Wellington, FL (February 13, 2015)— Terri and Devon Kane of Diamante Farms hit the ground running the week of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CDI 5* on February 5-8 in Wellington, Florida. Between hosting an Olympian Salute before the $200,000 CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle Friday night, acting as presenting sponsor of the prestigious 5* competition, cheering on Diamante Farms’ own Head Trainer Devon Kane in the 5* CDI Freestyle, sponsoring the Under-25 classes throughout the show series, and sponsoring the team that placed fourth in the 2015 Great Charity Challenge— Diamante Farms seemed to be everywhere.
The Kanes have been an integral part of the Adequan Global Dressage Series since its inception, and once again served as presenting sponsors for the CDI5* competition during week five of the event. As a special tribute to the number of Olympic athletes in South Florida for the winter show season, they proudly hosted an Olympian Salute before the $200,000 CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle Friday Night Under the Lights.
Young flag bearers from the non-profit organization Dressage4Kids led thirty Olympic athletes from eight nations in a parade of high-performance dressage riders from across the globe. Some of the superstars feted were United States athletes Robert Dover, Debbie McDonald, Steffen Peters, Tina Konyot, and Adrienne Lyle; Carl Hester from the U.K.; Hubertus Schmidt from Germany; Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén of Sweden; Lars Petersen from Denmark; and Canada’s Christilot Boylen, Ashley Holzer, and Jacquelyn Brooks. As the athletes marched into the arena to a standing ovation from the packed crowd, they were presented with flowers by the Kanes and Diamante Farms co-trainer Kevin Kohmann.
“What an amazing night at the 5* CDI Freestyle,” Terri Kane said. “Thank you to the thirty Olympians from eight countries who joined us for the Salute to the Olympians! I was told that more than 700 cars were parked to watch the freestyle!” Kane beamed.
As the competition began, Head Trainer at Diamante Farms Devon Kane proved she is a force to be reckoned with in the 5* Grand Prix Freestyle. She and her own Destiny, a 12-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Diamond Hit-Midt-West Regina, Rubenstein), earned a 70.700 percent against a formidable field as her coach, Olympic Gold Medalist Hubertus Schmidt, looked on. Lars Petersen and Mariett, a 17-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (Comeback II-Zendi Sidney) owned by Petersen and Marcia Pepper, scored another first place win that night with a 79.175 percent.
“Congratulations once again to Lars and Mariett for dancing their way into our hearts,” Terri Kane said. “Thank you to Hubertus Schmidt for coming, and congratulations to Devon Kane for proving that you can compete with the big guys!”
Also during the week five show, Diamante Farms presented an award to Under-25 rider Chase Hickok for yet another win in her division. Diamante sponsors the Under-25 classes throughout the Adequan Global Dressage Festival and, so far, Hickok has won two CDI classes per week of the show series— for a total of six classes. Hickok began riding Segacious, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Welt Hit II-Judith, Cocktail) owned by Al Guden of Hyperion Farms, in March 2014. The pair’s successful results include their most recent blue ribbon wins in the FEI Under 25 Intermediaire II with a 69.763 percent and a 68.512 percent in the FEI Under-25 Grand Prix. Hickok was awarded first place and a Diamante Farms duffle bag.
Not only does Diamante Farms sponsor world-class dressage events, they also proudly support non-profits within the community. At the February 7 Sixth Annual Great Charity Challenge, Diamante Farms was the corporate sponsor of the team that placed fourth. The theme of the exciting show jumping event was “Superheroes”. Teams of two junior/amateur riders combined with one Olympic or world-class rider competed in a jump-off to become heroes themselves by raising funds for 35 charities that serve Palm Beach County, with more than $6.2 million distributed to 100 plus charities throughout the region. The team sponsored by Diamante Farms competed for the Connor Moran Children’s Cancer Foundation.
As permanent residents of Wellington, the Kanes are proud to contribute to the community as well as the sport of dressage. They provide ongoing support for the Adequan Global Dressage Festival and are founding sponsors of the show series.
“We feel it is very important to our sport to have a first-class facility in order to bring top competitors from all over the world,” Terri Kane said. “The only way we will be able to be truly competitive is to compete against the best. At one time, the only way our competitors could do that was to go to Europe. Now, with this facility we are seeing the Europeans come here. Diamante Farms is extremely proud to have been an inaugural part of the Global Dressage Festival, and plans to be a part of it for many years to come.”
Diamante Farms’ beautiful ten-acre, over twenty-stall estate— complete with an indoor and an outdoor arena with world-class footing— houses twenty-one horses, half of which are currently competing. The facility offers top-quality training, clinics, boarding, and sales, and Head Trainer Devon Kane and Co-Trainer Kevin Kohmann are dedicated to achieving the best performance possible in their horses. For more information about Diamante Farms, visit www.DiamanteFarms.com or call 561-307-2831.
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Photo: During the Olympian Salute before the CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle Friday Night Under the Lights at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Diamante Farms presented thirty Olympians from eight countries with flowers (Photo courtesy of Susan J Stickle; for a high-res version please contact hoofprints1@aol.com)
