The 2026 Global Dressage Festival is past its halfway point and the last two weeks of February are traditionally the busiest and most exciting ones with two CDI's back to back, including the "historic" Palm Beach Dressage Derby as highlight... at least in many people's experience... those who value traditional, history and culture in the sport.
Injecting the Energy
It's World Cup qualifier weekend on 19 - 22 February 2026 and sponsor Zen Elite and show organizer Wellington International decided to inject some Vitamin C - intravenously - to jolt awake the rather sleepy show circuit with its small CDI classes but well-filled national arena that is sprinkled with a ton of scratches. Wellyworld has a highly enjoyable but slow-pulsing atmosphere celebrating ifs affluent, lavish lifestyle surrounded by beautiful horses. So the organizers jabbed the syringe straight into the Wellington vein - not injecting rampant Ozempic but a Myers’ cocktail of energy and sizzle by flying in the funk...the Queen of Dressage: Isabell Werth.
Announcer Noah Rattner having a laugh with the scribesThe city has been abuzz since Werth's arrival: everyone talking about the exciting weekend, wanting to catch a glimpse of the dressage legend in town. Thursday's Grand Prix saw the streets run totally dry as if a calm before a storm because the masses gathered round the warm-up ring and arena to see the legend ride. On Friday night, the stadium sold out completely --- the free admission suddenly lifted to an entrance fee of 55$ to recuperate some of the costs (and make a profit) for putting on a special show. The official reason for the fee was "crowd control". The evening included a stallion show and a free mini-concert with surprise Grammy award-winning band Lady A(ntebellum) performing.
The different vibe in Welly-world this weekend and its massive success send out a clear sign that this is a formula in need of repeating. In a period in which U.S. Dressage is anemic -- no real American hero pairs are rocking the score board right now compared to the golden age of Rio and Tryon -- flying in the stars from Europe might be medication needed to bring back a boom.
Let's Talk about Thursday
Jordan LaPlaca on Gold PlayCompetition began on Thursday at 8 AM with the international Prix St Georges which had a pathetically low number of entries: four! The same show back in 2015 had 39 (!!!) entries in the Prix St Georges. In 2016 there were 25, in 2018 there were 30, but by 2019 it had already dropped to 10.
Fortunately the Grand Prix saw 22 entries split over two classes and those classes were very interesting to watch. In the Grand Prix for Special one of America's most exciting rising pairs - Jordan LaPlaca on the 11-year old Oldenburg Gold Play (by Grey Flanell x Sir Donnerhall II) - rode their second ever international Grand Prix test and won with 68.913%. The horse has a little bit of a sunken back but has a gorgeous piaffe and passage. He could have been a bit more straigh and elastic on both reins, often flexed to the right, but the win was deserved and the judges' score rather conservative. That could easily have cracked 70%, although two on the panel of five (Rodriguez - Wüst - Max-Theurer - Voser - Gonçalves) had them at 70%. What is unknown by the judges is treated conservatively.. nil novum sub solem.
Kevin Kohmann and FamousKevin Kohmann has an awesome new ride in his client Tarryn Hartnett and Avery Chapman's horse Famous, an already 15-year old Hanoverian by Floriscount x Wolkentanz that has competed in Germany with Alexandra Hidien, Louisa Deutschbauer and Ann-Christin Wienkamp. The chestnut is another super piaffe and passing horse with uphill tempi changes, but he could be a bit less hand-held and more chewing in the contact. They were second with 68.326%.
The Argentinian newcomer on the scene, Leonardo Antonio Godoy, and his two talented Lusitanos are turning heads here. Trained by judge Cesar Lopardo, Godoy only began his career in the saddle five years ago before working in a barn as a stable help. We'll do a "from rags to riches" story on him in a few weeks when I'm stepping out of this action filled adventure and have more time to sit behind the computer and write.
A Shift in the Air
Canadian Olympian Jacquie Brooks filming Werth's warm-upThe Grand Prix for the World Cup qualifier, which started on Thursday 1 PM, revealed the shift in air that something important was about to happen; an atmosphere I haven't felt in Wellington in what seems a decade. The warm-up got packed with people watching Isabell prepare Special Blend. Little groupie girls stood gushing by the sideline, while professionals were filming her ride to rewatch and analyse the techniques. Everyone was onboard to witness the display; coach Albrecht Heideman nervously smoking and hiding his cigarette stubs in the sand. The sprinklers suddenly switched on for a few seconds, dousing the heated crowd with some fresh water. Show director Thomas Baur was buzzing round the arena like a busy bee, tidying the ring, providing new seating for the not-so surprising judging panel he invited to this show. For this class the ground jury was made up of German stalwart judges Evi Eisenhardt and Katrina Wüst, flanked by aspiring 5* judge Hans Voser, and "young guns" Miguel Gonçalves (POR) and Debbie Rodriguez (USA).
