February 22, 2025 
Five countries came to dance Thursday in the Nations Cup CDI03* Grand Prix held at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington. FL. Germany was the nation to come out on top.
This was Germany’s fifth consecutive win with Lars Ligus, chef d’équipe Michael Klimke, Felicitas Hendricks, and Evelyn Eger competing. The United States won silver and Sweden secured bronze.
The format of the CDI03* allowed for only grand prix combinations for the second year in a row, with the four remaining legs of the 2025 Nations Cup dressage series being held in Europe.
Eger, competing at AGDF for the first time this season, topped the class with a personal best score of 70.435% with her horse, Tabledance 3. She rode the 12-year-old Totilas daughter to her first CDI victory in three years.
“She felt really good in the warm-up, so I could go into the test very relaxed,” she said. “I finally got the canter work where I want it to be and finally got the one-time changes clean, which I struggled with at the last shows.
“It’s always a big honor to be on the team, and this year is very special because I’m the new one. I was a bit shy, because the team was already super close, but I felt perfectly included from the beginning and that contributed to the success today,” she continued.
Klimke has been chef d’équipe for each of Germany’s five consecutive victories.
“I’m very proud because year after year we plan this and try to have a good team,” said Klimke, who rode the 11-year-old Harmony’s Fado to 63.435%. “My horse was not in the best form, but I was lucky to have three very good teammates. Evelyn, Felicitas and Lars all had really good performances and the key to success is teamwork.
“I’m 55 now and have a lot of experience,” he added. “Team spirit is very important, and we all have the feeling we can rely on and trust each other.”
The silver medal winning U.S. dressage team included Devon Kane, her husband Kevin Kohmann, Erin Nichols and Jennifer Williams. The team’s chef d’équipe was Christine Traurig.
Kane had the highest score on the team with Vamos for fifth place on a 67.435% score. She said the 13-year-old Vivaldi gelding was a little distracted at the start of the test.
“I think we started [trending] on 22% and pulled our way up from there, so I knew we had to catch as many points as we could and make every movement count,” Kane said. “I’m proud that my horse was able to overcome such a setback.
“It’s an honor to be able to represent the U.S. at any Nations Cup, but to do so with your husband next to you, cheering for you and riding with you is extremely special,” added Kane, who has produced both Vamos and Guilietta from young horses. “It’s also a testament to our commitment to the sport and to helping each other and our team do well.”
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival hosts seven weeks of CDI competition through March 30.
Stay tuned for more coverage from Wellington this season at horsenetwork.com.
