Lexington, Ky. – Nov. 9, 2016 – The 2016 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan will kick off at the Kentucky Horse Park on Thursday November 10th and continue through Sunday November 13th. Top horses and riders from around the country will be vying for championship titles at every level. Check out the Championship schedule and hear from some of the competitors:
“I’ve only shown her twice and we won the First Level Championship at our regionals, so I’m really happy with that. This is her first time to come to the US Dressage Finals, and my third year here. I love that it gives trainers as well as Adult Amateurs, who don’t have a lot of access to the bigger shows and don’t go to Florida a chance to compete with the big guys and get the level of competition that we would if we went to Florida.” – John Mason from Houston, Texas, and Stacia Diaz Hammond’s 5-year-old Oldenburg mare, Angela’s Angel. They will be competing in the First Level Open Championship.
“It’s my first time here and I’m happy to be here! I got him as a coming two-year-old and now we are competing at Intermediate I. We received our silver medal last year and we did really well this year at Intermediate I and got a wildcard to compete at the Finals. I’ve been working on the tempis; they are a little tricky because I’ve never had a horse that does tempis before so sometimes they are a little short and I think it’s just me holding too much. – Jodi Swimmer from Louisville, Kentucky, and the 11-year-old American Saddlebred gelding, New York City Slicker. They will be competing in the Intermediate I Adult Amateur Championship.
“Maker’s Mark will be competing in the Third Level Adult Amateur championships with my student Rhonda Dretel. It is his first time here at the finals, but Rhonda came two years ago on another horse that she has since lost. The finals are very fun and it’s something we’ve been working towards all year.” – Koby Robson from Southern Pines, North Carolina is the trainer of Rhonda Dretel and Maker’s Mark, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. The pair will be competing in in the Third Level Adult Amateur Championship, and Dreta will also ride Dominic LHF in the Intermediate II Adult Amateur Championship.
“It is my first time here at the US Dressage Finals and I’m feeling pretty good going into it. We have been working on getting him out and about. He tends to be over reactive to things so this is very good experience for him. – Katie Joyce from Eagle, Wisconsin and the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Zolansky M. They will be competing in the Second Level Open Freestyle Championship.
“It was about an 11 hour drive yesterday from Jacksonville, Florida, but he’s handling it well. This is our second trip to Nationals. We are excited to be here, especially because my mom is from Kentucky. I can make it a dual championship show as well as a family get together and they will be here to cheer me on. – Mary O’Brien from Jacksonville, Florida, and Watch Me M, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. They will be competing in the Intermediate I Adult Amateur Championship and the Intermediate I Adult Amateur Freestyle Championship.
“This is my first time here so I’m nervous. I bought him as a trail horse but my competition horse passed away. I’ve had him for about a year and he prefers galloping in the field! We’ve been working on mostly learning how to relax and not be nervous. We are lucky to make it so we have to just be proud to be here no matter how we do.” – Ariel Stanley from Coatesville, Indiana, and Maximus, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred/Arabian Cross. They will be competing in the First Level Adult Amateur Championship.
“It’s exciting to be here two years in a row it’s hard to qualify so I’m happy that we made it. We’re excited to be here again. I’ve been working on trying to ride him more up forward and connected.” – Alexandra Krossen from Basking Ridge New Jersey and Don Perignon a 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding will be competing in the Training Level Adult Amateur Championship and the First Level Freestyle Adult Amateur Championship.
“I am honored and thrilled to have my horse here at US Dressage Finals. I’m really proud of him because this is his first year showing and this is only his fourth show. This is my first time with a horse competing in the Finals and so far I am loving it. – Amy Klipsch from Evansville Indiana and her Ferragamo TF a 6-year-old KWPN gelding. Ferragamo who will be competing in the First Level Open Championship with trainer Angela Jackson.
