By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
WELLINGTON, Florida, Mar. 20, 2026–Frederic Wandres of Germany rode Verrenberg to individual gold medal in winning the CDIO3* Nations Cup Grand Prix Freestyle Friday night.
Frederic, an Olympic team gold medalist from the 2024 Paris Games, and the 10-year-old gelding were awarded 77.000% for the win, a day after leading his nation to silver in the team competition that kicks off the trans-Atlantic series.
In addition to prize money in the Nations Cup, he also won the leading rider award of $25,000 presented by Stillpoint Farm of Wellington, an amount he described as “incredible.”
“He’s still a young horse and he competed already last week,” he said of Verrenberg. “So normally that’s a little bit unusual to do two weeks in a row. But in Europe, for example, we would not do it because we have to travel way more. But here we have 10 minutes traveling, so we could do it. And he is fit and he shined bright this evening. And I think he really likes the music and it suits him.”
Verrenberg, he said, is “already pretty secure and knows his job. And he throws his heart into the arena. And that’s what I really appreciate about him.”
Ashley Holzer of Wellington, a four-time Olympian for Canada, on Hawtins San Floriana, 14-year-old British-bred mare, was runner-up on 74.350%. Ashley was on the U.S. gold medal team Thursday.
The music of Neil Diamond’s “Coming to America” which she and fellow owner Diane Fellows selected is personal for Ashley who switched to become an American, was popular with the thousands of spectators in the last Friday Night Under the Lights at the concluding international competition of the 12-week circuit.
She tried with the music “to highlight what she does well and protect her a little bit with what she struggles with because with the tension there’s a lot of atmosphere. I don’t want to boil her over. I want her to settle and get strong and get confident. I think it really highlights her. I think it’s a beautiful freestyle. A lot of people come up to me and say they love the music.”
The 22-year-old Emma Caecilia Lienert of Germany in her first senior year in competition rode Windermere J’Obei W, to third place on 73.105%. The horse was previously ridden by Melissa Galloway including for New Zealand at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
“It’s completely insane,” she declared.
“The venue is amazing and I enjoyed it so much riding in there. And I came here in the Nations Cup with zero expectations because I was the youngest. And then my horse did so much for me. It’s just amazing. And I’m so happy that it worked out like that, even though there were a few hiccups.
“But I’m very thrilled.
“Of course, there was a little pressure, but it’s also very good for me because I can learn a lot from him and he’s very reliable, so I can just enjoy every test with him and it’s so good.”
Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén on Hyatt heard her Swedish national anthem twice at the Global Dressage Festival Friday.
The rider who is a regular participant in the winter-long circuit first won the Lövsta Future Challenge Final of developing Grand Prix on the nine-year-old So Perfect.
About two hours later, she rode Hyatt to victory in the CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle on a score of 76.640%.
Tinne, a seven-time Olympian for Sweden, and the 14-year-old mare completed a double victory in their last competition at this year’s Global.
Jennifer Williams, based in Wellington, and Joppe K was runner-up on 75.455% with fellow American P.J. Rizvi on Vanilla Ice third on 73.500%.
Results:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Frederic Wandres (GER) Verrenberg | 77.000% | 76.150 | 77.275 | 76.675 | 77.475 | 77.425 |
| 2. | Ashley Holzer (USA) Hawtins San Floriana | 74.350% | 74.175 | 73.775 | 73.375 | 74.900 | 75.525 |
| 3. | Emma Caecilia Lienert (GER) Windermere J’Obei W | 73.105% | 72.550 | 73.625 | 72.675 | 73.700 | 72.975 |
| 4. | Denielle Gallagher (CAN) Come Back de Massa | 72.655% | 71.575 | 73.975 | 73.000 | 71.625 | 73.100 |
| 5. | Meagan Davis (USA) Toronto Lightfoot | 72.370% | 72.450 | 73.625 | 71.275 | 71.500 | 73.000 |
 Find details on Equestrian Hub |
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén (SWE) Hyatt | 76.640% | 76.750 | 76.375 | 77.425 | 76.375 | 76.275 |
| 2. | Jennifer Williams (USA) Joppe K | 75.455% | 75.525 | 75.900 | 76.200 | 73.850 | 75.800 |
| 3. | P.J. Rizvi (USA) Vanilla Ice | 73.500% | 72.825 | 76.275 | 73.300 | 71.500 | 73.600 |
| 4. | Ali Potasky (USA) Inxs | 72.125% | 71.950 | 71.425 | 69.800 | 73.375 | 74.075 |
| 5. | Devon Kane (USA) Vamos | 72.120% | 72.550 | 72.200 | 72.575 | 71.625 | 71.650 |
| 6. | Jennifer Hoffmann (USA) Rondoro Noblesse | 70.245% | 69.525 | 70.425 | 70.400 | 69.575 | 71.300 |
| 7. | Mathilde Blais Tétreault (CAN) Fedor | 69.835% | 69.475 | 69.850 | 68.650 | 71.225 | 69.975 |
| Find details on Equestrian Hub |
