By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
WELLINGTON, Florida, Mar. 13, 2026–Kevin Kohmann and Dünensee are World Cup bound for the third straight time after becoming the top North American in the Global Dressage Festival Freestyle Friday night.
The partnership with a score of 75.715% earned an invitation to the Final in Fort Worth, Texas in April 7-12 to join fellow North Americans Christian Simonson of USA on Indian Rock and Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu of Canada on Jaccardo in the annual championship.
“ If you would have told me four years ago that we make it three times in a row to World Cup finals, I would have thought you were crazy,” Kevin said after the competition.
“This horse made my career.
“ I’m stunned right now.”
Frederic Wandres of Germany on Verrenberg won the class with a personal best 76.240% but as he competes in the Western European League his score did not impact North American qualifying.
The popular Pablo Gómez Molina of Spain on Ulises de Ymas that he has developed from a youngster to top sport was third on 73.715%
North America gets three of the 18 combinations from around the world to compete in the World Cup, decided by the Freestyle as are qualifiers of which there were 10 in this league.
Texas will also be homecoming for Terri Kane whose Diamante Farms owns Dünensee and who moved to Wellington with her daughter, Devon, who is now married to Kevin. She wore her late father’s chain necklace for luck Friday night.
The top North American placing for the duo earned him 20 points to bring his total of three scores to 57 points. And the average of his scores more than surpassed Geñay Vaughn on her mother’s Gino that also was on 57 points.
If a fourth spot is awarded to North America it likely will go to Benjamin Ebeling of USA on Bellena.
Kevin and Dünensee competed in the 2024 Final in Saudi Arabia and in 2025 in Switzerland.
The only other American combination to have competed in three straight World Cup Finals this century are Laura Graves and Verdades when they were the reserve championship pair in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Kevin gave the credit to his 17-year-old mount that he said “feels like he’s eight.”
“It’s amazing like you cannot tell when you ride this horse he never says, ‘no.” He always keeps giving.
“This horse has such a big heart and I think that’s why he made it this every time now to World Cup finals three times in a row.
“ I cannot thank this horse enough. It changed everything.
“ He felt amazing. He felt fantastic.”
Results:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Frederic Wandres (GER) Verrenberg | 76.240% | 75.175 | 76.675 | 76.500 | 76.800 | 76.050 |
| 2. | Kevin Kohmann (USA) Dünensee | 75.715% | 76.075 | 75.025 | 76.025 | 76.350 | 75.100 |
| 3. | Pablo Gómez Molina (ESP) Ulises de Ymas | 73.715% | 73.200 | 73.250 | 74.225 | 74.950 | 72.950 |
| 4. | Ashley Holzer (USA) Hawtins San Floriana | 73.555% | 75.075 | 73.125 | 73.550 | 74.025 | 72.000 |
| 5. | Caroline Darcourt (SWE) Lord Django | 72.570% | 72.850 | 70.750 | 74.150 | 73.000 | 72.100 |
| 6. | P.J. Rizvi (USA) Vanilla Ice | 72.325% | 71.900 | 70.625 | 72.125 | 75.300 | 71.675 |
| 7. | Susan Dutta (USA) Don Design DC | 70.900% | 70.375 | 72.675 | 69.600 | 71.475 | 70.375 |
| 8. | Jennifer Hoffmann (USA) Rondoro Noblesse | 70.370% | 69.900 | 69.750 | 70.900 | 69.325 | 71.975 |
| 9. | Eline Eckroth (USA) Daphne | 69.935% | 68.325 | 70.025 | 71.050 | 72.075 | 68.200 |
 Find details on Equestrian Hub |