Laura DeCesari on RossiThe first rider to go was Californian Laura de Cesari on the 14-year old Swedish bred Rossi (by Romanov x Vivaldi), which she trained from young horse level to Grand Prix. Riding in Wellington on a grant from The Dressage Foundation, De Cesari was coached by Californian David Wightman. The pair presented a very constant frame and overall picture with Rossi being a stereotype Romanov offspring. The horse had his toe-dragging moments in the passage in which he could be more engaged and fired up from behind, but he's rather long in the back and doesn't seem the easiest horse to physically collect under the body. Mistakes in the one tempi changes and a not so happening extended walk gave them a score of 63.696% for 10th place.
Isabell Werth was the second to go into the class and put everyone on the edge of their seat. She brought Special Blend (by Sezuan x Hotline) instead of Quantaz, one of her less established horses as they have done only a handful of CDI's together (Hagen, Lier, Hamburg, Aachen and the nationals in Balve). As everyone knows from my articles, it's one of my pet peeves that "famous" riders get their glory points for badly executed movements, no matter if it's Isabell, Dufour, Dujardin, Edward Gal, Adelinde, Anky, you name it. There is nothing wrong that they get a 10 for fabulously ridden exercises, but when their horse walks like a camel, does not halt immobile, or stand squarely, drags its feet in the rein back, extends with front legs flying but not achieving any overtrack, and does tempi changes like a barrel racing horse, yet still get a 6 or more for that, it makes my blood boil.
Isabell Werth on Special BlendAs soon as Isabell entered the arena I was grinning from ear to ear because I consider her ride more a test of the judges - will they adhere to their old patterns or judge what they see - than anything else. I truly savour Werth's riding as she is such a technically strong test-rider, going from point to point, finding that perfect edge not to overask her horse and keep a very steady rhythm, yet requesting the most that is possible at that moment in time. She began the ride with a square but stretched halt and then lost the rein while saluting. She scrambled for the reins and smiled at the judges, but had that moment fixed in a flash. Special Blend's has quite some flash in his forehand with a reaching frontleg that sometimes gets a little stiff instead of round and supple in its articulation. The horse had its right front shoe flew off in the first trot extension, but then he did and even and ground covering half passes. The rein back was not with equally diagonal steps and in the second trot extension there was a tiny lapse in the rhythm. The first passage was energetic and bouncy, but not entirely even. The horse looked strong in the bridle contact with his upper lip tense and stretched forward. Special Blend does not have a good walk. He really struggles to have a clear four-beat rhythm in the extensions, but achieves overtrack. He got between 3 and 5.5 for the extended. In the collected walk he's a textbook pacer and got scores between 3.0 and 5.5 (!). The second piaffe-passage movement was well ridden, but in passage Special Blend is more engaged with his right hind than left. The two's went well, the extended canter was very controlled, the zig zag appeared stiff in the changes to the right, but no mistakes were made. The one tempi looked very established. The pirouette right had a double beat behind upon the exit (scores between 6 - 8). The third trot extension was nice. For the final centerline the horse still had plenty of energy in the tank and the piaffe was on the spot but the right hind more under than the left one.
The shoe and pad came flying offWhen the scores flashed on the board both German judges were - surprise surprise - both at 75 (that rhymes!) while the young guns had the pair between 70.652% and 72.174%. I personally was thinking the test would score between 71 - 72%. A look at the collective marks showed that the less experienced judges had the pair between 7 and 8 for harmny, while the German judges rewarded that ride with 8.5 and 9.0 (considering the rather strong contact, unevenness in the gaits and a poor walk). Once again the point was proven that the collectives are (ab)used to push a score up or down in the direction the judges prefer. This manipulation was scientifically proven years ago, and the reason why the collectives were reduced by the FEI from four marks to one. Riders keep insisting on bringing them back (duh!), but thank god the FEI nips that in the bud and refuses to re-introduce them. I rest my case.
Juliooo
Aside from Isabell one of Wellington's crowd favourites is U.S based Ecuadorean Julio Mendoza. With his pocket rocket Jewel's Goldstrike (by Bretton Woods x Scandic) and very sympathetic misdemeanour, Julio has won the hearts of the crowds. He had them clapping even before he began his test and one fan in the crowd screamed his name "Julioo". I always have to think back on the iconic Whoopy Goldberg scene in the movie Ghost when I hear women scream Julio's name..... It made me smile.
Julio Mendoza on Jewel's GoldstrikeMendoza and Goldstrike were entered in CDI Ocala last week but withdrew before the Grand Prix. This week they travelled four hours south for the World Cup qualifier in Wellington and got to compete. The duo's last show was the CDI-W Mexico City where they were third. The horse began his Grand Prix test with a halt in which the right hind was resting and that happened also in the halt for rein back and final halt. The half pass right was too passegy, but the rhythm improved along the way. The trot extensions had plenty of impulsion and he transitioned early but smoothly into passage. At one point in his career Goldstrike was able to 74% in the Grand Prix but that magical mark has become hard to attain by the pair recently. One of the arguments for a lower score could be that the piaffe-passage of this horse looks fairly artificial, like a puppet-on-strings, even though the horse looks quite relaxed in executing it. There is a point to be made that overall Goldstrike needs to be more natural and flowing in his movement mechanism and a bit less jerky. Still the horse is very good at maintaining a steady rhythm and the transitions are often flawless. The pirouettes were tiny, but there was a mistake in the flying change in the extended canter and the one at X appeared in two phases. The pair finished second with 71.196%.
