Laura Graves Gets New Future Hope to Ride, SenSation HW

Dressage

U.S.A.

USA's number one Grand Prix rider Laura Graves has a new hope for the future in the barn, the 7-year old SenSation HW.

SenSation HW is a Westfalian gelding by Sunday out of Donata (by Dancier x Lanthan x Aragon). He is bred by Alfons Bergjohann in Germany.

Double U.S. Young Horse Champion

Purchased by Carol McPhee in November 2015, the black gelding arrived at the owner's yard after being saddle broken in July 2016 and was developed as a youngster by American professional Michael Bragdell.

Bragdell and SenSation HW went to the 2017 U.S. Young Horse Championships, where they finished seventh. At the 2018 U.S. Young Horse Nationals they won the title in the 5-year old division and last year they returned to the Young Horse Championships to reclaim victory in the 6-year old division. At the end of 2019, SenSation HW also won the USDF Third Level Open Championship.

After the 2019 USDF Finals in November, SenSation returned home to McPhee's yard Field of Dreams in Bath, PA, where Cara Klothe continued the gelding's training to FEI level.

"I purchased SenSation HW sight unseen at 3 years old. He was love at first sight. I had a great time with SenSation so far in his young horse career and thankful to Michael for that," Carol McPhee told Eurodressage. "We are excited for the next chapter."

To FEI with Laura Graves

U.S. number one Grand Prix rider Laura Graves retired her top horse and medal winner Verdades in January 2019. Other than the hardly competed developing Grand Prix horse Fizau, there seemed no other big hopes for the future in her stable.

However, this has changed with the arrival of SenSation. On 12 May Laura Graves confirmed that she has accepted the ride on the black gelding.

Laura Graves declined to reply to more specific questions from Eurodressage about her future plans with the horse and what attracted her to this well known youngster.