September 15, 2022 – Ocala, Fla. – The World Equestrian Center (WEC) September Dressage CDI3* began competition for international-level riders on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala in Ocala, Fla. This marks the second of three CDI competitions at World Equestrian Center – Ocala in 2022, sponsored by Hampton Green Farm and Discover Dressage. The afternoon’s feature classes included Grand Prix for Freestyle and for Special. Pan American Games gold medalists Sarah Tubman (USA) and First Apple, owned by Summit Farm, took the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3* victory, while Anna Marek (USA) and Fire Fly, owned by Janet Simile, won the Grand Prix for Special CDI3*.
With a personal best score of 71.087%, Tubman and First Apple, a 12-year-old KWPN stallion by Vivaldi, led the victory gallop. Following them in second place were Lehua Custer (USA) and F.J. Ramzes, a 12-year-old KWPN NA gelding by Juventus owned by Wendy Sasser. They scored 69.022%. Kerrigan Gluch (USA) and Mejorano HGF, an 11-year-old PRE gelding by Grandioso owned by Hampton Green Farm, received 67% for third place.
Tubman and First Apple had their first European tour this summer, which included three top-three finishes in Achleiten, Austria, and Kronberg, Germany. They also competed in the CDI4* in Aachen, Germany, where they placed sixth in the Grand Prix Freestyle.
Tubman recalled, “Europe was an incredible experience. I walked into the warm-up ring and there are five of my childhood idols that I watched since I was a kid and I was like, ‘Oh I’m going to go down centerline with these people.’ I was able to sit and absorb the top riders in the world, watch them in the warm-up, watch how they manage tests, and watch 40 grand prix horses go in a row. The amount of intense learning and focus I was able to have there over the last two months was incredible. I got to spend a lot of one-on-one time with my coach, Lee Tubman, who is also my husband. When we’re better, the horses are better. My horse is really just coming onto the cusp of what he’s really going to be, and every show he keeps improving.”
With a few weeks’ rest after they returned to the United States, Tubman wanted to capitalize on the rhythm they established during their tour.
“We have big goals for next year,” said Tubman. “To be honest, I wasn’t 100% sure what we were going to have coming here. Today I think he surprised me a few times, being better than I thought he would be in certain moments. Some of the mistakes today were complete rider errors; a little overriding. That’s a really exciting feeling, when the horse goes in there and gives me more than I’ve had before. Now I have to learn how to ride my really incredible horse with a little bit more tact than I have been able to.”
While Summit Farm is based in California and Tubman is originally from there, they have spent the year in Florida due to the competition schedule. Returning to World Equestrian Center is “like a vacation,” said Tubman. “We love this facility. My husband and I got married here at the chapel, so it’s special for us to come back here.”
Marek and Fire Fly Start a Buzz
Capturing the Grand Prix for Special CDI3* win was local Anna Marek of Dunnellon, Florida, on Fire Fly, a 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Briar. They received a total score of 68.739%. Second place went to Jessica Howington (USA) on her own 15-year-old KWPN mare by Sir Donnerhall, Cavalia, with a score of 67.630%. Allison Gerlt (USA) and Sir Lommel, a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Sir Donnerhall owned by Jennifer Quirk and John Gerlt, placed third with 65.217%.
Marek has ridden Fire Fly for just over a year, but took a break when she had her daughter Mae last November. They competed in their first CDI together in March of this year in Wellington, and then competed at the CDI3* at WEC in April with top five finishes.
Even with these accomplishments, Marek feels she is still getting to know the “super sensitive” gelding. She noted, “I didn’t think we were going to be doing things as quickly as we are because he is so sensitive. I’m not quite used to riding that. We were going to take our time and make sure he was comfortable. He had already shown grand prix before me, but once I had Mae, he and I clicked really well and came on fast.
“It was a little bit of a learning curve for me because most of the horses that I’ve ridden at that level, I’ve ridden for a long time,” continued Marek. “It’s different trying to get to know a horse that already knows the stuff. I have to learn their buttons but also be like, ‘Hey, get onto my page.’ He almost gets nervous because he wants to do things right. He’s not scared of this stuff, he’s just a super overachiever. He gives me some amazing feelings; I have to learn how to ride it in the test even better.”
Marek noted the strength of Fire Fly’s piaffe and passage in the grand prix test, which will help going into Friday evening’s Grand Prix Special.
“The passage helps him get into those extended trots. The passage is just so easy for him. It will hopefully be a good test for him,” she said.
Marek chose the Special for this week since her brand-new freestyle was just finished. “I haven’t even practiced it yet,” she revealed. “I’m so excited about it. It’s going to be really cool.”
Marek took a second win earlier in the day when she and Duvel, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Florencio owned by Cynthia Davila, won the Prix St. Georges CDI3* with 69.794%.
Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3* Class Results
Grand Prix for Special CDI3* Class Results
The World Equestrian Center September Dressage CDI3* continues on Friday, September 16, with the Grand Prix Special CDI3* at 6 p.m. followed by the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.wec.net.