Ansgar Holtgers Jr. Achieves Landmark Victory at Winter Equestrian Festival
Young rider wins the $200,000 CSI4* Grand Prix with Pixel-K van't Kattenheye
March 24, 2025 at 4:02 AMBy s.wilhelm
Ansgar Holtgers Jr. from the USA marked a significant milestone in his career on Sunday during Week 11 of the Winter Equestrian Festival, clinching the top spot in the $200,000 CSI4* Grand Prix while riding Pixel-K van't Kattenheye.
The festival, known for its intense competition over 12 weeks, continues at Wellington International in Florida until March 30. The event featured close to 20 Olympians competing on a challenging course designed by Andy Christiansen. Out of the contenders, 12 managed to qualify for the jump-off, but none could surpass the time set by 20-year-old Holtgers Jr., which was clocked at 40.04 seconds.
Spencer Smith finished just behind in second place with a time of 40.13 seconds, while Shane Sweetnam took third. Holtgers Jr. expressed his joy at the victory, emphasizing the prestige of the event and the capabilities of his horse, which has only recently begun competing at the highest level. The pair has been developing their partnership over the past two years, and Holtgers shared insights on their journey together. Following this event, he plans a break in April before competing in Europe for the summer season.
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