Riding her grand prix partner Come On III, Shawna Harding captured the Trilogy Dressage Saddle "Best Seat" Award at the Great American/United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Region 1 Dressage Championships and VADA Fall Competition. Harding beat out riders from more than 10 states who were competing in the four-day championship dressage competition, which included musical freestyle and grand prix classes.

Debbie Witty, President of Trilogy Dressage Saddles, was pleased with the selection of Harding for the "Best Seat" award. “A very interesting thing happened with the selection of Shawna,” Witty said. “As I was contacting one of our committee members with my recommendation for my choice for the Best Seat Award, I was receiving a voicemail from that committee member with Shawna’s name as their choice as well.”

Harding’s unanimous choice for the Trilogy “Best Seat” award is not a surprise as Harding and Come On III have established themselves as a top-level grand prix team. In addition to winning the Grand Prix B and the Intermediaire II class at the Region 1 show, Come On III’s list of accomplishments includes winning the 2008 USDF Dressage Horse of the Year in the Intermediaire I Open, Intermediaire Musical Freestyle and Intermediaire Musical Freestyle Challenge.

“It was wonderful to award Shawna with the Trilogy ‘Best Seat’ Award as she is a beautiful rider. When choosing our recipient for the award, we look for a rider that fits three criteria: effective secure seat; well-fitting saddle that enhances performance for horse and rider; and overall performance on the horse,” Witty said, adding that the award is an opportunity to recognize riders and the importance of well-fitting equipment.

Witty, a qualified saddle fitter from the Society of Master Saddlers of England, has spent years helping top riders such as Debbie McDonald, Shannon Peters, Courtney King-Dye, George Williams and Guenter Seidel with their saddle fitting needs. Trilogy Dressage Saddles are built in England by some of the most experienced craftsmen in the world. They feature a British tree made of laminated Beechwood, and a specially tanned hide from England that offers the rider an elastic broken-in feel. For more information on Trilogy Saddles or their sponsored riders, visit their website at www.trilogysaddles.com.