Three National Champions to be crowned at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions

Three National Champions to be crowned at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions
Some of the country’s top dressage combinations have converged at the United States Equestrian Foundation (USET) Foundation headquarters at Hamilton Farm to compete in The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. From May 18-21, the historic venue will play host to three national championships: USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship, and USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today.

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USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship
Without a USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Champion returning, the title is up for grabs in a field comprised of seven talented combinations. Kasey-Perry Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet, 2016 Olympic team bronze medalists, hope to add a national championship title to their resume. Perry-Glass (Orangevale, Calif.) and Diane Perry’s 2003 Danish Warmblood gelding come to Gladstone after gaining additional high-pressure experience competing in their first FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals against some of the top combinations in the world. Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Lonoir found success at Gladstone in 2014 when they finished third in the USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship, and they are primed to find it again. LaGoy-Weltz (Haymarket, Va.) and her own 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding were in top form in the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup™ CDIO3* in Wellington earlier this year when they won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special on their way to a team silver medal.

USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship
Sixteen combinations will vie for top honors in the USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship. Adrienne Lyle has been developing an impressive string of elite horses since the retirement of Wizard, her longtime partner and 2012 Olympic Games mount. She brings two horses to the Intermediaire division (as well as Salvino, a Grand Prix entry): Harmony’s Duval and Horizon. With Horizon, Betsy Juliano’s 2007 Oldenburg mare, Lyle (Ketchum, Idaho) won the 2016 Markel/USEF Developing Horse Prix St. Georges National Championship and aims to capitalize on Horizon’s growth since last year. She and Harmony’s Duval, Kylee Lourie’s 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding, collected numerous top-three finishes at the 2017 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). Jennifer Baumert (Wellington, Fla.) and Handsome are a new combination but they have already scored top results together. She and Betsy Juliano’s 2005 Hanoverian gelding earned several top-five finishes on the small tour at the 2017 AGDF.

USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today
A group of seven rising stars hope to shine in the USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today. Kaitlin Blythe has competed in four Festival of Champions, and will compete for the second time in the Brentina Cup division with her new, experienced mount, Don Principe. Blythe (Roguemont, N.C.) and Maryanna Haymon’s 1999 Hanoverian stallion had several top-three finishes in the U25 classes at the 2017 AGDF. Molly Paris has been successful in the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, and hopes to add a top Festival of Champions performance to her list of accomplishments. Paris (Charlotte, N.C.) and Countess, her own 2002 Danish Warmblood mare, swept the U25 class at the Tryon Spring Dressage 1 Horse Show before making the trip to Gladstone.

Competition starts at 8:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday and runs through Sunday afternoon.

Find out more information on the event website.