Daily Show and Serenade MF Win 2021 U.S. Developing Horse Championships

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2021 U.S. Dressage Championships

Daily Show and Serenade MF became winners of the national titles in the Developing Prix St Georges and Grand Prix Horse Championships held at the 2021 U.S. Festival of Champions at Lamplight Equestrian Centre in Wayne, ILL.

These 2021 U.S. Dressage Championships took place on 24 - 29 August 2021 and were all encompassing, covering Championships from children level to Grand Prix as well as national young horse and developing horse championships.

Developing Prix St Georges: Daily Show

Fifteen combinations competed in the USEF Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Test to decide the winner of the U.S. Developing Prix St. Georges Horse Championship.

USEF/USDF Young Horse Emerging Program member Emily Miles (Paola, Kan.) had an excellent day, taking the champion's title and third place with Daily Show and Sole Mio, respectively.

Daily Show, Leslie Waterman’s 2014 Hanoverian stallion (by Danciano de Malleret x Schweden Lady, by Stockhom) won the class with a score of 75.416% and the overall title with a score of 74.504%. Sole Mio, Leslie Waterman’s 2014 Hanoverian stallion (by Stanford x Donna-Rafaela, by Donnerschwee), finished third overall with a score of 72.004%.

“‘Daily’ was a rockstar. It was really hot; he’s black and big. We warmed him up in an easy, quiet way, and had to trust that the first three minutes before the test we could knock it into gear, but I thought that today went better than the first day. He had more flow, took up the ring, and was just really in front of me. I was so pleased with him. The strength that he showed off in such a big way, I think there is still a ton left in there, and I’m so excited to have two horses like them.”

The preparation for the Nationals wasn't the easiest for Miles. "They went 20 months without leaving the property because of COVID, and starting out the show season felt a little rocky, but they’ve just gotten better and more confident each time. Daily came in ranked eleventh, Mio came in ranked fifth, so I had hopes. I thought they could be good, but I am just so excited that they are top three. I think that the future is bright, and I love this program. I love being here and showing here."

Miles thanked the owner of both her medal winning horses, who are an enrichment to her barn. "I adore [Daily Show] and his stablemate, and it’s fun because they’re both owned by Leslie Waterman, who is phenomenal as an owner," said Emily. "She can’t be here this week, but she trusts me and supports me, and is such a fantastic owner, I feel like she is 100% the best! They are total opposites, though they are both young stallions, they’re both super. Mio has been here and done great things, but Daily is now really coming into his own; they’re so different! Daily is the big, black beautiful stallion, while Mio is a short little punk with an ‘I got this!’ attitude, and they’re so fun to ride. You can’t compare them.”

She added that, “we bought both of the stallions at the Verden Hanoverian stallion auction when they were two-and-a-half years old. My brother was the first to sit on them because I was pregnant at the time, so he broke them as three year olds. I’ve been riding them since. Daily has really come into his own; he has shown up. I’m blessed to have them.”

Kristina Harrison (Burbank, Calif.) and I Felix, Jocelyn Towne’s 2013 KWPN gelding (by Fidertanz x Dalwhinnie, by UB40), were the reserve champions with an overall score of 72.159% and won the Highest U.S. Bred Horse Award for the division.

"I found him as a yearling, and I went to go look at some horses with a client," said Kristina. "I saw him out in the field and he was not who I was meant to see, but I kept going, ‘Who is that!?’ It was love at first sight. It didn’t matter if I bought him or if my client bought him, I was getting that horse. So we’ve had him since he was a yearling, and he has a fantastic owner, and he’s such a powerhouse, he’s the little engine that could, and is my horse of a lifetime I think. He’s honest, he’s got a great work ethic, he never says no, and he tries his heart out.”

Developing Grand Prix: Serenade MF

Twelve combinations competed in the Developing Grand Prix Horse Test to determine the U.S. Developing Grand Prix Horse Dressage National Championship title winner. The Inter II scores counted for 40%, the Short Grand Prix test results for 60%.

