Tag Archives: U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions

US Dressage Festival of Champions Set to Host 71 Combinations across Six Divisions

Lexington, Ky. – The 2014 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp will kick off in less than one week, and anticipation continues to grow for the event that will run June 12-15 at the USET Foundation Headquarters. A total of 71 combinations are set to compete across six divisions as $155,000 in prize money will be awarded over the weekend in Gladstone, N.J.

In The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, which also serves as the Selection Trial for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games US Dressage Team Short List, a field of 16 lines up to perform. Another full division of 17 horses and riders have traveled to Gladstone to stake their claim on The Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship. In the USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today, a small but mighty field of five is set to contest Under 25 Grand Prix competition.

The youth of American dressage will also be on full display in the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship, AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship, and USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship, as line-ups of 10, 12, and 11 combinations are set across the three divisions, respectively.

To learn more about the 2014 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp, visit: https://www.usef.org/foc.

Charlotte Jorst Qualifies Nintendo and Vitalis for US Dressage Festival of Champions

Nintendo competing at Paragon Dressage CDI3*. Photos/Kathleen Bryan, www.yourhorses.ifp3.com.

Nintendo to Compete in WEG Selection Trials

(Rancho Santa Fe, CA) June 6, 2014 – Charlotte Jorst is well on her way to making her dreams come true as she heads to Gladstone with two incredible stallions, Nintendo and Vitalis.

With Nintendo, the eleven-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by her Kastel Denmark activewear company, she will compete in the 2014 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp/Selection Trials for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games US Dressage Team Short List.

With Vitalis, Kastel Denmark’s seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion, she will ride for the 2014 Tim Dutta National Intermediaire I Championship.

Only two weeks ago, her dream to qualify for Gladstone seemed headed for heartbreak. “All these things kept happening to prevent us competing in the final qualifying competitions we originally planned,” Charlotte remembers. “That’s life with horses; things always happen! But you know, sometimes you can’t change the things that happen – the only thing you can change is your attitude.”

So Charlotte and her coach, Olympian Guenter Seidel, changed course for Estes Park, Colorado, and the Paragon Dressage CDI3*, where Charlotte earned the final qualifying scores on both Nintendo and Vitalis. Coincidentally, both horses earned ninth-place rankings heading into their respective competitions: Nintendo with a 69.532% average and a 70.650% high score, and Vitalis with a 69.755% average and a 71.228% high score.

Building Partnerships

Charlotte and Nintendo have been competing together only since early this year. Before Charlotte imported him from Europe at the end of 2013, Nintendo had been only lightly competed at Grand Prix. Charlotte began building their partnership even as they earned qualifying scores during an intense two months at the CDI-W Capistrano Classic and CDI3* Festival of the Horse in California and the CDI3* Paragon Dressage in Colorado, during which their individual scores climbed from 62.689% to a high of 70.650%.

Vitalis competing at Paragon Dressage CDI3*
Vitalis competing at Paragon Dressage CDI3*

Vitalis is another horse with whom Charlotte quickly built a strong competitive record. After she imported him in 2013, they posted the highest ever USA qualifying score average of 9.192 at the Markel/USEF Western Selection Trials; placed 13th for the USA at the FEI Breeding Championship for Young Horses, 6-year-olds, at Verden, Germany; and won the 2013 Markel/USEF Developing Horse National Championship presented by HorseShow.com with a final score of 9.152 including two perfect 10s.

Advice and Support

Advice from Robert Dover, US Dressage Technical Advisor/Chef d’Equipe, during a clinic in February of this year set Charlotte on a new course. “He told me I needed to train with Guenter Seidel,” recalls Charlotte. “So I moved my horses into Guenter’s barn and we’ve been working consistently ever since.”

“Charlotte is very determined,” Guenter reveals, “and she has a very good attitude. That’s the main thing you have to have, because with horses there are so many things that happen, issues that you have to overcome. She has very, very good horses, and she puts in the daily work, consistently. You have to put in the daily work; without it, you can’t succeed. And Charlotte has good nerves – she can concentrate and make things work. She has as good a chance as anyone on the list to go to Europe and compete for a spot on the team.”

Support from her family is every bit as valuable to Charlotte, as she balances her commitments to her horses’ training and their intense competition schedule with the growing success of her cool and stylish activewear business, Kastel Denmark. Charlotte’s husband of 25 years, Henrik, and daughters Christine and Camilla, are the heart of her success. She says simply, “I couldn’t pursue my dreams for my horses and my business without them. I am grateful beyond words for their incredible love and support.”

Follow Charlotte on Facebook where she posts photos and news, and see new photos of her latest cool and stylish activewear at www.kasteldenmark.com. Watch the USEF Network at www.USEFNetwork.com for results of the 2014 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp/Selection Trials for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games US Dressage Team Short List and the 2014 Tim Dutta National Intermediaire I Championship.

For more information contact:
Nan Meek – Dark Horse Media Biz
650-823-1671
nanmeek@sbcglobal.net

USEF Announces New Dates for 2014 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce new dates for the 2014 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. The event will take place June 12-15 at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, N.J. The event will also feature the Selection Trial for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games US Dressage Team Short List.

The 2014 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp will once again hold championships across six divisions: The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, The Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship, USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship, AGCO/USEF National Young Rider Dressage Championship, AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship and USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship.

