The number one rider at the 2024 Adequan Global Dressage Festival started 2025 in Wellington, Fla.,with the same type of success, winning the showgrounds’ first FEI World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle Qualifier with a score of 78.20 percent.
Germany’s Felicitas Hendricks, who at 24 is still eligible for Under 25 classes, showed her capability aboard Drombusch. The Oldenburg who performed 20 one-tempi changes during her routine.
“He exceeded my expectations, like he does every time,” said Felicitas.
Felicitas Hendricks and Drombusch OLD (Susan J. Stickle photo)
“He leaves his heart in the ring. I can tell that he’s very happy to be back and he was loving the crowd. He was a little spicy, but in a good way.
“The main work we’ve been doing at home is still the same and won’t change—it’s very basic work of improving self-carriage and gaining more strength behind. I think that is a process that won’t ever stop, but I can tell that it’s really benefiting both of us.”
Less than one point behind on 77.28 percent was the USA’s Adrienne Lyle with Helix, the horse she started showing just a year ago. A three-time Olympian, Adrienne didn’t lose her poise when she had to re-start her freestyle after a problem with the music necessitated the do-over.
“They accidentally played the wrong (old) version of the music instead of the version I had uploaded for this show,” Adrienne explained.
“We had changed some of the choreography and music of the freestyle in the middle, so I didn’t know they were playing the wrong music until half way through, at which point I had to stop because I had to stick with my choreography on the floor plan I submitted and so I needed my correct music. I am very thankful to the judges and management who worked so swiftly to correct the error and allow us to start over and compete with the correct music.”
While she didn’t expect that snag, Helix was well-prepared for competing in front of a crowd under the lights.
“We’ve been getting him out at night and I’ve been riding him in the outdoor arena in the dark,” noted Adrienne.
Adrienne Lyle and Zen Elite Equestrian’s Helix. (Susan J. Stickle Photo)
“We’ve been playing applause music and doing all sorts of things to try to desensitize Helix, because he’s a very hot and sensitive horse. We’ve been trying to put in our due diligence to make sure that he was not overwhelmed in this environment.
“Considering the unconventional start to the test, I was really happy with him. He got a little excited at the beginning, so it wasn’t our most polished ride, but I’m very proud of him as this is a new experience for us,” she commented.
Third place went to Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén on Devanto, doing his popular “Puttin on the Ritz” routine, rewarded with a mark of 75.515 percent.
The U.S. judge at C, Janet Foy, was impressed with the quality of the rides. She said: “I think the top five were really super. They were interesting technically, the music was perfect for the horses, and they were wonderful to judge. I don’t think we’ve had such a high scoring opening show before—it’s an impressive start to the season.”
The class was also a qualifier for the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s dressage open championship, which has a final at California’s Desert Horse Park in November.
For results, click here.