Wayne, Ill—Aug. 27

For years Allure S was a star in the young horse program with Angela Jackson, earning the reserve title in the Markel/USEF Developing Prix St. Georges Championship as a 9-year-old and competing through the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix Championship in 2015—where she sported a tiny graduation cap for the prizegiving ceremony.

Now the mare is starring in another ring at Lamplight, winning the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship with Rebekah Mingari aboard on a final score of 69.47 percent.

But Allure S made another contribution to the division this year. She’s also the dam of Elzarma TF, who Mingari rode to the reserve young rider title on an overall score of 68.02 percent.

Rebekah Mingari earned the reserve title and the championship title in the AGCO/USEF Young Rider National Championship on Elzarma TF (left) and Allure S, respectively. Photos by Lisa Slade.

“It’s a lot of fun!” said Mingari. “I love both these horses. They’re so similar but also so different.”

Mingari and Allure S won both FEI Young Rider tests, including today’s Individual test on a 68.81 percent.

“Allure today was a little more focused and listening to me, which was really fun,” said Mingari. “I went out and had a good time with her. She’s such a worker bee; she really tries to her fullest extent when she’s in the arena. Today we had more cadence in our canter as well as our trot work. She was just really good.”

Rebekah Mingari won ribbons galore, and Allure S got to wear them all. Photo by Lisa Slade.

Kerrin Dunn owns both horses, and Mingari, who graduated from the University of Louisville (Ky.) earlier this year with a degree in equine business, works as a rider at her farm. Mingari also trains with Jackson, and she has for the last eight years, so she’s seen the progression of both mares through the young horse program with Jackson aboard.

She took over the ride on Allure last year with plans to eventually compete her in the Under-25 Grand Prix.

“Angela started both mares, and it’s really cool to keep it all together. I rode Elzarma when she was a 4-year-old at Angela’s, and she was kind of my project horse,” said Mingari. “She really taught me how to start young horses. I watched Allure since she was 6, and I got to get on her every once in a while, and she was always the ultimate goal and dream horse to get to ride. It’s been so cool to see these girls grow up, and our partnership together is just incredible. To win this is amazing; it’s a dream come true really.”

Cesar Parra and Fashion Designer OLD. Photo by Lisa Slade.

Fashion Designer OLD, ridden by Cesar Parra, continued his success in the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Dressage Horse Championship by winning the Developing Grand Prix division (67.30%). Patricia Becker and Freedom earned the reserve title on 66.68 percent. The division went during a steady rain.

“The ride today, I wish it could have been better, but it is what it is,” said Parra, who got third in today’s class, the FEI Developing Horse Grand Prix. “We had the rain, and he was a little heavy in the hand—with a little slippery reins and the gloves wet. You wish those things were different, but I guess it was the same for everybody; we were all struggling.

“I’m super, super happy to get another title here at national championships,” he added. “I’m very proud of the horse and super grateful.”

Andrea Woodard and the 6-year-old Ravenna. Photo by Lisa Slade.

In the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Dressage Horse National Championship, Andrea Woodard and Ravenna finished first in the 6-year-old division with an overall score of 8.16. The judging panel today gave the mare an 8.6 for her trot and an 8.7 for general impression for a final score of 8.34 in the FEI 6-Year-Year Finale test. Flyby FLF, ridden by Werner van den Brande, was reserve champion.

“It feels wonderful, of course, because this is what I’ve been building up towards for such a long time,” said Woodard.

Suzannah Rogers and Adrenaline Rush. Photo by Lisa Slade.

After winning yesterday’s FEI Pony Team test, Suzannah Rogers came back and finished a close second to Jori Dupell in the FEI Pony Individual test with her Adrenaline Rush. But her overall score was still good enough to earn the title in the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship. Dupell was reserve on her Toy Story.

“This has been my dream since I was about 12, to come and have a pony and win,” said Rogers. “This is sadly my last year to do it, so it felt really cool to win, and to have that feeling that I was the competition, and everyone was looking to me to try and beat. ‘Rush’ is just my best friend, and we’re partners. If we stick to each other and do how we do, we can win, and that’s what we did.”

Camille Molten on Magnito II. Photo by Lisa Slade.

In the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals 13 and Under division, Camille Molten won with a score of 89.00. She was riding the pony Magnito II. Kasey Denny earned the reserve title riding Feyock (88.00).

“My pony was really good, but I leg-yielded from the wrong letter, and he was spooky in the corner, but other than that it was good,” said Molten.

Isabel Gregory and Atoftens Cherick. Photo by Lisa Slade.

For the 14-8 division of the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals, Isabel Gregory was victorious. Gregory, who borrowed mount Atoftens Cherick for the week, scored an 88.00 over Caroline Garren on her borrowed horse Fontane (87.00).

“I didn’t have a big goal coming in really because this is my first time at the finals and with riding a borrowed horse,” said Gregory. “I wanted to focus on having a smooth test, improving from our training the past few days. He felt like he was really listening to me, and I was able to push him through it.”