United States Equestrian Federation | 4047 Iron Works Parkway | Lexington | KY | 40511

Peters, Herslow, Davis, and Redston Earn National Titles to Close Out US Dressage Festival of Champions

Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 (SusanJStickle.com)

Lexington, Ky. – The 2013 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp came to a conclusion on Saturday with the final four champions crowned. In The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, Steffen Peters claimed his seventh title in the division under the lights, while earlier in the day Kim Herslow and Rosmarin claimed their first National Title in The Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship. Barbara “Bebe” Davis won the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship title in her first attempt at the annual competition, while Alison Redston and Tony 47 led the victory gallop in the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship.

The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship

Grand Prix competition came to a conclusion under the lights of the Rolex Stadium as the eight competitors rode their Freestyle tests to earn the remaining 15% of their championship score.

Peters (San Diego, Calif.) scored a repeat victory with Four Winds Farm’s Legolas 92, as he cruised to an unprecedented seventh National Title in the Grand Prix division. The Olympic veteran pulled out all the stops with the 11-year-old Westphalian gelding as he produced strong piaffe and passage, as well as improved one-time changes. The talented combination concluded their Freestyle with an impressive pirouette in piaffe directly into halt on the centerline as they scored 79.450%.

“This was the best freestyle for sure. He felt great in the warm-up and I just hoped I could do that in the ring,” said Peters of Legolas 92. “Right off from the first step he felt as supple as in the warm-up. He stayed right with the music. I couldn’t be happier.”

The pair finished on a championship total of 76.476%.

Looking toward the future and preparation for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Peters will rely on advice from Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor Robert Dover in planning for the future months.

“I have not thought about it,” said Peters. “California, Florida, we’ll think about it and I’m sure Robert will weigh in on that.”

Earning second place in the Freestyle and Reserve Champion honors overall was Guenter Seidel (Cardiff, Calif.) and Coral Reef Wylea. Coral Reef Ranch’s 13-year-old Westphalian mare earned a 76.450% in the Freestyle to finish on a championship score of 72.404%.

Despite a mistake in the two-time changes, Seidel was extremely pleased with the mare and believes she improved from Friday night’s Grand Prix Special.

“I thought she was great; there was the obvious mistake in the twos but it worked out great. In general, I thought she was better than the night before. Definitely, she felt good.”

Earning third place in the championship was Kathleen Raine (Murrieta, Calif.) and her own, Jennifer Mason, and David Wightman’s 13-year-old Hanoverian mare Breanna. The pair finished the Freestyle with a score of 70.225% and earned a championship score of 71.213%.

The Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship

Herslow (Stockton, N.J.) and Rosmarin narrowly missed sweeping the three tests of Intermediaire I Championship, placing second in Saturday’s Freestyle but scoring a decisive victory in the National Championship. Kiroli Enterpirse Inc.’s eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding’s score of 75.200% counted for the remaining 15% of the pair’s championship average of 75.701%.

Kim Herslow and Rosemarin (SusanJStickle.com)
Kim Herslow and Rosemarin (SusanJStickle.com)

“I went easy on my horse yesterday and just did a really basic ride,” Herslow noted. “Today I wanted to have more horse and I think I had a little more than I have had for a little while, but that’s okay. I also have to learn how to ride that tension and I felt like I had him a little more up in his shoulders and I had him in a little more expressive frame. But I was a little on edge because we haven’t really been going there. But I’m thrilled.”

Herslow expressed how proud she’s been of Rosmarin and how’s he’s dealt with the pressure of such difficult competition.

“I’m amazed that he came back to showing after having the whole summer off and stepped up to the plate even more than in Florida this past season. I’m really looking forward to the season in Florida this winter and we’ll be moving up to the Grand Prix as soon as he’s ready.”

Caroline Roffman (Wellington, Fla.) and her own Her Highness O finished first in Saturday’s Intermediaire I Freestyle test, earning 76.625% and finishing on an overall total of 73.504% as the Reserve Champion. Roffman and her 10-year-old Hanoverian mare performed a powerful test in the Rolex Arena.

“For me, today was the perfect ending to Intermediaire I,” Roffman said. “She (Her Highness O) showed she’s able to compete with the best in the country. She was a blast to ride and it was the perfect way to end, in my mind. Today was perfect.”

Emily Jucsher Wagner (La Cygne, Kan.) and Wakeup, her own eight-year-old AWR stallion, finished third in the championship on a score of 69.612%.

AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship

Bebe Davis and Rotano (SusanJStickle.com)
Bebe Davis and Rotano (SusanJStickle.com)

Davis (Bedminster, N.J.) had another top performance on Saturday morning to claim victory in the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship with her impressive mount Rotano. She and her parents’ (Michael and Sarah Davis) 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding had a lovely test with excellent trot extensions and half-passes to score a 69.000% in the FEI Junior Individual Test. The pair finished the championship with an overall score of 68.771%.

“My ride this morning was really amazing. I couldn’t be more thankful for my horse, and for my trainers and my parents for always being there for me,” stated Davis. “Moments like this make all of our training and all of our riding totally worth it. He was just such a good boy. He was really there for me and just really trying and listening to my aids.”

