The 2021 edition of the Adequan/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Junior Hunter National Championships – West closed out Wednesday, July 21, at the Sonoma Horse Park with two new grand champions crowned along with seven section champions across the 3’6” and 3’3” fence heights.

In the 3’6” section, Stella Wasserman, of Beverly Hills, Calif., and Princeton claimed the Overall Grand Champion tricolor and The Monarch International Perpetual Trophy thanks to two spectacular over fences rounds—the pair won both the Classic and Handy rounds for the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under section.

Wasserman, who trains with Jamie Sailor at Meadow Grove Farm, is a veteran of past Junior Hunter National Championships, and she guided the Selle Français gelding through his first-ever trip to the finals.

“He’s super sweet in the barn. He’s lovely,” said Wasserman. “He’s actually only been doing the hunters for a couple of months now, but I think he’s found his calling! After the classic round yesterday, I was feeling good. Coming into today, I just wanted to go out there and have fun and do what I came here to do.”

Also Read: USEF Offers Faster Passport

In the 3’3” section, it was Elle Moreno of Dallas, Texas, riding Elvenstar Farm’s Cascavel to the Overall Grand Champion title and winning the Montserrat Perpetual Trophy after their win in the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 section. Moreno trains with David and Stacy Sanderson at Hunter Lane in Texas and was also coached by Elvenstar Farm at the finals.

“Cascavel did a good job today. He jumped amazing, and I’m really happy with him,” said Moreno. “I was for sure excited [after the classic round yesterday], but I was a little nervous coming back today, hoping to ride as well as I did yesterday. But I pulled through, and I’m really happy.”

The Small Collection Perpetual Trophy is awarded annually to the top-placing mare across all sections at Junior Hunter Finals West. This year, it was Fleur de Lis ridden by Avery Glynn from the 3’6” Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under won the title.

Schedule

Results

Watch the Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships – West on USEF Network.

Keep up with the competition by following USEF Junior Hunter National Championship on Facebook. Follow US Equestrian on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Competitors in the 2020 Adequan/USEF Para Dressage National Championship concluded their week at the Tryon International Equestrian Center on October 25 with their FEI Para Freestyle tests.

Rebecca Hart of Wellington, Fla., and Rowan O’Riley’s El Corona Texel held on to the lead through all three days of competition, finishing with an exciting freestyle that showed off the gelding’s bold gaits. The pair earned a 78.478% for their freestyle, giving them a total composite score of 77.029%.

“It’s only the second time I’ve ridden through it,” said Hart. “We trotted in and I hit all my main markers, and I was super thrilled with that. We had one little spook in the corner, and I got two steps behind, but the power and the energy and the fact that he stayed with me even after that spook was so nice. He is a very powerful horse, and we’ve been working really hard during our COVID lockdown to get prepared and in sync with each other in the ring with distractions and music. This is the first time we’ve gotten to test all of that training, and he has just risen to the occasion.”

In creating the new freestyle, Hart said she tested out several different musical selections before settling on one.

“Some of the music, he was just trotting nicely and pleasantly,” said Hart. “When this music came on, he puffed himself up and was like, ‘Yeah, buddy! This is it!’ He likes his music. He thinks it’s fun.”

Hart and Tex will go home to Florida and have some downtime before competing again at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in January.

“We’re going to keep carrying on with everything that we’ve been doing at home,” said Hart. “It’s working really well for him. It’s been great to kind of test that and get feedback from the judges. I like to continue working on the basics. He’s got all the talent and the skill, so it’s just keeping him healthy and happy and focusing on the little things.”

Hart gives thanks to her sponsor, Rowan O’Riley, who owns Tex and Hart’s other competition mount, Fortune 500.

“She’s just a phenomenal advocate for the sport and so amazingly generous,” says Hart.

Sydney Collier of Ann Arbor, Mich., scored a personal best in her freestyle with Going for Gold LLC’s All In One in the Grade I division with a 78.711, which gave her a composite score of 76.147% and the reserve champion title in the Adequan/USEF Para Dressage National Championship.

