By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
WELLINGTON, Florida, Mar. 13, 2025–A patient Marcus Orlob rode his U.S. Olympic mount Jane to overcome her fear of arenas with atmosphere to post victory in the Global Dressage Festival CDI3* Grand Prix Thursday.
The KWPN mare that began Big Tour a year ago and made the Olympic team just three months later at the age of 10 was awarded 72.065%, the only combination among the 18 from seven nations to score above 70%. One judge scored the ride at 73.408%, three well above 72% and one of 68.696%. It was the first win since in Europe last June.
Anna Marek of the Ocala area and Fire Fly, 15-year-old KWPN gelding that was her 2023 Pan American Games gold medal ride, was runner-up on 69.152%.
Germany’s Evelyn Eger on the 11-year-old Dancing Darkness placed third 68.587%.
Fellow German Michael Klimke on Harmony’s Dante’s Peak, a nine-year-old gelding owned by Harmony Sporthorses of Colorado placed fourth on 67.696% in only the horse’s second Big Tour event.
Marcus Orlob said he had to start all over again with Jane after the Olympics where the horse was spooked by the huge crowds and was eliminated, a situation that left him “devastated and heartbroken.”
He and owner Alice Tarjan have taken the “very, very sensitive” Jane to the nearby Wellington International show grounds that are extremely busy as the primary jumper competition venue during the Winter Equestrian Festival, to a next door neighbor’s farm in Loxahatchee and Five Rings Farm in another area of Wellington that was decorated to be scary with banners, flags, loud music, balloons.
“I think there’s so much potential in this horse,” he said. “I mean, she’s so light-footed and wants to work, too much then you struggle with your half halts, but it’s a really work machine this horse so it’s fun to ride.
“I feel bad for her because she’s really afraid.
“I think patience is the key and just keep going and giving her time to explore different arenas, different environments and grow and trust the rider. She just wants to work. It sounds weird but I think she’s so overwhelmed with people clapping.
“The feeling she gives me is very, very special. I would like to see her again in another six months, in another year… and can continue to go to bigger shows and environment, and we continue desensitizing her.
“I think once we have this done, it will be a different picture.
“There’s moments where I ride her a little bit, but the rest is just like cruising along and following her, you know, and give her confidence. I think once she’s confident and I actually can ride a little bit more, I think then we can talk about completely different marks.”
CORRECTION: An earlier version reported placings incorrectly. Evelyn Eger of Germany on Dancing Darkness placed third on 68.587%.
Results:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
Marcus Orlob (USA)
Jane
|
72.065% | 72.609 | 72.826 | 72.717 | 73.478 | 68.696 |
| 2. |
Anna Marek (USA)
Fire Fly
|
69.152% | 68.478 | 70.761 | 70.652 | 69.674 | 66.196 |
| 3. |
Evelyn Eger (GER)
Dancing Darkness 4
|
68.587% | 69.891 | 67.717 | 68.152 | 68.587 | 68.587 |
| 4. |
Michael Klimke (GER)
Harmony’s Dante’s Peak
|
67.696% | 66.196 | 70.326 | 67.609 | 68.370 | 65.978 |
| 5. |
Nicholia Clarke (USA)
Komsi Komsa
|
67.652% | 66.957 | 68.152 | 68.043 | 67.174 | 67.935 |
| 6. |
Jemma Heran (AUS)
Total Recall
|
67.456% | 65.543 | 68.043 | 67.826 | 69.674 | 66.196 |
| 7. |
Pablo Gómez Molina (ESP)
Servus Ymas
|
66.130% | 65.326 | 66.848 | 65.870 | 67.717 | 64.891 |
| 8. |
Caroline Roffman (USA)
Libertee
|
65.457% | 67.065 | 66.957 | 63.587 | 64.891 | 64.783 |
| 8. |
Karen Lipp (USA)
Infinity
|
65.457% | 66.848 | 65.652 | 66.304 | 63.696 | 64.783 |
| 10. |
Matthew Johnson (USA)
Petersborg’s Qasanova
|
63.957% | 64.674 | 62.935 | 64.022 | 65.652 | 62.500 |
| 11. |
Meagan Davis (USA)
Toronto Lightfoot
|
63.761% | 63.370 | 64.565 | 64.022 | 64.348 | 62.500 |
| 12. |
Megan Shea (CAN)
Sir Schiwago
|
62.826% | 61.413 | 62.500 | 64.239 | 63.261 | 62.717 |
| 13. |
Erin Nichols (USA)
Elian Royale
|
62.239% | 60.870 | 65.435 | 63.043 | 60.978 | 60.870 |
| 14. |
Sylvia Gugler (USA)
Vulkano 14
|
61.652% | 60.109 | 60.870 | 63.370 | 61.848 | 62.065 |
| 15. |
Joanne Vaughan (GEO)
Gamin van het Waterhof
|
61.565% | 61.848 | 63.043 | 61.848 | 60.652 | 60.435 |
| 16. |
Holger Bechtloff (USA)
Ferrari
|
61.000% | 58.804 | 63.043 | 62.065 | 61.739 | 59.348 |
| 17. |
Kiichi Harada (JPN)
Impression
|
59.413% | 57.717 | 60.000 | 61.087 | 59.130 | 59.130 |
| RT |
Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA)
Haute Couture
|
excused
|
|||||
 Find details on Equestrian Hub |