For the second time on Sunday, Alice Tarjan claimed the top two spots in a national championship. Tarjan and Serenade MF, her 2013 Hanoverian mare (by Sir Donnerhall x Duet MF, Don Principe), won the class with a score of 75.833%, took the national champion title with an overall score of 75.519%, and the won Highest U.S. Bred Horse Award. Tarjan and Harvest, her 2012 KWPN stallion (by Connaisseur x Naomi, Ulft), were the reserve champions with an overall score of 71.689% Tarjan is a member of the Kundrun USEF Dressage Development Program with both horses.

“I am pretty happy,” Tarjan said of her test with Serenade MF. “There are a lot of things that we could improve upon, but that horse just goes out every time and does the job, and I don’t know what more you could ask for. 'Shrimp’ just goes in and does her job. Harvest is a little more sensitive, and a little greener in the movements. He had several mistakes today. I think the quality is good, but it’s very much developing still.”

Emily Miles (Paola, Kan.) and Java Dulce, Leslie Waterman’s 2011 Danish Warmblood gelding (by Jazz x JJ Dolche Gabbana, Deemster), were third with a score of 71.241%.

“I was so proud of Java," said Miles. "He came in ranked 15th, so we weren’t even sure if we were going to make it for a while, and I was joking that it would be a fun class to watch, but I had no expectations. I knew that he was getting better consistently throughout the season, and he had that last year off. He’s gotten more solid. I’m super proud of him. I hope he keeps getting better and going on.”

Results - 2021 U.S. Developing Horse Championships

Developing Prix St Georges Horse

1. Emily Miles - Daily Show - 73.137 - 75.416 --- 74.504
2. Kristina Harrison - I Felix- 69.460 - 73.958 --- 72.159
3. Emily Miles - Sole Mio - 70.636 - 72.916 --- 72.004
4. Cyndi Jackson - Florisson - 71.568 - 71.708 --- 71.652
5. Rebecca Rigdon - Iquem - 69.656 - 72.250 --- 71.212
6. Kathleen Raine - Figaro - 70.489 - 70.666 --- 70.595
7. Marcus Orlob - Spirit of Joy - 70.440 - 69.791 --- 70.051
8. Katie Johnson - Ballando - 69.705 - 69.291 --- 69.457
9. Katrina Sadis - Belloona - 66.862 - 70.958 --- 69.320
10. Kim Yacobucci - Ichiban - 67.597 - 69.041 --- 68.463
11. Jaime Dancer - Supremont - 65.980 - 69.625 --- 68.167
12. Ali Potasky - Irintha - 68.627 - 67.125 --- 7.726
13. Martin Kuhn - Ronin - 65.636 - 67.125 --- 66.529
14. Marta Renilla - WEC's Senor Rubinstein - 66.274 - Elim --- 26.510
15. Amanda Perkowski - Atterupgaards Belafonte - 66.225 - Ret ----26.490

Developing Grand Prix Horse

Alice Tarjan Serenade MF - 75.048 - 75.833 --- 75.519
Alice Tarjan Harvest 72.597 29.039 2 71.083 --- 71.689
Emily Miles Java Dulce 70.979 28.392 3 71.416 --- 71.241
Katie Johnson Paxton 70.881 28.352 4 71.333 --- 71.152
Heather McCarthy Au Revoir 67.646 27.058 5 66.375 --- 66.883
Nicole Levy Imposant 66.568 26.627 6 66.291 --- 66.402
Lauren Sprieser Guernsey Elvis 65.833 26.333 7 66.500 --- 66.233
Amy Swerdlin Tokayer 63.284 25.314 11 65.958 --- 64.888
Endel Ots RS Damon 64.362 25.745 8 64.458 --- 64.420
Lesley Eden Fortissimo SQF 63.382 25.353 10 64.083 --- 63.803
Kimberly Kobryn-Callaway Ramora CF 63.087 25.235 12 61.916 --- 62.384
Lauren Chumley Nikolas 64.117 25.647 9 59.916 --- 61.596