Kaitlin Blythe (Rougemont, N.C.) and Don Principe won the USEF Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today with an overall score of 66.769%. They performed a fluid test, aside from an error of course, to finish second in the FEI Intermediate II Test with a score of 66.684%. Blythe and Maryanna Haymon’s 1999 Hanoverian stallion displayed quality movements in the FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Test to finish second with a score of 66.000%. The duo had great canter work in the FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Freestyle to win with a score of 69.300%.
“I’m thrilled with my horse. He loves the freestyle. It is his favorite thing; he just lights up in the arena. I cannot believe this is real life, actually; it is so surreal. I’m so thankful for everyone who helped me get here,” Blythe said.
Natalie Pai (Wellington, Fla.) and Unlimited were the Reserve Champions, ending on an overall score of 66.444%. They had a few moments of tension in the FEI Intermediate Test to finish third with a score of 66.447% but an improved performance in the FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Test to win the class with a score of 66.605%. Pai and Peacock Ridge, LLC’s 2001 KWPN gelding showcased clean changes and half turns in the piaffe in the FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Freestyle to place third with a score of 65.950%.
“He was awesome today. He really likes the freestyle; he gets way more active and energetic. I was really happy with a completely clean test,” Pai explained. “This whole weekend I can’t believe I was able to really step it up and make every single set of changes clean. He was so good this weekend and today really tried his best.”
Molly Paris (Charlotte, N.C.) and Countess finished third in the championship with an overall score of 65.992%. They had a great performance to win the FEI Intermediate II Test with a score of 67.079% and put forth a solid effort in the FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Test to place third with a score of 64.698%. Paris and her own 2002 Danish Warmblood mare performed their FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Freestyle with a high degree of difficulty which included passage half-passes and extended canter to canter pirouettes. However, they had some miscommunications, but finished second with a score of 66.975%.