Hemmingway (Carolynn Bunch Photography)
Wayne, Ill. – The 2014 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com continued on Friday with promising Six-Year-Olds and Developing Prix St. Georges Horses showcasing their talents in front of the judging panel of Hilda Gurney, Natalie Lamping, and Mike Osinski in Lamplight Equestrian Center’s Championship Arena. In the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Six-Year-Old National Championships presented by HorseShow.com, Hemmingway impressed the judges to surge to the head of the field, while in the Markel/USEF Developing Prix St. Georges Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com, Sanceo posted the top score of the day.
Six-Year-Old Championship
Six-Year-Old competition got the day started in the Championship Arena, as 14 entries performed the FEI Six-Year-Old Preliminary Test. Friday’s scores will count for 40% of the total championship score.
Angela Jackson (Henderson, Ky.) and Theresa Schnell’s Hemmingway (Hofrat x SPS Alsonara/Archipel) proved to be popular winners on Thursday morning. The Oldenburg stallion demonstrated outstanding, expressive gaits to earn an 8.1, 8.0, and 8.6 for his trot, walk, and canter, respectively.
Hemmingway was not only rewarded for his movement, but also his rideability and potential for the future. For his submission, the stallion scored an 8.6, for which Gurney commented, “Such harmony; such scope. It’s what we want to see in dressage.” The judging panel also awarded a mark of 8.6 for general impression. Hemmingway scored an 8.38 on Friday to lead the field heading into Sunday’s class.
Earning second-place honors on Friday were Heather Blitz (Medfield, Ma.) and Oak Hill Ranch’s Ripline (Blue Horse Hotline x Riviera/Blue Horse Cavan DH) with a score of 8.30. The Danish stallion earned an 8.0 for his trot and an 8.3 for the walk. The stallion was rewarded for his canter with an impressive 8.5. He received an 8.3 for submission and an 8.4 for general impression.
Riding to third place was Dr. Cesar Parra (White House Station, N.J.) and Michael and Sarah Davis’ Fiderhit OLD (Fidertanz x Fleur/Sandro Hit) with a score of 8.14. The Oldenburg gelding scored 8.5, 7.9, and 7.9 for the trot, walk, and canter, respectively. He also received scores of 8.0 and 8.4 for submission and general impression.
The Six-Year-Old Championship comes to a conclusion on Sunday as competitors will earn the remaining 60% of their score in the FEI Six-Year-Old Final Test.
Developing Prix St. Georges Horse Championship
The Developing Prix St. Georges Horse Championship kicked off Friday afternoon with 15 entries completing the FEI Prix St. Georges Test for the first 40% of their championship score.
Sanceo (San Remo x Rivera/Ramiro’s Son II), ridden by Sabine Schut-Kery (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), presented a polished effort to score 75.921%. Throughout the test, the eight-year-old Hanoverian stallion looked strong and confident in the Prix St. Georges movements.
Angela Jackson (Henderson, Ky.) earned second place in the Developing Prix St. Georges Horse Championship with Kerrin Courtney Dunn’s Allure S (Rousseau x Sizarma/Farrington) on Friday. The nine-year-old KWPN mare earned a score of 71.316% for the FEI Prix St. Georges Test.
Third place went to Petra Warlimont (Hygiene, Colo.) and Susan Alvey’s eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Highschool MCF (Hochadel x Ria/Rotspon), with a score of 70.132%.
The Developing Prix St. Georges Horse Championships comes to a close Sunday afternoon. Entries will earn the final 60% of their score by performing the USEF Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Test.
The 2014 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com continues on Saturday with the Four- and Five-Year-Old divisions, the Developing Horse Grand Prix, and the Dressage Seat Medal Finals. Competition gets underway in Lamplight Equestrian Center’s Championship Arena at 8 a.m. CT with the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com.
To learn more about the 2014 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com, visit: http://usef.org/_IFrames/breedsDisciplines/discipline/alldressage/DressageChampionships.aspx.
To see scores from the 2014 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com, visit: http://www.foxvillage.com/fvdshowresults/(sf5xgf3dvvmhtw451awvzr45)/Class.aspx?sh=2226&cl=940.
By Eileen Schnettler