“He’s such a special horse,” said Collier. “Any time I get to ride him is just the best time of my life. So to be able to be here, competing against such awesome people is such an incredible experience.”

This year’s national championship is only the second time that Collier has performed this freestyle in a CPEDI competition.

“It’s fairly new to me. I’ve had this freestyle longer than I’ve had Alle,” said Collier. “I had to adapt the freestyle to him and adapt the feel, and Katie [Robicheaux, Collier’s trainer] has really helped me to understand all the little musical cues that are so neat to understand to make it flow the way it did today.”

Collier and Alle will head to Florida in December for the winter competition circuit.

“My plans are to compete at the two qualifiers there and goals are to compete as much outside of those two qualifiers as possible,” said Collier. “Obviously with COVID-19, it’s so up in the air for so many of us, but just to be able to be in the warmer weather and be able to train with Alle consistently is such a blessing. I can’t wait to be down in Wellington—it’s such a camaraderie. I think the horse community is so resilient that we’re going to make it happen.”

Each year, competitors at the Adequan/USEF Para Dressage National Championship vote for one of their peers to win the Lloyd Landkamer Memorial Sportsmanship Award. This year, Cynthia Screnci of Boca Raton, Fla., received the honor. Screnci competed in the Grade V and won the division with her 11-year-old KWPN gelding, Eragon VF.

The Lloyd Landkamer Memorial Sportsmanship Trophy is awarded annually to the para-dressage athlete competing at the Adequan/USEF Para Dressage National Championship who best personifies the high standards and virtues of integrity, sportsmanship, honor, courage, team spirit, good temper and unselfishness.

See full results from the 2020 Adequan/USEF Para Dressage National Championship

Watch the 2020 Adequan/USEF Para Dressage National Championship on-demand on USEF Network. Click here to watch.

Stay up to date on the Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team by following USA Para Dressage on Facebook and US Equestrian on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Use #USAParaDressage.

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California eventer Tamie Smith had a big victory on home turf at the Galway Downs International on Halloween weekend, winning the 2020 USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship with Elliot-V, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Smith’s student, Luisa Southworth. Smith took over the ride on Elliot-V when Southworth left for college, and he’s become an exceptional horse at the Intermediate level.

“We did our first intermediate here last fall,” said Smith. “I did my second intermediate at the CCI3*-S at Woodside three weeks ago to get him qualified for this weekend. He was great there and then he was just super here this weekend.”

Smith and Elliot-V took a narrow early lead with a 29.8 in dressage, putting them just barely ahead of Asia Vedder of Carpenteria, Calif., and Isi, who scored a 29.9. But Smith held her lead with a double clear cross-country and just 0.4 time faults in show jumping.

For 2020, Clayton Fredericks took over the task of designing the cross-country course at Galway, and it suited Elliot-V well.

“It was an awesome, super galloping course,” said Smith. “A little bit twisty here and there, but it was great. Clayton and [course builder] Bert Wood did a great job on the design. I was first out, so we weren’t sure how the time was going to be, but that horse has such a ginormous gallop stride that it was great.”

Vedder and Isi, her own 10-year-old Thoroughbred/Holsteiner gelding, maintained their second-place standing through all three phases, with only 1.2 time penalties from cross-country day and 4 jumping and 0.4 time penalties in show jumping.

Andrea Baxter of Paso Robles, Calif., and her 10-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding, Laguna Seca, rounded out the top three in the USEF CCI3*-L National Championship, finishing fifth overall in the division with a score of 44.0.

USEF National Young Rider Eventing Championships

The National Young Riders Championship for the John H. Fritz Trophy is awarded to the highest placed U.S. citizen in the USEF National Young Rider Eventing Championships, which is open to riders ages 16 through 21. For 2020, Charlotte Babbitt of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., took home the John H. Fritz Trophy with her own Dutch Warmblood gelding, 2 A.M. Sophie Click of Snoqualmie, Wash., was reserve champion with her own and Amy Click’s 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Quidproquo.

