![Julie McCrady won the Third Level Freestyle Adult Amateur Championship with her home-bred Hanoverian mare Remanessa. (Susan J. Stickle)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/8758/julie mccrady.jpg)
Julie McCrady won the Third Level Freestyle Adult Amateur Championship with her home-bred Hanoverian mare Remanessa. (Susan J. Stickle)
A homemade freestyle with a Batman theme was also a recipe for success for Heather Fultz of Gainesville, Fla. (Region 3) who claimed top honors with 72.167% for the First Level Freestyle Adult Amateur Championship aboard her colorful six-year-old tobiano Oldenburg mare SS Seraphina (Sympatico x Hall of Fame, bred in the U.S. by Shiloh Sport Horses), who she bought as a yearling and trained herself. “I’m a music teacher so I actually put the entire freestyle together myself, and then it was great to just be at the Finals and ride it in front of everyone. I’m so lucky to have great friends who helped me get here,” said Fultz. “I don’t even have a regulation-size arena at home, so had to trailer off-site to practice it and use schooling shows to tweak the choreography. It slowly got better and better and we ended up here! It’s been an adventure. Last year was the first time we’d ever even done a recognized dressage show, so we’re delighted to be here and I’m excited for our future.” Also from Region 3 (which sent 84 competitors to this year’s Finals) was Reserve Champion Carol Wertz of Cramerton, N.C. with 69.333%. Even though her Friesian gelding Marco von Laar (Onne 376 x Wydana von Laar by Sjaard 320) is a Finals veteran, it was Wertz’ first time taking a turn in the saddle. “I came here with him last year as his groom, and never in a million years thought I’d be back here riding my own horse, but I fell in love with him at the barn,” she explained. “I’d never even ridden a freestyle before, but I was fortunate that when I purchased him in January he came with his First and Second Level freestyles so I got a really nice package deal. I’m thrilled beyond belief.”
After finishing a close second in Saturday’s First Level Open Championship, Stacey Hastings of Mooresville, N.C. (Region 1) with hers and Ronald Woodcock’s five-year-old Oldenburg gelding Fürst Aurum (Fürst Romancier x Kapela by Rohdiamant), she returned to the ring determined to emerge the victor in today’s First Level Freestyle Open Championship. Despite an initial case of stage fright, the pair reached their goal with a winning score of 74.278%. “At first my horse was pretty scared going in the ring today and I was a little concerned, but he pulled it together and we’re really proud of him. Hopefully we’ll be back again next year,” noted Hastings. Finishing in second with 73.556% was another youngster in the five-year-old Oldenburg mare Rae Sangria (Royal Prince x Ferrymore Lane by Fantastico, bred in the U.S. by Donna Mayne), ridden by Kristin Stein of Spencer, Ohio (qualified in Region 1). “We bred her ourselves so we’ve had her from the ground up,” said Stein. “We chose Lady GaGa music for her because it’s a little edgy. It’s our first time to the Finals and it’s been an absolutely wonderful experience.”
Another repeat winner was Jonni Allen of Pleasant Hill, Mo. (Region 4) who had already earned the Second Level Freestyle Open Reserve Championship and wrapped up her 2015 Finals experience on a winning note Sunday. Aboard Bobbi Wojtowicz’ Friesian Sport Horse mare Celtic Grace (Roi Des Blues x Zena TB) she topped the Fourth Level Freestyle Open Championship with 72.944%. “I was very happy with my ride today, she was with me every step and we hit every mark,” said Allen. “We’re thankful to even be here – we’ve had several injuries and lameness issues in the last month, so even at the beginning of this week we weren’t sure if we would make it. So we’re thrilled, she’s an amazing horse.” Region 1 qualifier Domenique Carson of Keymar, Md. rode her Oldenburg mare DeLiza (De Laurentis x Dutch Treatt by Hall of Fame, owned and bred in the U.S. by Victoria Carson) to the Reserve Championship, earning 69.444% for a Taylor Swift-themed performance. “I was so proud of my horse for holding herself together in the Alltech Arena. She’s normally very sound sensitive and likes to look up and get scared, but she put her head down and stayed with me. She loves to dance to the music and did her job today. I was there when my mare was born and I’ve done all the training with her, so it was really special to do this.”
![Ashlee Watts was all smiles as she trotted to victory with Hampton in the Training Level Adult Amateur Championship. (Susan J. Stickle)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/8756/ashlee watts.jpg)
Ashlee Watts was all smiles as she trotted to victory with Hampton in the Training Level Adult Amateur Championship. (Susan J. Stickle)
Mike Suchanek of Cambridge, Minn. (Region 4) won his second national title of the week, this time in the Second Level Open Championship with the Hanoverian mare Fleur de Lis L (First Dance x De La Rosa by De Niro, owned and bred in the U.S. by Douglas and Louise Leatherdale) with 72.683%. “It was an amazing ride, she came out there and was so confident and perfect going into the ring,” said Suchanek of his mount. She goes out there with a winning attitude every time and I’m really blessed to have such a horse to ride. We’ll keep bringing her up the levels, she keeps picking up her training just lickity-split. I’ll absolutely be back next year.” Even what was originally thought to be a career-ending injury couldn’t keep Molly Maloney of Verbank, N.Y. (Region 8) and her eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding Felissimo (by Fidertanz) from earning Reserve honors with 70.041%. “Felix was on stall rest for over a year and a half and has only been back in work for the last eight months. I purchased him three months ago as a bit of a risk, not being sure if he’d fully come back,” Maloney explained. “We had a few bobbles today – my horse really does not like warming up in company so that’s a challenge at a large show like this, but once he got in the ring he focused on me and tried his heart out. He’s happy to be back to work and loves his job, so today was a lot of fun and I had a great support team behind me.”
