U.S. Para Dressage Team Claims Victory at Adequan® Global Dressage Festival 9 CPEDI3*
The U.S. Para Dressage Team continued its impressive 2025 campaign with a dominant performance at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival 9 CPEDI3* in Wellington, Florida. The team, consisting of Fiona Howard, Hannah Kingsley, Cynthia Screnci, and Marie Vonderheyden, delivered exceptional performances across all grades to secure their second team victory of the season.
A Weekend of Personal Bests and Record-Breaking Rides
Led by Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline, the U.S. team showcased consistency and improvement throughout the competition.
"Every single U.S. Para Dressage Team combination performed well and saw improvements throughout the competition," Assouline noted. "We left behind great memories of good riding and happy horses."
Howard & Diamond Dunes: A World-Record Performance
Fiona Howard (Boston, Mass.) and Diamond Dunes, a 2013 Hanoverian gelding owned by Dressage Family LLC and Hof Kasselmann, continued their winning streak following their triple-gold success at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Howard set a new world record in the FEI Grade II Para Grand Prix Freestyle, earning an astounding 83.267%. She also posted personal bests in the FEI Para Grade II Grand Prix A Test (77.299%) and FEI Grade II Para Grand Prix B Test (79.389%), cementing her position as a leading force in the division.
Kingsley Shines with Dual Mounts
Hannah Kingsley (Wellington, Fla.) competed with both her team horse, Sir Chipoli, and her individual mount, Eragon VF. She and Eragon VF delivered a personal best score of 68.667% in the FEI Grade III Para Grand Prix A Test, while she and Sir Chipoli, a 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Volado Farms and Cynthia Screnci, made a strong team debut with 66.389% in both the FEI Para Grade III Grand Prix A & B Tests.
Screnci & For Memory 4: Consistency and a Freestyle Victory
A veteran competitor, Cynthia Screnci (Wellington, Fla.) once again showcased her skill with For Memory 4, her 2017 Hanoverian gelding. The pair delivered 70.256% in the FEI Para Grade V Grand Prix A Test and 68.728% in the FEI Para Grade V Grand Prix B Test before closing out the weekend with a personal best and freestyle victory in the FEI Para Grade V Grand Prix Freestyle, scoring 75.683%.
Vonderheyden & Fan Tastico H Impress in Grade I Debut
Marie Vonderheyden (Wellington, Fla.) debuted her new partnership with Fan Tastico H, a 2017 Oldenburg gelding owned by Karin Flint, with a standout performance in Grade I. She posted a personal best 73.194% in the FEI Para Grade I Grand Prix A Test, followed by a 72.639% in the FEI Para Grade I Grand Prix B Test. She closed the weekend with a strong 74.434% in the FEI Para Grade I Grand Prix Freestyle, marking a successful start to this promising new combination.
Looking Ahead
With another decisive win under their belts, the U.S. Para Dressage Team continues to build momentum toward future international events. Their next appearance will be at the TerraNova CPEDI3* from April 9-13, 2025, in Myakka City, Florida, where they will aim to continue their dominant run on the global stage.
