Jessica Howington and Serenade MF Forge Partnership with Special Victory at World Equestrian Center February Dressage CDI3*
The feature class on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) February Dressage CDI3* sponsored by Hampton Green Farm and Discover Dressage was the Grand Prix Special CDI3*. In their first CDI together, Jessica Howington (USA) and Serenade MF led the lap of honor. The WEC February Dressage CDI3* concludes on Sunday, February 18, with Fédération Equestre International (FEI) and USEF/USDF-rated classes.
Jessica Howington (USA) and Serenade MF, her own 11-year-old, American-bred Hanoverian mare by Sir Donnerhall x Don Principe, scored 68.915% from the judge’s panel of Thomas Kessler (GER), Sandra Hotz (USA), Knut Danzberg (GER), Jane Weatherwax (USA) and Omar Zayrik (MEX).
Thursday’s grand prix winners, Anna Marek (USA) and Fayvel, Christina Davila’s 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Zizi Top x Houston, placed second with a score of 68.277%. Allison Carmichael and Figaro, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Apache x Zichem owned by Flying Otter Farm, stepped into third place with 68.170%.
Serenade MF, known as “Shrimp” in the barn, arrived at Howington’s farm less than two months ago. “It’s funny because I have two other horses named Miso and Bagel, and now we have Shrimp,” laughed Howington. “She fit right in! Now I have a full plate.”
While new to Howington, Shrimp competed at the international grand prix level for two years with Alice Tarjan, including Rotterdam and Aachen CDIO5* events as well as at the 2023 FEI Dressage World Cup Final.
Howington rode Shrimp at a national show two weeks ago, but this is their first CDI competition together. As she prepared for Friday’s grand prix class, Howington was “super nervous.” They placed second, and Howington was ready to learn more going into the Grand Prix Special.
“It’s a brand-new relationship,” she noted. “I don’t know what to expect, but I learn something new every time, which is cool and helpful. I’ve been so happy with her. She is staying with me and listening. I absolutely love her, I really do. I know it’s a super-new partnership, but I can’t wait for the future.”
Howington noted that Shrimp can be a different horse from at home, to the warm-up ring, to the show arena. “She can get so fired up in the warm-up that she gets tired for the test, physically and mentally,” explained Howington. “That’s one of the things that I learned at the national show, is that she’s ready to go. Today we did a little shorter warm-up and not even working so much on the exercises but just the throughness and rideability. Rideability was the goal for today and to have her stay with me.
“I was so proud of her,” she continued. “Even though we had a bobble or two, I’m happy with the whole test. It feels like our partnership grew even since yesterday or four days ago when we arrived on the showgrounds. She’s feeling more like my ride every day.”
Howington plans on competing at a few more CDIs going into the spring in order to achieve her main goal of building their partnership.
Read more:
