Wayne, Ill. – Aug. 26, 2017 – On a beautiful morning at the Lamplight Equestrian Center, Anna Stovall of Chesapeake, Virginia, rode a harmonious and clean test to claim the Developing Prix St. Georges Championship at the Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships. Stovall was on Catherine Haddad-Staller’s 8-year-old Hanoverian mare Frankie (Florencio–Aronja, A Jungle Prince). The pair placed fourth in Thursday’s Prix St. Georges with a 68.421 percent and came from behind on the final day of the division with an impressive 71.179 percent in the Developing Prix St. Georges to win the overall championship.
Stovall has worked as an assistant trainer for international Grand Prix rider Haddad-Staller for three years and obtained the reins to Frankie during that time. Frankie was schooling Third Level when Stovall took over the ride and has developed the talented mare on her own up through the levels.
Endel Ots of Wellington, Florida, claimed the reserve championship in the Developing Prix St. Georges division aboard Max Ot’s 7-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Lucky Strike (Lord Laurie–Heidi, His Highness) after earning a 70.637 percent in the Developing Prix St. Georges.
Thursday’s leader, Carly Taylor-Smith, fell to third place after scoring a 68.725 percent in the Developing Prix St. Georges on Nikki Taylor-Smith’s 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding Rosalut NHF (Rosenthal–Legacy, Salut). She also received the Oldenburg Breeders’ Horse Society award for the highest-placed Oldenburg in the class and the U.S. Bred Award, given to the top U.S. bred horse in each division.
After the Developing Prix St. Georges division wrapped up, the 5-year-olds took to the ring to conclude their championship. Alyssa Doverspike rode Darius 555 (Don Darius–Barcelona, Boss) to clinch the national title with an overall score of 7.748. The judges enjoyed the elegant Hanoverian gelding’s cadence and elasticity of his trot. Doverspike is a full-time groom for her trainers David Wightman and Kathleen Raine of Adventure Farms and traveled to Wayne, Illinois, from Wildomar, California.
Judy Kelly of Clarkston, Michigan, jumped up from fifth place after Thursday’s test on her Hanoverian mare Quintess (Quarterhall–Wakira, Wolkenstein II) to earn the reserve championship. She purchased the mare last year in Germany and the pair received a 7.684 as their overall total.
The 2016 4-Year-Old Young Horse National Champions, Craig Stanley and Habanero CWS (Idocus–Caliente DG, OO Seven), returned to Lamplight Equestrian Center and rounded out the top three. Stanley, of Madera, California, and his homebred KWPN gelding earned an overall score of 7.636. The duo was awarded the U.S. Bred Award in the 5-year-old division.
In the 4-Year-Old Dressage National Championship, mares dominated the top three positions. Alice Tarjan swept the champion and reserve champion titles on Serenade MF and Fairouz, respectively. Serenade MF (Sir Donnerhall–Duet MF, Don Principe) was bred by Maryanna Haymon and won the U.S. Bred Award after topping the field with an overall score of 8.464. The judges gave the black Hanoverian mare high marks of 9 for her walk and an 8.8 for her trot, while remarking on her potential as a top dressage horse.
Tarjan’s other mount, a German-bred Oldenburg mare named Fairouz (German-bred Oldenburg mare, finished the division as the reserve champion with a total score of 8.192. She also received the Oldenburg Breeders’ Horse Society award. Kimberly Dougherty maintained her third place position from Thursday with her elegant Oldenburg mare Celebration (Coer D’Amour–Rhythm-N-Blues, Rosenthal) and ended on an overall score of 8.02.
For results and starting times, visit www.foxvillage.com. For more information about Lamplight Equestrian Center, visit www.lamplightequestriancenter.com. Live streaming will be available on the USEF Network. Riders will vie for the remaining two national titles of the Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse National Championships Sunday, Aug. 27, in the Developing Grand Prix division and the 6-year-old division.
Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships Results:
Developing Prix St. Georges Dressage National Championship
Rider / Horse / PSG Score (40%) / Dev. PSG Score (60%) / Total
1. Anna Stovall / Frankie / 68.421 / 71.179 / 70.076
2. Endel Ots / Lucky Strike / 68.596 / 70.637 / 69.821
3. Carly Taylor-Smith / Rosalut NHF / 70.439 / 68.725 / 69.411
4. Eva King / Drake / 67.368 / 70.000 / 68.947
5. Nora Batchelder / Faro SQF / 68.246 / 69.020 / 68.710
6. Laura Graves / Fizau / 67.325 / 68.971 / 68.313
5-Year-Old Young Horse Dressage National Championship
Rider / Horse / Preliminary Test Score (40%) / Final Test Score (60%) / Total
1. Alyssa Doverspike / Darius 555 / 7.76 / 7.74 / 7.748
2. Judy Kelly Quintess / 7.6 / 7.74 / 7.684
3. Craig Stanley / Habanero CWS / 7.72 / 7.58 / 7.636
4. Birthe Laufer / Furstentusch N / 7.66 / 7.52 / 7.576
5. David Wightman / Hotshot / 7.48 / 7.54 / 7.516
6. Nadine Schwartsman / Harvard R / 7.42 / 7.56 / 7.504
4-Year-Old Young Horse Dressage National Championship
Rider / Horse / Preliminary Test (40%) / Final Test Score (60%) / Total
1. Alice Tarjan / Serenade MF / 8.44 / 8.48 / 8.464
2. Alice Tarjan / Fairouz / 8.06 / 8.28 / 8.192
3. Kimberly Dougherty / Celebration / 7.99 / 8.04 / 8.02
4. Carlos Santos / Inferno M / 7.88 / 7.74 / 7.796
5. Michael Bragdell / Debonair MF / 7.5 / 7.82 / 7.692
6. Michael Bragdell / SenSation HW / 7.64 / 7.36 / 7.472
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Isabel Linder and Abby Fodor Hold Top Placings to Claim USEF Junior and Children Dressage National Championships
Following the FEI Junior Team Tests Friday, junior riders returned to the SmartPak Grand Prix Arena for the final test of their division, the FEI Junior Individual Test. Tillie Jones on her 12-year-old KWPN gelding Apachi won the test, but Isabel Linder, 18, of Kewadin, Michigan, held her overall lead to claim the championship title aboard 13-year-old Westphalian gelding Elvis. The pair’s individual test score of 66.930 percent, which counted towards 50 percent of their overall score of 68.961 percent, enabled them to maintain their lead from Friday.
Kayla Kadlubek, 17, of Fairfax Station, Virginia, moved up to claim the reserve championship title after earning a score of 68.070 percent in the individual test. Kadlubek and Freewill, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding, sat in sixth place with a score of 66.982 percent after the team test. Their overall score of 67.526 percent allowed them to move up several placings and come away with the reserve championship.
Juliet Hess, 18, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Diano, a 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, finished the Junior Dressage National Championship in third place with an overall score of 67.237 percent. The horse-and-rider combination’s individual test score of 65.965 percent, combined with the previous day’s team test score of 68.509 percent, earned them the yellow ribbon in the championship.
In the inaugural USEF Children Dressage National Championship, Abby Fodor, 13, of Bloomsbury, New Jersey, was also able to hold her leading position and come away with the championship title after performing a clean test. With the former reining horse, Slip and Slide, a 14-year-old Quarter Horse/Haflinger gelding, Fodor earned an individual test score of 69.063 percent. Combined with her team test score of 67.889 percent from the previous day, Fodor held on to her top placing with an overall score of 68.476 percent. The eighth grader trains with Heather Mason and is also an active event rider in the New Jersey Region Pony Club.
Beatrix Leffingwell, 13, of Lake Villa, Illinois, and her 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding Luke Skywalker earned the reserve championship title after scoring a 66.771 percent in their performance in the individual test. The pair received a 66.389 percent in Friday’s competition and their overall average was 66.58 percent.
Madison Waller, 14, of Beaumont, Texas, and the 9-year-old Lusitano gelding Diablo DC moved up from their fourth place standing after the Children Team Test, finishing in third place overall with their performance. The pair’s individual test score of 64.740 percent, along with their team test score of 64.444 percent, pushed them up into third place with an overall score of 64.592 percent.
U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions Results:
AGCO/USEF Junior National Championships
Rider / Horse / Junior Team (50%) / Junior Individual (50%) / Total
1. Isabel Linder / Elvis / 70.991 / 66.930 / 68.961
2. Kayla Kadlubek /Freewill / 66.982 / 68.070 / 67.526
3. Juliet Hess / Diano / 68.509 / 65.965 / 67.237
4. Tillie Jones / Apachi / 65.495 / 68.816 / 67.156
5. Allison Nemeth / Dafoe / 67.658 / 66.579 / 67.119
6. Katelyn Mosle / Diavolino 5 / 68.423 / 65.526 / 66.975
USEF Children National Championship
Rider / Horse / Team Test (50%) / Individual Test (50%) / Total
1. Abby Fodor / Slip and Slide / 67.889 / 69.063 / 68.476
2. Beatrix Leffingwell / Luke Skywalker / 66.389 / 66.771 / 66.580
3. Madison Waller / Diablo DC / 64.444 / 64.740 / 64.592
4. Emma Claire Stephens / De Nousvelle Vie / 62.944 / 62.552 / 62.748
5. Emma Jacobs / Brumbalina / 62.556 / 62.708 / 62.632
6. Tessa Holloran / Usela / 63.556 / 60.885 / 62.221
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Isabel Linder –AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Champion
On her championship win:
“It feels really good. I’m really happy that I was able to put in a really nice, clean test yesterday so that it could carry over today. I’m super happy and feel so lucky. I have a great horse and a great team.”
