April 14, 2024 – Ocala, FL – Mikala Münter (USA) brought two mounts to the World Equestrian Center (WEC) April Dressage CDI3* sponsored by Hampton Green Farm and Discover Dressage, for the test in the FEI Intermediate II CDI2* on Sunday, April 14, 2024. She and Der Schufro won with 68.529%, while J. MSJ Charmer finished second on 66.167%. Both horses are owned by Swiss rider Barbara Bertschinger.
Mikala Münter has been working with longtime student Bertschinger with both Der Schufro and “Charmer” for two years. The horses have traveled between Switzerland in the summers and Florida in the winters, but with them getting closer and preparing for the Grand Prix level, the horses will stay in Florida this summer with Münter.
“They’re both green, and we don’t want to push them too much,” said Münter. “The I2 is such a good test to go and get your feet wet and give the horses the experience in the big show ring. They have done that three times now in different arenas without the pressure of going in the grand prix.”
“He felt really good today,” said Münter of Der Schufro, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Der Designer x Jimmie Choo Seq. “One thing that I felt in both horses because it’s Sunday and they have been here since Tuesday, is they’re a little bit tired. If I had ridden a couple days ago, we may have had more spice in there. I’m super proud of Der Schufro for going into the big stadium and doing everything with only a few little mistakes. We don’t know each other well enough in the ring to have those little things together yet.”
Münter started consistently riding Charmer in November 2023. “I’m so impressed with this horse,” she said of the 10-year-old KWPN gelding by Charmeur x Danone 4. “He’s so big and powerful. Riding his canter is just amazing. He’s so uphill, and he can sit. It was really fun to ride.”
Münter is based in Wellington, FL, but plans to return to WEC – Ocala this fall to continue the two horses’ education. “We will keep developing them, and they’ll tell me when they’re ready to go in the grand prix ring,” she said. “We will probably take the next step in the fall with CDIs coming back. I’ll go to Switzerland in the summer once a month for training and go to shows with Barbara over there, with online training in between.”
In the FEI Children Individual CDICh class, Miriam Bacon (USA) and Drambuie, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Damsey FRH x Lauries Crusador xx owned by Natalie Bacon, scored 72.431%.
Amina Bursese (USA) and her 20-year-old Andalusian stallion Fiti AL (Jondo x Empaque) scored 65.950% in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle – Gold Tour CDIAm class.
Allison Zarembowicz (USA) topped the Intermediate I Freestyle CDI1* with Happy Khan, her 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Zjengis Khan x Jazz, with 64.875%. It was their second freestyle together and their seventh CDI class.
In the FEI Young Horse Test for 5 Year Olds – Final CDIYH, Alice Tarjan (USA) and Orado, her KWPN mare by Desperado x Glock’s Johnson TN, scored 84%.
Riding Virtual Story Ymas, a Oldenburg gelding by Vitalis x Don Primero owned by Yeguada de Ymas S.L., Natalia Bacariza Danguillecourt (ESP) won the FEI Young Horse Test for 7 Year Olds – Final CDIYH with 71.900%.
Full Show Results and Ride Times
International dressage competition returns to WEC – Ocala on May 22-26 with CDI3* as well as national competition.
The WEC – Ocala 2024 dressage schedule includes:
May 22-26: CDI3*/USEF/USDF competition
July 13-14: USEF/USDF competition
August 23-25: Two USEF/USDF competitions
September 19-22: Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 3 Dressage Championships
October 19-20: USEF/USDF competition
November 14-17: CDI-W/USEF/USDF competition
December 11-15: CDI-W/USEF/USDF competition
All prize lists, ride times and results will be posted and published on the 2024 dressage schedule page HERE. For all questions regarding upcoming dressage competition, contact Teresa.Uddo@wec.net.