Lexington, Ky. – Nov. 8, 2018 – Only two US Dressage Final Championship divisions took place on the opening day of the national championships; the Intermediate II Adult Amateur Championship and the Intermediate II Open Championship.
In the Intermediate II Adult Amateur Championship, Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, New Jersey, rode away with the first title of the week aboard her 8-year-old Hanoverian mare (Christ–Farina, Falkenstern II), Candescent with a score of 69.069 percent. Bred in Germany by Willi Helms, Tarjan originally purchased the expressive mare as a jumper prosper until she noticed her talent for collected upper-level work. At the end of summer, the pair competed in the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix National Championship where they won the Intermediate II test and finished with the reserve championship after their Developing Grand Prix test.
Earning the reserve championship tricolor with a 61.275 percent was Laura Maloney of Rancho Sante Fe, California, on Winsor Rox (San Remo–Para Lady), her 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion. Following closely behind in third place was Anna Jaffe on Jane Karol’s Moonshine (Lamerto H–Landina), a 17-year-old Westphalian gelding with a 61.176 percent.
Bridget Hay and Faolan (Freestyle–Wyoming) topped the leaderboard to earn the Intermediate II Open Championship on Thursday. Hay and her homebred 9-year-old Oldenburg stallion traveled from Flemington, New Jersey, for the Finals, and left their mark when they earned a score of 67.794 percent to take this year’s championship title. The pair has an extensive career moving up the levels through the young horse divisions, competing at the Markel/USEF Young Horse & Developing National Championships as a 5 and 6-year-old, the Intermediate I National Championship and this summer they competed in the Developing Grand Prix National Championship. This year, Faolan topped everything off when he was named the USDF Intermediate II Horse of the Year.
Finishing as the Intermediate II Open reserve champion was Kathy Priest of Versailles, Kentucky, riding her own Fredensdals Zig Zag (Blue Hors Zack–Kristiansminders Elektra). Priest and the 10-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding was the pair to come nearest Hay and Faolan’s total score, earning a 67.059 percent. Taking the third place finish was Brittany Burson and Jazz Dance (Johnson–Feine Rose), her 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding, with a score of 66.225 percent.
Competition at the US Dressage Finals will resume Friday, November 9, with the Intermediate I Adult Amateur Championship in the Alltech Arena at 8 a.m.
Results: Intermediate II Adult Amateur Championship
Rider / Horse / Owner / Total Score
1. Alice Tarjan / Candescent / Alice Tarjan / 69.069
2. Laura Maloney / Winsor Rox / Maloney Pony LLC / 61.275
3. Anna Jaffe / Moonshine / Jane Karol / 61.176
4. Selena Wilson / Vanity / Selena Wilson / 58.922
5. Kimberly Keeton / Accolade / Kimberly Keeton / 57.500
6. Alexandra Krossen / Damani / Heather Mason / 55.735
Results: Intermediate II Open Championship
Rider / Horse / Owner / Total Score
1. Bridget Hay / Faolan / Bridget Hay / 67.794
2. Kathy Priest / Fredensdals Zig Zag / Kathy Priest / 67.059
3. Brittany Burson / Jazz Dance / Brittany Burson / 66.225
4. Shannon Stevens / Labatuga M / Shannon Stevens / 63.824
5. Marta Renilla / Gamarro Font / Marta Renilla / 63.637
6. Kristin Wasemiller-Knutson / Vashti / Kristin Wasemiller-Knutson / 63.48
7. Mallory Chambers / Urithmic / Heather Mason / 63.137
8. Cassandra Hummert-Johnson / Something Special / Cassandra Hummert-Johnson / 62.745
9. Eva Oldenbroek-Tabor / Mynston / Tricia Veley / 62.745
10. Heather Mehal / Shall We Dance / Heather Mehal / 61.716
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Alice Tarjan – Intermediate II Adult Amateur Champion
On her ride:
“I’m really pleased with my horse. We were lacking consistency but it’s a work in progress. She was a little impressed with the arena at the beginning of the test. Our piaffe is green and needs to be more on the spot. She can do everything but getting her in the ring is important. I was quite pleased with the canter pirouettes, they have really come along. I think this horse can do everything really well and now we are working on getting the same quality every time I ask.”
Between the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix National Championship and US Dressage Finals:
“She tries so hard so we have been keeping our rides shorter and working on transitions. I think she needs another year in Developing Grand Prix as she is only 8-years-old.”
Laura Maloney – Intermediate II Adult Amateur Reserve Champion
On her first time at the Finals:
“My horse shut down a little on me in the ring, but I’m so happy to be here. This is my first time at the Finals. I’ve never competed at this level before—this is my first year at Intermediate II. I’m certainly not getting younger and you have to live your life. It’s expensive and a hard trip to do but I’m having a great time. I was a wild card nomination after regionals. I’m glad I could put in a decent ride, I’ve had a great year with my horse.”
On Winsor Rox:
“He is a stallion, I’ve had him for 4 years now. We started out at Prix St. Georges. He’s on the lazy side so I didn’t know if he’d have the stamina to keep moving up the levels. My goal is to get his performance more consistent in the ring so he doesn’t shut down. I loved my tempis today, they were straight, big and he was in front of my leg.”
Bridget Hay – Intermediate II Open Champion
On her ride:
“He felt super. He gave me a great feeling. Our first piaffe I overrode and we made some mistakes. Overall, that horse gives me everything and tries his heart out. His pirouettes felt really good. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled as much during a ride. I love that horse, I was thrilled. He is unflappable. He is new at this level but nothing phases him—I’m very confident in him.”
On Faolan:
“I’ve had him his whole life. He is homebred. He went to Lamplight for the 5-year-old and 6-year-old championships. He did Intermediate I championships in Gladstone and recently did the Developing Grand Prix in Chicago. I can’t wait to see where his life goes. I’m very attached to my horse.”
On her future plans:
“I probably will go to Wellington in late January to get some help. I’ve worked with Adrienne Lyle. Both Faolan and I are new at this level.”
Kathy Priest – Intermediate II Open Reserve Champion
On her test:
“Overall I was pretty happy with it. I had mistakes in the one tempis which was disappointing. My horse is green and he needs more umph in the piaffe and passage. Everything was better in the warmup than in the ring still. We just need more consistency. He is quite confident in the ring but not confident in awards ceremonies.”
On her future plans:
“I will head down to Florida after Thanksgiving with 14 horses, so we will be down there for the season.”
