Ocala, FL – Saturday’s full schedule during the April Dressage CDI4* presented by Hampton Green Farms on April 12, 2025, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) featured three major classes. Jan Ebeling (USA) and Jubi’s Tenacity, owned by Ann Romney, took the top spot in the Grand Prix Special CDI4* presented by MARS Equestrian, while Alexandra Duncan (CAN) and her own Hitmaker were victorious in the Grand Prix Special CDI3* presented by MARS Equestrian. Charlotte Jorst (USA) and Atterupgaards Botticelli topped a field of 11 entries to win the Intermediate I CDI1*.
Ebeling and Jubi’s Tenacity scored 67.638% in the Grand Prix Special CDI4*. Ebeling was pleased with his test, which he felt suits “Jubi.”
“He’s always a horse that’s very focused,” said Ebeling of the 15-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Tailormade Temptation x Don Schufro. “Overall I think he was more in front of me than in the Grand Prix. This test, which is more forward, suits him a lot. He doesn’t get tired throughout the test; he gets livelier and livelier.
“Then you see it in the piaffes; after he goes forward, then he’s really active in the piaffes,” he continued. “I think my first two piaffes were really nice. I’m super happy with him.”
Ebeling and Jubi had not competed in the Grand Prix Special since June of 2024 and instead have been focusing on their freestyle.
“Jubi’s owner wanted me to ride lots of freestyle this year,” he explained. “I love the Special test, but I had to go over it a couple of times to make sure I didn’t go off course!”
Second place went to Shelly Francis (USA) on Dante, her own 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Danone II x Andiamo), with a score of 64.979%, while Tina Konyot (USA) and Grover, her 11-year-old KWPN gelding (Everdale x United) that she owns with Earle I. Mack LLC, scored 64.851% for third place.
Ebeling will stay in the United States this summer, and Jubi will have downtime after a long winter circuit before gearing back up in the fall.
Duncan and Hitmaker Find a Winning Beat
Alexandra Duncan and her new stallion Hitmaker returned to the winner’s circle on Saturday, this time in the Grand Prix Special CDI3* presented by MARS Equestrian. The pair scored 68.723% to lead the class.
“I’ve never ridden this test on him yet, so it was kind of just getting in there, but he really gave me a good feeling,” said Duncan. “I love the Special test with all the transitions: from the extended to the passage to the piaffe work. I love how the half-pass lines flow because you can really show off their power and then it shows a degree of collection work, so it’s one of my favorites to ride.
“It’s not about winning; it’s always about the partnership, but it’s exciting,” said Duncan of her second straight victory. “It’s really exciting, especially with a new horse, and I couldn’t ask for more.”
Duncan pointed out that while she is always aware that he is a stallion, the kind and sweet Hitmaker is a pleasure to be around in the barn. “He is really well behaved,” she described of the 13-year-old KWPN stallion (Wynton x Cabochon). “I don’t even tie him up to braid him. He just stands in his stall, I stand on my shavings bag and I braid him, and he’s just like, ‘Okay.’ It’s really sweet.” Hitmaker is available frozen for breeding.
Second place with a score of 64.638% went to Charlotte Jorst (USA) and GPF’s S-Express, a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding by Sezuan x Sir Donnerhall I owned by Kastel Denmark. Ivo Jührend (NED) and Black Diamond, an 11-year-old Hungarian Warmblood gelding (Vezér x Undigo) owned by Savannah Show Stables LLC, placed third with a personal best score of 62.043%.
Jorst Paints a Pretty Picture in Intermediate Victory
Moving up from second place in Friday’s Prix St. Georges, Charlotte Jorst and Atterupgaards Botticelli, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Benetton Dream x Caprimond) owned by Kastel Denmark, were victorious in the Intermediate I CDI1* with a score of 71.353%.
“Yesterday, I hadn’t shown him for a long time, so he was a little bit worried about the flags and everything, but today he was just a very, very happy camper,” explained Jorst. “He was totally on my side. All the trot work is phenomenal. I loved the half passes with him today. I just let him flow over, and it’s just beautiful. It was a really good feeling today.”
Jorst has owned “Botticelli” since he was six years old. They started at Third Level and ascended to the grand prix in 2023, but then moved to the Small Tour in 2024 where they had five international wins. While they competed again in grand prix classes from November 2024 to January 2025, Jorst made the decision to return to the Small Tour for this competition.
“I tried him a little bit at grand prix earlier this year, and he got really insecure,” she noted. “I felt for his mental state, it was a little bit easier for him to go back down until he really has everything and get his confidence back up. That’s kind of what we’re doing, and now I think it’s back up.”
Jorst noted that she had an animal psychic speak with her horses this weekend to learn more about their thoughts but to also reassure them that she is 100% behind them.
“I know, kind of cuckoo, but I want to know what they have to say,” she laughed. “They said they really understand their goals with me, so I thought that was really cool.”
Jorst plans to bring her horses back home to Reno, NV, where they can enjoy turnout and train in different ways besides only in a dressage ring. “We have lots of poles because my daughters jump, so I can really mix it up,” she said. “It’ll be really good for all these boys to get back and stay outside together.”
Friday’s Prix St. Georges winners, Andrea Woodard (USA) and Roxette, an eight-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (Revolution x Quite Easy I) owned by Enter At A LLC, placed second with 70.030%. Third place with a score of 68.412% went to Adam Steffens-Smienk (USA) and Candoit’s Boston Strong OLD, a 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Bordeaux NLD x Sandro Hit) owned by Candoit Stables.
Grand Prix Special CDI4* Full Results
Grand Prix Special CDI3* Full Results
Intermediate I CDI1* Full Results
Full Show Results and Ride Times
The April Dressage CDI4* concludes on Sunday, April 13, with the final classes for Children’s, Junior, Young Rider, Under 25, and Amateur riders, while the Intermediate I Freestyle CDI1* rounds out the Small Tour. Dressage returns to WEC – Ocala on May 22-25 with CDI3* and national competition.