Wayne, Ill. – Aug. 25, 2018 – The first championship to wrap up on the fourth day of competition at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions at the Lamplight Equestrian Center was the USEF Junior Rider Dressage National Championship. Making the trip from Greenwood Village, Colorado, Emma Asher and Seeley Equestrian Venture’s Traneenggaards Akondo claimed the national title after receiving a 71.02 percent in their Junior Individual Test. While it is their last competition of the year, she anticipates moving the talented 16-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding up to the Young Rider division during the winter season in Wellington, Florida.
Though Asher, 17, was sitting in second place with her other mount, Don Fredo HD after the first class of the division, their eighth-place performance in the Junior Individual Test left the door open for fellow competitors to overtake Don Fredo HD’s position.
Melanie Doughty, of Cora Beach, Florida, rode her 10-year-old Rheinlander mare, Fascinata, to the reserve championship title. The pair placed third in their Junior Team Test and second in the Junior Individual Test to earn an overall total score of 68.512 percent. Doughty, a senior in high school, participated in the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals in 2013, and earlier this year earned a team gold medal in the North American Youth Championships (NAYC) in New York.
Completing the podium in third place was Mackenzie Peer from Overland Park, Kansas, riding Daquan, a 10-year-old KWPN mare owned by Beth Nay. Peer was proud of the mare’s performance in their first big show together, as they just began their partnership this winter. The pair placed fourth in their Junior Team Test the previous day with a score of 67.778 percent and finished fifth in the Individual Test with a score of 67.206 percent. With their combined scores, they were able to secure their overall third place finish with a total of 67.492 percent.
It is the second year since the USEF Children Dressage National Championship was established as a division at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, and 10 horse-and-rider combinations took to the ring. Miki Yang, 13, and Four Winds Farm’s Garden’s Sam took the lead with a score of 68.387 percent. Yang and “Sammy”, an 11-year-old New Forest Pony gelding, have been a team for three years and they made the trip from Los Altos Hills, California. Despite Sammy’s usual nerves in the show ring, Yang highlighted her pony’s honesty and their partnership as the reasons they were able to produce a clean test. Going into tomorrow’s individual test, Yang hopes to maintain the same consistency with him.
Sitting in second place is Averi Allen, 14, and Mary Adam’s Lady Lilliana with a score of 67.885 percent. Lady Lilliana, a 9-year-old Friesian Sporthorse mare, and Allen worked hard during their test to maintain their canter and not let the environment distract them. Third place was captured by Kylee Kment and Jami Kment’s Manatee with a score of 67.756 percent. Manatee, a 15-year-old Off-The-Track Thoroughbred, have been partnered together two years. Kment credits their performance on their strong connection that they have built. The USEF Children Dressage National Championship will conclude on Sunday, Aug. 26th at 9:00 a.m. with the final individual test.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Emma Asher – USEF Junior Rider Dressage National Champion
On winning:
“It’s really gratifying! I competed all season in Wellington and it showed a lot of progress. It was fun to come and compete against real competition.”
On her test:
“Akondo felt really good today. He was really up in front of my leg and listening. He was much more supple than yesterday. He really improved from the warm-up because in the warm-up he was really firey and wasn’t listening very well. He really came back to me for the test which was great.”
On competing at Lamplight:
“I really like how close everything is. It’s not so spread out. We have the opportunity to see the other classes. I had a young horse so I liked watching the young horse classes. Being able to watch the top riders is a nice opportunity.”
Melanie Doughty – USEF Junior Rider Dressage National Reserve Champion
On being reserve champion:
“It’s amazing. I’m so proud of my horse and grateful to my trainers for everything that they’ve done. My mare was a bit tired from being here all week but she really listened to me and was on it in the arena so I’m really proud of her.”
On her future plans:
“This is our last show until season. We live in Florida so we’ll probably do some Wellington shows. I want to do some Prix St. Georges and Young Riders and see where that goes.”
