Geñay Vaughn Takes Gino to Germany This Weekend to Prepare for Californian’s First World Cup, in Basel, Switzerland
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By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
Mar. 12, 2025
Geñay Vaughn is taking Gino from her California home to Germany this weekend to prepare early for her first World Cup, one of three Americans to qualify for the Final in Basel, Switzerland in three weeks.
Kevin Kohmann and Dünensee who competed in the 2024 Final in Saudi Arabia and Adrienne Lyle and Helix, the Paris Olympic partnership and the second World Cup for the rider, the other two Americans in the Final, are competing this weekend in the $150,000 CDI5* at the Global Dressage Festival in their home base of Wellington, Florida.
Geñay, 30 years old and living on her family farm in Elk Grove, California, and the 14-year-old KWPN gelding Gino are leaving early to work in Germany with Wolfram Wittig, coach of the Danish team that won gold at the 2022 World Championships and silver at the Paris Games last summer.
She competed in Europe in Under-25 division at Hagen, Germany and Rotterdam in 2015. From 2017 through 2024 she competed primarily in Florida, the most competitive dressage region in the U.S.
However, Geñay stayed in California for her three victories this season that qualified her for the World Cup.
“I’m incredibly excited to be participating in my first World Cup,” she told dressage-news.com. “I always prioritize my horse’s welfare, so I felt it was important to arrive in Europe early to allow him time to acclimate.”
For dressage, the event essentially covers four days April 2-5–opening ceremony on Wednesday, April 2, veterinary inspection Thursday, Grand Prix Friday and Freestyle Saturday.
The organizer of Basel, as is usual for Finals in Europe, pays for stabling for the horse, the hotel and three meals per day for rider and groom for four days. Plus, 1,500 Swiss francs (US$1,700) toward travel–air and ground–for rider and groom from the United States. However, 15,000 Swiss francs(US$17,000) will be paid for transport of the horse–short of the cost. The difference in costs is usually made up by the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
However, in Geñay’s case she did not meet the minimum scores of two marks of 77% for the Grand Prix Freestyle. Both Kevin and Adrienne did so.
“I’m very grateful to the organizer for their support and the assistance they’ve provided,” she responded to questions from dressage-news.com. “I’ve been working tirelessly to make this dream a reality.
“While I chose this path and wouldn’t change anything, it’s disheartening that the lack of funding could potentially be the factor that makes my dream of representing my country unattainable in the future.
“I do hope that in time, this situation changes. And that riders like myself, who don’t have large sponsors behind them, can have the support necessary to compete at this level.
“Regardless, I’m incredibly excited to be a part of this event, and I will be cheering on my fellow Americans. I will strive to make our country proud.”
