one of the best feelings I think I’ve had in the ring. He was super focused, super sharp on my aids.
“But I couldn’t help but smile about that, because that’s the way I want him to be. I want him to be fresh and happy, so that was fantastic.
As to the crowd clapping, “I love it because I know Drombusch does, too. He’s just a people pleaser, so the more people he can please, the better.”
“Drombusch is a showmaster. He wants to show off. He’s very caring and very sensitive horse. He’s not just my show horse; he’s also my best friend in daily life. And it’s something truly special.”
Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén described the atmosphere in the arena as electric that she could feel while warming up.
“I think Devanto felt that, too, ” she said, “so he was eager to go when he got in. Almost a bit like I had to manage to control everything, but I had a super feeling from that.
She had the music remastered for Devanto, but the choreography is totally new. The horse, she said, is “eager to go and he’s very, very on the job.”
For Frederic, this was the first time hershowed Total Recall in the atmosphere that prevailed in the arena and his only Friday under the lights for this season–“so I enjoyed it even more.”
Results:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Felicitas Hendricks (GER) Drombusch OLD | 79.100% | 80.675 | 78.275 | 78.425 | 78.950 | 79.175 |
| 2. | Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén (SWE) Devanto | 77.415% | 76.975 | 78.425 | 78.225 | 76.175 | 77.275 |
| 3. | Frederic Wandres (GER) Total Recall | 77.080% | 75.700 | 77.975 | 81.175 | 77.750 | 72.800 |
| 4. | Anna-Christina Abbelen (GER) Sam Donnerhall | 76.875% | 77.375 | 77.500 | 75.550 | 76.225 | 77.725 |
| 5. | Caroline Darcourt (SWE) Lord Django | 76.065% | 75.900 | 77.750 | 75.350 | 74.450 | 76.875 |
| 6. | Jan Ebeling (USA) Jubi’s Tenacity | 75.720% | 74.800 | 77.275 | 75.850 | 73.725 | 76.950 |
| 7. | Mathilde Blais Tetreault (CAN) Fedor | 72.015% | 75.150 | 73.325 | 72.325 | 72.950 | 66.325 |
 Find details on Equestrian Hub |
