Wayne, IL– The 2013 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com continued on Friday with the second and final day of Qualifying Classes. Promising Six-Year-Olds and Developing Prix St. Georges Horses showcased their talents in front of the judging panel of Janet Foy, Bill Warren and Linda Zang in Lamplight Equestrian Centers’ Championship Arena. In the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Six-Year-Old National Championships presented by HorseShow.com, Vitalis impressed the judges as well as spectators to surge to the head of the field. While in the Markel/USEF Developing Prix St. Georges Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com Wakeup posted the top score of the day.
Six-Year-Old Championship
Six-Year-Old competition got the day started in the Championship Arena, as 12 entries performed the FEI Six-Year-Old Preliminary Test. Friday’s scores will count for 40% of the total championship score.
Charlotte Jorst (Reno, NV) and Skagen Holdings’ Vitalis (Vivaldi x Tolivia/Donnerschwee)
Vitalis (Carolynn Bunch Photography)
proved to be popular winners on Thursday morning. The KWPN stallion demonstrated outstanding, expressive gaits to earn a 9.7, 7.8 and 9.5 for their trot, walk, and canter.
Vitalis was not only rewarded for his movement but also his rideability and potential for the future. For his submission the stallion scored a perfect 10, for which Foy commented, “We could not have thought of anything to make it better.” The judging panel also awarded a mark of 9.0 for general impression.
Vitalis scored a 9.2 on Friday to lead the field heading into the Championship Class.
“Fantastic, I thought it was so much fun,” said Jorst of her winning ride.
Jorst and Vitalis represented the U.S. at the FEI World Breeding Championships for Dressage Young Horses two weekends ago in Verden, Germany and made it a priority to contest these Championships. This is the first time Jorst has competed at this annual event and at Lamplight but is thoroughly enjoying the experience.
“This is my first time to Chicago. I have always wanted to come here and I love it here. The flowers, the atmosphere, everything is great; I am so comfortable here.”
Earning second-place honors on Friday was Alice Tarjan (Oldwick, NJ) and her own Elfenfeuer (Florencio x Elfensonne/Sion) with a score of 7.940. The Oldenburg gelding was rewarded with an 8.5 for his trot with particular praise for the collected trot as well as an 8.6 for the canter. Tension in the walk resulted in a score of 5.9.
The talented gelding was rewarded with a 9.0 for submission after demonstrating suppleness and elasticity as well as a proficiency in the flying changes. They were awarded a general impression score of 7.7.
Riding to third place was Jane Karol (Concord, MA) and her own Sunshine Tour (Sir Donnerhall x History/Alabaster) with a score of 7.800. The Oldenburg mare scored 9.2, 7.3, and 7.2 for the trot, walk, and canter, respectively. She also received scores of 7.0 and 8.0 for submission and general impression.
The Six-Year-Old Championship comes to a conclusion on Sunday as competitors will earn the remaining 60% of their score in the FEI Six-Year-Old Final Test.
Developing Prix St. Georges
The Developing Prix St. Georges Championship kicked-off Friday afternoon with 14 entries completing the FEI Prix St. Georges Test for the first 40% of their championship score.
Wakeup (Carolynn Bunch Photography)
Wakeup was the Reserve Champion in the Developing Prix St. Georges Championship last year and has positioned himself to go one better in 2013. Ridden by his owner Emily Wagner (LaCygne, KS), the eight-year-old American Warmblood gelding presented a confident and polished effort to score 73.465%. Throughout the test, the talented gelding looked thoroughly confirmed in the Prix St. Georges movements.
“I really loved the flow of the movements,” said Wagner. “There were no hiccups; it felt super solid.”
Wakeup is a graduate of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program and earned top honors in the Six-year-Old Championship in 2011. Wagner always enjoys coming back to these Championships as it proves to be a measuring stick of progress throughout the year as well as an opportunity to compete against the top horses in the country.
“It’s a good check-point, to come here and test yourself against the best in the country. I feel very at home here, the people know him and it’s always great to compete against the best-of-the-best.”
Jorst continued her successful day on Friday by collecting second place in the Developing Prix St. Georges Championship with Skagen Holdings’ Adventure (Special D x Sunette S/Mandrain). The eight-year-old KWPN gelding earned a score of 69.868% for the FEI Prix St. Georges Test.
The talented gelding showed great potential for the future and earned high marks for his lateral work and pirouettes.
On Friday, third place went to Silva Martin (Unionville, PA) and the Rosa Cha W Syndicate’s nine-year-old Warmblood mare Rosa Cha W with a score of 69.605%.
The Developing Prix St. Georges Championships comes to a close Sunday afternoon. Entries will earn the final 60% of their score by performing the USEF Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Test.
The 2013 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com continues on Saturday with the Championship Classes in the Four and Five-Year-Old divisions and the Developing Grand Prix. Competition gets underway in Lamplight Equestrian Center’s Championship Arena at 9:15am CT with the Markel/USEF
Developing Grand Prix Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com.
To learn more about the 2013 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com visit:http://usef.org/_IFrames/breedsDisciplines/discipline/alldressage/DressageChampionships.aspx
To see scores from the 2013 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com visit:http://www.foxvillage.com/fvdshowresults/(zdt2hk55gccd1aiflg5fmk45)/ClassList.aspx?sh=1484&st=1
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