Kevin Kohmann & Dünensee Win Wellington World Cup Freestyle to Clinch Final Start
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By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
WELLINGTON, Florida, Mar. 1, 2024–Kevin Kohmann rode Dünensee to victory in the World Cup Freestyle Friday night to clinch a start along with two other Americans at the championship Final in Saudi Arabia in mid-April.
Kevin, based in Wellington, and the 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding scored 75.070% to qualify as one of three North Americans at the Final that will be the rider’s first ever international championship.
Benjamin Ebeling also of Wellington on Indeed was the top qualifying American with three World Cup victories and Anna Marek of the Ocala area on Fayvel was already ranked high enough to qualify. Only one more qualifier remains in North America but no other rider has the capability of catching the top three.
“Just relieved,” was the way Kevin put it after the competition that began in a warm Florida evening under lights in the centerpiece international arena but a downpour occurred late in the class.
Kevin, married to Devon Kane, the daughter of Dünensee’s owner, Terri Kane, said that he rode “safe, safe, safe” in an effort to avoid mistakes.
Dünensee, that several years ago he was supposed to sell but failed despite sending the horse to Europe, “really helped me out today. I love this horse. I can’t thank him enough.” The horse will have a home the rest of his life at Diamante Farm in Wellington.
Christoph Koschel of Germany who is based in Wellington in winter plans to go to Saudi Arabia for the Final–he is coach of both Kevin Kohmann and Benjamin Ebeling.
Susie Dutta of Wellington was runner-up on Don Design DC with a score of 72.800% achieved despite being caught in the rain storm. The result also placed her as first reserve though she plans to go to Europe to compete after the CDI5* at Global next month.
Don Design, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding, was last to go in the competition, a position that Susie says he doesn’t like because all his friends have left.
A “very green” Brave Heart spooked for the first time ever, Ellen said, when the horse viewed the crowd the likes of which he had never seen before.
The two other riders qualified for the World Cup Final:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kevin Kohmann (USA) Dünensee | 75.070% | 76.925 | 74.025 | 75.775 | 72.250 | 76.375 |
| 2. | Susan Dutta (USA) Don Design DC | 72.800% | 74.800 | 72.025 | 73.025 | 71.175 | 72.975 |
| 3. | Ellen McCarthy (GBR) Brave Heart | 71.855% | 70.900 | 71.550 | 73.050 | 69.650 | 74.125 |
| 4. | Charlotte Jorst (USA) Zhaplin Langholt | 70.075% | 66.675 | 70.625 | 70.800 | 69.350 | 72.925 |
| 5. | Amy Swerdlin (USA) Quileute CCW | 67.830% | 68.950 | 66.825 | 68.300 | 67.300 | 67.775 |
| 6. | Paula Matute Guimón (ESP) Galactico | 66.870% | 64.350 | 68.850 | 68.050 | 64.800 | 68.300 |
| 7. | Micaela Mabragaña (ARG) Bradley Cooper | 66.560% | 68.275 | 65.050 | 66.400 | 64.625 | 68.450 |
 Find details on Equestrian Hubl |