On her test:
“He felt really good today. We did have a pretty big mistake in the first extension when he broke into the canter at the end, which was completely my fault. He felt really good for the entire test though. He was really listening. I thought the trot work was better than yesterday, so I was really happy with it.”
On the Lamplight Equestrian Center:
“It’s a beautiful facility and the footing is really nice. It’s just so pleasant to show here.”
Kayla Kadlubek – AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Reserve Champion
On her test:
“I had a really good test today. I was so happy with my horse all weekend. [Freewill] really gave me his all. I went for a little bit more today to get the higher marks, which turned out really well. He was so good. He’s improved so much since I’ve had him. This is my last junior competition so it’s nice to finish on a really good note going into Young Riders next season.”
On her improvements from the team test to the individual test:
“Today I really focused on adding a bit more energy and getting his hind legs a bit more underneath him, which worked out well in the warm-up. We just carried that into the test and had a really good ride.”
On Lamplight Equestrian Center:
“I love the venue here. The grounds are so beautiful and the weather has been perfect all weekend. The landscaping is really nice and the footing is awesome. It’s so wonderful.”
Juliet Hess – AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship third place
On her test:
“My ride was not so great today. I’m really happy that I got the scores I did and I’m really lucky to be here. I had some really nice moments that really improved from past individual tests. Some of my canter work was much better than it has been in the past. He was a good boy, he just got a little strong and excited.”
On the Lamplight Equestrian Center:
“I adore the flowers. I really love it. It’s so beautiful and colorful. We’ve had lovely weather here, and the footing is fantastic!”
Abby Fodor – USEF Children Dressage National Champion
On winning:
“I’m really shocked and happy with him. I’m really proud of him. I thought he really progressed [from yesterday] and the simple changes were better today. Everything was a lot better today.”
On her riding background:
“I began riding when I was 3 and I started with hunter equitation with my pony at home. I did that for a couple of years and then we did eventing. After that we bought Slide, who loves hugs, treats and bananas. I like how dressage is a difficult sport that takes a lot of practice and effort.”
Beatrix Leffingwell – USEF Children Dressage National Reserve Champion
On earning the reserve championship:
“It’s an honor. My first competition with him was this year and he brought me here. It’s really cool. We had to be more cautious today because he is spooky. There were some movements that were harder for us, like the extensions, but he was really trying his best to stay with me. The horse gave me his all.”
Madison Waller – USEF Children Dressage National Championship third place
On Diablo DC:
“Yesterday, he was a little tense but we did a lot better today than we did yesterday. I was really proud of him. Diablo was bred in Magnolia, Texas, and he was started as a working equitation horse as a stallion. When I met him, I thought he was a great horse and I fell in love with him. He’s done everything I’ve asked him too. He’s there to hold me and say, ‘Oh yes, I’ll carry you.’ He’s a great horse to depend on.”
Rogers and Mingari Take the Lead in Pony and Young Rider National Championship Classes
The USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship as well as the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship kicked off on Saturday afternoon at the Lamplight Equestrian Center with the FEI Team Tests in each division. The team test and the individual test each make up 50 percent of the riders’ overall score in the championship.
In the FEI Pony Rider Team Test, it was Suzannah Rogers, 15, of Atlanta, Georgia, who took the lead in the division. Aboard her 14-year-old Haflinger gelding Adrenaline Rush SBF, Rogers earned a score of 63.846 percent to secure the blue ribbon.
Jori Dupell, 16, of Wilsonville, Oregon, finished the team test in second place, earning a score of 62.521 percent with her 17-year-old Half-Arabian gelding Toy Story. Sailor Boden, 13, of Canyon Lake, California, rounded out the top three with Blitzwane, a 19-year-old German Riding Pony gelding. The horse-and-rider combination earned a score of 62.436 percent.
In the FEI Young Rider Team Test, 21-year-old Rebekah Mingari of Louisville, Kentucky, claimed both first and second place. Mingari took the blue ribbon with the 11-year-old KWPN mare Allure S, earning a score of 70.132 percent. With Allure S’s daughter, 8-year-old KWPN mare Elzarma TF, Mingari rode into second place with a score of 68.684 percent.
Callie Jones, 19, of Henderson, Kentucky, finished in third place with Don Philippo, a 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding. The pair earned a score in the team test of 67.807 percent.
Both the FEI Pony Rider Individual Test and the FEI Young Rider Individual Test will take place in the SmartPak Grand Prix Arena on Sunday, Aug. 27, to determine the champions of each division. The FEI Young Rider Individual Test is set to begin at 8 a.m., and the FEI Pony Rider Individual Test will begin at 1:35 p.m.
