The 2014 U.S. Young and Developing Horse Championships kicked off Thursday at the Lamplight Equestrian Center under grey skies and on-and-off rain. The first three of six divisions completed tests in front of the judging panel comprised of Hilda Gurney, Natalie Lamping, and Mike Osinski. In the 4-year old division Rosalut NHF holds the lead following day one. Emilion SA has jumped out to the early lead in the 5-year old division, while Donatus seized the pole position in the Developing Grand Prix Horse Championships.
4-Year-Old Championship
Despite the inclement weather, all 15 entries put their best efforts forward in the USEF Dressage Test for Four-Year-Old Horses to earn the first 40% of their championship scores.
Carly Taylor-Smith (Malibu, Calif.) and Rosalut HF (by Rosenthal x Salut) stormed to an overall score of 8.830 and an early lead. Nikki Taylor Smith's Oldenburg gelding was rewarded for his impressive trot and canter, scoring 9.5 and 9.3, respectively. They also earned 8.0 for the walk and 8.6 for submission. The gelding also was praised highly for his general impression, being rewarded with a score of 9.0.
Earning second-place honors on Thursday were Willy Arts (Hanford, Calif.) and Natalie Bryant and DG Bar Ranch's KWPN mare Famebria DG (by Idocus x Krack C). The pair impressed the judging panel with an overall 8.36. They earned 9.0, 8.0, and 8.3 for their trot, walk, and canter, respectively. For her submission and overall impression, she earned 8.0 and 8.5.
Rounding out the top three are Endel Ots (Wellington, Fla.) and Dr. Max Ots' Lucky Strike (by Lord Laurie x His Highness) with a score of 8.16. The Hanoverian gelding earned 8.6, 7.6, and 7.8 for his trot, walk, and canter, respectively. He was rewarded for his rideability, scoring 8.4 for submission, and earned a mark of 8.4 for his overall impression.
The 4-Year-Old Championship comes to a conclusion on Saturday as entries again perform the USEF Dressage Test for Four-Year-Old Horses to earn the final 60% of their overall championship scores.
5-Year-Old Championship
The field of 15 from the 2009 foal crop earned the first 40% of their overall scores in the FEI Five-Year-Old Preliminary Test.
As the sixth combination in the championship arena, Kelly Casey (Livermore, Calif.) and her own KWPN gelding Emilion SA (by Painted Black x Landwind II B) earned the best score of the division, 8.6, with a polished performance. The talented gelding was rewarded for his impressive gaits that demonstrated great swing and athleticism, earning 8.4, 8.5, and 9.0 for the trot, walk, and canter, respectively. The gelding showed great potential with his rideability, for which he was rewarded an 8.7 on submission. For his quality work Thursday afternoon, Emilion SA earned an overall impression mark of 8.7.
Second place went to Patricia Baker (Wadsworth, Ill.) and Joan Pecora's Edward (by United x Damiro). The KWPN gelding was also rewarded for quality gaits, earning scores of 9.0, 8.0, and 8.8 for the trot, walk, and canter. The gelding earned a score of 8.46 on Thursday, after being rewarded with an 8.0 on submission and 8.5 for overall impression.
Third place went to Ashlyn DeGroot (Hanford, Calif.) and DG Bar Ranch's KWPN gelding DG Edorijke (by Spielberg x /Jazz) with a score of 8.26. For the trot, walk, and canter, he received 8.0, 8.0, and 9.0, respectively. Additionally, they earned 7.7 for submission and earned an overall impression score of 8.6.
The 5-Year-Old entries return to the arena on Saturday for the Championship Class and the remaining 60% of their overall scores in the FEI 5-Year-Old Final Test.
Developing Grand Prix Horse
Thursday's Championship competition came to a close under clear skies with a field of seven performing the Intermediaire II Test for the first 40% of the overall score.
Heading the field following the first of two days of competition are Endel Ots (Wellington, Fla.) and his Everglades Dressage LLC's Donatus (by Don Schufro x Caramel). The 10-year-old Wurttemberger gelding, who was previously known as Donaldik, demonstrated a solid foundation in the Grand Prix to a score a 68.640%.
Second place went to Emily Wagner (La Cygne, Kan.) and her own WakeUp (by Wagnis x Macho), who took home the title in the 2013 Developing Prix St. Georges Horse Championship. The nine-year-old American Warmblood stallion demonstrated a great amount of presence throughout the test to cruise to a score of 68.246%.
Zanzibar (by Consul x Farmer) was ridden to third place by owner Katie Riley (White House Station, N.J.). The ten-year-old KWPN stallion earned a score of 67.588% on Thursday.
The 2014 Champion will be crowned Saturday as the final 60% of the overall score will be earned in the USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix Test.
Related Links
Scores: 2014 U.S. Young Horse Championships
Qualified Pairs for the 2014 U.S. Young Dressage Horse Championships
Oldenburgers Fiderhit OLD and Fashion Designer OLD Gear Up for 2014 U.S. Young Horse Championships