By Alice Collins for Wellington International
Wellington, Fla.—January 10, 2026—The American anthem rang out for Marcus Orlob and Jane for the second time this week, the first of the 12-week 2026 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) circuit in Wellington, FL. After comfortably topping Thursday’s Grand Prix, they cruised to a 74.681% victory in the La Donaira Lusitanos CDI3* Grand Prix Special, which took place on Saturday during Lloyd Landkamer Memorial week. AGDF hosts seven weeks of CDI competition and weekly national shows over three months, finishing March 29.
Marcus Orlob & Jane. Photo ©Centre Line Media
Orlob and the 12-year-old Jane, owned by Alice Tarjan, had one small blip in the shape of a missed change on the diagonal of one-time changes, but otherwise presented a poised, powerful and uphill picture throughout. They were followed on the leaderboard by Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA) who rode her own and Jennifer Huber’s 14-year-old Haute Couture (Connaisseur x Krack C) to 67.808%. Last to go, Spain’s Pablo Gómez Molina, coaxed a 67.298% test from Servus Ymas, finishing third on the 13-year-old San Amour x Depardieu gelding owned by Cristina Danguillecourt, Javier Bacariza and Yeguada de Ymas.
Marcus Orlob & Jane are presented as winners of the CDI3* Grand Prix Special by Maria Culsan of La Donaira Lusitanos and Judge at C Agnieszka Majewska. Photo ©Centre Line Media
Orlob has been working to build Jane’s confidence in the ring after a series of spooky rides and an unfortunate elimination at the Paris 2024 Olympics after a speck of blood was spotted on the Desperado x Metall mare’s leg. Their 74.681% score is their second highest in the Special test, and their best score at the level since June 2024.
“Today I was actually shocked because she came in so good and then on the first [extended trot] diagonal she had her ears up and I said ‘Go!’ and then I thought, ‘Whoa, this is way too much engine.’ But she settled nicely,” said Orlob, who rides the horse for Tarjan and has training help from Christine Traurig, the Chef d’Equipe of the US Dressage Team.
Katherine Bateson Chandler & Haute Couture. Photo ©Centre Line Media
Pablo Gómez Molina & Servus Ymas. Photo ©Centre Line Media
“It was Jane’s first time out since Aachen in July 2025 and she left all the craziness behind,” he added. “Unfortunately, we had a little bobble in the ones, but then the other ones on the center line were good. I’m happy for the horse to have a drama free test and hopefully it continues that way. I try to keep things really busy for her, and it’s slowly paying off. We don’t have a magic weapon, it’s just time, consistency and giving the horse trust.”
Watch The Winning Test
Video ©Richards Equine Video
To combat Jane’s nerves, Orlob hacks her before training, takes her to other barns, rides around the equestrian community of White Fences, and takes her to the adjacent Winter Equestrian Festival jumper showground. Their next competitive outing is slated for the CDI5* during AGDF 3, then probably target the FEI Nations Cup™ during week 11. The main focus of Orlob’s year is the FEI World Championships Aachen, in Germany this August.
Orlob is relishing being back at AGDF. He added, “Being here, with friends, amazing weather, and good competition is very nice. There are so many shows at Global that you can pick and choose without overdoing it.”
Click here for full results from the La Donaira Lusitanos CDI3* FEI Grand Prix Special.
Competition during AGDF 1 concludes on Sunday, January 11, a day that features young horse classes, amateur rides, juniors, and Under-25s, as well as a CDI2* FEI Intermediate II class. For more information, results, and to watch all the classes in the International Arena, visit https://www.wellingtoninternational.com
