Mikala Gundersen (DEN) and My Lady added another win at Week 7 of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), this time taking home the prize in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 4*, presented by The Dutta Corporation. Gundersen and My Lady performed a nearly flawless test receiving a 75.625%, followed by Karen Pavicic (CAN) and Don Daiquiri in second with a 72.250% and Kasey Perry (USA) aboard Trostruplunds Scarlet in third with a score of 72.025%. The crowd braved the unseasonably cold temperatures to watch the spectacular evening of competition. Carla Jablonski of the Florida Grand Opera along with pianist Andrew Hamilton from the Frost School of Music performed the national anthem.
The weather was crisp, but the wind has significantly decreased compared to yesterday making it more of a pleasant atmosphere for both horses and riders. “I had a very fresh horse tonight, but very focused in the warm-up. It was the best warm-ups I've had so far here overall. She can be a bit difficult in, and it didn't feel like that tonight,” said Gundersen. “I think she was really good in the ring. She was still a little tense from yesterday in the big atmosphere, but she was able to do a lot of the movements really well. I felt some of my highlights would be the changes and the passage work, for sure.”
The pair, who has had a string of very consistent performances at AGDF this season, continue to strengthen the accuracy of their tests. “There were still a few bobbles, and those are things I need to work on removing so that we don't lose points,” she commented.
With the win in the CDI 4* Grand Prix Freestyle, Gundersen was awarded the Adequan® High Score Award for the Grand Prix Freestyle and Janne Rumbough, owner of My Lady, was presented with the “Best Horse Owner Award for the Grand Prix Freestyle” sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. Rumbough and Gundersen decided together that they would donate the $5,000 owner's prize to the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center, a local therapeutic riding school located in Loxahatchee, FL.
Pavicic and Don Daiquiri removed errors that hindered their Grand Prix test from the day prior and put in a lovely ride that ultimately placed them second in the class. “I was really happy with Don Daiquiri tonight. I had a few small mistakes in our Grand Prix test yesterday, specifically in our one-tempis, and tonight we didn't miss a single one,” she stated. “Our canter pirouettes weren't as strong as they usually are, but I'm very happy overall with the test.”
“Dono” and Pavicic have built a very strong partnership over the years, and it is clear through their results at international competition around the world. “We're getting better and better and now we have our eyes set on the World Cup in April. He's come a really long way. It's all about the relationship you create, and that's what you need to succeed at the top levels of this sport.”
Perry rounded out the top three with “Scarlet”, one of her two rides in CDI competition this week. “I'm lucky to be sitting here. I have two wonderful horses, and I'm very blessed to be where I am,” she smiled. “The past two weeks I've really bonded with Scarlet and my test tonight I just smiled through the whole thing. I was so happy with her performance and the way she's really working with the training and she just did great. I love my music, and it just made the experience so much better.”
Final Results for FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4*
1. Mikala Gundersen (DEN), My Lady, 2000 Danish Warmblood mare owned by Janne Rumbough, Michellino x Marion x Ritterstern: 74.375%, 76.000%, 77.000%, 76.750%, 74.000%, 75.625%
2. Karen Pavicic (CAN), Don Daiquiri, 2002 Oldenburg gelding owned by Jayne Essig, Don Cardinale x Nedstatte III x Rubinstein I: 71.250%, 74.250%, 72.000%, 72.750%, 71.000%, 72.250%
3. Kasey Perry (USA), Trostuplunds Scarlet, 1999 Danish Warmblood mare owned by Diane Perry, Blue Hors Don Shufro x Ramona x Blue Hors Romancier: 71.625%, 71.500%, 71.750%, 75.500%, 69.750%, 72.025%
4. Christoph Koschel (GER), Rostropowitsch NRW, 2002 Westphalian gelding owned by Gabriela Koschel, Rockwell x Windcandela x Coriograf B: 71.875%, 72.625%, 71.750%, 71.875%, 69.500%, 71.525%
5. Juan Matute Jr. (ESP) Don Diego Ymas, 2003 Hanoverian gelding owned by Juan Matute, 2003 Hanoverian gelding, Don Frederico x Wie Plantine: 69.750%, 70.875%, 71.375%, 71.625%, 71.000%, 70.925%
6. Charlotte Jorst (USA), Kastels Nintendo, 2003 Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Kastel Denmark, Negro x Rodieni R x Monaco: 69.750%, 71.750%, 70.125%, 70.875%, 68.250%, 70.150%
7. Jacqueline Brooks (CAN), D Niro, 1999 Swedish Warmblood owned by Brookhaven Dressage Inc., D day x Alitalia x Napolean 625: 68.125%, 71.250%, 65.875%, 68.625%, 68.250%, 68.425%