This year’s event marked the first time that the USEF CCI3* National Championship has been held on the West Coast, and after a challenging 2020 season marked by event cancellations and unexpected changes, a successful event was a welcome occurrence.

“Galway Downs really pulled out all the stops to make it an amazing national championship,” said Smith. “We’re grateful that they really stepped up to the plate. I can see the competition growing into a great event. It was really fun, because it’s my hometown and it’s the West Coast, and I really wanted it to run the way it did for the east coasters coming out here to show that we have great events out here. It was super to have the support.”

See full results from Galway Downs International and the 2020 USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship.

Stay up to date on U.S. Eventing by following USA Eventing on Facebook and Instagram. Use #USAEventing.

Further Reading

• Caroline Martin and QC Diablo Hit Win 2020 USEF CCI2*-L Eventing National Championship

The post Tamie Smith and Elliot-V Win the 2020 USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship at Galway Downs International appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Caroline Martin of Miami, Fla., captured four championship titles during her weekend at the Virginia Horse Trials in Lexington, Va., and capped her impressive weekend piloting her own QC Diablo Hit to the top of the 2020 USEF CCI2*-L Eventing National Championship. Starting in seventh place after dressage, the pair jumped two faultless rounds to finish on their initial score of 33.8 and were presented the Richard Collins Trophy for their win.

“He gets a little nervous in dressage, but that’s all right,” said Martin of the 9-year-old Oldenburg gelding. “Cross-country is a blast. It’s the easiest thing for him. In show jumping, I’m so proud of him. He jumped his heart out. This is the best thing for him, winning this show, because this is going to boost his ego so much. He’s such a tricky horse, so this is the best outcome for him. I think he’ll be my next Advanced horse.”

Carol Stephens had originally sent Diablo to Martin to sell. Martin broke her shoulder the day he arrived and her first ride on him was with just one working arm, but she fell in love. Diablo made it clear early on that he was a one-person horse, and he and Martin bonded.

“He’s such a funny horse,” said Martin. “You can’t put any other riders on him. Even if I’m gone, he goes lunging. He doesn’t like other people.”

Martin produced Diablo to Preliminary and sold him, but he soon came back when the buyer changed their mind. “I called Carol and said ‘I think it’s meant to be,’” she said. “I’ll take the horse back, let me produce him, I’ll own him and keep you updated about how he is. So, I own him now, and he’s been nothing but a pleasure to ride. I knew he was legit since day one.”

Hannah Sue Burnett of Kennett Square, Pa., and Christa Schmidt’s Carsonstown, an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, led the division for most of the weekend, but a single rail in the final phase dropped them into second, finishing as the CCI2*-L Reserve Champions on a three-phase score of 36.3.

USEF CCI2*-L Junior/Young Rider Championship

Charlotte Stillfried of Saint Stephens Church, Va., and Palma D won the 2020 USEF CCI2*-L Junior/Young Rider Eventing National Championship on a score of 46.2. Stillfried’s mom, Agnes, picked out the now 8-year-old Westphalian mare in Germany recalling, “They pulled her out of a very small barn and she had an amazing appearance.”

This is the first CCI2*-L of Stillfried and Palma D’s partnership. They finished fourth in the CCI2*-S at Maryland Horse Trials this past July. “It’s been pretty cool to bring her along,” Stillfried said. “I had a lot of help—Skyeler Icke Voss from Morningside and Patrick Tigchelaar is my dressage coach.”

Stillfried and Palma D led the CCI2*-L Junior/Young Rider Championship from start to finish and were presented with the Harry T. Peters Trophy for their win. “She’s amazing in the dressage,” said Stillfried. “Show jumping has always been a little bit of a challenge, but she’s also the best cross-country horse I’ve ever sat on. We have a pretty strong partnership…[This week] has been nothing short of amazing.”

Finishing second in the USEF CCI2*-L Junior/Young Rider Eventing National Championship was Annabelle Kress of Villanova, Pa., and Canny Calypso.