Rachael Hicks of nearby Prospect, Ky. (Region 2) and her black Westfalen gelding Fabio Bellini (Fuerst Heinrich x Dakota by Davignon I) have proven to be an unbeatable combination at this year’s Finals, and today they added the Prix St. Georges Adult Amateur Championship to their resume with a score of 69.079%, earning the right to have their names engraved on the Janine Westmoreland Malone Perpetual Trophy presented by USDF. “Fabio was a little tired today – I had to work for it to keep it going, but he’s such a trier and gives me everything he’s got. I think the competition has been tougher here this year, and it’s a great thing to see,” said Hicks, who now has her sights set on some new goals. “I’ve never done a CDI or a freestyle, so I think that will be a goal for me now, maybe in the CDI Adult Amateur division which could be a great way to get my feet in that type of competition. I think it would be fun and add a new challenge for us.” Heather Mason’s Hanoverian cross mare Damani (Duvall x Gqdiva by Gesandt, bred in the U.S. by Virginia Godfrey) carried Alexandra Krossen of Basking Ridge, N.J. (qualified in Region 8) to her third Reserve Championship title of the weekend thanks to a score of 68.202%. “I felt like she was more relaxed today, very happy and on her game,” said Krossen. “She has a lot of talent for piaffe and passage, so now we’ll see about moving her up. I’d like to thank my family and trainer and everyone from the farm that helped me get here.”
![James Koford & Doctor Wendell MF enjoyed their winning ride in the Prix St. Georges Open Championship. (Susan J. Stickle)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/8757/jim koford.jpg)
James Koford & Doctor Wendell MF enjoyed their winning ride in the Prix St. Georges Open Championship. (Susan J. Stickle)
In the Intermediate II Open division, less than four-tenths of a point separated the top three finishers but ultimately emerging as Champion with 68.509% was Heather McCarthy of Prairie Grove, Ill. (qualified in Region 2) riding Sandi Chohany’s Oldenburg gelding Sandro Paix (Sandro Hit x Ariyola by Absatz), a horse she’s developed all the way from Second Level. “In Saturday night’s Grand Prix freestyle, the atmosphere was a little too electric for him, so for this class I really focused on trying to have a relaxed ride and he was a different horse today. It was a very nice fluid test and I was very happy, he stayed with me,” said McCarthy. Stacy Parvey-Larsson of Reddick, Fla. (Region 3) finished a close second with 68.158% aboard Benidetto, a Hanoverian stallion (Belissimo M x Crispy Sweet by Cordoba) who she owns with Linda Woltz and has also brought along from a young age. “I got him in the fall of 2009 and brought him through the young and developing horse programs. The journey’s been amazing,” said Parvey-Larsson. “It’s a little bit like rolling the dice with a stallion, but he was a really good boy and came through for me today. He was spot on and I’m really happy with him.”
Amy Leach of South Elgin, Ill. (Region 2) overcame her show nerves to ride her Holsteiner gelding Radcliffe (Rantares x Felicitious by Coriolan, bred in the U.S. by Cheryl Kellerman) to a score of 65.351% for the unanimous victory under all three judges in the Intermediate II Adult Amateur Championship. “I’ve had him since he was three and he’s 17 now, so we’ve journeyed together all the way from green-as-grass to Grand Prix and have done all our training together,” said Leach. “My ride today was incredible, it was the culmination of everything we’ve been working on with both the technical and psychological aspects of the test. To be able to just ride in the moment and do the best that we could – it was an incredible feeling.” After earning 63.947% for Reserve Championship honors with her Hanoverian gelding Wilby (Walt Disney I x Doretta by Darling),
![Amy Leach overcame her show nerves to win the Intermediate II Adult Amateur Championship with Radcliffe. (Susan J. Stickle)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/8755/amy leach.jpg)
Amy Leach overcame her show nerves to win the Intermediate II Adult Amateur Championship with Radcliffe. (Susan J. Stickle)
For added excitement this year, the top-scoring riders in various divisions from each of the Great American/USDF Regional Championships competed on regional teams in the inaugural US Dressage Finals Regions Cup, vying with competitors from across the country for awards and bragging rights for their respective USDF Region in which they qualified to attend the Finals. Coming out on top after three days of championship competition was Region 3 which also sent 84 competitors to this year’s Finals, the most of the nine USDF Regions. Composed of Kathryn Stoy riding Rapunzel of Hillock at Open First Level, Camilla Van Liew with Dartesch in the Third Level Adult Amateur division, and James Koford aboard Doctor Wendell MF in Open Prix St. Georges, the Region 3 team earned a winning average score of 70.762%. Finishing in second was Region 8 with 70.039%, and Region 2 was third with 69.629%.
More information including final results, photo galleries, and news archives from the 2015 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® are available on the official event website www.usdressagefinals.com. Video on-demand from select championship performances is also available on the USEF Network at www.usefnetwork.com. A complete archive of each competition day's results is listed at this direct link: http://www.usdf.org/usdressagefinals/competitors/results.asp.