Back In
Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu on JaccardoAfter the retirement of her Olympic mount All In, Canadian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu had a long wait to be back in the game at Grand Prix level. With Jill Irving's Jaccardo (by Desperado x Jazz) she literally has a big player. The tall, chunky chestnut is a powerhouse and definitely one to watch for the future. After the test was finished I expected them to be the winners of the class, but the judges were very divided on the pair with scores going from 67.609% to 74.457% !!
The chestnut was a little spooky at F but produced big half passes and trot extensions and a nice first piaffe-passage. There was good relaxation in the extended walk and the collected walk was correctly ridden. The second piaffe was too forward and the passage needed more collection and self carriage. The two's were straight, the zig zag to the right lacked some ground cover, the ones were super, the extended canter powerful. The pirouettes could have been a bit more "placed" and the final passage a fraction more collected. Jaccardo is a star in the making but it would be nice to see him in more self carriage and less ridden on the reins in the future.
British Susan Pape and the 15-year old KWPN mare Giulilanta (by Jazz x Flemmingh) landed fourth place wit 70.696%. The passage and one tempi changes were the highlights of the test, but overall the chestnut mare appeared strong in the contact and tense in the piaffes today.
Friday Night Lights
Ready for freestyle nightAfter the Grand Prix everyone was talking about the day and the X-factor that was conjured up by having one Euro star present. The fun continued the next day with a very special "Friday Night Lights" freestyle evening on 20 February which had the place packed again. Two full VIP tents, the covered seating bursting at the seams and a thrumming crowd standing in spots to watch the riders. I
The evening started with a stallion show featuring some of Zen Elite's breeding stallions, although flagship sire Indian Rock was missing in action. Three non-Zen stallions were presented to the audience as well: pony sire Branley Ash Nautilus, Rosebank VH, and Fortunato H20. The horses were not ridden in the actual 20 x 60 m arena, which was strange, but just travelled around the arena in walk, trot, canter before heading back out. It was still interesting to see them under saddle one by one.
Lady AntebellumThe national anthem was sung by 1980s pop star Taylor Dayne, who tackled the difficult Star Spangled Banner song with a rather scratchy voice, but it was still fantastic to hear her sing it. I have respect for anyone who can hold a note, knowing that my own voice sounds more like the call of a grackle than the soft whispering of notes on a stave. The actual Kur was a mixed bag of quality in riding and music. I decided not to work for the night and just enjoy the evening socializing with friends. Werth won it, Fraser had a really fun freestyle with Britney Spears' music and Julio and Goldstrike were third.
The fabulous evening finished with a wonderful mini-concert on the grass near the Derby field with the country pop band Lady A(ntebellum) performing, courtesy Zen elite equestrian, who flew in the Grammy award winning band for five songs. It was a truly lovely end of the night.
Another thing I fail to comprehend is why the VIP tent has to close shop within five minutes of the last ride (or final song). While Wellington is such a money grabbing enterprise, it blows my mind that they don't bank on their hospitality and catering services. They could easily open up the VIP tent to the crowds at Global and have a cash bar to sell more drinks, while dressage enthusiasts chill, relax, and fraternise in the comfort of that tent.
What's in Store
The party weekend with Werth in town is not over yet!
Retro cool 1988 Seoul jacketThe rollercoaster continues today, Saturday 21 February, as Isabell decided to give a free two-hour clinic on Saturday afternoon at her business partner Andreas Helgstrand's American branch at Eagle Tree Farm. Over a 1000 spectators are signed up to attend and the local police will have a task cut out controlling traffic down South Shore Boulevard. Wild parking on the side of the road is to be expected (better to Uber or carpool) to accommodate so many attendees.
Helgstrand has arrived in person with son Alexander and daughter-"in-law" Annabella Pidgley in tow. The whole crew is here but more "Euro stars" have been spotted on holiday in Florida: Jan Brink brought over his whole family with dressage riding kids Olivier and Angelina joining him. FEI Dressage director Ronan Murphy came over for the weekend and has been spotted conversing with the hot shots of the USEF, Wellington International and some journalists.
It was interesting to see Michael Stone (head ceo of the show grounds) and Mark Bellissimo (Scrooge McDuck from Wellington, the mega land owner and developer here) actually show up for dressage and savour the Lady A concert. Wellington had been thrown the magic formula into their lap to make dressage thrive as much as show jumping: fly over the stars, host an educational clinic with said rider, bring in a music band, and keep your bar open till the late hours of the night..
