December 7, 2023 – Ocala, FL – The World Equestrian Center (WEC) December Dressage CDI-W sponsored by Hampton Green Farm and Discover Dressage began on Thursday, December 7, 2023, with victory in the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI-W for Kevin Kohmann (USA) and Dünensee, owned by Diamante Farms. In the Prix St. Georges CDI1*, Benjamin Ebeling (USA) and Escona 8 owned by ACR Enterprises Inc. and Hof Kasselman took the win. The show, which hosts Fédération Equestre International (FEI) and USEF/USDF-rated classes, continues through Sunday, December 10.
With a harmonious test, Kohmann and Dünensee were rewarded by judges Cesar Torrente (COL), William Warren (USA), Carlos Lopes (POR), Clive Halsell (GBR) and Michael Osinski (USA) with a personal best score of 70.891%, including a high score of 72.717% from the judge at B.
Kohmann feels that the partnership between he and his horse “has gotten to a point where now I can even start working carefully on stuff to make it better,” he explained. “Before it was just survive the test, get a clean test. This is now at least the fourth clean test in a row. We’re feeling super confident. I feel like I can start pushing now.”
Second place went to 2023 Pan American team gold medalists Codi Harrison (USA) and Katholt’s Bossco, her own 16-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Blue Hors Don Schufro x Michellino. They were just behind with a score of 70.456%. Jennifer Williams (USA) and Joppe K, a nine-year-old KWPN gelding by Harmony’s Rousseau x Santano owned by Joppe Partners LLC, were third with a score of 70%.
Kohmann and Dünensee were named as alternates for the U.S. Dressage team for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. When Kohmann found out he did not have to travel to Chile, he turned his focus to competing in the World Cup class at Terranova Equestrian Center in November. Following a second-place finish in the freestyle, Kohmann has made it his goal to qualify for the 2024 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in April in Saudi Arabia.
“We said, you know what, that’s a great idea, let’s go for this,” said Kohmann, who also celebrated his marriage to international dressage rider Devon Kane the previous weekend. “Hopefully if everything runs smooth and keeps on going like this week, then I should be good up there with the points.”
While Kohmann started Dünensee as a young horse, it left the barn and spent time competing in Europe before ending up under the saddle of his friend Christoph Koschel of Germany. Kohmann got the ride back just 10 months ago and he has learned how to work with Dünensee.
“He had to find his person,” said Kohmann of the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Dancier x Davignon 3. “Christoph did an amazing job and when I took the horse over from Christoph, he came with a manual. That worked to get a clean test. Now the rest of the last few months, we got to spend as just him-and-me time. I had the alone time that was really, really nice too.
Dünensee has come into his own, becoming stronger in his body and lighter for Kohmann. “You cannot make this horse stop just by pulling hard on the rein, because I tried that at the beginning and my arms hurt and the horse just went as fast as he wanted,” remarked Kohmann. “If you look at pictures from six months ago to now, he is so strong now. I can do stuff with him I couldn’t do before, and it’s lighter; it’s less work for me. I’m not sweating so much anymore. But now we trust each other. It’s nice going into a ring trusting your horse.”
Kohmann will be a part of a strong 15-horse field in Friday night’s Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W.
First Time Is A Charm For Ebeling
In their first-ever trip into an FEI show ring, Benjamin Ebeling and Escona 8 made it a winning one in the Prix St. Georges CDI1*. With a personal best score – albeit their only score in FEI competition – of 69.971%, they led the lap of honor. They received a high score 71.618% from the judge M. The judge’s panel included William Warren, Carlos Lopes, Clive Halsell, Michael Osinski and Cesar Torrente.
It was a slew of personal bests at the top of the class with Jennifer Williams (USA) and Babylon Berlin, her own eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Bordeaux 28 x United, receiving 68.823% for second place. A personal best of 68.147% for Siena Harris-Gissler (USA) and Electra DDJ, her 14-year-old KWPN mare by Vivaldi x Igelsias, led to their third-place finish.
“She felt ready,” said Ebeling of the eight-year-old Rheinlander mare by Escolar x Sir Donnerhall. “A couple of weeks ago we did our first real Prix St. Georges in Ocala at the national show. She felt so ready to go and no mistakes. I thought, ‘Let’s rip the band aid off.’
“It’s a good experience for a young horse that’s away from home and to go for the first time into a real competition arena,” he continued. “Having this amazing stadium is a really good experience for a young horse like her.”
Ebeling noted that her first FEI test included highlights such as the changes and trot half-passes. “They are so amazing and so much fun to ride. She just floats,” he said.
Ebeling has been riding Escona 8 for a year and a half, having found her in Germany with trainer Christoph Koschel and Francois Kasselman. It was an easy decision when he saw her come out of the barn for the first time.
“I thought, ‘Yeah, that’s the one,” he remembered. “She’s such a big mover. The strength is still coming for her. It takes a little bit to develop this kind of horse, but I’m so proud of her. She’s really coming into her own. She’s got amazing natural gaits. In the walk she’s got so much overtrack, especially in the extended walk. The trot, the knee action comes to her naturally. The canter is getting nice and quick. It was so open. She’s got a lot of shoulder freedom, and that is something that is so cool.”
“It’s been a really awesome partnership,” he said of the arrangement with Hof Kasselman. “I can’t thank Francois Kasselman and my parents enough for the ride on this horse. I’ve been really lucky to work with Christoph and with my dad. That combination of training, ownership and management has been really super.”
While Escona 8 will not continue on to the FEI Intermediate 1 class this week, Ebeling feels very excited for the horse’s future. “She’s still working towards I1, but stay tuned,” he said. “It’s pretty awesome to win, but I have to say it’s really telling of the horse. She has so much talent.”
Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI-W Results
Prix St. Georges CDI1* Results
Full Show Results and Ride Times
The World Equestrian Center December Dressage CDI-W continues on Friday, December 8, with the Intermediate CDI1* at 8:30 a.m. followed by the FEI Junior Team CDIJ, Grand Prix for Special CDI3* at 10:15 a.m., Intermediate II CDIU25, Prix St. Georges CDIAm, and the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.wec.net.