The USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today also held its optional Warm-Up class for the 14-18 division to begin the day’s activities in Ring 2. Genay Vaughn and Kaye-Eileen Willard’s Anakin topped the field of eight to win the Warm-Up.
Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Championships
![Tarjan & Somer Hit (PhelpsPhotos.com)](/images/articles/3516/tarjan.jpg)
Tarjan & Somer Hit (PhelpsPhotos.com)
Tarjan was extremely pleased with her test Friday that defied even her own ambitions.
“It was better than I expected… he’s got a beautiful canter, that’s the highlight,” said Tarjan who has a simple plan heading into Sunday’s final. “Just keep kicking.”
Placing second was Roberta Carleton and Kir Royal (Kopenick-Ronja by Rotspon), earning 8.4, 7.8 and 7.7 for their walk, trot and canter. The Wurttemberg gelding additionally scored 7.7 and 7.8 for submission and general impression on the way to a 7.87.
Both of Friday’s top placing pairs have benefitted greatly from working with USEF Young Horse Coach, Scott Hassler at Training Sessions and Selection Trials which are both part of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program.
The six-year-olds return on Sunday to earn the remaining 60% of their score in the Final Test in order to crown 2012’s Champion.
USEF National Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage Championship presented by The Dutta Corp. and Performance Sales International
![Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O (PhelpsPhotos.com)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/3515/roffman.jpg)
Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O (PhelpsPhotos.com)
“I really was happy with how Her Highness went today. They are all Developing Horses but this is only our fourth horse show and second time doing the Prix St. Georges Test, she is very new to the level,” Said Roffman who has competed in many Young and Developing Horse Championships. “Coincidently, the owner saw me riding at this horse show a few years ago and that’s how I got her. She is a wonderful horse with a bright future.”
Friday’s runner-up Emily Wagner (La Cygne, KS) and Wakeup (Wagnis-Maiden Montreal by Macho) are also no strangers to the show or venue after claiming the Six-Year-Old Title in the 2011 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship. The seven-year-old American Warmblood stallion produced an expressive, accurate test to score 70.571%.
The USEF National Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage Championship presented by The Dutta Corp. and Performance Sales International wrap-ups Sunday with the remaining 60% of the overall score being determined by the USEF Developing Horse Test.
Competition gets back underway at 8:00am CST on Saturday with the USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix Dressage Championship supported by Hilda Gurney and Carol Lavell.