On competing at Lamplight:
“It’s a great opportunity to learn and I’m honored to be here in this atmosphere. It’s wonderful.”
Mackenzie Peer – USEF Junior Rider Dressage National Championship third place
On her test:
“My ride felt super. Obviously, there are always a few mistakes but I’m really proud of her for keeping it together. This is our first big show so I’m just really proud of her for trying her best and being with me.”
On Daquan:
“She belongs to Beth Nay and I’m so lucky to be able to ride her. I started riding her this winter and then leading up to the spring and Beth said ‘Why don’t you try her for the Juniors?’. I get a little worried because it’s someone else’s horse and you want to make them proud. We just kept getting better and better so I’m thrilled to see where it’s going to go and where she is going to end up. I know she is going to do spectacular things.”
On her future plans:
“I plan to hope for young rider stuff. I live in Kansas so there is not a lot around but hopefully, I can go to Florida and see things.”
On the championships:
“I love the Lamplight facility. I think it’s beautiful. It’s much bigger than anything where I live. It’s a big fancy show with all the beautiful horses. It’s awe-inspiring and makes me want to push myself. I want to be here and with all of these people. I want to do this. It’s beautiful and amazing to see it all.”
Miki Yang – FEI Children Team Test winner
On her test:
“I was really happy with how it went. Sam usually gets a bit tense in the show arena but today I felt like he was there for me and I was there for him. He was really honest and it was a clean test so I was really happy with it. I am really happy to be here. Everything is well put together and everyone is really nice and welcoming.”
On preparing for the next test:
“It went really well and there isn’t much I would change for tomorrow. I just want to do what I did today and see how it goes.”
On Garden’s Sam:
“I’ve had Sammy for about three years. I’ve learned a lot from him and I’m glad I’ve been able to learn so much from him. Sammy is an interesting pony. He is quirky and a little bit naughty. He’s really weird, but I can tell his emotions very well. He’s very special.”
Averi Allen – FEI Children Team Test second place
On her test:
“I was thrilled with how she handled everything. We’ve had troubles in the past maintaining the canter. We’ve been working on that and today I felt like through the test she was pretty good. I would be thrilled if she was the same as today [in tomorrow’s test]. She was really good.”
On the championships:
“This is my third year here and every year I love the facility. Everyone here is so nice and it’s just great to be here.”
On Lady Lilliana:
“My mare works so hard. She is 9-years-old. She works so hard and when she gets sassy she tries even more.”
Kylee Kment – FEI Children Team Test third place
On her test:
“My horse, Manatee, was amazing today. His contact was really consistent and I was really proud of him. We just went in there and did our best. I’m really blessed to be here. For me, a little bit more consistency in his activity would make it even better.”
On the championships:
“It’s amazing to be here. It’s so beautiful I’m thrilled because my horse is a Thoroughbred, and he can get a little bit hot but everyone is so encouraging to me.”
On Manatee:
“I have an OTTB named Manatee. I have had him for two years now and it’s amazing how much he has taught me and how much we’ve learned together. I feel like we’ve both really improved and learned from each other a lot.”
Results: USEF Junior Rider Dressage National Championship
Rider / Horse / Owner / Junior Team / Junior Individual / Total Score
1. Emma Asher / Traneenggards Akondo / Seeley Equestrian Ventures / 70.859 / 71.029 / 70.944
2. Melanie Doughty / Fascinata / Melanie Doughty / 68.788 / 68.235 / 68.512
3. Mackenzie Peer / Daquan / Beth Nay / 67.778 / 67.206 / 67.492
4. Emma Asher / Don Fredo HD / Seeley Equestrian Ventures / 69.545 / 64.51 / 67.028
5. Jori Dupell / Fiderprinz 2 / Jori Dupell / 66.364 / 67.32 / 66.842
6. Allison Nemeth / Dafoe / Allison Nemeth / 65.96 / 67.451 / 66.706
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