Wayne, Ill. – Sept. 22, 2016 – The Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 2 Dressage Championship kicked off on Thursday at Lamplight Equestrian Center. The showgrounds are bustling with dressage horses and riders from around Region 2 vying for championship titles with the goal to qualify for the 2016 U.S. Dressage Finals in Lexington, Kentucky, in November. Championship classes will begin on Friday so many riders took advantage of the national classes offered on Thursday to get extra time in the ring.
“My goal here at Regionals is to get good experience. I’m doing the equitation class here because I’d love to qualify for the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals for next year. I’ve been working on developing my seat and focusing on my leg position. I’ve been doing a lot of work bareback and without stirrups.” Ellanor Boehning, 10, from Battleground Indiana and Kabam, a 13-year-old German Riding Pony will be competing in the Training Level Junior/Young Rider Championship as well as the USDF Dressage Seat Medal 13 and Under Semi Finals.
“Lamplight is always the most welcoming. I love the facility itself because it is horse friendly. All the trails, everything is beautiful and they are going out of their way to make it safe for the horses. That’s why coming even with the young ones is so great. We are really happy to see him progress in the right way, and this is his third show ever. He’s a superstar!” Angela Jackson of Henderson Kentucky and Ferragamo TF, a 6-year-old KWPN gelding will be competing in the Training and First Level Open Championships.
“This weekend I’m just excited to be at such beautiful showgrounds, this is amazing here I love dressage. Dressage is the base of everything we do because we also do hunters, jumpers and eventing, but dressage is definitely a foundation for us.” Amara Thohan from Wisconsin and Jeanne Thohan’s All Details Included will be competing in the Training Level Junior/Young Rider Championship.
“This is my first summer showing him. I’m just having the best time of my life. This is my first time here and it’s very fun.” Carol Peterson from Northfield MIchigan and her own Troyano XI, an 8-year-old PRE gelding will be competing in the Training and First Level Adult Amateur Championships.
“This is my first year doing a championship. I’m nervous, but it will be fun. He puts his whole heart into every ride and he tries his best even though he’s not exactly the typical dressage horse.” Dedra Woodley from Pearl City, Illinois and Cheyenne will be competing in the Third Level Junior Young Rider Championship.
“I’m really excited to be here! I just got him last September so this is my first championship with him. I feel pretty confident going into it and I just want to have fun out there.” Natalie Perkins of Canton Michigan and Cordoba an 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding will be competing in the Third Level Junior/Young Rider Championship.
“This is his first time here and I’m really happy with him. It’s been about three years since I’ve been to Lamplight, it’s a little bit of a long haul but it’s lovely. The footing is great, and the standard for everything is quite high here.” Heather Ferguson from Whitmore Michigan and her own G-Star, a 5-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding will be competing in the Training and First Level Championships.
“I’m pretty excited but a little bit nervous because it seems like pretty tough competition. It’s so pretty here and there’s always people around to greet you and the staff all know what they are doing and watch out for you.” Meredith Denton from Henderson Kentucky and Just G will be competing in the Training and First Level Junior/Young Rider Championships.
“I really like the discipline and all of the brainwork behind dressage because everything is so technical. I was a hunter/jumper rider before I began training in dressage. I was on Michigan State University’s Intercollegiate Dressage Team and I really got into it there. I just want to focus on going in there and hoping he stays strong and relaxed.” Katelyn O’Brien from Lansing Michigan and Scirocco, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding will compete in the Training Level Junior/Young Rider Championship.
“This is his first time at this particular showgrounds so he’s a little bit excited. I absolutely love it. The grounds are beautiful, the arenas are fantastic. The show is very well organized and we are very lucky to have it.” Dawna Ullrich of Roscoe, Illinois and her own Dagobert, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding will compete in the First and Second Level Adult Amateur Championships.
Friday, Sept. 23 GAIG/USDF Region 2 Championship Schedule