Incredible Talent From Around The World Competing This Season At Adequan Global Dressage Festival
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival, located at Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, started the 2020 season off with a bang, welcoming top horse-and-rider combinations from around the world to the iconic venue in the heart of Wellington’s equestrian community.
As one of the three Olympic equestrian disciplines, dressage has become a staple of the horse show circuit in South Florida from January through March. The AGDF has steadily grown into one of the most competitive proving grounds in North America, as established combinations and rising stars showcase their talents across the 10-week international circuit.
The Friday Night Stars series has become one of the most popular competition evenings in Wellington during the winter, hosting FEI Grand Prix Freestyle competition under the lights at Equestrian Village. Beginning at 7 p.m., Friday Night Stars offers spectators the opportunity to watch some of the world’s top combinations compete their choreographed routines to musical variations of all genres. General admission is free to the public each Friday evening, and parking is $10 per car.
The 2020 AGDF season began Thursday, Jan. 9 with the first FEI World Cup Qualifier (CDI-W) of 2020, which saw Team Canada’s Jill Irving and Degas 12 set the tone for the season with a stunning performance under the lights. AGDF 1 also launched the inaugural Lövsta Future Challenge Series, which offers young horses a unique opportunity to grow, excel and showcase their talents in the $15,000 Lövsta Future Challenge/Young Horse Grand Prix series and the $10,000 Summit Farm Future Challenge/Young Horse Prix St. Georges series. Both series will have qualifiers throughout the AGDF, with the final to be held during the 12th and final week of the 2020 AGDF.
“We anticipate the 2020 AGDF season to be especially competitive this year for the riders and their horses, as we’re seeing many combinations return to the competition ring in anticipation of the Olympics in Tokyo,” said Thomas Baur, director of sport at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. “Each year, we’ve seen tremendous growth in the popularity of the circuit, and the projections are showing a continued increase in participation, which is very exciting for our management team. We are looking forward to welcoming more spectators and attendees to experience the talents of these incredible riders.”
The first week of the circuit hosted CPEDI 3* competition, which served as one of two international competition weeks for para-equestrian riders. These spectacular athletes compete across five different grade categories, based upon the degree of their physical disabilities. Para-equestrian athletes complete pre-designed tests, the same as able-bodied riders, which range in difficulty based on the grade of competition. Team USA had a very successful para-equestrian showing at the World Equestrian Games, medaling for the first time in program history, as Rebecca Hart captured a bronze medal individually. The second CPEDI 3* week of the 2020 season took place during AGDF 3 held Jan. 22-26.
The third week of the circuit welcomed the popular US PRE-sponsored week of CDI-W classes at the venue for international competitors, pushing the main stretch of the internationally sanctioned competition. The week honored the presence and popularity of the Spanish-bred horse within the dressage community in the United States and around the world.
National-level competition took centerstage during AGDF 6 (Feb. 14-16), before the start of the highly anticipated CDI 5* held during AGDF 7 (Feb. 19-23), the highest and most prestigious designation of competition offered during the 2020 season. The CDI 5* entertained audiences throughout the week as some of the world’s most renowned dressage athletes showcased their talents at the highest levels of the sport.
The season continued forward with AGDF 8 (Feb. 26 through March 1), welcoming the historic Palm Beach Dressage Derby, a staple of the South Florida dressage scene for nearly four decades. The week featured CDI-W competition and included the final round of the entertaining Palm Beach Dressage Derby competition during the midway point of the Friday Night Stars Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W.
The Palm Beach Dressage Derby is a highlight for spectators, as four top-level riders compete against each other on horses they’ve never ridden before in a knockout-style format. Riders who receive the highest scores will advance to the final round, taking place under the lights in an electric atmosphere at Equestrian Village during the Grand Prix Freestyle, where the 2020 winner will be crowned.
CDI competition continues with AGDF 10 (March 11-15) as the FEI Nations Cup CDIO 3*, presented by Stillpoint Farm, begins. Serving as the only non-championship CDIO 3* in the western hemisphere, this competition is one of the pinnacle weeks of AGDF competition. Riders represent their countries on teams of three or four and compete for top honors in one of North America’s premier competitions.
AGDF 11 (March 20-22) will welcome star Isabell Werth back to host her second clinic at the venue on Friday, March 20. The clinic will feature different horse-and-rider combinations, who will receive personal and engaging feedback and instruction from Werth, the most decorated equestrian Olympian of our time. The clinic will be one of the major highlights of the week, and also the season at Equestrian Village.
The AGDF is set to conclude with AGDF 12 (March 25-29) with the final international competition of the season, the CDI-W, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate. The CDI-W provides riders with their final opportunity to take to the international arena in 2020. AGDF 12 will mark the final Friday Night Stars FEI Grand Prix Freestyle of the season on Friday, March 27.
Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is located at 13500 South Shore Blvd. in Wellington. To learn more about the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, and to view a full weekly and daily schedule of competition, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.
