Lamplight routinier Nora Batchelder and Twan Vita Nova became the winners of the Developing Prix St Georges Horse Championship held at the 2026 U.S. Dressage Championships in Wayne, ILL, on 26 - 30 August 2026.
The Developing PSG Horse Championship is the "Nurnberger Burgpokal" of the U.S.A. The championship consists of two rounds - two developing PSG horse tests - and scores are totalled to decide the final ranking.
Only nine qualified combinations made the trip to Lamplight equestrian center near Chicago, ILL.
Twan Vita Nova Takes the Title
Batchelder (Williston, Fla.) and Twan Vita Nova clinched the championship title with a total average score of 69,155% after placing second in the first round with 69,902% and winning the second round with 68,657%.
It was a busy week for Batchelder, who had four mounts at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. She admitted this win was a surprise.
“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. He qualified in a really good spot, but to win is amazing. There are so many good horses and riders, so it’s special to have success so soon. It’s really exciting,” Batchelder exclaimed.
“It’s so fun to own him with her,” Batchelder said. “He’s beautiful to look at with his black coat and a full set of white socks," she said.
Batcher has been competing Twansi since 2014. They were 6th in the 5-year old division at the 2024 U.S. Young Horse Championship and 8th in the 6-year old division in 2025.
We’ve done the five- and six-year-old divisions here, and then we decided to do the Developing Prix St. Georges because he felt ready for that work. He’s so easy to train and such a good boy.”
Success with "Pleasure" Horses
For Bortuzzo the week in Wayne was more than successful as she also claimed the title in the 2026 U.S. Small Tour Championship on Next Pleasure, a 2018 KWPN gelding (by Secret x Bretton Woods). Both "Pleasure" horses are bred by Wim Plaizier, a Dutch breeder who also bred the winner of the 2026 U.S. Under 25 Championships, Kind Pleasure.
Last year Bortuzzo and Mister Pleasure finished 10th in the 2025 U.S. Developing PSG Horse Championship.
Bronze for Vholt
Fleming-Kuhn and Volt are return guests to Lamplight having competed at the Festival of Champions five, consecutive years! Under husband Martin Kuhn the chestnut was 6th as a 4-year old in 2022, and with Kathryn 7th as a 5-year old in 2023, 14th as a 6-year old in 2024, and 7th as a 7-year old in 2025.
Vholt is bred by Maurine and Jim Swanson at Rolling Stone Farm in Slatington, Pennsylvania, and was purchased by Kuhn as a foal.
Related Links
Scores: 2026 U.S. Dressage Championships
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