Blake Sets The Gold Standard At The USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals

This young rider from Washington state made her first medal final one to remember.

While observers and judges may have thought Rebecca Blake didn’t know her dressage letters after turning right at E instead of B, the 14-year-old really did know better.

She was only performing the pattern she’d been given for the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Ill., July 17-19.

“We got our patterns the day before, and when I did the pattern I found out there was a typo,” said Blake, Enumclaw, Wash. “They told me not to worry about it because it was their mistake, and they made an error in the pattern, but it was really nerve wracking!”

The pattern consisted of leg yielding from X to H, turning right at B and performing a figure-eight at the canter at X with a simple change of lead, and a trot lengthening.

Despite the typo, judges Lois Yukins, Manchester By The Sea, Mass., Paula Lacy, Arcata, Calif., and Charlotte Trentelman, Anthony, Fla., awarded Blake 90 percent and the win in the 13 and under division.

Heather Anne Baine, Alamo, Calif., on Lancieux, took home the silver medal with 85 percent, and Bobbie Kerr, East Aurora, N.Y., on Hooksiel was awarded the bronze with 84 percent.

Blake borrowed her mount, Socrates, from owner Kelly Kavanav. “He was really smooth and pretty lazy,” said Blake. “It’s a good thing we didn’t have to do a victory gallop after we won!”

Blake actually qualified for the final after winning the Region 6 qualifier on her Dutch pony, Hollywood, but she didn’t take him to the finals in Illinois because of the distance. She had to step up to Socrates, who stands 16.1 hands, but his size didn’t faze her.

“In the beginning, he was nippy and kind of cranky,” said Blake. “But after I got to know him better he would nicker at me. We got along better at the end.”

Blake and Socrates also won the warm-up class, which consisted of riding at the walk, posting and sitting trot, and canter on the rail. Later that evening, the riders enjoyed meeting Courtney King-Dye, who spoke to them about her riding journey and signed autographs.

“Courtney signed my hat; it was really cool,” said Blake, who also took home the Hart Perpetual Trophy, a saddle and bridle for her win. “This is the biggest accomplishment I’ve ever had.”

Blake got her first pony at age 3 and later competed in the hunter ring. She found success with her small pony, Biscotti, before breaking her arm playing with one of her dogs.

“I couldn’t ride for three months,” said Blake. “After that, I started thinking about it and decided to do dressage. There are more championships and accomplishments and things to do for juniors.”

It was Blake’s first time in the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals and her first trip to the Chicago area. She also found the time to sightsee and enjoyed the Windy City’s museums and architecture.

Blake primarily trains with her mother, Gwen Blake, at their Donida Farms in Auburn, Wash., as well as judge Janet Foy, of Colorado Springs, Colo., who holds clinics about once a month at Donida during the winter.

Rebecca is also involved with her school’s volleyball team and hopes to continue to ride and contest the Junior and Young Rider divisions. She also has aspirations of becoming an equine veterinarian.

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