FEI Pony Rider Team Test
1.Suzannah Rogers / Adrenaline Rush / 63.846
2.Jori Dupell / Toy Story / 62.521
3.Sailor Boden / Blitzwane /62.436
4.Meredith Denton / Just G / 61.624
5.Olivia Massotti / Viktor / 61.239
6.Camille Molten / Magnito II / 59.658
FEI Young Rider Team Test
1.Rebekah Mingari / Allure S / 70.132
2.Rebekah Mingari / Elzarma TF / 68.684
3.Callie Jones / Don Philippo / 67.807
4.Anna Weniger / Don Derrick / 67.719
5.Kristin Counterman / Three Times / 66.535
6.Sophia Schults / Farley 4 / 66.404
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Suzannah Rogers – FEI Pony Rider Team Test winner
On Adrenaline Rush:
“I got him for Christmas and he’s the best Christmas present ever. This is what I’ve always wanted to do. We finally got to where we could actually ride and compete in the FEI ponies, so to win the first day is a dream come true.”
On her test:
“We had some bobbles, but everything else was pretty good. I felt really good about it. We were showing that we had a good partnership and we’re just a team together. For tomorrow, I’ll definitely keep my reins a little shorter. I find myself working from his neck instead of pushing from behind, so I’m working on keeping my hands forward and getting him through and over his back. The main thing is the partnership.”
On the Lamplight Equestrian Center:
“I love the people I’ve met here. Every person doing the FEI pony I’ve met is really nice and the venue is really great.”
Jori Dupell – FEI Pony Rider Team Test second place
On Toy Story:
“I’ve had him since I was 10, and he was a hunter pony when I bought him. He went blind, so we started dressage. He doesn’t see out of his left eye, which makes counter-canter and things on the rail difficult. In the test, we struggle with that usually. The simple changes are always difficult, but we work through it. He was a good boy. Tomorrow, I’ll definitely keep the reins shorter and keep him a little bit more through. We’ll practice the special four-loop serpentine and hope he stays calm.”
On the Lamplight Equestrian Center:
“Everyone is super nice and the arenas are so close to the stalls. It’s so organized and nice.”
Sailor Boden – FEI Pony Rider Team Test third place
On Blitzwane:
“He’s actually my trainer’s pony. He was calm today so that was good! I’m just really happy to be here with him. For tomorrow, I need to keep him a little more active and off my leg. I’ll keep the hind end a little more active and just hope for the best.”
On the Lamplight Equestrian Center:
“The people are really nice. Traveling from so far, I get to meet a lot of new people. It’s a lot of fun.”
Rebekah Mingari – FEI Young Rider Team Test winner and second place
On her test with Allure S:
“She was awesome today. She was really with me and we just had a blast in the arena. Tomorrow with her, I want to focus on a little more impulsion in the trot and more cadence in the walk work as well.”
On Elzarma TF:
“She was a little bit spooky going around the arena today, but luckily I got her to focus on me just before we went down centerline. Tomorrow, I’m hoping that she’s a little more at ease and more confident in me as a rider. I was really proud of her though, she hasn’t shown in a while. She did an incredible job as an 8-year-old.”
On her background with the horses:
“Karen Dunn is the owner of both, and Allure S is the dam of Elzarma TF. Last year I began riding Elzarma in January. We just kind of winged it and hoped to make it to NAJYRC, and we did. We ended up winning the silver medal in the freestyle, which was a huge accomplishment for her. Last year we also showed here at the Festival of Champions, and that arena was a little spooky. She likes to see other horses, so for her to not see anything is a little bit scary. She’s been an incredible partner and I adore her. My trainer, Angela Jackson, actually trained Allure S all the way through the young horse program as well as developing Prix St. Georges and developing Grand Prix. There were always hopes that I could take Allure to do the U25. Last year around October, we made the transition so that we had a year to start our partnership together before the U25. I got to compete both of them this year in the Young Rider division. It’s been so much fun and they’re both so similar yet so different.”
On the championships:
“I like that there are multiple championships with the best in our nation. You get to watch the young riders and the young horses as well as the junior and the children divisions. I think it’s really cool to have everybody here, and it creates a great atmosphere. These are beautiful showgrounds and everyone here is really awesome.”
Callie Jones – FEI Young Rider Team Test third place
On her test:
“I was happy with our test today. In the warm-up he was really spooky and not really with me, so I was a little nervous going in. When we got in the ring, he was with me in the trot work. In the canter work, he got down a little in his poll. That’s what I want to improve tomorrow. I’ll get him more uphill in the canter work. Overall, I was really happy with how he was today.”
On the championships:
“It’s really fun watching everyone and watching the future of dressage, now having the children division here. Seeing everyone we see at NAJYRC and just supporting each other is really great. I love being here at Lamplight, it’s a really cool showgrounds.”
