Michael Bragdell and Qredit Hilltop Win World Cup Qualifier at 2021 CDI-W Devon

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2021 CDI-W Devon

Devon routiniers, Michael Bragdell and Qredit Hilltop, won the World Cup qualifier at 2021 Dressage at Devon CDI-W on 30 September - 3 October 2021.

For the 48-year old Bragdell this significant win was filled with emotion as it was the rider's as well as the horse's first international victory in an arena they have a history with. The 13-year old American bred Oldenburg stallion Qredit Hilltop won his first blue ribbon as a yearling at the 2009 Devon breed show twelve years ago, presented in hand by Bragdell.

To His Credit

Originally named Perfect Qredit, the chestnut stallion is by Quaterback out of Dream Rubina (by Dream of Glory) and bred by Judy Yancey in the U.S.A..

Michelle Coursin, an air traffic controller who was based in Afghanistan and used her two vacations each year to return to the U.S. to pursue her interest in dressage, bought Qredit from a picture as a one-month old foal. She had him reared at Hilltop Farm, where Bragdell has been a handler and trainer for already 26 years.

Perfect Qredit first travelled to Devon as a yearling in 2009 to win the Young Horse Championship, the Colt Championship, as well as the Yearling Colts and Geldings class. The icing of the cake came at the end of the breed show when he was named the Devon overall "Grand Champion."

Bragdell saddle broke a newly licensed Qredit, who sold to Hilltop Farm. Christopher Hickey competed the youngster as a 4- and 5-year old, winning silver at the 2012 U.S. Young Horse Championships and placing fourth in 2013. Bragdell received the full ride on "Q" at the end of that year.

National Success, International Beginnings

Michael with Qredit as a yearling colt at the 2009 Devon Breed Show

The pair certainly made its mark at national competitions through the levels.

They made the move to Grand Prrix in 2017, winning the Inter II Open Championship at the 2017 USDF Finals and were sixth at the U.S. Developing Grand Prix Horse Championships. A year later they were seventh at the 2018 U.S. Developing GP Horse Championship.

In 2019 he become reserve champion in the Grand Prix Open Championship at the 2019 USDF Finals. The pair also made its international show debut at the 2019 CDI-W Devon, where they were fourth in the Grand Prix on 67.044%

In 2020 the horse only competed at one CDI in Wellington in January, but in 2021 they were back for another CDI Wellington, as well as making their way for international ring mileage at the CDI Tryon in April. This year their efforts culminated in August when they became fifth at the 2021 U.S. Grand Prix Championships in Wayne, ILL

World Cup Victory in Devon

Returning to Devon for the second time as an international Grand Prix combination last weekend, Bragdell and Qredit dominated a field of seven riders in the Short Grand Prix, the warm-up test to the World Cup qualifier Kur to Music.

Bragdell and Qredit in the winner's circle at 2021 CDI-W Devon

They won the Short Grand Prix with 67.132% ahead of Bridget Hay on Faolan (by Freestyle x Weltstern) with 66.737% and Shannon Stevens on Ferrari (by Special D x Ulandro) with 66.316%.

For their CDI-W freestyle on Saturday night in front of a sell-out, cheering crowd, they rode to music by Coldplay as well as to Robyn Thicke's Blurred Lines and earned a winning 72.995% for their first World Cup victory.

Michael has a playlist he listens to prior to every ride in order to get pumped for the competition. "It's flexible but the Beastie Boys tends to be a constant," he said adding that Qredit loves to perform to music. "The first time my horse heard the music, he said this is it! I had so much fun riding him tonight! It's always fun when you do the freestyle and I love being here."

Bragdell has been coming to Devon, initially as a handler and then as a rider, for over twenty years. The Dixon Oval arena in Devon is magical for him.

"Devon is always the highlight of the year. It's not just the show itself, it's the history," Bragdell explained. "I don't think there is anything like it in the rest of the country where the atmosphere is the way it is. It's so exciting to ride in the arena when the audience - not that they are supposed to - but they are participating and engaging with us riders, while we are in there. it gives me goosebumps thinking about it. That's Devon. Come to ride in there for that experience is beyond words. That's better than winning."

Stacy Lynne Photography - private - Conklin Photographic