Garvey, Hermann, McWhorter, Fisk Win Youth Titles at 2026 U.S. Dressage Championships

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2026 U.S. Dressage Championships

-- USEF press release, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © US Equestrian

Pony rider Alexandra Garvey, children rider Austin Hermann, junior rider Bennett McWhorter, and young rider Eila Fisk became the winners of the titles in their respective age categories at the 2026 U.S. Dressage Championships (aka Festival of Champions) held at Lamplight equestrian centre in Wayne, ILL, on 27 - 30 August 2026.

The youth riders had to contest two rounds - the team and individual test - to determine the overall ranking and podium place getters.

Pony Rider: Alexandra Garvey

Alexandra Garvey (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Magnum KV, a 2015 Dutch Riding Pony (FS Mr. Right x Don Cremello du Bois), co-owned with her mother, Kandace Garvey, topped the podium in the U.S. FEI Dressage Pony Championship, finishing with a two-test average of 69.442% to claim the title.

Garvey has partnered with Magnum KV for the past two to three years. "I don't have words for him," she said. "He's an incredible partner, and he came in today with a super attitude. He helped me in the arena, and I couldn't ask for a better ride."

Magnum KV is bred by Kim Vugts at brood farm Bloemendael in The Netherlands. He was imported to the U.S.A. and first shown by Cassie Benson in 2022 and 2021 before he went to Lori Barrett from Revel Ranch Hanoverians in Utah. She competed him in 2023 through February 2024 before the bay came into Garvey's hands. Asked to name a highlight from her test, Garvey said the whole experience was hard to top.

The pony podium: Hobbs, Garvey, Stremmel

"Probably just riding in general," she said. "I love going into the ring with him. He's so much fun to show, and I enjoy the entire experience. "Thank you to [my trainer] Marcus Orlob and my family, because I couldn't have as much fun if it weren't for them." The Garvey family bought a big property in Wellington, Florida, out of which U.S. Olympian Marcus Orlob now operates.

Reserve champion honours went to Ava Hobbs (Lake City, Mich.) and Der Kleine Prinz G, a 2017 German Riding Pony gelding (by Dating AT NRW x Mephisto), owned by David Hobbs, who posted a score of 67.162% in the FEI Pony Rider Individual Test. Rounding out the podium in third were Elan Stremmel (Cazenovia, N.Y.) and Bitsy's Itsy, her own 2015 Connemara Cross mare (by Wasabi x Greystone McErrill), who scored a 64.189%.

Children: Austin Hermann

Austin Hermann (Cumming, Ga.) and his own Genevieve HF, a KWPN mare (by Winningmood x Oscar), extended their winning streak to earn the overall champion title in the Children Championship. The pair capped the week with a double win in the team test (75,525%) and individual test (75.190%). The win adds to an already standout year for the pair, who also won individual gold at the North American Children Championship last month in Traverse City.

"I feel amazing. Today was a very blessed day," Hermann said. "I'm so proud of Genevieve."

Hermann credited the strength of his partnership with the mare as central to the win. "Genevieve and I have a really close relationship," he said. "We love each other. I get to ride her a lot. She's the best horse in the world."

Asked where he felt he stood out most to the judges across the week's two tests, Hermann pointed to his ability to bounce back from a rocky start. "

We stood out in our recoveries," he said. "Our first test had a few mistakes, but we recovered nicely and finished the test well. Today, I feel we just went steady and recovered from those mistakes yesterday."

Finishing as reserve champions overall were Katherine Bright (Auburn, Ala.) and Dali du Montesy, a Hanoverian gelding (Don Darius 4 x Wolkenstein 6) owned by Deborah Bright, who finished their week with a score of 70.287% in the FEI Children Individual Test. Rounding out the top three were Aureauna Jones (Fort Valley, Ga.) and Jack In Black, her Thoroughbred cross gelding, who earned a score of 67.926% in their last test of the competition.

Junior Riders: Bennett McWhorter

Bennett McWhorter (Wellington, Fla.) claimed the champion title in the junior division on Dalia, a 2015 Hanoverian mare (by Don Nobless x Contendro I) co-owned by McWhorter and Stephanie Mills. The pair picked up a score of 70.539% for Saturday’s test and a 70.624% overall, maintaining their position from the previous day with excellent marks in their canter and trot work.

The judges’ panel rewarded the pair for a continued partnership that remained connected and supple throughout the test.

"It feels really incredible to see all of our hard work pay off, and all the time we spent working to create great harmony and teamwork,” McWhorter said.

The duo has continued to tack on titles after their triple gold medal win at the 2026 FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships. He trains with Olympian Ali Brock.

“FOC (Festival of Champions) was fun. The weather was lovely, and we had some great energy together. It was a nice, harmonious picture, so I couldn't be happier with it,” he explained. “Hopefully, next year, we'll progress up into young riders, but we’re taking it one step at a time.”

The reserve champion spot went to Ellie Sloan (East Greenwich, R.I.) and Bingotti, a 2010 Hanoverian stallion (by Bugatti Hilltop x Krack C) owned by Kathleen Swalwell, after receiving a 68.088% on Saturday’s test for 69.196% overall. Alexis Troutman (Gainesville, Ga.) and Mondo ‘L’, a 2017 Dutch Warmblood gelding (by Don Tango B x Obelisk) took home bronze after scoring 69.118% on the individual test.

Young Riders Eila Fisk

The Young Rider Championship title went to Eila Fisk and Quaresma, a 2016 Oldenburg gelding (by Quatensprung x Fürstenball OLD), owned by Gina Fisk. Their combined average score of 68.504% put them on top of the leaderboard on the final day of competition. The pair scored 68,039% in the team test (2nd) and won the individual test with 68.970%.

“I had the most amazing feeling with this horse. It feels like we have finally clicked,” Fisk explained. “We had a clean test, he was ready to go, and he was so proud to do all his movements, and I could not be happier with him.”

Only three weeks prior, Fisk and Quaresma had earned triple gold medals at the FEI North American Youth Championships in the FEI Young Rider division. Fisk is trained by Laura Abner and sold as a 6-year old to Fisk in the autumn of 2023. Quaresma was first shown in Germany by Jennifer Klawunn in March 2022 before Ruth Andras took over in June 2022 and showed him through the summer of 2023.

“Going into NAYC, I was not expecting anything out of it. So, I came into FOC thinking if I have the worst test in my life, that it’s OK because I just had a major win,” Fisk explained. “It was a crazy feeling winning at NAYC, but it’s an even crazier feeling to win here. It’s earth-shattering.”

Taking home the reserve champion title were Adeline Batcheller (Little Rock, Ark.) and Luminosity JP, her own U.S.-bred KWPN gelding (by Glamourdale x Sir Sinclair), who finished on an average score of 67.304%. She was third in the team test (66,422%) and second in the individual test (68,186%).

Rosa Murphy (Cambridge, Mass.) and Hotstuff, her own 2012 KWPN gelding (by Don Tango B x Lord Leatherdale), closed out the podium after earning a score of 66.739%. She won the team test (68,333%) but dropped to 7th place in the individual with 65.147%.