WELLINGTON, Fla.--Codi Harrison on Katholt’s Bossco won the Grand Prix Special CDI3* while Charlotte Jorst and  Alice Tarjan qualified Straight Horse Cosmo and Jane respectively for the Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series and the Future Challenge Young Horse Prix St. Georges Series at the Global Dressage Festival on March 5.

Codi Harrison on Katholts Bossco (Photo by Susan Stickle)Harrison, 26  of Wellington, scored a personal best of 70.66% on Katholt’s Bossco for the win in the Special in Week 8 of the  Festival.

Katie Duerrhammer placed second of the 13 starters with 70.213% on Paxton, and Morgan Barbançon finished with 70.17% on Habana Libre A to place third.

Harrison has brought Katholt’s Bossco up the levels from Young Riders.

“I was a bit nervous because it was really hot and he’s not a horse that thrives in that, but he stayed with me the whole ride and I went in feeling like he was through and he wanted to work," she said..

“We struggled through some Young Riders together and I never expected him to be a grand prix horse, yet here we are," said Harrison. "The piaffe and the passage felt really nice and that’s become his highlight, he’s really confident and rideable and keeps his rhythm. He’s not the most laterally supple horse, so the half-passes are always something we’re working on to make them more fluent and supple but I was thrilled with the overall feel and that he stayed with me in this heat and kept trucking along.”

“He’s the same every day no matter what; he’s unflappable,” she said. “We take him in the field, we go over little jumps, we go on hacks and he goes down the canals. He’s a really good boy with a good heart and a good head — the horse of a lifetime.

“I was just hoping to win something and today we did, so that was very exciting. Now we have three shows left and I’d like to do one more freestyle and then see where that leads us,” she said.

 

THE FOURTH of five qualifiers in both the Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series and the Future Challenge Young Horse Prix St. Georges Series sent more combinations through to the Grand Final from both divisions.

Charlotte Jorst on Straight Horse Cosmo (Photo by Susan Stickle)These classes aim to identify and nurture talented, up-and-coming young FEI horses.

Jorst topped the Prix St. Georges class riding Straight Horse Cosmo to score 70.833%.

Olivia Lagoy-Weltz got the second qualifying ticket in the class, riding Fade To Black to 70.195% and second place, and Jane Karol got the third with 67.94% on Vioretta.

Jorst now has two horses qualified for the final, after winning AGDF 5’s qualifier on Federle.

Jorst, 58, has only had Straight Horse Cosmo for a year and the 8-year-old gelding by her own stallion Kastel’s Grand Galaxy Win has been in jumping training for most of that time.

“He was really lazy so I put him in hunter/jumper training and he just came out of that in January and he was like a reformed horse,” said Jorst of Reno, Nev. “I did it because sometimes it’s just your own mindset you need to change and remain more open. I’ve never had a ride like him before and, instead of giving, you have to sit into it and get into the contact, so I’ve learned a whole new system. I love riding and learning."

“He’s actually a very good jumper and enjoyed it," she said. "Since he returned, I’ve done a few national classes with him. Last week I missed my fours, so I was very determined not to miss them today because he has beautiful changes and he felt so great in the warm-up. He’s so fun and handy and goes into the bridle so well. I had a great contact the whole time and he moved into every movement beautifully. I think he’s going to be a super grand prix horse.”

Jorst plans to contest a CDI with Cosmo in Ocala and then take him to Europe for the summer to further his training.

In the big tour class, Tarjan, who has already qualified on Summersby II, got another ticket to the final with Jane, who scored 73.381%.

“She’s a super honest horse and she’s got her own motor, she always wants to go, which is nice to train," said Tarjan of Oldwick, N.J. "But she’s also very lightly shown and very spooky and aware of the environment. So, the puzzle is to try and figure out how to get her more comfortable in the show ring. It was sort of a funny test; we missed the twos but overall the issue is just to keep her more on my aids so I can ride a softer half-halt."

“She spooked from the minute we went into the arena and she spooked during the entire test,” she said of the horse she has owned since she was a 3-year-old. “I think Jane has tremendous quality, but she needs some ring time and that’s why we’re here. We will keep bringing her and basically have her live in this arena until she gets more comfortable, then we can look towards future goals and plans.”