Nick Wagman Withdraws Don John from 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Contention

Dressage

U.S.A.

American Grand Prix rider Nick Wagman has withdrawn his top horse, Don John, from 2020 U.S. Olympic Team contention.

Don John sustained an injury which keeps him out of the running for an American Olympic team spot.

"He strained his suspensory. It will heal, but just needs time," Wagman told Eurodressage. "He was going so well. We’d made such improvement since Europe."

The pair was in Wellington, Florida, campaigning for points to be Short Listed for the Olympics.

Nick announced his withdrawal from team contention on 17 February.

"Today was one of those days that knocked me down, and had me wondering if I was tough enough to get back up," said a devastated Wagman. "Don John injured himself, and heartbreakingly our journey towards Tokyo has come to an end. The good news is he will be fine, just not in time to complete the necessary qualifications. It was a blow to the gut to say the least. Not to just to me, but to everyone involved on our team."

Don John is a 12-year old KWPN gelding by Johnson x Goodtimes. He is owned by Beverly Gepfer and has been competing internationally under Wagman since 2015.

The pair first attracted the attention of the American selectors in 2019 and were sent to Europe to compete at the CDIO's in Compiegne and Geesteren. They finished the year by becoming the 2019 U.S. Grand Prix Champions.

They began their 2020 Olympic campaign in Wellington and placed second in the Grand Prix and Special (70.587% and 73.064%) on 6 - 8 February 2020.

"We are here in Wellington, where we achieved our personal best score in the Special and were standing third in the Olympic rankings," said Wagman, who feels heartbroken about the abrupt ending of his Olympic campaign. "It’s been an intense year filled with emotion, hard work, and sacrifice. So much behind the scenes goes into being able to pursue this that when you get knocked down the thought of doing it all over again really does seem inconceivable."

Wagman and Don John win the 2019 U.S. Grand Prix
Championship

He continued: "I’m learning life doesn’t get easier, you just get tougher. So up I will get, grateful and proud for having gotten this far with my partner DJ, and even better we will be the next time we canter down centerline together."

Wagman has shipped Don John back home to California, where he will get time to recover. The rider will focus on his rising Grand Prix horse Ferano (by Scandic x Parcival), which he has been showing since 2018 for owner Elizabeth Keadle. Ferano became the 2019 U.S. Developing Grand Prix horse champion.

"We are back in California, healing and moving forward," said Wagman. "Ferano is just beginning his Grand Prix career, but it’s looking promising. He did really well in the national shows on Florida. We will see how he continues to develop and go from there. DJ and I will set our sights on the World Cup next year.