Wellington, Fla.—March 14

When Katherine Bateson-Chandler finished her test in the CDI3* Grand Prix during Week 10 of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, that ending moment was a victory in itself. Seconds after her final halt, Bateson-Chandler collapsed onto Haute Couture’s neck to give the mare an emotional pat. The pair’s harmonious test moved the U.S. rider to tears, and as she wiped them away on gloved hands, her score was announced: their 71.91% moved them to the top of the class, where they stayed through the end. 

Topping the class of 30 riders was especially sweet because the pair’s AGDF season hasn’t been easy. Bateson-Chandler and “Merrie,” a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Connaisseur—Destiney, IPS Krack C) owned by Jennifer Huber, were excused in two previous classes. Chandler said her own confidence suffered as a result of the difficult rides. 

“She’s a well-known horse, and I’m still getting to know her,” Bateson-Chandler said. “We’ve sort of been getting her confidence back again, and getting my confidence back again, and so it’s been a journey, as they say.”

A video clip of the mare rearing and balking at a show several weeks ago made its rounds online, accompanied by critical comments, which didn’t go unnoticed by the rider.

“I hate to say it, but social media really played a bad role in this for me when I was having a hard time,” Bateson-Chandler said. “I take things very personally and I mean, we all love our horses, but it’s always been top of my priorities—horsemanship.”

Bateson-Chandler says that it’s been a team effort for both horse and rider to rebuild their confidence, with the help of her trainer, Ashley Holzer, and Huber, Merrie’s owner. Bateson-Chandler believes that some of their connection under saddle today is due to a new approach in training.

“I also have got into some on-the-ground horsemanship stuff, which I’ve always been super interested in but I haven’t really had a huge, driving need for—but I thought, this is the time,” she said. “We’ve been really dedicated to that, and I think that’s really helped with our relationship. I love on-the-ground stuff; I spent two hours with her on Monday just playing, and I think that just helps build trust in your relationship.”

The groundwork has given horse and rider the opportunity to both bond and relax. 

“It’s a lot of just making sure that you give them a place to relax,” Bateson-Chandler said. “She’s a very sharp horse—mentally, she’s very on it and sees everything—it’s taught her to bring her brain to center, like Zen.”

Bateson-Chandler and Merrie will return to the arena in Friday’s CDI3* FEI Grand Prix Special, but for now, she’s relishing this hard-earned moment. 

“I’m just really relieved,” she said. “I mean, tomorrow is another day. Who knows? But I’ll take today for what it is. When you do this sport, you take it day by day. When you have a good ride, you celebrate. And when you don’t, you regroup and pull yourself up by the bootstraps and figure it out and figure out how to get through it.”

Fellow U.S. rider Geñay Vaughn scored a personal best of 69.52% with Michele Vaughn’s 13-year-old gelding, Gino, to take second place. Canadian rider Ariana Chia placed third on her new partner, the stallion Guateque IV, with a 69.02%.

Stay tuned for more 2024 AGDF coverage. For full results, click here.