Winter 2024/2025 Issue

Page 28 Winter 2024/2025 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN USA’s Kevin Kohmann is the Big Winner at Dressage at Devon 2024 The USA’s Kevin Kohmann swept the CDI-W classes at Kingsview Partners Dressage at Devon winning both Friday night’s CDI-W FEI Grand Prix and Saturday night’s CDI-W FEI Grand Prix Musical Freestyle, presented by Kingsview Partners with Diamante Farms’ 2009 Ha- noverian gelding Dünensee! The FEI Grand Prix Free- style CDI-W was an electrifying event with 15 horse and rider pairs who qualified for the class in the FEI Grand Prix CDI-W. Kevin Kohmann earned the coveted top placing aboard Dünensee, a 2009 black Ha- noverian gelding bred by Dr. Monika Fartmann and owned by Diamante Farms. Following in second place was Camille Car- ier Bergeron and Finnländerin, a 2010 mare bred by Xavier Marie and owned by Bergeron and Gilles Bergeron. Coming in third place was FEI Amateur rider, Christina Morin-Graham riding her 2009 mare, DSP Dau- phin, who was bred by Ralph Vogel. Riders competing in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W vie for qualifying points for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, set to take place in Basel, Switzer- land, April 2 to 6, 2025. As a cherished fixture on the qualifier calendar for one of the top in- ternational dressage events each year, elite riders from all over the nation converge on this historic venue, celebrated for its exhila- rating atmosphere. Earlier in the evening in the CDI3* FEI Grand Prix Special. Ali Patasky took home the blue ribbon piloting Inxs, a 2013 bay gelding bred by J.A.M. Van Der Horst-Meeus and owned by Potasky and Kathy Priest. This was the duo’s first Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special, making it an especially memorable win. In the Wheeler arena, the FEI or Equivalent Test of Choice hosted several horse and rider pairs. Lauren Chum- ley earned the top placing with a score of 65.882% aboard Kevin Kohmann and Dünensee topped a field of 15 world class entries to win both CDI-W classes at Dressage at Devon, held at the Devon Horse Show Grounds in Devon, PA September 24-29. Photo credit Dressage at Devon Nikolas, a 2011 gelding bred by Ingrid Schmidt and owned by Melissa Dowling. Breed Competition The 2024 ProElite/USDF East Coast Series Breeders Final closed out Breed Competition at the 2024 installment of the show with the ProElite/USDF East Coast Series Breeders Final. After a rainy morning in the ring, the horses who became champions were: ProElite/USDF Current Year Foal East Coast Series Final Grand Champion: Frasera, a 2024 grey Hanoverian mare han- dled by King Santacruz, bred and owned by Sally Fish. ProElite/USDF Filly East Coast Series Final Grand Champion: Royal Romance, a 2023 chestnut Oldenburg mare handled by Cara Klothe, bred and owned by Marne Mar- tin-Tucker. ProElite/USDF Colt/Geld- ings East Coast Series Final Grand Champion: R Stetson, a 2021 black Warmblood stallion handled and owned by Lauren Chumley and bred by Lauren Kimmel. ProElite/USDF Four-Year- Old Sport Horse Prospect East Coast Series Final Grand Cham- pion: Davoli CF, a 2020 bay Oldenburg gelding handled, bred, and owned by Nancy Holowesko. ProElite/USDF Stallion East Coast Series Final Grand Cham- pion: Phoenix Rising, a 2020 dark bay Warmblood stallion han- dled by Janae Griffin, bred and owned by Ruth Cox. Bred in the USA Fifteen breeders have gathered together to form the second annual Bred in the USA Syndicate, which was founded by Melanie Pai to help preserve and expand the historic event. The group will exclusively offer funds to the breed show this year and in years to come. After an exciting day of competition, the horses who took home the Dressage at Devon Grand Championships, presented by Bred in The USA Syndicate were: Mature Horse Champion: Love Dance, a 2017 black Olden- burg mare handled by Quinnten Alston, bred by Jürgen Fetzer, and owned by Iron Spring Farm, Inc. Dressage at Devon Grand Champion: R Stetson, a 2021 black Warmblood stallion handled and owned by Lauren Chumley and bred by Lauren Kimmel Grand Champion in the Pony Grand Championship Final, was the 2024 Bay Welsh Cob Colt, Knightwynds Chi- ron handled by his owner and breeder, Rachel Laufer-Wengerd. Laufer-Wengerd felt his impres- sive demeanor of the late-night show played a part in their victory. Taking home Reserve Champion honors was Ongie, a 2012 American Bashkir Curly mare owned and handled by Katie Cook. Parade of Breeds Kingsview Partners Dres- sage at Devon kicked off with Breed Competition on day one of the qualifying event for the USDF Breeders Championship East Coast Series and East Coast Series Championship Final. Numerous breeds competed for the chance to participate in the Select Breeder Services (SBS) Parade of Breeds, where the winners of each breed class were invited back into the Dixon Oval and presented with a special rosette. Hannah Heritage and Athena LG, a 2019 mare owned and bred by Margaret Graham, won the Hanoverian class. She said, “I’ve been coming to Devon for almost ten years. The atmo- sphere is just so cool, and the people are wonderful. We all have a shared passion for the sport, and the young horses are great to watch. We’ve all kind of become a little bit of family, knowing each other for such a long time. It’s great seeing the young horses, learning about pedigrees and their potential, and then being able to watch them under saddle later.” Sayyidah RZ, a 2023 mare owned, handled, and bred by Angela White, placed first in the Purebred Arabian class. White said, “I think it’s been almost ten years since I start- ed competing at Devon. This is the third purebred that I’ve won this class with. Devon is just a very beginner-friendly show. Everybody’s here to help each other out. It’s a great way to highlight your youngsters. You’re competing with some of the best breeders in the country. So it’s incredible to have that opportunity.” Freestyle Weekend wrapped up on the final day of competi- tion with Amateur, U25, Young Rider, Junior, and CDI1* FEI Intermediate I Freestyles. The CDIAm FEI Intermediate I Freestyle was won by Gardy Bloemers, with a score of 68.417 aboard her own Miso FS, a 2013 gelding bred by Frykens Sport- hästar. Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Fade to Black claimed the show’s final blue ribbon, topping the CDI1* FEI Intermediate I Freestyle on Sunday afternoon, September 29. Ryleigh Koch and Dressage4Kids, Ruben D4K swept the CDIJ division, winning the CDIJ FEI Junior Team test, the CDIJ FEI Junior Individual test, and the CDIJ FEI Junior Freestyle.