Wayne, Ill. – August 28, 2021 – Three divisions of the Markel/USEF Young & Developing Dressage Horse National Championships wrapped up Saturday at the Lamplight Equestrian Center with multiple scores over 9 and even a few 10’s being given from the judging panel. In the Markel/USEF Four-Year-Old Dressage National Championship, Katryna Evans and Fontenay clinched the win while Marcus Orlob rode away with the tricolor in the Markel/USEF Five-Year-Old Dressage National Championship on Glory Day. In the final class of the day, the Markel/USEF Developing Prix St. Georges National Championship, Emily Miles placed both of her horses in the top three, winning the title with Daily Show.
Markel/USEF Four-Year-Old Dressage National Championship
In Saturday’s test, Alice Tarjan and Ierland’s Eden (Ireland–Lace Eden, Krack C), her Oldenburg mare impressed the judges the most, earning two 9’s for the trot and general impression and a 9.2 for the canter to earn a total of 8.8. Bred by Nedergaard Dressage, the mare earned a total of 8.8 in the Final Test, but it was not enough to overcome Katryna Evan’s two high scores.
Riding Fontenay (Furst Jazz–Dakota, Don Frederico), a Hanoverian gelding owned by Cesar Parra and bred by Marion Meyer-Rosemeier, Evan’s was complimented for presenting natural and well-balanced gaits, which helped her win an overall championship average of 8.76.
“This has been a really cool experience for me because it’s my first time at these championships and my first time at Lamplight, which is beautiful,” Evans said. “It’s been a real treat. I did start to run out of steam in today’s test, but he was trying really hard. We’ve only had him a few months, but he has just taken everything in stride, and I know that his owners are both so excited to have him here and happy that it all came together so wonderfully. He really has the greatest mind. The sky’s the limit with this horse.
“I am used to riding and starting young horses, and I’ve never had a four-year-old that was this rideable and manageable,” she continued. “I think that this has been a very good learning experience for me, even just watching the other riders. We’re surrounded by a really good, competitive group, and I think that the judges did a really good job of judging fairly and offering some very constructive comments.”
Rounding out the top three was Lindsey Holleger on Jennifer Vanover’s MW Furstencharmant (Furstenball–MW Weiss Schwarz, Sir Donnerhall I) with a total championship score of 8.392.
Markel/USEF Five-Year-Old Dressage National Championship
Blowing awaying the judging panel, Marcus Orlob and Glory Day (Grand Galaxy Win–JJ Dolche Gabbana, Deemster) earned a personal best with an impressive three perfect scores of 10. Bred by JJ Horses in Norway, the Danish Warmblood stallion is owned by Alice Tarjan and despite his young age is no stranger to the championships, as he won the Markel/USEF Four-Year-Old Dressage Reserve Championship last year with Orlob. With the comment, “What else could we possibly want to see in a trot or canter?”
Glory Day earned 10’s for his trot, canter and general impression while earning a 9.6 for his walk and 9.5 for submission. Between the pair’s two tests in the division, they dominated with a total of 9.518.
“I was a little amazed at the scores today! I couldn’t believe it when they said ten and I’m blown away. I think he deserves it because he’s a really fantastic horse – we are delighted by the quality of the horse. He has such a natural talent for self-carriage with lightness and power. I think that this will be a good Grand Prix horse, ” Orlob said. “He is very energetic, and he loves to work, coming out every day at 100%. He was a little fresh in the warm-up, and then when they were clapping he was more tense, but after a few minutes he settled in nicely and I knew that I would have a good ride if I didn’t mess up. I did mess up [by riding off course], so I’m mad at myself, but stuff happens. I’m glad that I have a good horse that makes up for my mistakes.”
