For the fifth consecutive year, Germany stood atop the podium Thursday in the Starpoint Dancesport FEI Nations Cup CDIO3* Grand Prix at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (Florida). 

Five countries entered the Nations Cup, with Germany earning 207.02 points, the U.S. taking second place (201.56) and Sweden finishing third (190.76). For the second year, the format only allowed Grand Prix level combinations, in line with the four remaining legs of the 2025 Nations Cup dressage series, all to be held in Europe. 

The victorious German team was made up of Lars Ligus, Michael Klimke (who also served as chef d’equipe), Felicitas Hendricks and newcomer Evelyn Eger, who topped the class with a new personal best of 70.43% on Tabledance 3. Klimke has been chef d’equipe 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 63.43%. “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.” 

Eger, who works for Hof Kasselmann and is in her first year competing at AGDF, rode the 12-year-old Oldenburg Tabledance 3 (Totilas—Riminis Queen, Rimini) to her first CDI victory in the three years the duo have been competing at the level. 

“She felt really good in the warm-up, so I could go into the test very relaxed,” Eger 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 added.   

Watch their winning test, courtesy of Wellington International:

Team Germany also included Felicitas Hendricks, who finished third individually with a contributing score of 69.52% on her own 14-year-old Destano gelding Drombusch OLD and Lars Ligus, who rode Hof Kasselmann’s 15-year-old Sandro Hit gelding Santiago to 67.06% and seventh individually.  

The silver medal winning Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team featured Devon Kane, her husband Kevin Kohmann, Erin Nichols and Jennifer Williams, all under Chef d’Equipe Christine Traurig’s guidance.

Kane was the top finisher, riding Diamante Farms’ Vamos into fifth place on 67.43%. Kohmann backed her up in sixth place with 67.30% on another Diamante Farm horse, the 14-year-old mare Guilietta. Jennifer Williams and 11-year-old Joppe K put 66.82% on the board, while Erin Nichols and Elian Royale were the drop score with 63.10%. 

Kane had a tricky start to her test when Vamos, a 13-year-old gelding, was a little distracted.

“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,” she 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.  

“This is both Vamos and Guilietta’s first year of CDI, so to be trusted for the U.S. team and to do what we did today makes us very proud,” she added. “Today was very special.”

Seven-time Olympian Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén recorded Sweden’s top finish, placing second individually behind Eger with 70.30% on the 13-year-old Lövsta Stuteri-owned mare, Hyatt. Karin Persson contributed 60.32% on Christina Devine’s 16-year-old gelding Slæbækgåard’s Santino, Caroline Darcourt scored 60.13% on 16-year-old Devanto, also owned by Lövsta Stuteri.

Both Australia and Canada fielded teams of just three riders, so an elimination for one combination from each country meant the teams were out, as three scores are required to count. 

See individual scores here.