USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today
Eight combinations will head down centerline on Friday to contest the FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Test to begin the championship division. The 2014 AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Champions Anna Buffini (Escondido, Calif.) and her own Sundayboy, a 1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding, aim for another Festival of Champions title this year. Buffini will also ride Wilton II, her own 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding, for another chance at the title. Kerrigan Gluch (Wellington, Fla.), the 2015 AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage Reserve National Champion, brings Hampton Green Farm’s HGF Brio, a 2005 Andalusian stallion, for an attempt at the ‘Brentina Cup’ title. The champion will be named following the FEI Intermediate II Test on Sunday.
Nicholas Hansen and Ritter Benno (SusanJStickle.com)
A field of 11 combinations will vie for top honors in the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship beginning Friday with the FEI Young Rider Team Test. Bebe Davis (Wellington, Fla.) will aim for another title with her 2013 AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Champion and 2014 Reserve National Champion partner Rotano, Michael Davis’ 2001 Hanoverian gelding, as well as Michael Davis’ Feivel Mousekewitz, a 2001 Hanoverian gelding. The 2015 AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage Reserve National Champion combination of Kristin Counterman (Ashburn, Va.) and Dressage4Kids, Inc.’s Three Times, a 2000 KWPN gelding, have returned at the Young Rider level eying continued success. Fresh off winning three Young Rider Gold medals at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC), Nicholas Hansen (Catawissa, Pa.) and his own Ritter Benno, a 2001 Westphalian gelding, hope to add another title to their impressive 2016 resume. Top honors will be decided following Saturday’s FEI Young Rider Individual Test.
AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship
Jenna Upchurch and Greystoke (SusanJStickle.com)
Eight combinations will aim to impress the judges in the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship starting with Friday’s FEI Junior Team Test. Like Hansen, Jenna Upchurch (Chesterfield, Mo.) and her own Greystoke, a 2005 Oldenburg gelding, found much success at the NAJYRC, earning Junior Individual and Freestyle Gold and Team Silver medals, and arrive in top form. Jackson Gillespie (Denver, Colo.) and Charlotte Bredahl-Baker’s Westpoint CB, a 2004 Hanoverian gelding, claimed the NAJYRC Junior Freestyle Bronze medal and look to have another solid competition. Anna Weniger (Apex, N.C.) finished third in last year’s championship and comes with two chances to improve upon her previous performance: Dawn Weniger’s Izeffia, a 2005 KWPN mare, and Don Derrick, a 2004 NRPS gelding. The champion will be crowned after Saturday’s FEI Junior Individual Test.
USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship
A field of seven combinations will make up the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship and will begin their journey for a national title with Saturday’s FEI Pony Team Test. Julia Lee Barton (Lawrence, Kan.) won the 2015 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final 13 & Under title with her own Bonnaroo, a 2009 Weser-Ems mare, and returns to Lamplight in hopes of collecting a U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions title. Hannah Irons (Queenstown, Md.) is attending her first U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, and brings the experienced Dressage4Kids, Inc.’s Bohdjan, a 1999 Dutch Pony gelding, and her own My Lucky Charm, a 2009 Welsh Pony Cross gelding. The title winner will be determined following Sunday’s FEI Pony Individual Test.
The USEF Network will provide livestream the 2016 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions beginning Friday. More information about the championships can be found at USEF.org.
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.