New Podcast: Felicitas Hendricks Takes the Long Flight West
After a standout season in Wellington, the German rider and Drombusch OLD are crossing the Atlantic for the US Equestrian Open Final and bringing their disco freestyle to the California desert.
Germany’s Felicitas Hendricks has spent the past ten winters lighting up Wellington’s Global Dressage Festival. Now, she’s heading west to California for the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final with her longtime partner, Drombusch OLD.
Their partnership is nearly a decade in the making. Hendricks has brought the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding up the levels herself, from six-year-old prospect to international Grand Prix winner.
“Every day I think, I don’t want him to get older,” she said. “I just want to freeze him and have him forever.”
That bond was on full display earlier this year when the pair opened their Open campaign with a 78% freestyle win, one of the highest scores in the Series. Their upbeat disco routine—set to the same ‘80s hits her mother once danced to—has become a crowd favorite. “He’s such a big personality,” Hendricks laughed.
“I really believe he knows his music. When the crowd starts clapping, it’s our favorite part.”
Despite early hesitation about the long trip from Germany to California, Hendricks says there was no question she’d make the journey once she qualified. “I’ve got the perfect horse right now, and he’s such a good traveler. I had to take the chance,” she explained.
“[The Final] is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Listen to the full episode of the US Equestrian Open Podcast to hear Felicitas share stories from her season, her preparations for Thermal, and what it means to bring Drombusch to one of the sport’s most exciting new finals.
Listen to the full podcast here.