The post Caroline Martin and QC Diablo Hit Win 2020 USEF CCI2*-L Eventing National Championship appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

USEF CEI2* Endurance National Championship

Taking a five-loop tour equating to a ride of 120.7 kilometers around Broxton Bridge Plantation, competitors in the two-star divisions made light work of the course. In the USEF CEI2* Endurance National Championship, Marcia Weilbach of Brooks, Ga., and Zanthus Fury took home top honors. Weilbach and her 14-year-old Arabian gelding finished the ride in a time of 06:45:25 with an average speed of 17.8 kilometers per hour.

“It is such an honor to win a national championship title, especially when you know that everyone participating is every bit as eager as you to bring that title home,” Weilbach said. “It is humbling to realize that it is only through God’s grace that we are able to physically do what we need to do to achieve such honor. What we ask and receive physically and mentally from our horses is truly so amazing; they are the stars, not us.”

USEF CEIYJ2* Endurance National Championship

In the USEF CEIYJ2* Endurance National Championship, Reine Pagliaro of Swannanoa, N.C., and Beautiful Knightmare were crowned the national champions. As the rainy weather continued leading up to the start of the CEIYJ2* ride, Pagliaro adjusted her plans after consulting with her trainers and mentors to take a slower pace with Mary Kathryn Clark and Kathryn Clark’s nine-year-old Arabian gelding. The pair finished in a time of 13:44:56 with an average speed of 8.8 kilometers per hour.

“We started with a mindset of taking the time that we needed to get our horses though the whole ride safe, sound, happy, and healthy,” Pagliaro explained. “At the end of the ride, I was thrilled that we had changed our objectives for that day and focused on a strong completion. When I was first presented with the national championship title, I was truly shocked and hit with so many emotions. I felt excitement, accomplishment and gratitude for everyone who had helped ‘Beau’ and me along the way.”

USEF CEI1* Endurance National Championship

Riding in the one-star divisions with a course composed of three loops for a total of 80.6 kilometers, Cheryl Van Deusen of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., won the USEF CEI1* Endurance National Championship aboard her longtime partner, Hoover the Mover. Van Deusen and her 15-year-old Arabian gelding finished the ride in a time of 04:50:01 with an average speed of 16.7 kilometers per hour.

“The Broxton Bridge Plantation is a wonderful venue,” Van Deusen said of the competition. “The trail system is established, and the volunteers were absolutely wonderful. Hats off to Grace Ramsey for managing a great ride and to the USEF for their support,”

The inaugural title was a meaningful one for Van Deusen because she was able to partner with her homebred Hoover the Mover, who has found much success. The pair has topped the FEI Endurance Open Combination World Rankings in the past, and “Hoover” has close to 6,000 competitive miles to his record.

“To be champion in the CEI1* at Broxton and the recipient of the Best Conditioned Horse award by the veterinary team was wonderful,” Van Deusen said.

USEF CEIYJ1* Endurance National Championship

Sophia Carpentier of Pomfret, Md., and Perseveranze brought home the title of USEF CEIYJ1* Endurance National Champion. Carpentier, who began competing in endurance rides last year, finished the ride with Melody Blittersdorf’s nine-year-old Arabian gelding in a time of 07:13:25 with an average speed of 11.1 kilometers per hour.

“The ride went really well. Our goal going in was for me and Perseveranze (‘Perci’) to finish, which we did,” said Carpentier. “I was happy that we achieved that. The title is unexpected and exciting. And this achievement does not just belong to me; many people and horses helped me get here.”

CEI1* Team Champions

The team competition operated in a similar format to that of FEI Nations Cups. Only the top three scores from each team counted towards the team classification. At the end of the competition, the U.S. Southeast Team won the CEI1* gold medal. The team consisted of Van Deusen and Hoover the Mover; Rae Shumate-Tysor of Shelbyville, Tenn., and Kount Czester SWA, Misty McAdams’s eight-year-old Arabian gelding; Thomas Rajala of Hillsborough, N.C., and Hheartbreaker, his eight-year-old Arabian mare; and Shawn Polke of Lake Mary, Fla. and WMA Riversong, Mary Kathryn Clark and Kathryn Clark’s eight-year-old Arabian mare.