Davis credits riding at the Pony level with enabling to reach the level she has in her riding. Last year she won the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship and has moved up to Junior ranks this year finding much success. Davis believes she has learned a great deal about patience and perseverance while riding the intelligent little creatures.

“I showed two weekends ago at Devon and it was my last ride in the Pony division. I got a little bit emotional on centerline, but I am very happy to see how far ponies have come,” Davis said. “I did it the first year when there were only two and this year it is five times the size. It really makes me so happy to see that, that kids are really wanting to do it because I would never be where I am today if I didn’t do the ponies.”

Lindsey Holleger (Whigham, Ga.) had an improved test with Friedensfurst from Thursday, having beautiful trot extensions, strong canter half-passes, and a nice walk tour. She and the 11-year-old Trakehner gelding scored a 68.079% in Saturday’s test to finish with a 67.324% overall in the championship.

“I loved my ride today,” said Holleger. “He gave me everything and he was really relaxed, and that’s what I wanted to fix from the last ride. He did that and even more and I am really ready for Young Riders next year.”

Mallory Kent (Birmingham, Ala.) and Okiedokie slotted into third place in the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship with a solid effort, receiving a 66.842% in the FEI Junior Individual Test. She and her own 17-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood gelding completed the championship with a 66.219%.

The girls thanked their families, trainers, and sponsors, as well as being appreciative of the show management and volunteers.

USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship

Redston (Needham, Mass.) swept the Pony division with her own Tony 47. She demonstrated a solid test with the 13-year-old German Riding Pony gelding to score 66.683% in the FEI Pony Individual Test. The pair won the National Championship with an overall score of 66.303%.

“I thought our test went pretty well,” said Redston. “Throughout the test he was more relaxed, especially compared to the awards ceremony the day before. I felt like it let out some of his energy and it also had a feeling that it was more like a regular show. He was much more relaxed and could be himself.”

Alison Redston and Tony 47 (SusanJStickle.com)
Alison Redston and Tony 47 (SusanJStickle.com)

Redston is thrilled with her results and has no regrets about getting into the discipline of dressage after this weekend.

“I got into dressage because whenever I would jump, I would fall on my face, which was never fun. I always like to watch it (dressage) and I would be like, ‘Wait, how did they do that?’ and I wanted to learn about it and learn how to do it like those people who do things that seem impossible.”

Finishing in second place in the division were Madelyn Guthrie and Jordy. Guthrie (Westmont, Ill.) and her own 15-year-old Welsh Pony gelding presented a solid ride to score 64.026%.

“Our ride had a lot more energy than yesterday,” Guthrie commented. “After our last test we knew we needed to improve the energy level a little bit to improve all the movements as well. I think some of our highlights today were the medium and extended trot as well as the canter and we just really upped our game and knew we wanted to strive to be better. Jordy did really well and was there for me.”

Savannah Rose Franklund (Boulder, Colo.) rode into third place with CF Godiva Chocolate. She and her own 13-year-old American Quarter Pony gelding finished with an overall score of 63.384%.

USEF Network will be streaming Friday and Saturday’s competition live at www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013FestivalOfChampions/. Retired FEI 5* judge Axel Steiner will provide commentary during the broadcast.

Find out everything you need to know about the championships at http://www.usefconnect.com/festival/.

By Helen Murray, Kathleen Landwehr and Eileen Schnettler

Peters Maintains Lead, Wagner and Uhlir Score National Titles as Redston Storms to Head of Her Field

Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 (SusanJStickle.com)

Lexington, Ky. – The Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park hosted a full day of competition on Friday, as riders went to task across four divisions at the 2013 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 maintained their lead in The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship in the evening session under the lights. In USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today competition Emily Wagner and Weltdorff posted their second victory of the weekend to claim the 2013 National Title. Earlier in the day, Ayden Uhlir and Sjapoer earned top honors in the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship. USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship kicked off with Alison Redston and Tony 47 claiming the first victory if the weekend.

The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship

Eight Grand Prix competitors returned to the Rolex Stadium on Friday evening to earn a further 40% of their championship score by riding the FEI Grand Prix Special.

In their second test of the weekend, Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and Four Winds Farm’s 11-year-old Westphalian gelding were on track to again score in the high 70s but an error of course in the canter work meant their final score in the Special would be 74.771%. The 2012 National Champions once again demonstrated strong trot work and showed improvement in the changes.

“The horse was great; the rider wasn’t good. My mind was set on riding the twos but the judges didn’t want that,” joked Peters. “It was the cleanest test we’ve had; Legolas was fabulous. It didn’t matter too much tonight but I would have been really upset if this would have happened in a team competition. I’m confident it won’t happen again.”

Throughout the weekend at the 2013 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp competitors across all levels have shown great potential for the future. Peters believes this is an extremely fortunate position for the U.S. to be in and the tours many riders did in Europe over the summer were extremely beneficial.

“The European tours were very successful and it is important to not only look at where we stand but where we are going,” remarked the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Bronze medalist.

Finishing in second place on Friday night was Guenter Seidel (Cardiff, Calif.) and Coral Reef Wylea with a score of 71.917%. The U.S. team veteran and Coral Reef Ranch’s 13-year-old Westphalian mare demonstrated improvement in the FEI Grand Prix Special Test compared to Wednesday’s Grand Prix.

