The 2017 U.S. Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships continued on Friday 25 August 2017 with the first round tests for the remaining two divisions. The combinations of Cesar Parra and Fashion Designer OLD and Andrea Woodard and Ravenna stood out amongst the fields to lead the Developing Grand Prix and Six-Year-Old divisions, putting them in the lead in the U.S. Developing Grand Prix and Six-Year-Old Championships.
Today's tests counted 40% towards their overall scores.
Fashion Designer OLD Wins Intermediate II Test (Developing Grand Prix)
Cesar Parra (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) and Fashion Designer OLD, his own and Martin Sosnoff’s nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding, performed well in the Intermediate II Test to earn a score of 69.56%. Parra expressed his gratitude for the USEF Dressage Developing Horse Program and the role it has played in his enjoyment of these championships. Watch his ride here.
“I would like to start out by saying that Lamplight, the farm and this place, have become for us a place to come every year,” said Parra. “Since this program started, we have been taking part in it. I think it is an amazing, amazing program. I’m very happy, pleased, and so humbled and blessed to be able to ride this horse.”
Parra and Fashion Designer OLD were reserve champions in the 2016 U.S. Developing Prix St. Georges Horse Championship, moving up to the Grand Prix division this year.
“[Fashion Designer OLD’s] breeding shows his quality and shows that he was made for the Grand Prix. He is so compact and so easy to ride,” said Parra.
Patricia Becker (Wadsworth, Ill.) and Dr. Anne Ramsay’s 10-year-old Oldenburg stallion Freedom tied for second with Michael Bragdell (Colora, Md.) and Hilltop Farm Inc.’s nine-year-old Oldenburg stallion Qredit Hilltop with scores of 67.32%.
Becker has been riding Freedom since his three-year-old year, moving him up the levels in the program and has a special place in her heart for him and this event.
“I love Lamplight; I love this whole program,” said Becker. “[Freedom] is a wonderful horse to ride. More and more, as he has developed, he puts on his game face as he goes in the ring, and that is what he did today. A couple little mistakes, very small, but overall, I was very pleased with his effort and focus.”
Ravenna Wins 6-Year-Old Preliminary Test
In her first visit to the U.S. Young Horse Championships, Andrea Woodard (Wellington, Fla.) wowed the judges and won the Six-Year-Old Preliminary Test on Ravenna, taking the lead of the Six-Year-Old division.
“I think it is quite challenging test requirements for the six-year-old,” said Woodard. “It is hard to get them to this place so young. So just to be able to actually get here and have the horses, being able to keep them in this frame, and this level of collection and obedience – I am very proud of my horse.”
Woodard has partnered with her Oldenburg mare since 2014, when she purchased her in Germany as a three-year-old. The combination’s test earned high remarks from the judges, earning them a 7.9.
“It is wonderful to achieve the goals that you set, but on the other hand, if you feel like something happens that is disappointing, we all go home with the same horse and we all just keep moving on towards the next goal and the next level,” said Woodard. “We know where our horses are. I am just thrilled that she delivered a nice test for me today.”
Placing second with a score of 7.8, Werner Van Den Brande (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Flyby FLF had balanced gaits, earning high praise from the judges on the combination’s future. This championship with Linda Sommer’s Hanoverian gelding is a special one for Van Den Brande.
“Ed Borresen passed away recently. He was supposed to be here with me, because that was the goal, to get [Flyby FLF] here and bring him to Chicago,” said Van Den Brande. “His wife is here – that is very special for the owner because we are old, good friends. To be second, even in the top three is great.”
After tying for second earlier in the day in the Intermediate II Test (Developing Grand Prix), Bragdell also took third in FEI Six-Year-Old Preliminary Test, riding Finery, Anne Howard’s Oldenburg stallion. The pair scored a 7.6 with strong marks in the walk and canter.
“I was quite thrilled with my horse,” said Bragdell. “He is owned by Anne Howard and she entrusted me to train him and show him… I thought when I was in the test, he gave it all…I have to give credit to my coach and trainer Morgan Thompson who has really helped us along the way and really made a big difference in the training.”
Photos © Sue Stickle
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