By Alice Collins for Wellington International
Wellington, Fla. – January 23, 2026—Susan Pape (GBR) punched the air with delight as she concluded her foot-perfect Tom Jones-themed test on Harmony’s Giulilanta in the 3 Graces Dressage CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle during week three of the 12-week 2026 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL.
Susan Pape & Harmony’s Giulilanta are presented as winners of the 3 Graces Dressage CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle by (left to right), Judge at C Dr. Sven-Günter Rothenberger, groom Laura Pape, Rebecca Cohen, Carol Cohen-Hodess and Jan Brink. Photo ©Centre Line Media
Watch The Winning Freestyle
As her winning 81.745% personal best score was announced, she cried happy tears in front of the 2000-strong crowd of enthusiastic fans and spectators. The performance marked a watershed moment in Giulilanta’s career. The now 15-year-old suffered a potentially career-ending injury when she was on the brink of stepping up to grand prix. Now, with the FEI World Championships in August on the not-too-distant horizon, the mare is in the form of her life and has the scores to prove it, having also nailed Thursday’s CDI5* Grand Prix with a career high score.
Five nations were represented in the CDI5* Freestyle with three different flags ultimately adorning the podium. Anna Marek (USA) finished in second place with 76.435% on Fayvel, while Caroline Darcourt flew the flag for Sweden, claiming third with Lord Django on 76.04%.
En route to her resounding success, Giulilanta picked up nines for choreography, music and the canter pirouettes, reinforcing the Jazz x Flemmingh daughter’s upward trajectory.
“I wasn’t sure how she was going to cope with the audience because they were very excited,” said Pape, who rides the attractive chestnut for Leslie and John and Malone of Harmony Sporthorses and is based in Germany for most of the year. “But as soon as I started the test, I felt she was with me. We’re a total partnership, and it makes it so very special.
“This horse amazes me every day. Even though she’s already 15, she hasn’t got so much experience under her belt, but it seems that she just gets better and better. I’m so grateful to John and Leslie who let me ride this incredible horse,” added Pape, whose daughter Laura was awarded the groom’s award, presented by The Horse of Course.
Susan Pape’s daughter and groom, Laura Pape, is presented with the Groom’s Award, sponsored by The Horse of Course, for her care of Harmony’s Giulilanta. Presenters were Leslie Munsell (center) and Ruthann Smith of Lucky Braids (far right). Photo ©Centre Line Media
Although Giulilanta is certainly producing the goods now, Pape explained that it was not always smooth sailing.
“We got her when she was six and struggling with learning the flying changes,” she said. “It took her a very long time to make it up to Fourth Level and Prix St. Georges. Now, this is my second season with her at Grand Prix here in Wellington and she’s spicy but incredibly focused.”
Judge at C Dr. Sven-Günter Rothenberger agreed, saying, “This class was very good promotion for our sport; it’s always a good sign when we see good riding. I liked how Susan’s horse came in, how elastic she was, and how she did the passage. During the test, there were some people clapping, but the mare was fully with Susan, and it was really enjoyable to watch.”
In the two new awards introduced for this year’s ADGF, Pape scooped week three’s Leading Lady Freestyle Rider Award, sponsored by Frank & Eileen, and she now also sits atop the Stillpoint Dressage Leading International Freestyle Rider standings in joint first place with Christian Simonson (USA). A special prize will be awarded to the overall winners of both awards at the end of the season.
Susan Pape, aboard Harmony’s Giulilanta, earned the Leading Lady Rider Award, sponsored by Frank & Eileen and presented by Thomas Baur. Photo ©Centre Line Media
The freestyle doubled as a qualifier for the lucrative US Equestrian Open of Dressage series, now in its second year. Seven of this season’s 24 qualifiers are held at AGDF before the final in California in November. Pape’s win put her straight into fifth place in the standings, currently led by Simonson. Marek has moved into seventh place, with Darcourt slotting into fourth, as she now has two results on the scoreboard.
Marek is known for riding her freestyles with power and flare. Her performance on the 16-year-old Zizi Top gelding Fayvel to a funky Karen Robinson music compilation chosen by owner Cynthia Davila was no exception.
“He always lights up in the Friday night classes,” said Marek, who is based near Ocala, FL, and trains with Anne Gribbons. “I really enjoy riding him in this atmosphere where he gets more excited. At home, we keep things fresh by doing a lot of different stuff like riding out in the field. He’s got such a good temperament that he’s always willing.”
Anna Marek & Fayvel. Photo ©Centre Line Media
Caroline Darcourt produced her highest score with Lord Django, Lövsta Stuteri’s 16-year-old Stalypso gelding, in two years with their 76.04% test.
“He is so excited to be back here in Florida—he was injured last year and home in Sweden, so I think he wants to show everyone that he really deserves his place here,” said Darcourt.
Caroline Darcourt & Lord Django. Photo ©Centre Line Media
Class sponsor Carol Cohen-Hodess of 3 Graces Dressage was also the mastermind behind the sell-out Dressage Infusion Masterclass on Wednesday evening with the three Olympians Jan Brink, Kyra Kyrklund and Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour.
Cohen-Hodess said, “I’ve been a resident of Wellington for over 20 years, and it’s really important not only to support the shows, but to help with education. That’s why we brought the clinic here. Our sport is very important to me, and I want people to be educated about what good riding is.”
Click for full results from the 3 Graces CDI5* FEI Grand Prix Freestyle
Fraser-Beaulieu’s Top Two
Canadian athletes dominated in the hegemonic IDA Development CDI1* Intermediate I, nailing all three top placings. Best of them was Olympic rider Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu’s commanding test on Jill Irving’s nine-year-old Medoc (Vivaldi x Sir Donnerhall I), which garnered 72.029%, including an eight for harmony from three of the five judges.
Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu & Medoc, winners of the IDA Developments CDI1* Intermediate I by Judge at C.Henning Lehrmann. Photo ©Centre Line Media
Fraser-Beaulieu also took the red ribbon on the Franklin x Tango gelding, Leeghwater—another owned by Irving—with 69.265%. Fellow Canadian Olympian Naïma Moreira Laliberté slotted into third with a 69.088% ride on KML Inc.’s 12-year-old Jaliska LD, by All At Once x Kigali. All three top horses are Dutch Warmbloods.
Click here for full results from the IDA Development CDI1* FEI Intermediate I.
Dressage continues on Saturday, January 24, with two CDI Grand Prix Special classes, the CDI5* and CDI3* divisions. AGDF, which hosts seven weeks of CDI competition, runs through March 29. For more information, results, and to live stream the classes in the International Arena free of charge, visit www.wellingtoninternational.com