“I rode a little more of a conservative test today. Which I think worked out well,” said Seidel of his test on Friday. “From the rideability and the relaxation it was definitely the best test we’ve had.”

Seidel and Coral Reef Wylea now stand second in The Dutta Corp/ USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship.

Finishing in third place on Friday night was Kathleen Raine (Murrieta, Calif.) and her own, Jennifer Mason, and David Wightman’s 13-year-old Hanoverian mare Breanna. The pair scored 70.771% on Friday, and now lies third in the Championship.

Grand Prix competition comes to a close on Saturday night with the Freestyle as competitors will earn the remaining 15% of their overall title.

Prior to the start of Grand Prix competition, Dressage Celebrity Mounted Games will take place in the Rolex Stadium at 6:00pm. This event will feature teams of competitors and celebrity coaches participating in pony relay races as a fundraiser for the U.S. High Performance Dressage programs.

USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship Presented by Dressage Today

The championship title was decided for the Young Adult “Brentina Cup” competition during the end of the morning session on Friday as the up-and-coming riders performed the FEI Young Rider Grand Prix Test. Twenty-five year-old Wagner (La Cygne, Kan.) rode her own Weltdorff to claim the prestigious title with an overall score of 65.578%. She and her own 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding had a rhythmical, harmonious test, displaying their eight-year partnership.

Emily Wagner and Weltdorff (SusanJStickle.com)
Emily Wagner and Weltdorff (SusanJStickle.com)

“He was just so supple today and I loved that feeling,” commented Wagner. “My half-passes flowed and were really nice. The canter half-passes I really liked. We had a few shaky moments, but I know him very well so we recovered and really got out of it. We messed up our ones. Usually those are pretty solid, but what can I say?”

After getting Weldorff as an unbroken three-year-old in Germany, Wagner as moved up the levels and learned alongside him. That fact made the championship title more meaningful.

“He has done so much for me because I have had him since he was a rascally three-year-old and because we have gone through so much together. There have been so many times where I’ve thought, ‘I don’t understand, he doesn’t understand, we are up against a wall, what are we going to do?’ And that makes this mean so incredibly much to me. So I’m thrilled,” said a delighted Wagner.

Genay Vaughn (Elk Grove, Calif.) rode Donarweiss GGF to Reserve Champion honors with an overall score of 64.646%. She and Starr Vaughn Equestrian, Inc.’s 12-year-old Hanoverian stallion made a solid effort with lovely canter pirouettes highlighting their test.

“We had a pretty good test; we had a few mistakes but I am really happy with him,” remarked Vaughn. “I am even happier with how we did our first year out. I am excited to even be here; it’s an honor.”

Vaughn hopes to do some training in Europe next year, but would like to continue to compete in the USEF “Brentina Cup” Program.

Lauren Knopp of Wellington, Fl. rode Rantaro, her own 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding, to a third-place finish, scoring a 64.294% overall. The pair had good flying changes and nice trot half-passes.

“We did a shorter warm-up and he felt hot and great and wonderful. It actually felt too good since I went off course,” said Knopp of halting prematurely on the centerline.

Their placing was quite impressive since Knopp has been sidelined with a herniated disc in her back.

“I’m very excited. I had two months off because of my back so I didn’t think I would get here,” said an emotional Knopp of the accomplishment. “I just started riding two weeks ago, so I’m very, very excited.”

AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship

Ayden Uhlir and Sjapoer (SusanJStickle.com)
Ayden Uhlir and Sjapoer (SusanJStickle.com)

The eleven Young Riders returned to the Rolex Stadium on Friday to perform the FEI Young Rider Individual Test, which would help determine the winner of the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship. Uhlir (Kirkland, Wash.) added another title to her resume as she claimed top honors in the championship with an overall score of 68.211%. She and her mount for the past three years, Sjapoer, performed a lovely test that flowed from movement to movement to earn a 68.184%.

“He was a little bit quieter; he wasn’t so awake today. We only had mistakes in the walk and the halt-rein back, but we recovered for the rest of the ride,” commented Uhlir. “I felt that he was fairly consistent, and just a fairly decent and good ride. Our canter work was a lot better than our trot work. I felt like our tempis were very straight, jumpy, and overall good.”

Uhlir trains with USEF Youth Coach Jeremy Steinberg and has found much success with the help of his long term intensive training program. After winning the 2012 USEF Junior Dressage National Championship, Uhlir moved up to the Young Rider level and continued to improve with her own 14-year-old KWPN gelding.

“There’s this big list and it asks you all these questions about what you want to do with your riding goals, both short term and long term. It’s a guideline to help you follow that path. It’s definitely an amazing program and seems to be working quite well for me right now,” Uhlir said with a smile.

Rachel Chowanec (Columbia, Conn.) claimed the Reserve Champion title with Embrujado XI with an overall score of 66.356%. She and Lendon Gray’s 15-year-old PRE gelding made a solid effort in their test, which was highlighted by quality canter work. The test only had a minor mistake during the shoulder-ins, scoring a 67.237%

“He was better today, not as spooky,” said Chowanec. “I couldn’t get him to turn during the shoulder-in to go across the arena but after that he was really good.”

