Last Updated on March 2, 2024 by adminahb
Kevin Kohmann (USA) rode to the top of the leaderboard in Friday night’s Piaffe Lounge FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle during Week 8 and with it booked his place in the World Cup™ Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in April. The 35-year-old Kohmann, who is enjoying a sterling season with Dünensee, captured the winner’s blanket with 75.07%.
Riders in the final block of horses had to contend with heavy rain, but both Susan Dutta (USA) and Ellen McCarthy (GBR) fought their way onto the podium despite the downpour. Dutta rode her and her husband Tim’s 14-year-old Der Designer gelding Don Design DC to 72.8%. McCarthy slotted into third with the youngest horse in the class, her family’s 10-year-old Bordeaux gelding Brave Heart, who posted 71.855%.
There are three starting spots allocated at the FEI World Cup™ Final to the North American League, and Anna Marek and Ben Ebeling have already bagged two of them. Kohmann now joins that illustrious list and will head to his first World Cup™ Final with his mother-in-law Terri Kane of Diamante Farms’ 15-year-old gelding by Dancier, who has been a boomerang horse in his career.
“Tonight’s test started off really well with my halt, but then the next movement screwed me, and I said to myself, ‘Kevin, just ride safe!’ I got a little ahead of the music, but my horse was 100% with me,” said Kohmann. “He really helped me out, so thank you, Düne.”
The freestyle music is Avicii — Kohmann’s favorite DJ — and includes ‘Wake Me Up’ by Hinterland. He will tweak the floor plan to increase the degree of difficulty in preparation for the Final.
“I put the pressure on me tonight, but it all worked out,” said Kohmann, whose groom German Rodriguez was the recipient of the Massa Horses-sponsored grooms prize of $500. “I can’t believe it. If you had told me this would happen a year ago, I would have said that you’re crazy. It’s a shock to me. I am thrilled and I love this horse.”
For more information and results, visit https://gdf.coth.com.