Last Updated on March 29, 2025 by adminahb
Kasey Perry-Glass & Heartbeat W.P. Photo ©susanjstickle.com
Three female Olympians filled the podium in the Lövsta Stuteri CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle on March 28, during the season’s final edition of the popular ‘Friday Night Stars’ gala evening. U.S. Olympic team bronze medalist from Rio 2016 Kasey Perry-Glass and Heartbeat W.P. logged their third international win of the 2025 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL. They scored 75.915%, with a high score of 77.675% from the judge at B, Kurt Christensen.
Ashley Holzer — a four-time Olympian for Canada before electing to ride for the U.S. — set a new combination high score for second place, piloting Hawtins San Floriana to 74.84%. Camille Carier Bergeron rode her Paris Olympic partner Finnländerin into third place with 73.37%.
Perry-Glass debuted the now 13-year-old Heartbeat a year ago at AGDF and has been fine-tuning the Charmeur x Ferro gelding’s performances inside the boards, aided by Adrienne Lyle who came up with their floorplan.
“There was a lot of power and a lot to contain, but I’m starting to be able to manage it,” explained Perry-Glass, who rode to a bespoke Tom Hunt soundtrack featuring the sound of a heartbeat. “Sometimes ‘Heart’ tries to overpower me, but tonight he proved that he can keep the power underneath me. It’s about figuring out what works for him, but once I get in the ring, he’s a true showman and he stepped up.
“Tonight was fun, and it’s hard to say that sometimes because you have a lot of pressure on yourself,” continued Perry-Glass, who is grateful for the plentiful and flexible opportunities to show that AGDF affords. “We don’t have anything like this anywhere else in the States. To be able to give our horses experience in a stadium that’s actually really difficult to ride in is awesome. I get to know my horse a little bit more each time.”
Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu Rides Jaccardo to Lövsta Future Challenge Developing Grand Prix Horse Title
The Lövsta Future Challenge developing grand prix horse final awarded a champion title to Canadian Olympian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu for her energetic 72.5% performance on Jill Irving’s 11-year-old Jaccardo. The final, in which horses performed the FEI Young Horse Grand Prix test, took place on Friday, March 28, in the main stadium at Wellington International’s Adequan® Global Dressage Festival and offered a $10,000 prize pot.
Marcus Orlob (USA) continued his successful week on Alice Tarjan-owned horses, finishing reserve champion on the stallion JJ Glory Day with 70.842%. Kelly Layne repeated her third-place finish from the previous year to once again take the yellow sash with her own and Eva Levy’s Living Diamond.
The Lövsta Future Challenge is open to horses from eight to 11 years old. The class encourages riders to bring their up-and-coming international quality horses out in a championship-type environment without the pressures of a CDI, such as having to stable away from home. The series continues to grow in popularity, attracting 48 entries this season. All qualifying rounds held throughout AGDF 2025 used the FEI Intermediate II test, so the final was a step up in intensity.
Fraser-Beaulieu has had the ride on Jaccardo, a Dutch Warmblood gelding by Desperado x Jazz, since Irving bought him in Wellington in early 2023. The horse scored eights and 8.5s across the board for his extended walk and was very concentrated in the atmospheric arena despite a stiff breeze.
“We are over the moon to have won tonight,” said Fraser-Beaulieu, who also won the previous day’s optional warm-up class with Jaccardo. “The horse gives me a sense of secure power. Sometimes he’s a little bit cheeky, but what I need is to give him space and allow him to settle into the movement. I’m not putting too much pressure on him in the ring right now. I just want him to have a great experience so he’s ready for grand prix next year.”
by Alice Collins
Wellington International
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