Owned by Akiko Yamazaki, Ravel, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding took some of the much more experienced horses to task and never looked in danger of making a mistake. The elegant combination looked relaxed throughout the test with excellent changes and powerful extensions. They finished with a score of 75.240%
“He’s so ready to work and giving 100% all the time,” said Peters. “After the last piaffe on the center line I got a little choked up. I don’t even think that this is quite where he maxed out. He is the kindest horse, it’s unbelievable.”
Peters was also fifth riding Yamazaki’s other horse, 17-year-old Lombardi 11. Lombardi put in an unscripted move in one of the piaffes, demonstrating how good he was feeling.
“Lombardi is simply a goofball,” said Peters who lives in San Diego, CA. “He loves to go out there and do something funny, I don’t think it is resistance. He’s a very playful horse. When he’s in that mood that’s just the way he is, I accept that. They aren’t machines and they are allowed to be horses. Once in awhile those things happen.”
Hailey, ID rider Debbie McDonald recovered from a disappointing test on her first horse Felix, to put in a fantastic second place effort on the legendary 17-year-old Hanoverian mare, Brentina. Owned by Peggy Thomas, Brentina, who returned to major competition earlier this year after a hiatus in 2007, continued to show her class and experience. The pair was second after the first day and improved her score in the Grand Prix Special finishing on 74.12%.
“I did a little bit this morning with her to gauge her energy level,” said McDonald. “But she had a lot of energy this morning. I was very happy. I felt like I was a little less conservative. She just felt really right on my aids and energetic. For what I want from her right now I couldn’t ask for more. I’m extremely happy.”
Brentina’s test was highlighted by excellent piaffe, passage and beautiful changes. Without any mistakes, McDonald was obviously thrilled with the mare’s performance. The pair was part of the last U.S. Olympic Team which won a bronze medal in Athens in 2004.
“My rides with Brentina at this point are really quite emotional as she will retire next year so I can pretty much count the rides I have left on her,” said McDonald. “It is really quite emotional for me.”
Courtney King-Dye of New Milford, CT rode a convincing test on her rising star Harmony’s Mythilus. Fourth after the first day of competition. King-Dye and Mythilus had a beautiful test but went off course in one of the final movement to finish third on a score of 73.16%.
“It’s so similar to the Grand Prix test, which is the test we usually ride,” said King-Dye explaining her mistake. “I’ve only ridden two Specials on Myth. And I just went for the extension in the wrong the direction.”
The quality of Mythilus’ test was improved from the first day and King-Dye felt that she had more to work with.
“Yesterday the judges said I needed to let his neck out more and I hear that a lot with this horse,” said King-Dye. “I just hadn’t gotten back to that point with him. Today he was already a little better and I could let his neck out more, he stayed on my seat and I could take more risk. Like I said coming in, I feel like Myth is on an upward turn. I’ve been thrilled with him.”
King-Dye and her beloved veteran Idocus started off the afternoon activities with a much improved effort from Saturday's test which left them in fifth place overnight. Idocus, an 18-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Christine McCarthy, was first in the ring and put in a stellar performance which set the standard for many improved performances in the Grand Prix Special Test. With a score of 70.20% they lie fifth halfway through the USEF Selection Trials and the National Grand Prix Championship.
"I felt better about the way that I handled it," said King-Dye about Idocus' improvement. "He did his job in the show ring. For me it is a big victory for me to be able to put the pressure on him. But he took it and he delivered."
The USEF National Grand Prix Championship and USEF selection Trial for Dressage continues next Saturday at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions.
Barteau Defends National Young Rider Dressage Championship with Gabriella
Twelve Young Riders went to task on the second and final day of the USEF National Young Rider Dressage Championship and Kassie Barteau held onto her lead with an excellent test on Gabriella. She made the trip from Gilberts, Illinois to California a winning one.
"Gabriella was ranked first in the country and even though it was a long drive I wanted her to have the chance to win the title again," said Barteau. "I just love riding her every day."
Barteau rode Gabriella first after the break and improved on yesterday's winning effort to take the Championship with a score of 69.35% in the Prix St. Georges Test.
"I'm just really proud of her," said an emotional Barteau after her test with her beloved mare. "In the warm up she was good but I think she was the best she's been in the last five years. I'm just very proud of her. It was the most clean and forward test she's ever done. She's usually a little laid back and lazy so this was new for her today."