The CEI1* silver medal went to Mexico. The team consisted of Jose Luis Flores Morones and Nazeefs Flashy Rose, Van Deusen’s 12-year-old Arabian mare; Jose Enrique Partida Fonseca and Golden Lightning, Janice Worthington’s 19-year-old Arabian gelding; and Mercedes Acuña Tardis and Merlot MHF, Debra Lemmons’ seven-year-old Arabian mare.

The FEI recognized the overall order of finish with the top 12 combinations in each senior and young rider division receiving individual awards.

View CEI2*, CEIYJ2*, CEI1*, and CEIYJ1* results.

Keep up with U.S. Endurance by following USA Endurance on Facebook and US Equestrian on Twitter and Instagram. Use #USAEndurance.

The USEF International High-Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOPC, and USEF sponsors and members.

The post Four Champions Crowned at Inaugural USEF Endurance National Championships at Broxton Bridge Plantation appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The top saddle seat equitation riders in the U.S. faced a rigorous challenge on Saturday, November 16, as they competed for top honors in the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final at the United Professional Horseman’s Association (UPHA)/American Royal National Championship Horse Show. Twelve of the 19 horse-and-rider combinations in the preliminary ride-offs were called back for the final round of competition by judges Kim Cowart of Statesville, N.C.; Michael Craghead of Fresno, Calif.; and Elizabeth McBride Jones of Raeford, N.C. The stakes were high as these elite riders performed rail work and a complex individual pattern for a chance at the championship title and the prestigious Adrian Van Sinderen Trophy.

Michael Arquilla of Woodridge, Ill., was crowned champion in the 2019 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final. Trained by Sheri Brandl, the judges saw Arquilla’s depth of skill and finesse as he performed every test with grace and precision. Arquilla was presented with the Helen K. Crabtree and Adrian Van Sinderen trophies by 2018 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final champion Haley Berget.

Seventeen-year-old Arquilla had an outstanding competition year culminating with the Medal Final win, as well as a win in the UPHA Challenge Cup Final on Thursday.

“All of this is about hard work, and I’m glad that it paid off,” said Arquilla. “I know I put in the work and sometimes [the results] weren’t what I wanted, but in the end, things have worked out great.”

Arquilla rode ^CH(EQ)Mooi Mooi, Sharon Arquilla’s 14-year-old American Saddlebred gelding, in the preliminary round but elected to ride another horse for the final round when he felt the gelding was slightly lame. “^[CH(EQ)Mooi Mooi] has the heart of a champion,” said Arquilla. “Even when he’s tired, he still tries his hardest just like any great athlete.

Arquilla began working with “Nelson” when he was just 10-years-old. Arquilla, his mother, Sharon, and his trainers saw the horse had incredible potential, but the gelding had a long way to go before he was ready for the equitation ring. “I’ve had Nelson for seven years,” he said. “He came to us as a driving horse, and he didn’t even know how to canter! I’m proud of how far he’s come.

Alayna Applegate, of Ewing, Ky., claimed the reserve champion title and the silver medal for the second consecutive year. The youngest competitor in the field of 19 rode Kalarama’s New Moon, her nine-year-old American Saddlebred gelding. “I am always working on rising to the top, but if I can stay right here, I’ll stay right here as long as I can,” said Applegate. “It is so much fun.”

“Moonpie” and Applegate are a relatively new partnership of six months. “This was only [Kalarama’s New Moon] third equitation final ever, with the other two being this year! I’m so proud of him,” said Applegate. “He went in there and totally knocked those patterns out today. He is amazing.”

Visit the USEF Network to watch the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final on demand.

2019 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final Top 10

Champion: Michael Arquilla (Woodridge, Ill.)
Reserve Champion: Alayna Applegate (Ewing, Ky.)
Third: Isabella Privitera (Mission Hills, Kan.)
Fourth: Finn Cooper (Denver Colo.)
Fifth: Sophie Yi (Alamo, Calif.)
Sixth: Gabriella Snyder (St. Louis, Mo.)
Seventh: Dawson Archibald (Andover, Kan.)
Eighth: Ashley Perry (Londonderry, N.H.)
Ninth: Kaylee Atkinson (Oro Valley, Ariz.)
Tenth: Ella Hampton (Sheridan, Ind.)

