Wayne, Ill.—Aug. 28
It was a busy day at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, and we’ve got a roundup of winners. Read on to learn more.
Kat Fuqua and Dreamgirl. Lindsay Berreth Photos
Adequan/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship
Kat Fuqua got her first dressage championship win ever when she topped the Adequan/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship with Dreamgirl, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Spielberg—U-vira, Goodtimes).
“She’s just the sweetest horse ever, and I can ride her bareback,”said Fuqua. “She’s just the best. I think our partnership has really grown. Two weeks ago at [the FEI North American Youth Championships (Michigan)] is when we really clicked together.”
Fuqua finished third in today’s Junior individual test (68.62%) and won the Junior team test on Friday (70.95%).
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“Yesterday I was really happy,” she said. “It was a really solid test, and I didn’t have any major mistakes. Today I think I stepped it up a little bit because I was a little more comfortable, so I rode with a little more power. I think I improved today.”
Lexi Kment and Montagny Von Der Heide finished as reserve champions in the Junior division.
Devon Pomeroy and Royal Dark Chocolate won the Junior individual test and finished third overall in the Junior championship.
Adequan/USEF Young Adult Brentina Cup National Championship
“Overwhelming” was the first word that came to Chase Shipka’s mind when she finished first in the Adequan/USEF Young Adult Brentina Cup Grand Prix freestyle.
“I didn’t come here expecting this. I just wanted to do my best, and I wanted him to do his best, so I’m, very excited,” she said after scoring a 69.82 percent.
Chase Shipka and Gladstone Zee T.
“It could have gone better, but overall I was really happy,” she added. “Technically it was excellent, I was just extremely fast, so I missed some of my music. I think that’s where we lost a lot of our points. I was really happy. He was tired, I was tired. It’s hot out there. I’m ecstactic.”
McKayla Hohmann and Numberto earned the reserve championship in the Brentina Cup division.
She’s had the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Apache—Zeester T, Jazz) for three years, and they’ve learned the Grand Prix together. She’ll be turning 25 in September, so she’s looking ahead to the senior Grand Prix division next year.
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“He’s only 10, so we still have a lot to work on, but I think he shows great talent for the Grand Prix, so I’m excited to go forward,” she said.
Dawn White O’Connor and Hudson M.
USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship
Dawn White O’Connor earned her third win of the week to take the USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship on Four Winds Farm’s Hudson M, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cadans M—Cilinda M, Tuschinski). They scored a 76.35 percent in the Intermediaire I freestyle to clinch the championship.
“It was so-so,” she said of her ride. “I was not totally on the music to start, so I was kind of playing catch up and getting behind it the whole time, so it was a little rockier than it could have been, but I’ve only ridden it a few times.”
Lindsey Holleger and MW Ave Maria earned the Intermediaire I reserve championship.
She’s had the gelding for about year and a half. “He is, like, the best horse,” she said. “I could probably talk about him all day. I think everyone gets sick of me constantly showing videos of what he’s doing. He’s like an incredibly special horse. I think even if he wasn’t as talented as he is, he’s just got the best personality, and he’s one of the most fun horses to be around. He’s pretty much good about everything. He’s one of a kind.”