Australia’s Hope Beerling also wowed the judging panel Saturday, earning a 9.8 for the trot, a 9.2 for the walk and a 9.5 for the general submission for her performance on Vianne (Vitalis–Raureif, Ramiro’s Blue). The Hanoverian mare was bred by Catherine Haddad-Staller and is owned by Kimberly Butenhoff. Beerling is the assistant trainer of Haddad-Staller’s training business and has had the ride on Vianne for the last two years. Saturday’s 9.26 paired with Thursday’s 8.52 helped the duo earn the reserve championship in front of third place finisher Katryna Evans with Mollegardens Fashion (Florenz–Mollegardens Kantarel, L’Espoir). Bred by Lone Christiansen and owned by Cesar and Marcla Parra, the Danish Warmblood gelding received a total score of 8.7 at the end of competition.
Markel/USEF Developing Prix St. Georges National Championship
Emily Miles has quite a few national championship titles under her belt and thought she was anxious about returning to the Markel/USEF Developing & Young Dressage Horse Champions after taking a year off last year due to COVID-19, both her German-bred stallions owned by Leslie Waterman performed with confidence. Sole Mio (Stanford–Donna-Rafaela, Donnerschwee) has won both the four-year-old and the five-year-old national championship titles, but this year, he was surpassed by his barnmate Daily Show. The Hanoverian stallion Daily Show (Danciano–Schweden Lady, Stockholm) received 8’s across the board for his expressive flying changes in Saturday’s Developing Horse Prix St Georges, helping him receive a 75.416%.
“Daily was a rockstar! It was really hot — he’s black and big, so we warmed him up in an easy quiet way, and had to trust that the last three minutes before the test we could knock it into gear,” Miles explained. “I thought that today went better than the first day as he had more flow, took up the ring, and was just really in front of me. I was so pleased with him. The strength that he showed off in such a big way — I think there is still a ton left in there, and I’m so excited to have two horses like them.
“They went 20 months without leaving the property because of COVID, and starting out the show season felt a little rocky, but they’ve just gotten better and more confident each time. Daily came in ranked 11th, Mio came in ranked 5th,” Miles continued. “I thought they could be good, but I am just so excited that they are in the top three. I think that the future is bright and I love this program. Leslie is an amazing owner, and Debbie [McDonald] and my mom are the best coaches. My groom Kinder is amazing, and my husband is here, so I just have a great support system that is always with me.”
In 2019, Miles qualified both Sole Mio and Daily Show to the prestigious Longines FEI WBFSH World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo, The Netherlands.
Jumping up into the reserve championship position after her 73.958%-scoring performance on I Felix (Fideretanz—Dalwhinnie, UB40), Kristina Harrison was thrilled with the KWPN gelding’s performance. Miles and Sole Mio finished out the competition in third place after he earned a 72.916%.
Markel/USEF Four-Year-Old Dressage National Championship
Rider / Horse / Preliminary Test (40%) / Final Test (60%) / Total
1. Katryna Evans / Fontenay / 8.94 / 8.64 / 8.76
2. Alice Tarjan / Iereland’s Eden / 8.34 / 8.8 / 8.616
3. Lindsey Holleger / MW Furstencharmant / 8.41 / 8.38 / 8.392
4. Caroline Roffman / It’s Showtime / 8.6 / 7.72 / 8.072
5. Marta Renilla / Dante Rubin M.R. / 8.00 / 7.96 / 7.976
6. Marcus Orlob / Maximus / 8.12 / 7.72 / 7.88
Markel/USEF Five-Year-Old Dressage National Championship
Rider / Horse / Preliminary Test (40%) / Final Test (60%) / Total
1. Marcus Orlob / Glory Day / 9.14 / 9.77 / 9.518
2. Hope Beerling / Vianne / 8.52 / 9.26 / 8.964
3. Katryna Evans / Mollegardens Fashion / 8.88 / 8.58 / 8.7
4. Alice Tarjan / Gjenganger / 8.04 / 8.98 / 8.604
5. Marcus Orlob / Flambeau / 8.1 / 8.46 / 8.316
6. Jennifer Hoffmann / Manis Endeavor / 8.1 / 7.8 / 7.92