Complete Results of the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final

Stay up to date with U.S. saddle seat by following USA Saddle Seat on Facebook and U.S. Equestrian on Twitter and Instagram. Use #USASaddleSeat.

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Erin Sylvester and Paddy the Caddy ended their long history of competing at The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International in style, winning The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship. Joining her in the victory circle was Woods Baughman aboard C’est La Vie 135 as The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Champions at Fair Hill.

The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship

Erin Sylvester, of Cochranville, Penn., and Paddy the Caddy, Frank McEntee’s 12-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding, rode to the win in the CCI4*-L with a final score of 34.30. In addition to the national championship title, the combination takes home the Fair Hill Bronze as the overall winner, the USEF’s Guy V. Henry Memorial Trophy and the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation Gladstone Trophy as the highest-placed U.S athlete in the CCI4*, and the Beale Wright Morris Memorial Trophy as the highest-placed lady rider.

“He felt a little bit tired, but he has endless heart to do the best he can when he’s in the ring,” said Sylvester. “It’s been my goal to get this event done and done well for a while now. We’ve hit a few bumps in the road during the season, so it was great to put that all behind us and have a good weekend.”

With the CCI5* on the horizon, Sylvester noted the history she has with Fair Hill, but is excited for the future. “It’s special to have the finish that we’ve had this year, but I’m honestly going to be really, really sad,” said Sylvester, “I was thinking about that the whole weekend. This was the first two-star that I did a long time ago. I love this event; it’s a local event for us. It pulls the whole community together. I’m excited to see what the future holds on the other side of the road.”

The Dutta Corp. is proud to sponsor the USEF and is honored that the USEF has chosen to provide a flight by The Dutta Corp. to Sylvester, as the winner of The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship. “I’d love to get Paddy to Burghley at some point in time,” said Sylvester.

See her showjumping round on a video here.

Mia Farley of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., riding in both CCI divisions, rode away as the Reserve Champion in The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship aboard BGS Firecracker, her nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare. The young rider scaled the leaderboard after each phase for the reserve championship to end on a 38.3 and bring home the USET Foundation’s Markham Trophy, presented to the highest-placed U.S. young rider in the CCI4*-L; the Amanda Warrington Trophy, presented to the highest-placed rider completing their first CCI4*-L; and the Edward Johnson Memorial Trophy, presented to the highest-placed adult amateur.

“Overall, I had so much fun all week. I feel incredibly lucky to be here,” said Farley. “Coming from California, it’s always been a goal of mine to come to Fair Hill and experience the track, and I never would’ve thought that I’d finish as well as I did. I’m lucky to have my horse.”

Farley also rode in the CCI3*-L and was the recipient of The John H. Fritz Trophy as the national champion in the USEF Young Rider Eventing National Championship with Fernhill Fine Diamond, Charlotte Zovighian’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, with a score of 36.80. This USEF National Championship is awarded in the CCI3*-L to the highest-placed U.S. competitor who is 16 years of age to 21 years of age during the current competition year.

Reserve champion in the young rider championship was awarded to Abigail Niles, of Sherborn, Mass., and Carrick Finest Lad, her 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. They finished their time at Fair Hill on a score of 38.80.

Rounding out the top three in The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship, Jenny Caras, of Cartersville, Ga., piloted her and the Fernhill Fortitude Syndicate’s Fernhill Fortitude, a 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, to an exciting third-place finish. The pair skyrocketed up the leaderboard after a dramatic cross-country phase and a double-clear show jumping round to end on her dressage score of 40.0.

“I love riding at Fair Hill, and I love riding around Derek di Grazia’s tracks,” said Caras. “It’s so nice as a rider to be able to go out on cross-country and trust that the course designer has set something that you can really ride forward and bold to, and if you do your job as a rider, the horses will understand it.

