Coach vs. Student, Round Two: The Del Mar Rematch

One of America’s most decorated dressage mentors and his star student go head-to-head again this weekend in Del Mar. The last time Anna Buffini and Günter Seidel met here, Buffini edged her longtime coach for the win. But on that day, it was Seidel—not Buffini—who received the highest individual judge score of the class. Now, just two California qualifiers remain before the series heads east, and both riders return to a familiar arena with different goals on the line.

Buffini returns with Fiontini, a triple World Young Horse Champion who once posted an 83.410% freestyle under Patrik Kittel. Buffini’s best with the mare sits at 73.235%—a strong result, but still shy of Fiontini’s proven potential. This season is about whether she can unlock the brilliance embedded in that record.

Seidel, meanwhile, isn’t chasing redemption. With three Olympic appearances and a resume full of World Cup Finals, his return is about rhythm and refinement. After a three-year freestyle hiatus, he and Equirelle posted a shaky 68.695% at the Del Mar Opener in February before rebounding to 73.080% in March—just 0.155% behind Buffini at their last faceoff.

A Test Decided by Tenths

That March faceoff—Qualifier 12—was one of the closest finishes of the season. Buffini won the class on 73.235%, but Seidel earned the day’s highest single judge score: a 75.175%. More than half of the movements were separated by less than a tenth of a point on average. It was, in every sense, a test decided by the slimmest margins.

Buffini won more of the directly comparable movements, especially in trot work and artistry. Her final halt carried an average margin of +1.8. Her extended trot was another highlight, netting her a +0.9 edge. She also led the field in rhythm—a 0.28-point advantage that helped tilt the artistic panel in her favor.

But her weaknesses were just as pronounced. In extended canter, Buffini lost by an average of 1.8 points. Her half-pass left (–0.5) and canter pirouette right (–0.3) were additional soft spots. More telling than the averages, though, was the judging spread. Her extended canter was scored as low as a 4.0 and as high as an 8.0. One judge gave her an 8 in the half-pass right while another gave a 6. At position H, one judge consistently diverged—awarding an 8 where others gave 5s, and later handing out a 5 where most gave 7s.

Seidel, by contrast, was steady. Across all 25 matched movements, no score differed by more than 1.5 points between judges. His ride was measured and deliberate, and the panel stayed in agreement from start to finish. His extended canter remained his biggest win, and his musicality continued to shine.

Despite the difference in style, the two riders finished nearly tied in overall artistic averages. Buffini led in rhythm and choreography. Seidel edged ahead in degree of difficulty and music. Their totals were separated by just 0.02 points before coefficients were applied. It was, essentially, a draw—but one that revealed two very different strengths.

The Leaderboard Picture

Although the student-versus-mentor rematch headlines the weekend, it’s Kristina Harrison-Antell who may have the most to gain. She sits 12th on 49 points. With just five riders in the field, she’s guaranteed at least 15 points—likely enough to push her into the top ten.

Seidel, currently holding 32 points, would move to 52 with a win. And if he competes again at Galway Downs in a few weeks, a fourth result would likely secure his place in the Final.

Buffini is still on the outside looking in when it comes to the leaderboard. But two strong results—this weekend and at Galway—could change that. She’ll need top-two finishes at both, and she’ll need to deliver tests that show not just potential, but polish.

Technically, the West Coast season wraps at the Ginny Rattner Memorial in Oregon at the end of May. But with Del Mar and Galway Downs marking the last two California qualifiers, the travel questions are real. Riders looking to avoid a 2,000-mile haul to the East Coast will need to make these final stops count.

Watch the freestyle Sunday at Del Mar Horse Park. The class starts at 10:30 a.m. Pacific on USEF Network. Sign up for free as a fan to stream the action.