Hendricks Claims Individual Freestyle Nations Cup Gold Medal with Almost 80% in AGDF 7
Germany’s 23-year-old prodigy Felicitas Hendricks extended her unbeaten run of tests on Drombusch OLD to six when she claimed the individual gold medal in the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup CDIO3* Grand Prix Freestyle. Sweden’s seven-time Olympic legend Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén claimed silver on Devanto, with Frederic Wandres (GER) picking up the bronze riding Total Recall.
The reworked Nations Cup is the centerpiece of week seven of the 2024 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL. AGDF, which hosts seven weeks of CDI competition over three months, runs through March 31.
Under the floodlights of the atmospheric ‘Friday Night Stars’ evening session in the Equestrian Village International Arena, Hendricks and Drombusch’s routine to lively, upbeat disco music garnered them 79.1%. It is their highest senior Grand Prix Freestyle score. As Hendricks brought the 13-year-old Destano gelding in to land on the final centerline, the knowledgeable and vocal audience clapped along, adding even more spring to Drombusch’s final piaffe.
“This still feels unreal — I’m definitely not getting used to it,” said Hendricks, who trains with her uncle Cristoph Koschel. “I’m very grateful to have a horse that wants to do it every single time and he never disappoints. He’s always ready to go and today was one of the best feelings I’ve had in the ring so far. He was super fresh — which I think you could see in the extended canter, but I couldn’t help smiling about it because I want him to be fresh and happy.
“We wanted fun party music for Drombusch, so I chose music my mum used to dance to in the club. Every time I listen to it I fall in love with it even more. He’s not just my show partner, he’s also my best friend in daily life,” added Hendricks, whose groom Lauren McNabb was once again the recipient of the Massa Horses-sponsored $500 Grooms Award.
Despite having competed at AGDF every year for over a decade, Vilhelmson Silfvén was still impressed by the atmosphere on Friday night. She rode Lovsta Stuteri’s 15-year-old De Chirico gelding Devanto to 77.415%.
“What an atmosphere tonight!” said Vilhelmson Silfvén, who rode to her well known ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ freestyle, with an adapted floorplan. “It was electric and Devanto felt that too. He was eager to go when he got in, I had to manage to control everything, but I got a super feeling from that, so it was fun to ride. The Friday nights are a super opportunity to ride in a championship atmosphere. It’s such good practice and amazing to ride here on Friday nights — even though it’s not always easy.”
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