“In the past, the show jumping has been a bit tricky for us,” she continued. “I used to put him in a lot of hackamores and bigger bits to try and hold him, but now I’ve just taken him back to a snaffle and have really focused on getting the jumps to hold him. He was great in there, and I couldn’t be happier with how he finished.”

The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship

Woods Baughman of Lexington, Ky., and C’est La Vie 135, the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Woods, Kim, and Jay Baughman, were the recipients of the USEF Combined Training Trophy as they claimed the title of The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship in style, ending on their dressage score of 27.6. Along with the title, Baughman took home the Heartwood Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the overall winner of the CCI3*-L division, and The Sea Horse Farm Perpetual Trophy, which is presented to the owner of the winning horse in the CCI3*-L division.

“I was so happy when we finally made it over the last rail,” said Baughman. “I can breathe for the first time since yesterday. He was a little tired this morning, but then I took him out and rode him first thing and he immediately snapped back to and gave me everything he had. When I got on him this afternoon, he was just right there with me and ready to put it down.”

Finishing her weekend as reserve champion in The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship and third in CCI3*-L on her dressage score of 29.8 was Caitlin Silliman of Swarthmore, Penn., and the eight-year-old Trakenher mare, Ally KGO, owned by the McCue Family and Q-Brook Stables.

“She was great,” said Silliman. “You never really know when you are bringing them up the level to their first really tough one. She was good yesterday, and the weather was great, so we had that in our favor. The rain was tough today, because it makes the tack a bit slippery, but it did cool off so that keeps them fresh.”

Silliman spent the week tied throughout the competition with fellow competitor Holly Payne Caravella of Oldwick, N.J., and CharmKing, the eight year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by the CharmKing LLC, until the last jump. In the end, it came down to mere seconds as Silliman finished closest to the optimum time, 8:46, on Derek di Graza’s cross-country course. Silliman completed the course in 8:45 to break the tie.

“She finished strong yesterday and you never know how much horse you’re going to have left on Sunday morning or how they’re going to show jump,” said Silliman. “She’s a very good showjumper, but she’s never jumped after a long course like this. She felt the same to me today, which is exciting for the future.”

Second place in the CCI3*-L went to Canadian Colleen Loach, of Dunham, Quebec and Peter Barry’s Vermont, the seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, after they ended on their dressage score of 28.6. Loach was the recipient of The Palmaccio Trophy, which is presented to the leading foreign rider in the CCI3*-L division.

Maya Black, of Clinton, Wash., and Miks Master C, Laurie Cameron’s seven-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion, won the USEF Young Horse Eventing National Championship and took home the Jonathan R. Burton Trophy, as the highest-placed six- or seven-year-old U.S. horse in the CCI3*-L. They ended the competition with a top-ten finish on a final score of 36.0. The reserve champion title went to Alyssa Peterson of Waldorf, Md., and R-Perfect Storm, Margaret Peterson’s seven-year-old Oldenburg mare, with a top-20 finish on a score of 40.0.

“Overall, I was thrilled with [Miks Master C],” said Black. “He tries so hard and has been a consistent horse, especially in his training. He just keeps stepping up to the plate.”

Regarding their time at Fair Hill, Black noted “[Mik Master C] is so honest, straight forward and fun. Overall, we are thrilled. Winning the seven-year-old championship means a lot to me and my team.

The Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue Trophy was awarded to Fibber and Molly, the eight-year-old Thoroughbred mare, owned and ridden by Chris Talley of Jefferson, Va., as the highest-placed American Thoroughbred. The combination finished on a score of 49.2.

The Dutta Corporation

Fair Hill is proud to partner with The Dutta Corporation, the event’s title sponsor, which is an international and domestic horse shipping company founded by J. Tim Dutta. It has been expanding rapidly since its inception in 1988 and particularly so in the last 20 years. With state-of-the-art jet stalls and an expert team of grooms, The Dutta Corp. provides horse air transport solutions tailored to each individual horse.

