Willy Arts says that this means he doesn’t feel much pressure to finish in the ribbons, and yet he was a recurring character in the victory laps at the U.S. Dressage Festival Of Champions in Wayne, Illinois.
“When you’ve been doing this for many years, you can’t set your expectations too high,” said the Dutch-born driver. “You just go there and say, ‘OK, as long as I survive and everything goes well, I’m happy.'”
Things went a little more than “good” for Makanabria DG (Rock Forever I—Gamebria DG, Belissimo M), owned by DG Bar Ranch, on Friday, as the Dutch warmblood mare took the Markel/USEF Young Horse 7-Year-Old Championship title after placing second in the FEI final test for 7-year-olds with 72.75%. Laura Brandt and Ikon won the class with 73.10%.
“Overall, I didn’t expect to win or be there,” Arts said. “I would have been happy with her if she had done two rides like that.”
“Makana” took the championship ribbon with a total score of 73.42%, while Brandt was runner-up (73.19%) and Elizabeth Bortuzzo and Viconte took third place (72.87%).
Brandt had not competed in a national championship for 15 years, but grew more confident in Ikon over the course of the two days of competition. During Friday’s test, she felt she could ride him more confidently. She has owned the stallion since he was just 6 weeks old and said he was originally intended as an investment, but there was something special about him that she wanted to develop into her partner.
“You know, they all have a beautiful gait, but that’s what sets him apart – he just has a great character,” Brandt said.
Chris Hickey and Saskatoon OMF win with “rest test”
Judges saw the first part of the two-part Markel/USEF Championship for young six-year-olds on Friday when Chris Hickey and British Hanoverian gelding Saskatoon OMF (San Amour I—Dolce Nera, Don Frederico), owned by Cecelia Stewart, won the preliminary test with 83.80%. Charell Garcia followed in second place on MW Mercury with 82.00% and Taryn Anderson and Figardo took third place with 80.80%.
“My goal today was to do a calm test but with enough power,” Hickey said. “I had to come in and show suppleness and relaxation, but you can have collection and move forward in medium and proper trot steps, which was safe.”
At the final test on Sunday he hopes to show a different side of the gelding that he has developed since he was weaned.
“It was a day for the Toyota Camry, but not a day for Maserati,” he said. “On Sunday it has to be a Maserati, but with the same driveability.”
“She was made for this”
At the Markel/USEF Developing Grand Prix Championship, 10 competitors competed in the Intermediaire II class. Nora Batchelder and the 9-year-old Oldenburg mare Nova (Grand Galaxy Win T—Romanova, Romanov Blue Hors), owned by Carol Glover, were first in the ring and set a high bar with a score of 69.16%, which proved unbeatable. Hannah Bressler Jaques and Jim took second place (66.76%) and Jane Karol and Vioretta took third place (66.61%).
Batchelder has nurtured the young mare for three years and Nova has consistently lived up to her high expectations. The rider said that when she met the horse, “it was pretty much love at first sight with her.”
“She is the most talented horse I have ever ridden,” said Batchelder. “She is incredible and it is a privilege to ride a horse that is so capable – she is made for this.”
Other championship winners:
Virginia Woodcock and her Danish warmblood mare Mollegardens Sans-Souci (Sir Donnerhall I—Sascha, Sam Sam) won the Adequan/USEF Junior Championship with a total score of 70.70%, while Justine Boyer and Campanero HGF took the reserve victory (67.36%).
Grace Christianson and her American Warmblood mare FHF Roulee (veteran—FHF Marelee Dubois, Cancellaresca) won the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals in the 13 and under age group, scoring 90.00%, while Ryder Mosqueda and Atlantico XLVI took second place (83.00%) and Adeline Shelton and Thumper took third place (80%).
The full results can be found here.
