German Rider Wins as U.S. Athlete Secures Third World Cup Spot

A dressage competition in Wellington, Florida delivered two victories on the same night when Kevin Kohmann's dreams came true alongside winner Frederic Wandres.

German Olympian Frederic Wandres took first place with a score of 76.24% on his 10-year-old horse Verrenberg at the World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle on March 13. But the real celebration belonged to second-place finisher Kohmann, whose 75.715% score punched his ticket to the World Cup Final in Texas this April.

Kohmann achieved something remarkable: becoming only the second U.S. rider this century to qualify for three straight World Cup Finals on the same horse. The only other American to accomplish this feat was Laura Graves with her beloved partner Verdades.

The Wellington-based rider waited anxiously as the final competitor, Ashley Holzer, completed her test. Kohmann needed to be the top North American rider and score above 73.85% to beat out Genay Vaughn for the final automatic qualification spot.

When Holzer's score of 73.555% was announced, Kohmann could finally celebrate his achievement with Dünensee, his 17-year-old gelding who has been his partner for years. "I was standing on the side very nervous because when you have a rider like Ashley at the end, she could easily have beaten me," Kohmann admitted.

Why This Inspires

Kohmann's bond with Dünensee tells a story about loyalty, patience, and the power of partnership. "This guy still feels like he's eight years old," Kohmann said of his veteran horse, who has competed at the highest levels for years without losing his spark.

The rider's humility shines through his words. "This horse has such a big heart. He made my career; he changed everything," he said, giving full credit to his four-legged partner.

Meanwhile, Wandres had his own support story to share. His fiancé, Lars Ligus, rode Verrenberg for several weeks while Wandres was in Germany, preparing the young horse for success. Ligus received the grooms award of $500 for his dedication.

Spain's Pablo Gómez Molina rounded out the podium in third place aboard Ulises De Ymas, a 16-year-old horse he's been riding for 11 years. The international podium showcased the global nature of equestrian sport and the decade-long partnerships that define it.

Kohmann joins fellow U.S. athlete Christian Simonson and Canadian rider Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu in the three automatic North American qualification spots for the World Cup Final. Four years ago, Kohmann never imagined this would be possible.