Gladstone, N.J. – June 17

After winning the Prix St. Georges and the Intermediaire I, Caroline Roffman was in a good position to take home the National Intermediaire I championship as she headed into the freestyle. But fireworks and horses seldom make a good combination, and a wedding celebration that went late into the night near the stabling meant Pie had a less than restful night.

“We were here at 12 or 1 in the morning because I got a call that he had his front feet over the top of the tent,” Roffman said. “He was soaking wet and jumping and leaping. He got himself down, but I was about to march down there and crash the wedding.”

Despite the long night, Pie, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Otto Rudolf Fuchs—Worldly, World Lady), rallied for the freestyle. He performed to a medley of Britney Spears and Katy Perry for a 73.92 percent. That score placed them third in the class behind Heather Mason on Warsteiner (75.75%) and David Blake on Royal Prinz (75.22%), which was good enough to hold onto their lead and win the national championship at the U.S. Equestrian Federation Dressage Festival of Champions.

“It’s his second freestyle ever. It’s the first time I did that particular one. Probably not the best preparation,” said Roffman. “He was better than I was today.”

Roffman, 23, is based in Wellington, Fla., and her working student, Amy Schierbeek, put her music together for the freestyle. Schierbeek hopes to put herself through college by designing freestyles.

“She’s really good. I didn’t really do it justice today,” Roffman said.

Watch Roffman and Pie’s freestyle performance:

Blake’s second-placed finish in the class clinched the reserve championship with Royal Prinz, an 11-year-old Oldenburg stallion (Royal Diamond—Mystica, Dream Of Glory) owned by Teresa Simmons.

“I figured today I could have a little fun,” he said. “He usually does liven up with the music, but he was really fun.”

A quick balk in front of the judges surprised the crowd, but they recovered quickly. “It seemed like all of a sudden he realized the music was a little loud. He got a little tense for a split second,” said Blake, 33, who is based out of Steffen and Shannon Peters’ Arroyo Del Mar in San Diego. “He is a little on the hotter side, but he never does anything stupid. He’s a really level-headed guy.

“Of course you always want to win; it is a competition,” he continued. “But I’m pretty happy with second.”

Watch Blake’s freestyle:

Heather Mason, Lebanon, N.J., couldn’t have hoped for a better way to finish off Warsteiner’s small tour career. She won the freestyle and placed third in the overall championship, proving they are ready to move up to the Grand Prix.

“He was very good,” said Mason, 43. “I went for a little too much in the three [tempi changes.] I tried to do 10 threes instead of my normal eight. I got a little greedy at the end.”

She and Warsteiner, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Riverman-ISF—Welona, Roemer) made up for the mistake in other parts of the test, taking the top score of the day.

“He was very solid. His pirouettes were good,” she said. “He’s definitely ready [for Grand Prix].”

Watch Steffen Peters and Sundance 8 perform their freestyle:

Hafner Holds Onto Brentina Cup Lead

Brian Hafner and Lombardo LHF won the Brentina Cup by topping both phases of the National Young Adult championship.

Hafner got Lombardo when the gelding was just 4 years old, and he brought him up to the Grand Prix level. Their average score of 70.26 percent made them the only team to average over 70 percent for the two-day competition.

“He was a little tired. He’s been here more than a week now,” Hafner said. “There are just small mistakes, so I think there’s potential to do better. Overall, I’m really happy with how solid he’s been at this competition. He’s been really steady.”

Hafner, 23, won team gold with Region 7 at the 2009 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships riding Lombardo, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Londonderry—Waluga, Werther). They also took individual bronze and silver, and he’s earned his U.S. Dressage Federation Bronze, Silver and Gold medals with the horse.

“He was never a super fancy young horse,” he said. “I think no one would ever expect he would be the quality he is as a Grand Prix horse. I feel so fortunate to have such a great horse.”

Although the pair will be eligible to compete in the Brentina Cup, a competition open to riders from 16-25 years old, for one more year, he said he doesn’t know if he will be back in 2013. He plans to take Lombardo in some CDI competitions. “I’m totally open to seeing what happens and going with it,” he said.

Heather Ann Beachem, 23, was named reserve champion on her Windsong with an average of 68.86 percent.

“This first ride was the ride of my life—so fun,” she said. “Today he was a little more tired.” 

Windsong also had a long night due to the fireworks. 

Beachem lives in Alpharetta, Ga., and last year she placed third in the Brentina Cup with Windsong, her 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Weltmeyer—Lara). The gelding is for sale, and she wasn’t even sure she’d be able to keep him through the competition. “Each show I’d send in my entry on the closing date. I didn’t want to get my hopes up,” she said.

Mary-Cameron Rollins took the second highest score of the day in the Young Rider Grand Prix (69.2%), which helped her and Rose Noir 2 take third place overall with an average score of 68.37 percent.

Rollins said she was just happy to be at the Brentina Cup with her 15-year-old Oldenburg mare (Royal Angelo I—Ironesse, Welt As).

“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs—a lot of lameness issues,” Rollins said, adding that during the past season Rose Noir started breaking out in hives, requiring her to go on medication and making it more difficult to school the Grand Prix moves.

“In February I never thought this was possible,” Rollins said.

For full results, visit Fox Village Dressage.

To catch up on all the news from the event, see the Chronicle’s coverage of the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions.