November 16, 2024 – Ocala, FL – Just 0.1 percentage points separated the U.S. riders Jennifer Williams and Charlotte Jorst in the Grand Prix Special on Saturday, November 16, at the World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) November Dressage CDI3* presented by Hampton Green Farms.
Williams presided in the tussle to top the leaderboard on Joppe Partners LLC’s Rousseau 10-year-old, Joppe K with 68.064%, repeating their win from the Grand Prix. Their consistent, harmonious test garnered an eight for the one-time changes. Both Williams and Jorst went on to take another blue ribbon on the same day. Williams rode her own nine-year-old Bordeaux gelding, Babylon Berlin, to 68.206% in the Intermediate A CDI2*.
“I was hoping for another clean test with Joppe today, and I just had one bobble, but it was a fairly consistent, uphill, and correct test,” said Williams, who was up at 4:30 a.m. and had secured two wins by breakfast time. “The second piaffe caught me by surprise, and maybe I asked a bit too much, but I was really happy with the changes, which were a highlight today. His energy was a bit lower today than in the grand prix, so on the days we aren’t in the arena, we will incorporate longer hacks and some cavaletti cross-training work.”
Williams, who trains with Oded Shimoni and Christophe Theallet, said of Babylon Berlin, “He came to me for training two-and-a-half years ago to put a clean change on him. I was helping the owner for six months and then she decided to sell him, and it worked out that I was able to purchase him. He’s a special horse, and I don’t think people saw his talent, but I have strong belief in him.
“He’s only nine and was quite behind as a seven-year-old, but we get along really well, and he’s excelling,” added Williams, who is putting together the pieces for grand prix at home. “It’s all come naturally and organically, and he’s progressed quite effortlessly. He’s got a little spice in him, but he’s confident, which feels nice in the ring. Both my horses have great work ethics.”
Wiliams will return to WEC – Ocala for the final CDI of 2024, which takes place December 11-15 and includes a World Cup™ Qualifier. The World Cup™ Final takes place in Basel, Switzerland, in April 2025.
“Not for the Faint of Heart”
Jorst has found her perfect match in her new ride, the 19-hand nine-year-old gelding GPF’s S-Express, by Sezuan x Sir Donnerhall. The two danced their way to a 69.94% victory in the CDI1* Intermediate I Freestyle, with a high score of 72.125% from the judge at C, Germany’s Elke Ebert.
“The test was super cool and flowed extremely well,” enthused the Danish-born entrepreneur. “This is a new horse for me. I saw Lars [Petersen] riding him — he had been sent back by someone because he was a bit overwhelming — and he looked amazing. I tried him, and he fit like a glove; we clicked right away.
“I’ve only had him seven months, and I’ve been away for five of them, and Lars has been helping, so I only just started riding him. He’s not for the faint of heart, but he’s fun and sweet. Because he’s 19 hands and so hot, you don’t push, just manage. In the test, I could ride rather than just sit and pray, which was nice. I think he’ll get to grand prix relatively quickly, and that’s where he’ll shine.
“I really love it here at WEC; the show was so well organized, and you can stay at a nice hotel. I’ll be back for the December show,” she added.
The Brad Pitt of Horses
A horse whose barn name is Brad Pitt, thanks to his handsome looks, carried Sweden’s 20-year-old Emilia Berglund Bergåkra to victory in the FEI Young Riders Individual test with 64.382%. The eight-year-old KWPN gelding Level Up D, by Skovens Rafael x Contango, is owned by Catherine Haddad’s company NorCordia, and this was his first CDI show.
Berglund Bergåkra began competing internationally on ponies in 2018 but has been out of the CDI arena since contesting the Junior European Championships on Primavera in 2021. This was her first show in the Young Rider division.
Haddad commented, “Level Up is a showstopper at this level of competition, but he also shows great promise as a grand prix prospect. We purchased him last spring and hope to find a competitive rider for him soon.”
CDI competition wraps up at WEC’s November Dressage Show presented by Hampton Green Farm on Sunday, November 17, with the CDI2* Intermediate II at 8.30 a.m. Full start lists and results can be found on Equestrian Hub.
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Media Contact:
Leah Tong
leah.tong@wec.net