Kaitlin Blythe (Rougemon, N.C.) rode Daverden to a third-place finish with an overall score of 65.645%. She and the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding had nice tempis and extensions to earn a 66.237%.

“My test was much better today. I feel like the quality wasn’t as good as yesterday, but we had a lot less mistakes,” said a pragmatic Blythe. “He was a lot different today. Yesterday he was a lot more up, but today he was a little quieter.”

USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship

Redston (Needham, Mass.) collected a first-place ribbon in the FEI Pony Team Test with her own Tony 47. She demonstrated an accurate, energetic test with the 13-year-old German Riding Pony gelding to score 65.923%.

“I thought my ride was pretty good,” Redston said. “I think Tony feels at home in this big stadium; he’s realized that this is finally where he’s supposed to be.”

Alison Redston and Tony 47 (SusanJStickle.com)
Alison Redston and Tony 47 (SusanJStickle.com)

Redston views these Championships as an introduction to the top levels of Dressage in the U.S.

“I got into ponies because I always thought that ponies were really compassionate and they were the sweetest little things in the world.  I wanted to have a pony just for me, to take him around and show him and show what we can do.”

Standing in second place in the division are Nadine Orriss and Allegria. Orriss (Bellevue, Wash.) and her own 14-year-old Welsh/Dutch Warmblood mare presented a solid ride to score 64.026%.

“I thought I did pretty well,” Orriss commented. “It was kind of hot out so my pony was really lazy, so it was really hard to get her in front of the leg. But we tried our best. I know she always tries her best and puts on her game face whenever she goes in the ring, so I’m really pleased with how we did.”

Orriss enjoys riding ponies because she’s able to challenge herself among a level playing field.

“I wanted to do it because it’s a pretty hard test and there aren’t a lot of ponies. It’s been hard the past few years competing against the big warmbloods, so finally having your own division where ponies are going against ponies is really fun.”

Savannah Rose Franklund (Boulder, Colo.) rode into third place with CF Godiva Chocolate. She and her own 13-year-old American Quarter Pony gelding scored 63.718%.

The USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship comes to a conclusion on Saturday as they perform their FEI Pony Individual Tests to earn the remaining 50% of the championship score.

USEF Network will be streaming Friday and Saturday’s competition live at www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013FestivalOfChampions/. Retired FEI 5* judge Axel Steiner will provide commentary during the broadcast.

Find out everything you need to know about the championships at http://www.usefconnect.com/festival/.

By Helen Murray, Kathleen Landwehr and Eileen Schnettler

Herslow Maintains Lead as Uhlir and Davis Surge to the Head of Their Fields at US Dressage Festival of Champions

Kim Herslow and Rosmarin (SusanJStickle.com)

Lexington, Ky. – Two divisions kicked off competition on Thursday at the 2013 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp, while Intermediaire I competitors completed their second tests of the weekend. Kim Herslow and Rosmarin continue to hold the lead in The Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship following a solid effort in the afternoon. In the first test of the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship, Ayden Uhlir and Sjapoer powered to top honors. Earlier in the morning, Bebe Davis and Rotano began their National Title quest with a win in the first of two performances of the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship.

The Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship

The 12 Small Tour competitors returned to the Rolex Stadium on Thursday afternoon to complete the FEI Intermediaire I Test and earn a further 45% of their championships score.

Herslow (Stockton, N.J.) and Kiroli Enterprises Inc.’s Hanoverian gelding were the winners of Wednesday’s FEI Prix St. Georges and continued to impress in their second test of the weekend. Rosmarin once again demonstrated stunning ground-covering gaits to score 75.789% to win the FEI Intermediaire I test and continue to lead The Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship.

“I’m thrilled with my horse. I had a couple bobbles, but overall I’m thrilled,” said Herslow of her performance on Thursday. “There is so much more horse there; we’re just scratching the surface.”

Despite only being eight years old, Rosmarin is already quite experienced in the competitive arena, including being part of the winning U.S. team at the Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm. Herslow believes the gelding continues to improve with each competition and thoroughly enjoys his job.

“I feel like he gets into the groove each show; he gets better and better. He studies his work,” said Herslow. “He lets you enjoy the ride. I’m lucky to have him.”

Caroline Roffman rode the 2012 USEF National Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage Championship presented by The Dutta Corp and Performance Sales International winner, Her Highness O, to a second-place finish for the second consecutive day. The pair, which competed in Small Tour competition at the Aachen CDIO5* this summer, performed a solid test that was just marred by too many two-time changes to score 73.053%.

“Yesterday I had mistakes in the changes. Today I had great changes; I just did too many,” said a pragmatic Roffman of her test with her own 10-year-old Hanoverian mare. “There were a lot of highlights for me. I was really happy.”

Roffman and Her Highness O stand second in the championship with one test remaining.

Sarah Lockman (Rancho Cucamonga, Ca.) and Pamela Munson’s 11-year-old KWPN gelding Vinterpol have risen to third place in the championship after earning a 70.553% and third-place finish on Thursday.

The Intermediaire I Championships comes to a conclusion on Saturday as the Small Tour combinations perform their Freestyle Tests and earn the remaining 15% of the championship score.

AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship

Uhlir (Kirkland, Wash.) stormed into the top spot of the Young Rider Championship with Sjapoer, scoring 68.237% in the FEI Young Rider Team Test. She rode her own 14-year-old KWPN gelding to a 2.763-point lead heading into Friday’s FEI Young Rider Individual Test.

Ayden Uhlir and Sjapoer (SusanJStickle.com)
Ayden Uhlir and Sjapoer (SusanJStickle.com)

“Today, since it’s our first day of competition, I was trying to be more reserved in my riding,” Uhlir said. “I didn’t want to push him too hard. I was testing some of his buttons in the warm-up to see if he was listening to my aids and he seemed to be listening quite well. My test was very nice. I think I messed up on one of my tempis, but I recovered and I got the rest of them, so it wasn’t too big of a deal. Overall, it was a pretty solid test for the first day.  I’m really excited for tomorrow.”

Uhlir won the USEF Junior Dressage National Championship last year. She and her trainer, Jeremy Steinberg, have been working on some specific details since winning the FEI North American Young Rider Individual and Freestyle Championships at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC).

“We’ve been working on getting some passage steps and he seems to be clicking into them more.  We’re just fully building him up to the next level. I would love to do “Brentina Cup” on him.”

Standing second in the division are Rachel Chowanec and Embrujado XI. Chowanec (Columbia, Conn.) utilized the 15-year-old PRE gelding’s impressive gaits to score 65.474%.

“Overall he felt pretty solid and we went for it with a lot of things,” said Chowanec. “With the tempis, we pushed them a little bit to get them all bigger and it felt very good.”

Chowanec competed in the 2012 USEF Young Rider National Championship and finished in fourth place. This year she is focusing on how to manage Embrujado XI when he is easily spooked.

“Over the years it’s kind of been what works with that day,” Chowanec explained. “Some days I really have to slow him down and get him thinking about me and rely on my aids. Other days, like today, he was really behind me so I had to push him forward and push him through the spookiness, not go around it.”

Kaitlin Blythe rode Daverden into third place. Blythe (Rougemon, N.C.) and the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding produced a solid effort scoring 65.053%.

The AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship competition continues Friday, with riders performing the FEI Young Rider Individual Test, which will count for the remaining 50% of the overall average.

AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship

Barbara Davis and Rotano (SusanJStickle.com)
Barbara Davis and Rotano (SusanJStickle.com)

Experience led the way in the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship as Davis (Bedminster, N.J.) and Rotano jumped out to an early lead after earning a 68.541%. Davis was the 2012 National Champion in the Pony division and looks to add another Championship title to her resume with the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Michael and Sarah Davis. The pair displayed an accurate and forward test highlighted by an accurate canter tour.

“I had a really super ride,” Davis said. “This is my first year in the Juniors, so I kind of came into this as it’s my first year just to learn, so I am really excited to be doing this. I was very, very pleased with my test. It had some really nice moments.”

Davis was able to utilize her experience from previous competitions to produce one of her best performances when it really mattered today.

“I would like to say my canter work was definitely a highlight. He was super, just really willing today. I could feel it that he was really with me and really paying attention.”

Cassie Schmidt rode Leslie Schmidt’s Velasquer into second position in the Team Test. The impressive 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding put forth an expressive performance to score 66.703%. Schmidt and Velasquer have bonded over the past year and are quickly building an affinity for each other.

“I was super happy with my test today,” Schmidt commented. “Everything felt really good. He was so easy, he was so willing; he just did such a good job. This is my first year to come to the Festival of Champions. I have been in the Juniors for four years now and I was just so happy with everything. He was just so super.”

Lindsey Holleger (Whigham, Ga.) trotted into third place riding her own Friedensfurst, an 11-year-old Trakehner gelding, to a score of 66.568%.

The AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship competition continues Saturday, with riders performing the FEI Junior Individual Test, which will count for the remaining 50% of the overall average.

The day concluded with all 11 entries in the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship being accepted at the Horse Inspection.

USEF Network will be streaming Friday and Saturday’s competition live at www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013FestivalOfChampions/. Retired FEI 5* judge Axel Steiner will provide commentary during the broadcast.

Find out everything you need to know about the championships at http://www.usefconnect.com/festival/.

By Helen Murray and Eileen Schnettler

Peters, Herslow, and Wagner Take First Steps toward National Titles at 2013 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions

Lexington, Ky. – Three division of National Championship competition at the 2013 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp got underway Wednesday in the Kentucky Horse Park’s Rolex Stadium. In the Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix National Championship, Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 have seized a sizable lead following an impressive test in the afternoon session, while Kim Herslow and Rosmarin head the field in the Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship. In the first division of the day, the USEF Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today, Emily Wagner and Weltdorff hold a narrow lead in their quest for a National Title.

Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix National Championship

The competitors in the Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix National Championship were the final eight riders of the day to go down centerline in the Rolex Stadium. The first 45% of the championships scores were on the line as the elite U.S. competitors performed the FEI Grand Prix Test.

Peters (San Diego, Calif.) took his first step towards an unprecedented seventh National Title in the Grand Prix by scoring a 77% with Four Winds Farm’s 11-year-old Westphalian gelding. The reigning National Champions delivered a nearly flawless test that was once again highlighted by Legolas 92’s impressive piaffe and passage. In the past, the gelding has found difficulty with the flying changes but looked to be more confirmed in the movement on Wednesday afternoon.

