The Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida is one of the world's largest international and national dressage circuits, offering over $700,000 in prize money and running for 11 weeks. While Diamante Farms of Wellington is the presenting sponsor of the CDI 5* week of competition for the show series, Terri and Devon Kane of Diamante Farms also feel that it is equally important to support the young, up-and-coming talent in the sport. That’s why Diamante Farms is the title sponsor of the Under 25 (U25) division during every CDI week throughout the Adequan Global Dressage Festival.
The Under 25 division at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival develops the future generation of dressage by providing a place where seriously competitive young riders can test their skills at high levels against peers from around the world. The division consists of the FEI Intermediate II, FEI Grand Prix, and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle tests, and is open to riders ages 16 – 25. At the most recent Under 25 competition, the six young entries represented four different countries – the United States, Austria, Spain, and Canada.
Spain’s Juan Matute Guimon took top honors in the U25 during the first two CDI competitions at the 2017 Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Matute Guimon first claimed the win in all three Under 25 classes aboard Quantico Ymas, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Fighting Fit x Hauptstutbush) owned by Matute Guimon’s father. Matute Guimon then returned to win the U25 on Dhannie Ymas, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Don Crusador x Welina) owned by Yeguada de Ymas. “I am very happy with both rides,” said Matute Guimon. “There were some mistakes here and there, but it was a good presentation overall. Definitely a fantastic way to start the 2017 season!” Matute Guimon reported that Quantico Ymas will not be showing in the remaining U25 classes this year, as he already has enough scores to place among the top combinations in the FEI U25 World Ranking.
Matute Guimon will continue to show Dhannie Ymas in the upcoming weeks of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. “This is his first U25 season and we will take it as a year of transition. No pressure or high expectations,” he said. “My goal is to reach a steady and positive progression with Dhannie Ymas. I would like him to feel confident and relaxed in the arena by the end of the season.” Diamante Farms owners, mother and daughter duo Terri and Devon Kane, were pleased to present Matute Guimon with unique prizes for his victories. “We are rewarding different prizes for each U25 class,” said Terri Kane. “For the Grand Prix we are giving away our very popular duffle bag once again, in the Intermediate II we are giving away a Back on Track saddle pad, and in the Freestyle we are awarding a scrim.”
Diana Porsche of Austria won the most recent Under 25 classes on her own Di Sandro, a 2003 Oldenburg gelding (De Niro x Gentina). “Di Sandro was really good; I think we had a lot of highlights in these rides,” said Porsche. "It was a difficult freestyle and we are not used to the warm weather, but I am super happy about the points and about the results. I would like to finish my season here at AGDF with good results, and I hope to qualify for the European Championships in the U25 tour for Austria. After that, we will see what the future brings!”
Thanks to sponsorships like that of Diamante Farms, the future looks bright for many talented young dressage riders who are working their way up the levels in dressage.
“It is very important to our family and our facility to back the youth dressage programs,” explained Devon Kane, trainer and clinician at Diamante Farms and an international Grand Prix competitor herself. Terri Kane added, “We love to show our support for the up-and-coming athletes in our sport.”
Diamante Farms and the Kane family are eager to continue enriching the equestrian community and supporting high-performance young riders throughout the 2017 show season and beyond. To learn more about Diamante Farms, log ontowww.diamantefarms.com and click “like” on Facebook at www.facebook.com/diamantefarms/.