Habanero CWS and Candescent Impress Judges on Third Day of Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Dressage National Championship

Wayne, Ill. – Aug. 24, 2018 – The 2018 Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Dressage National Championship at the Lamplight Equestrian Center continued on Friday with the 6-Year-Old Preliminary Test for the Markel/USEF Young Horse 6-Year-Old National Championship and the Intermediate II Test for the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix National Championship.

Craig Stanley and Habanero CWS
Craig Stanley and Habanero CWS

In the 6-year-old Preliminary Test, Craig Stanley started the day off on the right foot, claiming first place with his own Habanero CWS, a 6-year-old KWPN gelding (Idocus-Caliente DG, OO Seven) with an impressive total score of 8.98. He received high marks of 9.3 for both his lofty, cadenced trot and his supple walk, as well as a 9.2 for his overall impression. Stanley bred Habanero CWS himself in the U.S., and has enjoyed the process of developing the gelding and helping him achieve his high level of skill and refinement in the show ring.

Winning Ride: Craig Stanley and Habanero CWS USEF Six-Year-Old Preliminary Test #FestivalofChampions

"That was glorious! Breeding him just makes it a little more emotional." – Craig Stanley on leading the Markel Horse/USEF Young Horse 6-Year-Old Dressage National Championship aboard his own 🇺🇸-bred KWPN – NA gelding Habanero CWS (Idocus x Caliente DG x OO Seven) scoring an 8.98 at #FestivalofChampions!

Posted by USA Dressage on Friday, August 24, 2018

Cesar Parra and his own Sir Beckmann (Sir Donnerhall–Wichita, Wolkenstein II) finished in second place with a score of 8.96. The 6-year-old Hanoverian gelding, bred in Germany by Norbert and Petra Fockenberg, was awarded a score 9.5 for his high-quality, elastic trot and a score of 9.6 for his expressive canter. Sir Beckmann’s overall impression helped him secure the second place finish.

Cesar Parra and Sir Beckmann
Cesar Parra and Sir Beckmann

Angela Jackson rode Julie Cook’s Sandeman (Sir Donnerhall I–Flora, Florencio I) into third place with a total score of 8.9. The 6-year-old Hanoverian gelding, bred in Germany by Eggerk Groenewold, was awarded a score of 9.4 for his uphill, active trot and smooth transitions within the gait. He was given a submission score of 9 and a general impression score of 9.1 to contribute to his total.

Angela Jackson and Sandeman
Angela Jackson and Sandeman

The highest ranked qualified combination in attendance for the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix National Championship and the 2017 division champion, Cesar Parra on Fashion Designer OLD, was eliminated following the discovery of blood around the horse’s mouth at the equipment check after their ride in the Intermediate II.

In a statement released by US Equestrian, “In accordance with the USEF Dressage Rules, competition management eliminated Cesar Para and Fashion Designer OLD. Under Article DR124 Elimination in the USEF Dressage Rules, evidence of blood on a horse outside the competition arena shall be cause for elimination by competition management after consultation with the technical.”

Alice Tarjan and Candescent

His elimination left the door open for other competitors to top the division’s leaderboard. Coming off her win aboard Fairouz in the 5-Year-Old Preliminary Test on Thursday, Alice Tarjan, rode away with the Intermediate II blue ribbon on Candescent, her 8-year-old Hanoverian mare (Christ–Farina, Falkenstern II) with a 69.902 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.

Dawn White-O’Connor rode Four Winds Farm’s Bailarino (Breitling W–Schila, De Niro) into second place with a score of 68.088 percent. The 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding, bred in Germany by Antonius Bockmann, was ridden previously by Olympian Steffen Peters at competitions such as Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida, and the Adequan West Coast Dressage Festival in Del Mar, California, at the Prix St. Georges and Intermediate I levels.

Dawn White-O'Connor and Bailarino
Dawn White-O’Connor and Bailarino

Emily Miles rounded out the top three on Floretienne (Florenstan I–Tamarinde, Jazz) owned by Leslie Waterman. Floretienne, a 9-year-old Oldenburg gelding bred in the U.S. by Judy Yancey, earned a score of 66.127 percent.

Emily Miles and Floretienne

Both the Markel/USEF Young Horse Six-Year-Old National Championship and the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix National Championship will conclude on Sunday, Aug. 26. The championship results will be determined by calculating 40 percent of the first test and 60 percent of the second test.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Craig Stanley – 6-Year-Old Preliminary Test winner

On his test:
“It was pretty glorious for me, his whole demeanor was great. He just worked really well. His trot was better than it has been in previous shows. He stayed at a good level today.”

Craig Stanley and Habanero CWS
Craig Stanley and Habanero CWS

On developing Habanero CWS:
“It’s a surreal dream to be able to have him. To be able to breed one and keep them coming, healthy and sound, is great — to have him spend three days in a trailer and still manage to be the same horse at home.”