“Legolas was great; I did a very short warm-up. The changes are always something I worry about but they felt good in the warm-up and just as good in the ring,” said Peters. “I felt it was a very clean test which is what you look for on the first day.”

The combination spent time this summer in Europe competing against the very best in the world, including anchoring the third place U.S. effort at the Aachen CDIO5*. They will spend their off day on Thursday preparing for Grand Prix Special where they will look to recreate some of the strong work produced overseas.

“You can’t practice the Special with him too much before the Grand Prix because he gets confused,” said Peters. “The plan again is a clean test.”

Wednesday’s second place finishers, Kathleen Raine (Murrieta, Calif.) and Breanna, also spent time in Europe culminating in a second place U.S. Team finish at the Hickstead CDIO3*. In the FEI Grand Prix Test, Jennifer Mason, Kathleen Raine, and David Wightman’s 13-year-old Hanoverian mare again showcased her top form to score 71.936%.

“I was really happy with Breanna, she was very consistent,” said Raine of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program graduate. “She’s gotten much stronger since I was in Europe. I was very happy with her today.”

Finishing in third place was Raine’s Hickstead teammate, Guenter Seidel (Cardiff, Calif.) and Coral Reef Ranch’s Coral Reef Wylea. The pair scored 71.489% in spite of the 13-year-old Westphalian mare having her tongue over the bit for the first half of the test.

Grand Prix competition continues on Friday night, as riders will perform the FEI Grand Prix Special under the lights to earn another 40% of their overall total.

Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship

Twelve Small Tour combinations entered the Rolex Stadium on Wednesday before the lunch break to contest the FEI Prix St. Georges Test, which counted for the first 40% of the championship score.

Herslow (Stockton, N.J.) and Kiroli Enterprises Inc’s Hanoverian gelding have enjoyed an extremely successful 2013 campaign and maintained their form on Wednesday to score 75.789%. The talented pair prepared for the 2013 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp by sweeping all three Small Tour tests at the Dressage at Devon competition two weeks ago.

“I came here after leaving Devon with really nice rides and he really felt in his groove. I came here hoping to up that,” said Herslow of Rosmarin. “I’m thrilled it was my goal to ride a clean test and I’m hoping to improve on that tomorrow.”

The combination, which was part of the winning U.S. effort at the Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm, has begun to work on the Grand Prix movements. However, Herslow will let the young horse guide her in making the decision of when to make their debut at the highest level.

“He’s still young but we are training the Grand Prix movements,” said Herslow. “I’m not going to move him up until he tells me he’s ready. I want to keep the positive harmony.”

Finishing in second place on Wednesday was last year’s Intermediaire I National Champion, Caroline Roffman and her own Her Highness O. Roffman (Wellington, Fla.) and the 10-year-old Hanoverian mare traveled to Europe over the summer to compete in Small Tour competition at some of the world’s most prestigious venues including CDIO Aachen. The pair demonstrated how much they had learned in their abroad as the scored 72.842% in the FEI Prix St. Georges Test.

The 2013 Championships are likely the last time the 2012 USEF National Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage Championship presented by The Dutta Corp. and Performance Sales International winner will compete on the Small tour. And therefore Roffman is enjoying every moment of competition this weekend with the talented mare.

“I’m thrilled with the horse, I’m enjoying the ride; I want to have a good last I-1,” said Roffman. “She’s a good competition horse and I’m going to continue to develop her.”

Finishing in third place was Shelly Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Patricia Stempel’s nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding Danilo. The pair scored 69.447% despite an error of course before the pirouette in the canter work.

Intermediaire I competition continues Thursday as riders will earn another 45% of their overall score when they perform the FEI Intermediaire I Test.

Following the completion of competition in the Rolex Stadium the Veterinary Inspection was held for the Junior and Young Riders. All 11 combinations in the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship were accepted and 11 pairs will vie for the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship title.

USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship Presented by Dressage Today

Six competitors lined up in the Young Adult “Brentina Cup” competition on Wednesday morning to perform the USEF “Brentina Cup” Test. The USEF “Brentina Cup” was developed to assist and encourage U.S. Young Riders in making the transition to Senior Grand Prix competitor. All the competitors gain valuable experience this weekend, getting the chance to ride at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp and performing the movements required at the senior level.

Wagner, riding her own Weltdorff, claimed the top spot in the USEF “Brentina Cup” Test and the early lead in the championship. The 25-year-old from La Cygne, Kan., finished with a score 65.667% to hold a .026% lead.

“Weltdorff was good today, I was very happy with him,” said Wagner. “He got more relaxed as he went, so that was super. I think there was a lot of harmony there and I was really happy with that. It wasn’t as brilliant as maybe I could have pushed for, but at the same time, it just wasn’t the right feeling as we came around the ring; he was just a little too tense. But I was really happy for him, and everything went well.”

Wagner and the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding have been together for eight years and the pair is learning the ropes of the Grand Prix ranks together through the Young Adult “Brentina Cup” program. They received helpful advice from Robert Dover, Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor for the U.S. Dressage Team, while warming up yesterday.