The 16-year-old Hanoverian mare, owned by Robert Oury, put in a polished effort to secure the title. Barteau was very busy with three horses in the class, and also finished fifth with Raymeister and seventh with Sheffield.
"They are all owned by different clients and they are all very different," said Barteau. "I just figured I would give them all the chance. It's beautiful here and it is very well run. To ride in the same arena as the Olympians is inspiring."
Laura Noyes, who lay second after the first day, put in a beautiful test for a score of 67.200%, which contributed to a two-day average of 66.118%, The 21-year-old Ohio Wesleyan University college student continued to make the long trip from Delaware, OH worth the effort with her 13-year-old Trakehner gelding Synchro.
Over the last five years, Noyes and Synchro have come up through the ranks from first level together.
"He was much more relaxed in the ring and more consistently through today," said Noyes. "He can be great and he can be terrible. You never know what you're going to get but it was an improvement from yesterday. He was great, I'm happy."
Consistency paid off for the third place finisher Chelsea Seburn and her 13-year-old Rhinelander gelding Rolex. From Greenleaf, ID, Seburn was very proud of her horse with whom she represented the U.S. at the 2007 FEI World Cup Dressage for Young Riders.
"I thought he was good today," said Seburn. "He's such a good horse, he always wants to make you happy. Never since I've had him has he said no. I was really happy with him."
Barteau will try to score another National Championship next weekend when she rides Liberty in the National Young Adult "Brentina Cup" Dressage Championship. That Championship gets underway on Friday, June 27.
Junior Rider Roenick First USEF National Dressage Champion to be Crowned in 2008
The USEF National Junior Dressage Championship got the morning started, and the Individual Test proved more challenging than the team test, including difficult canter serpentine work and a number of flying changes. Three-tenths of a percent separated Mackinzie Pooley and Brandi Roenick after Saturday's class and both put in16-year-old professional efforts again on Sunday. But by the end of the morning, Roenick prevailed as the most consistent of the group with a two-day average of 68.075%
"We are connected when I sit in the saddle," said Roenick. "I know how to loosen her up when she gets tense. It's special to know that you have a really deep connection with your horses.
"I'm feeling really, really good. I feel confident for the NAJC in Colorado. She put a lot of effort in today. I'm really proud of her. She's not the easiest to ride, you need to know her well. I've only been riding her since March of 2007."
Second after the first day of competition, Roenick and her chestnut mare Pretty Lady made the difficult FEI Junior Test look easy. They put in an excellent performance highlighted by quality changes and very obedient transitions. The mare broke to canter in the first extended trot which was the only blemish in a lovely test which scored 68.15%
"Even with the break in the extended trot I'm happier with my ride today. It's a better test, it has harder movements in it," said Roenick.
Two days of consistency prevailed and Roenick took home her first USEF Junior National Dressage Championship.
"I wasn't expecting to come here until about a week before the show and I saw that I was in the top 12," said Roenick. "I was really excited to come here. Coming in ranked first it made me more nervous. But I feel like it is a blessing to be here."
The 13-year-old Scottsdale, AZ rider has high hopes to continue through the ranks with the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare. She rides with her mother, Tracey Roenick and Debbie McDonald.
The leaders after Saturday's competition, Mackinzie Pooley and Jonkara rode last of the nine Juniors which made for an exciting finish. The mare was relaxed produced beautiful changes and canter extensions, but Pooley admitted she never knows exactly what to expect from her mare.
"My test wasn't as good (as yesterday). I lost a lot of impulsion," said Pooley. "It was a different day today and things went differently but the canter work was really good. We've tried everything to make her more consistent. I know her much better than last year but she usually warms up really well and its not until you take all the stuff off when the horse before you is in the ring and she either changes or stays the same."
The 15-year-old Californian scored 66.405% for a two-day average of 67.350% and the Reserve National Championship.
Third in Sunday's portion of the competition was Ashlyn DeGroot and 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood Jasper. The pair had a lovely test, despite an unscheduled flying change toward the end of their ride. They scored 65.500% in Sunday's portion of the competition to move up into the third position overall on a two day score of 64.450%.
Tickets are still available for next weekend's finale in which champions will be crowned in the following Championships: The Brentina Cup, Intermediaire I and the Grand Prix and Selection Trials. After the conclusion of the competition horse/rider combinations will be named to the short list for the U.S. Olympic Team in Dressage.