![TJ O'Mara and Kaskade (The Book LLC)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/11708/tj.jpg)
TJ O'Mara and Kaskade (The Book LLC)
Competition commenced Saturday morning with Phase I, the flat phase, where riders entered the ring in small groups to demonstrate their aptitude for executing the questions asked by the judges. Riders worked their horses at all gaits, showing collection and extension, and movements such as haunches-in, shoulder-in, and a halt and rein back. Daisy Farish (Lexington, Ky.) made a strong impression early on aboard Nathalie De Gunzburg's Ganjana, winning the phase with a score of 92. McKayla Langmeier (East Grandby, Conn.) was not far behind in second on a score of 90, while Taylor St. Jacques (Glenn Allen, Va.) rounded out the top three on an 89. O'Mara (Rumson, N.J.) and Walstib Stables LLC's Kaskade earned a score of 86 and putting them in 11th on the leaderboard.
For Phase II, judges Coe and Healy opted to include three of eleven gymnastic exercises developed by Beezie Madden and Anthony D'Ambrosio, which were published and released to qualified riders and trainers over the summer. D'Ambrosio was present as Technical Delegate to set the courses to the correct specifications, a role he also fulfilled at the West Coast Final where Peyton Warren was the Champion in September.
As in the West Final, the Phase II course included a vertical-vertical combination in a line with an oxer-oxer combination, jumped in both directions. Coming off the right lead, judges asked for a forward five
![Daisy Farish and Ganjana (The Book LLC)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/11707/daisy.jpg)
Daisy Farish and Ganjana (The Book LLC)
Phase III asked a number of questions of the riders throughout the 12-obstacle track again designed by the judges and built by D'Ambrosio, that included three one-stride double-combinations. The course was demanding from the start, beginning over a triple-bar set at the end of the arena, requiring riders to approach off the turn. Fences eight, nine, and ten, a wall to an oxer to a single, were off-set on a serpentine, necessitating thoughtful and careful riding before the last line that included an oxer to a double-combination over liverpools. O'Mara took the narrow win with a fluid and smart ride over the track that was rewarded with a score of 92. With excellent performances from all the riders at the top of the leaderboard the scores were very close. Yowan finished second on 91.50, Sophie Simpson (Wellington, Fla.) moved into a coveted finalist position with a score of 91 aboard Ashland Farms' Breckenridge, and Farish rounded out the top four with 90.50.
Featuring the top four riders on the overall leaderboard following three phases, Phase IV tested the riders' abilities to catch ride three different horses over a nine-effort track. In round one of the ride-off, the
![Vivian Yowan and Clearline (The Book LLC)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/11706/vivian.jpg)
Vivian Yowan and Clearline (The Book LLC)
Speaking to the difficulty of the final phase, O'Mara, who finished fourth in the 2015 Final, said, "It's hard because you really have to show who you are as a rider. I hadn't seen the [other three] horses go and didn't really have an idea of how they would ride so I had to have confidence in myself as a rider. I knew I could focus and put in a good ride regardless of the horse."
O'Mara was awarded the French Leave Memorial Perpetual Trophy donated by the Gerald A. Nielsen Family. He also received an engraved iPad mini from Platinum Performance. Max Amaya and Stacia Madden, who train O'Mara, took home the Leading Trainer(s) Award, donated by the late Mr. Hugh J.B Cassidy, III. The Grappa Trophy, donated by Sarah Willeman, was awarded to McLain Ward's Clearline, Yowan's entry, whom the judges chose as the best horse of the competition.
![Sophie Simpson and Breckenridge (The Book LLC)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/11705/sophie.jpg)
Sophie Simpson and Breckenridge (The Book LLC)
Prior to the start of Phase IV, USEF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals were awarded in recognition of wins in Talent Search Classes. Bronze medals are awarded to riders who win at least five classes, Silver to those who win at least 10 classes, and the coveted Gold goes to riders with 20 or more wins.
The medals were awarded as follows:
Gold: Alexandria Desiderio
Silver: Catherine Apostol, Katherine Bundy, and Madison Goetzmann
Bronze: Elizabeth Ekberg, Coco Fath, Carly Hoft, Hayley Mairano, and Taylor St. Jacques
On the West Coast, Ransome Rombauer was awarded a Gold medal.
Learn more about the Talent Search Program