“My family and I are very involved in the top sport of horses, and I really love eventing because it’s truly a sport of horsemanship,” said J. Tim Dutta, CEO of The Dutta Corporation. “Derek is a master course designer, the ground rode well, and you had top sport, and you had very worthy winners.”

As a longtime sponsor of Fair Hill, Dutta commented on the connection with the community over the last eight years. “Most important, I thank the community for supporting The Dutta Corporation, because without your support, we cannot give back. We’re really happy to be a part of the eventing community and to support Fair Hill as well as the national championships.”

Complete results are available here.

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Further Reading

Get Started in Eventing

The post Champions Crowned at The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI4*-L and CCI3*-L Eventing National Championships appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

As the highest-placed American in the CCI2*-LA division, Allison Springer, of Upperville, Va., and Crystal Crescent Moon took home the USEF CCI2*-L Eventing National Championship and the Richard Collins Trophy in style, finishing on their dressage score of 30.0 to secure this year’s coveted honors.

“He’s my little brown unicorn,” said Springer. “He’s really fast and trainable. I think he’s going to do great things.”

The six-year-old Connemara cross is owned by his breeder, Nancy Winter, and Springer has known Crystal Crescent Moon since he was a foal. Started under saddle by Cathy Wieschhoff to begin his career, he was partnered with Springer shortly thereafter early in his four-year-old year.

“It means a lot to me and it means a lot to Nancy because it’s so fun watching them come up and do their thing,” said Springer.

She described her ride in the USEF CCI2*-L Eventing National Championship. “He was perfect in dressage. He’s like a little dirt bike cross-country, and he put in a great show-jump round. He’s very careful and scopey and just a fun horse to ride.”

The Reserve Champion title for the USEF CCI2*-L Eventing National Championship went to Jan Byyny and Unbridled Numbers, a nine-year-old Thoroughbred owned by Kaylin Dines. They scored 30.1 in dressage and were double clear in both cross country and show jumping.

Jane Jennings, of Unionville, Penn., and her own Kontessa M led the CCI2*-LA division for both the dressage and cross-country phases of competition on a score of 29.5, but added four faults in their show-jumping round to ultimately finish the weekend in sixth place.

USEF CCI2* Junior/Young Rider Eventing National Championship

Francesca Spoltore and her 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse Millstreet Mitch won the CCI2*-LB division, which served as the USEF CCI2* Junior/Young Rider Eventing National Championship. They were presented with the Harry T. Peters Trophy.

Leading the way after dressage on a score of 31.4, they dropped to second place after adding four time penalties over the cross-country course. In the final phase, the pair clinched the win and reclaimed their top placing with a double-clear show-jumping effort.

“He was amazing jumping in there. He didn’t feel tired at all. He helped me out a little in one of the lines, and he was so good today,” Spoltore said. “My plan when we bought him was to take him to the three-star short at NAYC next year. Hopefully we will bring him out at Preliminary next year, move up to Intermediate and get my qualifiers for Young Riders.”

Spoltore has only been partnered with Mitch for four months, and the pair is still getting to know each other. “He was amazing this weekend,” she added. “It was the best he’s been…the best we’ve been together. For only four months, it was a good finish.”

Jackie LeMastus and Lup the Loop, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by James LeMastus, moved up from seventh after dressage to finish second and take home the Reserve Champion title in the Junior/Young Rider Championship division.

Cross-country proved to be an influential phase in the divisional standings, with course design led by Carsten Meyer, who utilized the rolling hills of the Virginia Horse Center to ensure horse-and-rider fitness would play a role in the standings heading into the final day of competition. The show-jumping phase of competition also saw changes in the top ten placings for each division, respectively.

“That concludes another incredible week at Virginia Horse Trials,” VHT Organizer Andy Bowles said. “Thanks to everyone for coming and enjoying this beautiful venue. We hope to see you back in the spring.”

Live Results
Find out more about the Virginia Horse Trials

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The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.

The post Allison Springer Wins USEF CCI2*-L Eventing National Championship and Francesca Spoltore Earns USEF CCI2* Junior/Young Rider Eventing National Championship Honors appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.