Cesar Parra – 6-Year-Old Preliminary Test second place

On his test:
“I was very excited. It was very emotional—he did everything that I asked him to do. We’ve owned him since he was two-and-a-half, but I just started riding him in late January. I love him. He is a very fine horse with great scope in the trot and the canter. He can be a little bit immature because I think in the last eight months he has grown a lot. He has a lot of leg everywhere and that can sometimes be a little bit of a struggle. He is a lovely horse and I hope I can keep him for a long time.”

Cesar Parra and Sir Beckmann
Cesar Parra and Sir Beckmann

On developing young horses:
“It is unbelievable what it takes to be sitting here and I am so blessed to be sitting here. I’ve been doing this so many years now and I’ve learned that there are no shortcuts. That’s just how it works. I feel very privileged that our senior rider handed me the reins on this horse. In reality, it takes a whole village to get this job done.”

Angela Jackson – 6-Year-Old Preliminary Test third place

On her test with Sandeman:
“He is a tall, lanky, and a little bit immature for 6-year-old, but he came to me as a 4-year-old and he has always been special. He is a little bit juvenile and acts accordingly at times. He can get a little overwhelmed, but today he trusted me and that’s what I was really happy about. He went in and got a little bit scared, but he listened to me and it was great. I told him it was going to be okay and I could feel him breathe and trust me. He was really lovely. It was probably the nicest ride I’ve had on him all year because he was so relaxed and soft through his body. Even though he was scared, he looked at me for reassurance and the feeling was so lovely.”

Angela Jackson and Sandeman
Angela Jackson and Sandeman

On developing young horses:
“I always look at it this way: I have a lot of young horses that come through my barn and I always think that each horse has their own training scale. Some take more time, but once you make it and get your invitation here, I think that all of the competitors are winners. To develop a horse takes so much patience and listening to the horse. Sometimes they just aren’t ready and they have to grow physically and mentally.”

Alice Tarjan –Intermediate II winner

On her test with Candescent:
“It was a decent test. The horse is really green so it’s a work in progress. I bought the horse to be a jumper but she came over and she was a monster. I was scared to death of her and scared to jump her. I actually figured out that she would be really talented in the dressage ring. She’s able to do all the movements in the Grand Prix. It’s not the movements that are the problem, it’s getting her around the ring. I think this is a good experience for her.”

Alice Tarjan and Candescent

On preparing Candescent:
“The highlight for Candescent is that she has unlimited scope, but that also makes it hard to find one gear where she can get around the ring. She’s all over which makes her really cool but more of a challenge to train. Long term, I just want to keep her sound and happy and see where it goes.”

On training young horses:
“If you look at the top combinations in the world, those horses are made by their riders. It’s not like show jumping where you see the top horses bought and sold repeatedly. In dressage, if you want a good Grand Prix horse, the best way to do it is to produce them yourself.”

Alice Tarjan and Candescent

Dawn White-O’Connor – Intermediate II second place

On her test with Bailarino:
“I was pretty happy with everything except the piaffe and passage, with a little halting in the piaffe. Our canter work was really great though and the rest of the test was pretty good. He is very smart, super talented and can do everything in the test. I was really happy with him overall today. The canter work was the best I’ve ever had in a test.”

Dawn White-O’Connor and Bailarino

On developing young horses:
“I learn a lot from every horse I ride. Young horses teach you things that help you on the FEI horses and vice versa. It’s fun to combine it all into one championship.”

Emily Miles – Intermediate II third place

On her test:
“I was proud of my little guy! I haven’t shown him since April and he can be a little different in the ring than in the warm-up and schooling. I was a little bit nervous how he would transfer over today but I think he did very well. I was happy with our test. We messed up our one [tempis] and hopefully, we can get those but he’s a young horse.”

Emily Miles and Floretienne

On training young horses:
“I learn a lot by training young horses. Everyone teaches you something a little bit differently. It’s really interesting for me to see what a horse is like as a 4-year-old and how that translates into what they’re like as a Grand Prix horse. It’s about the journey that we have to appreciate.”

Results: USEF 6-Year-Old Preliminary Test for the Markel/USEF Young Horse 6-Year-Old National Championship
Rider / Horse / Owner / Total Score
1. Craig Stanley / Habanero CWS / Craig Stanley / 8.98
2. Cesar Parra / Sir Beckmann / Cesar Parra / 8.96
3. Angela Jackson / Sandeman / Julie Cook / 8.90
4. Jennifer Schrader-Williams / Francis HW / Elizabeth Dean-Noring / 8.38
5. Sarah Lockman / Balia / Gerry Ibanez / 8.28
6. Alice Tarjan / Harvest / Alice Tarjan / 7.98

Craig Stanley and Habanero CWS
Craig Stanley and Habanero CWS

Results: Intermediate II for the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix National Championship
Rider / Horse / Owner / Total Score
1. Alice Tarjan / Candescent / Alice Tarjan / 69.902
2. Dawn White-O’Connor / Bailarino / Four Winds Farm / 68.088
3. Emily Miles / Floretienne / Leslie Waterman / 66.127
4. Bridget Hay / Faolan / Bridget Hay / 65.784
5. Jessica Jo Tate / Kynynmont Gunsmoke’s Gideon / Pam Liddell / 64.559
6. Emily Miles / Quantum Jazz / 64.118

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