The Markel/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials concluded the 2009 qualifying season with competitions held across the country in Illinois, California and North Carolina to select the U.S. representatives for the 2009 FEI World Breeding Championships to be held in Verden, Germany, August 5–9, 2009.

The first Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trial was held at CDI 3*/Y/J Wayne & Dressage at Lamplight in Wayne, IL, May 15–17, 2009. In the Six-Year-Old division, Kassandra Barteau rode her own chestnut Hanoverian gelding AliKo (Londonderry x Diana by Donnerhall, bred in the United States by Karen Pliszka) to an overall score of 6.956 to win the Championship. Reserve Champion, with an overall score of 6.912, was the bay Hanoverian mare Bijoux (Bugatti Hilltop x Whimsical L by Wallstreet Kid, bred in the United States by Margaret Drury) ridden by Missy Fladland for owner Janet Rolfs. No five-year-olds competed at this Trial.

Next was the Western Selection Trial held at Dressage at Flintridge, May 22–24, 2009 in La Canada-Flintridge, CA. For the Five-Year-Olds, the Champion was Louise Koch riding her own black Westfalian stallion San Shivago (Sandro Hit x Donna by Donnerhall, bred in Germany by Walter Huning) to an overall score of 8.024. Sabine Schut-Kery rode the brown Westfalian mare Adora's Radiant Heart (Fuerst Piccolo x Stutbuch 1 Majoli by Montmartre, bred in Germany by Eckhard Niedermowwe) to the Reserve Championship for owner Alice Womble with a score of 7.872.

Sweeping the Six-Year-Old division was Holly Reimers' dark brown Oldenburg stallion Sandomere (Sandro Hit x Romina by Ramiro's Match, bred in Germany by Marion Menck), ridden by Merrie Velden to an overall score of 7.684. Reserve Champion with 7.244 was Jo Moran and Walking on Sunshine (Worldly x Donna E. by Davignon, bred in Germany by Hans-Wilhelm Schmoldt), a dark bay Hanoverian mare owned by Robin Shearer.

The final Selection Trial was held at CDI-W/Y/J Raleigh & Capital Dressage Classic in Raleigh, NC, May 29–31, 2009. Champion of the Five-Year-Old division with an overall two-test score of 7.584 was Helene (Hohenstein x Wallenta by Weltruhm, bred in Germany by Dr. & Mrs. Hans H. Hoppe). The black Hanoverian mare was ridden by Teresa Butta for owner Dr. Jim Bond. Reserve Champion was Margaret Miller's Lord Sisley (Lord Sinclair x Landlady by Landadel, bred in Germany by Heinz Schulze), a bay Oldenburg gelding ridden by Elly Schobel to an overall score of 7.352. A convincing ride in the Final Test to make for an overall score of 8.004 secured the Six-Year-Old Selection Trial Championship for Warsteiner (Riverman x Welona by Roemer, bred in the Netherlands by H. Davelaar), a chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding ridden and owned by Heather Mason. The reserve championship was awarded to Pikko Del Cerro HU (Pik L x Roweena by Rohdiamant, bred in the United States by Horses Unlimited, Inc.), a bay Hanoverian stallion ridden by Mikala Gundersen for owner Horses Unlimited, Inc. to an overall score of 7.9.

In order to qualify for the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Short List, horses must have earned an overall score of 8.2 or better at one of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials or via international competitions.  Qualifying for this year's Short List is Jennifer Hoffmann's six-year-old black Wesfalen stallion Rubinio (Rubin Royal x Farina by Florestan I, bred in Germany by Jürgen Bunge), qualifying via international competition with a score of 8.2. This combination, a veteran of last year's FEI World Breeding Championship, will once again represent the United States in Verden.

For complete Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program information, please visit the Federation website, www.usef.org, or contact Jennifer Keeler, USEF National Director of Dressage.

 

 

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email [email protected], or call (859) 971-2277.