Alice Tarjan Sells Her Number One, Serenade MF, to Fellow American

Dressage

U.S.A.

American Grand Prix rider Alice Tarjan has sold her number one Grand Prix horse in the barn, Serenade MF, to fellow countrymate Jessica Howington.

Serenade MF is an 11-year old American Hanoverian by Sir Donnerhall out of Duet MF (by Don Principe x ). She is bred by Maryanna Haymon.

Alice Tarjan

Scouted and bought by Alice Tarjan as a foal, Serenade was produced to Grand Prix level by her owner. The pair has been successful duos on the American young horse circuit, raking in titles and medals across the levels.

At age 3 in 2016 Serenade gave a taste of her quality by winning the material classes at Dressage at Devon. In 2017 they won U.S. Young Horse Championship in the 4-year old division. A year later they were 6th in the 5-year old division at the 2018 U.S. Young Horse Championships. In 2021 they won the U.S. Developing Grand Prix Horse Championships as well as the USDF Dressage Finals, where they were presented with the Lloyd Landkamer Perpetual Trophy for FEI Highest Scoring Mare (presented by Janet Foy).

In 2022 the pair made its international show debut on the Wellington show circuit scoring between 67 and 73%. They were nominated to represent the UI.S.A at the FEI Nations Cup in Rotterdam and were named first reserve to the team for the 2022 World Championships in Herning. In the summer they won the 2022 U.S. Grand Prix Championships in the absence of all the U.S. team riders. They scored a double victory at CDI-W Devon and won in Tryon.

Tarjan and Serenade MF at the 2023 CDIO Aachen

The pair qualified for the 2023 World Cup Finals in Omaha, where they finished 9th in the Kur to Music and then represented the U.S.A at the CDIO Aachen, where they were 23rd in the Grand Prix (71.087%) but dropped to a 36th place in the Special (67.574%). It was the pair's last show.

Jessica Howington

Serenade MF has been sold to American Grand Prix rider Jessica Howington as a Paris Olympic team hopeful. The ownership changed in the USDF database at the end of December 2023.

”I guess the cat is out of the bag,” Jessica told Eurodressage. “It’s a lot to live up to for sure…Alice has done such a phenomenal job with her…as with all of hers. I admire her so much as a rider and I’m beyond grateful to have this opportunity. I’m really looking forward to the journey and partnership with Shrimp. I love her so much already. I’m keeping in my head and heart “no pressure”. I didn’t buy her as a Paris hopeful per se…but that would of course be the icing on the cake.”

The pair is scheduled to make her show debut on Serenade MF upcoming weekend in the national GP classes in Wellington.

Howington competed Grand Prix mare Cavalia (by Sir Donnerhall x Gribaldi) on the international scene in 2023 and with her second horse Indigo TC (by Dream Boy x Kennedy) she has recently made the leap to Grand Prix. Cavalia was retired from sport at the start of 2024.

The sale of Serenade MF will not rule out Tarjan from Grand Prix level sport. With a barn of home produced horses, she has plenty for the picking. She further owns Grand Prix horses Jane (by Desperado x Metall), Candescent (by Christ x Falkenstern II), and Harvard (by Connaisseur x Ulft).

Tarjan's 2022 international Grand Prix ride Donatella M (by Furstenball x Jazztime) has been sold in August 2022 to Charles and Michele Garren.