Nick Wagman Has a Good Outlook on the Future with New String of Horses

Dressage

F.O.C.U.S.

In 2021 California based Grand Prix rider Nick Wagman was close to making it on the U.S. Olympic team with Don John, and had a taste of the Games by travelling to Tokyo as the team reserve. With the Olympic fire stoked Paris became the next target but Beverly Gepfer’s Dutch Warmblood struggled to maintain elite level fitness

After 2022 the 51-year old Wagman had to recalibrate his coveted goals and start anew with a fresh load of horses. The L.A. Olympics on home turf are his next target.

Chapter with Don John and Heatcliff Closed

After Tokyo, Wagman and Don John (by Johnson x Goodtimes) showed in one more CDI, in May 2022 in Temecula, where they finished second twice.One month later the pair did one more national, a CDS San Diego Chapter Show, where they scored 74.783%. It was Don John's final competition.

"Don John is happy at home, and is being kept in shape, but not at competition level. Unfortunately, the injury he sustained in Tokyo keeps flaring up each time we get him close to top fitness. It was a real heartbreak to miss Paris, but we did everything we could and it just wasn’t meant to be.

Between 2021 and 2023 Nick had a small tour horse ticking along, the now 13-year old KWPN gelding Heatcliff (by Florencio x Olivi) owned by Gepfer. He did not follow in Don John's footsteps but sold in 2024 to Aiko Morton for Kendall Robinson-Clarke to ride at small tour level.

"Heatcliff sold last year to a wonderful new home and is doing great," said Nick. "I see him monthly when I go to Northern California for clinics."

A New Load of Horses for the Future

Wagman's ambition is kept burning wit a new load of horses in his barn to develop up the levels.

In January 2022 Elizabeth Keadle purchased the WCYH finalist Belvedere (by Belissimo M x Danone I) for Nick to ride. The pair made its Prix St Georges debut in October 2024 and last weekend placed second in the PSG (67.059%) and won the Inter I (72.50%) at the CDN Dressage Affaire in Del Mar on 21 - 23 March 2025.

Belvedere was not the only horse Wagner rode in Del Mar last weekend. Keadle's Heiline's St. Coeur, a 9-year old Danish gelding by St. Schufro x De Niro) debuted in the USA in February 2023 and did his first small tour CDI in Del Mar placing third in the PSG (67.294%) and fourth in the Inter I (66.618M%).

Nick premiered Gepfer's 7-year old Hanoverian Dance On (by Da Costa x Londonderry), who was previously shown in Germany by Juliette Piotrowski, in November 2024 at third level and rode him at Fourth level in Del Mar to 70.657% and 64.473%.

With Heatcliff at the 2022 US Championships

The 8-year old Magnum De La Fazenda Magnum De La Fazenda (by Cennin X De Niro) was 9th placed at the 2023 Pavo Cup Finals with Curro Benitez Sanchez, before selling to Gepfer in the USA in 2024. Nick debuted the Dutch warmblood in October 2024 at fourth level. They were entered for Del Mar but scratched.

The horse closest to Grand Prix is Elizabeth Keadle's 10-year old Oldenburg Royal Discovery (by Rock Forever x Dimaggio), who was previously shown in Germany by David Taylor, Shereena Satzer, and Manuel Dominguez. He's been with Nick since 2022.

"He is getting ready for the Intermediaire II," said Nick. "The road back to the top is different for each horse and rider. I’m very lucky to have sponsors who understand that, and who enjoy the process of getting there. LA is definitely a target."