“The US Dressage Finals is really exciting because it is unlike any other show and the atmosphere is the biggest for these horses. He’s 7-years-old and it’s a lot for him to take in. We did a clinic with Axel Steiner in the spring and he pushed me to do the Prix St. Georges and not wait another year. We qualified at both levels which is pretty cool.” – Jane Hannigan from Littleton, Massachusetts, and Fackeltrager, a 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding. They will be competing in the Fourth Level Open Championship and the Prix St. Georges Open Championship.
“We are just really honored and excited to be here because it’s really fun. This is my fourth year competing here. We’ve been working on relaxation and suppleness, and I’m hoping to move up next year.” – Kathryn Rizzoni with her groom Michele Morscher from Columbus, Ohio, and Faraday, a 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding. They will be competing in the First Level Adult Amateur Freestyle Championship.
“It’s my first time here at the US Dressage Finals, and I feel good about this weekend, I’m from Dallas. We want to do really well.” – Elisabeth Dewar from Dallas, Texas, and the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Sunshine. They will be competing in the Second Level Adult Amateur Championship and the Third Level Adult Amateur Championship.
“We feel great! This is our first time here. I hope to have alot of fun and do well with both of my horses.” – Nicole Levy from Wellington, Florida, and Georgetown, Kentucky, and the 9-year-old Hanoverian mare. They will be competing in the Third Level Open Championship. Levy will also compete Floratina in the Intermediate I Open Freestyle Championship.
“I was here 2 years ago and it was so much fun I’m super excited to be back. The showgrounds are great and everyone is so nice. We competed at training level last time and he was superstar. This is only our third show this year so hopefully he behaves.” – Kelly Grant from Shaker Heights Ohio, and Easton, a 7-year-old KWPN gelding. They will be competing in the Second Level Adult Amateur Championship.
2016 US Dressage Final Schedule:
Thursday (Alltech Arena)
2:00 pm – Intermediate II Championship Adult Amateur
3:25 pm – Intermediate II Championship Open
Friday (Alltech Arena)
8:00 am – Intermediate I Championship Open
11:24 am – Intermediate I Championship Adult Amateur
4:50 pm – Grand Prix Championship Adult Amateur
7:30 pm – Grand Prix Championship Open
Friday (Stonelea Ring)
8:00 am – Third Level Championship Open
11:25 am – Fourth Level Championship Adult Amateur
Friday (Murphy Ring)
8:00 am – Training Level Championship Open
Friday (Claiborne Ring)
11:10 am – Second Level Championship Adult Amateur
Saturday (Alltech Arena)
8:00 am – Fourth Level Freestyle Championship Adult Amateur
9:45 am – Third Level Freestyle Championship Open
1:30 pm – Intermediate I Freestyle Championship Open
4:44 pm – Intermediate I Freestyle Championship Adult Amateur
7:30 pm – Grand Prix Freestyle Championship Adult Amateur
8:55 pm – Grand Prix Freestyle Championship Open
Saturday (Stonelea Ring)
8:00 am – First Level Championship Adult Amateur
1:00 pm – Third Level Championship Adault Amateur
Saturday (Murphy Ring)
10:00 am – Second Level Freestyle Championship Adult Amateur
1:28 pm – Second Level Freestyle Championship Open
Saturday (Claiborne Ring)
8:00 am – First Level Championship Open
10:40 am – Fourth Level Championship Open
Sunday (Alltech Arena)
8:00 am – Third Level Freestyle Championship Adult Amateur
10:30 am – Prix St. Georges Championship Open
2:25 pm – Fourth Level Freestyle Championship Open
Sunday (Stonelea Ring)
8:00 am – Prix St. Georges Championship Adult Amateur
11:30 am – Second Level Championship Open
Sunday (Murphy Ring)
8:00 am – First Level Freestyle Championship Adult Amateur
1:10 pm – First Level Freestyle Championship Open
Sunday (Claiborne Ring)
8:00 am – Training Level Championship Adult Amateur