“He told me the passage we have is very good, but it needs to be much, much quicker going into the piaffe so that we have the energy to make the hyper-active passage. It really worked in my second ride yesterday but I didn’t trust it in the ring enough. I’ve known his passage has to be quicker and it went well yesterday so I think I’m going to see if that works again. It’s always a learning process.”

Wednesday’s second-place finisher, Genay Vaughn of Elk Grove, Calif., rode Starr Vaughn Equestrian, Inc.’s 12-year-old Hanoverian stallion, Donarweiss GGF, to a score of 65.641% to finish just behind Wagner.

“I was really happy with him,” Vaughn said. “I just wanted to focus on having a relaxed, clean test. I think there’s always more in there that I can get out, but the first day I just wanted it to be clean. It was pretty clean and I’m very proud of him.”

Vaughn was thrilled with her results and grateful for the valuable experience of the USEF “Brentina Cup” program.

“I think it’s extremely important. It’s a big jump from Young Riders, but it’s definitely necessary because I know I’m not ready to compete against a Steffen Peters. You get to feel what it’s like; you’re still competing against great girls and guys with great horses. It’s like a stepping stone.”

Kristen Becker (Athens, Ga.) stands third with her own 15-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood gelding, Ramses, after scoring 65.538%.

The USEF Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Dressage National Championship competition continues Friday, with riders performing the FEI Young Adult U-25 Grand Prix Test, which will count for the remaining 50% of the overall average.

USEF Network will be streaming Friday and Saturday’s competition live at www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013FestivalOfChampions/. Retired FEI 5* judge Axel Steiner will provide commentary during the broadcast.

Find out everything you need to know about the championships at http://www.usefconnect.com/festival/.

By Helen Murray and Eileen Schnettler

US Dressage Festival of Champions Presented by The Dutta Corp Ready to Begin

Kimberly Herslow and Rosemarin (SusanJStickle.com)

Lexington, Ky. – Top riders from across the country will contend for six USEF Dressage National Championships at the 2013 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. This year the championships are being held for the first time at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., taking place October 8-12. Veteran competitors as well as newcomers to the championships make up the field of 59 who will ride down the centerline in the Rolex Stadium.

An elite field of eight riders will vie for the 2013 The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship title. The 2012 USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Champion Steffen Peters (San Diego, Calif.) looks to defend his title with Legolas 92, an 11-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Four Winds Farm. The pair has had top performances on both the East and West Coast this year, as well as abroad. A win here would mark Peters’ seventh USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship title. However, he will face stiff competition from the country’s top riders.

Guenter Seidel (Cardiff, Calif.) will ride Coral Reef Wylea, after having several excellent performances with the 13-year-old Westphalian mare owned by Coral Reef Ranch this year. The pair claimed second-place finishes in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special at the Lingen CDI4*. Kathleen Raine (Murrieta, Calif.) will also aim for a first-class showing with Breanna, a 13-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Jennifer Mason, David Wightman, and herself. Raine and Breanna, along with Seidel and Coral Reef Wylea, helped the U.S. score a second-place finish in the Hickstead CDIO3*.

Kimberly Herslow (Stockton, N.J.) leads the field of 12 riders contesting the 2013 The Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship. She and Rosmarin, an 8-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Kiroli Enterprises Inc., recently swept the Intermediaire classes at Dressage at Devon and plan to maintain their winning form. Shelly Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Danilo will pose a threat as they have had a stellar year. The 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Patricia Stempel has gained valuable experience competing in Europe over the summer. Twenty-five-year-old Caroline Roffman (Wellington, Fla.) won the championship last year but brings a different mount this year. She will ride her own Her Highness O, a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare, with whom she earned two second-place finishes at the Compiegne CDI3* this summer.

The USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship has six entries in what will be a tight race for the national title. The USEF ‘Brentina Cup’ Program was developed to assist and encourage U.S. Young Riders in making the transition to Senior Grand Prix competitor. Kristen Becker (Athens, Ga.) brings her own Ramses, a 15-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood gelding, with whom she has won numerous USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Tests this year.

Eleven riders will compete in the AGCO/USEF National Young Rider Dressage Championship, with Ayden Uhlir (Kirkland, Wash.) leading the field. She and her own Sjapoer, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding, return to the Kentucky Horse Park after winning Individual and Freestyle Gold medals and the Team Silver medal at the 2013 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC).

Lindsey Holleger (Whigham, Ga.) leads the field of 11 that makes up the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship. She and her own Friedensfürst, an 11-year-old Trakehner gelding, also found success here during NAJYRC, winning a Junior Individual Gold medal.

The USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship’s 11 entries rounds out the 2013 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. Emma Patterson (Houston, Texas) and her own Wynshire’s Valiant, a 14-year-old Welsh Cob gelding, will be aiming for their first national title after having solid performances all year.

In addition to exceptional competition, the Dressage Celebrity Mounted Games will be held prior to the start of the Grand Prix Freestyles on Saturday, October 12, featuring competitors participating in pony relay races as a fundraiser for the U.S. High Performance Dressage programs. To find out more about this added excitement, click here.

USEF Network will be streaming Friday and Saturday’s competition live at www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013FestivalOfChampions/. Retired FEI 5* judge Axel Steiner will provide commentary during the broadcast.

Find out everything you need to know about the championships at http://www.usefconnect.com/festival/.

By Kathleen Landwehr