Wayne, Ill.—Aug. 23

While some horses might struggle with the demands of the FEI 6-Year-old tests, Gallant Reflection HU has an opposite problem. 

“He’s ahead of himself,” said rider Lisa Wilcox. “He’s already a little bored with this test—at home I school more or less the Prix St. Georges. But with these young horses there’s a level of concentration you need too, and yes he’s very concentrated at home, and it’s a little more difficult with the atmosphere. You’re happy to have a horse a little above and beyond in the atmosphere.”

Though Gallant Reflection HU spooked before heading into the ring, he quickly re-focused his energy on the test—earning scores of 8.8 for trot, 8 for walk, 7.8 for canter, 8 for submission and 8.4 overall.

That 8.20 for today—combined with his score of 8.04 for the preliminary test on Friday—gave him first (8.13) in the Markel USEF 6-Year-Old Young Horse Championship. Emily Miles rode Leslie Waterman’s Floretienne into second (7.83). 

“I was very happy with the ride today,” said Wilcox. “I thought I had a better canter, and they thought so too. It started out a little tight after he spooked at the gal moving the [opening of the] ring. But he settled in, and then he was quite nice to ride. The trot tour was nice, and then I was very happy with the walk; I felt like I could let him out a little more today than I trusted letting him out the first day. I was also very happy with the canter—nice changes, nice reaction to the changes.”

The Zweibrücker stallion (Galant du Serein—Rohmanie, Rohdiamant) was bred in the United States by Horses Unlimited and is still owned by the farm. He’s spent the week settling into this venue—a 26-hour drive from his home in Wellington, Fla. Wilcox started riding him last spring, and she opted out of competing him in the 5-year-old classes.  

“I told Anne [Sparks, Horses Unlimited CEO] he needed to learn strength and connection, and Ann trusted me and said, ‘That’s fine.’ And as he developed, it was natural to go this course,” said Wilcox. 

“He’s a Grand Prix horse, and I’m very confident saying that,” she continued. “It’s about the things that he offers. I made a mistake asking for changes once, and I got three one-tempis. I just stopped moving, and he kept going.” 

(Emily Miles and WakeUp)

After winning the Intermediaire II for the Markel USEF Developing Grand Prix Championship on Friday, Emily Miles and WakeUp returned for first in the FEI Developing Horse Grand Prix (68.45%) and then won the overall title on 69.93 percent. Marcus Orlob was second overall aboard Equestricon’s Et Voila (67.62%). 

“Wakey was awesome!” said Miles. “I was a little nervous because that flag was going crazy in the corner with the wind, and mom [Jana Wagner] was like, ‘Come on, Emily, ride for every point!’ He was a good boy, and it was a clean test, and it was an excellent way to finish his last young horse test.” 

(Chase Hickok and Sagacious HF)

A year and a half after their partnership began, Chase Hickok and Sagacious HF won the last Brentina Cup class, doing the Intermediaire II, of their career this weekend with a score of 68.09 percent, which clinched them the U.S. Dressage Festival Of Champions Brentina Cup title.

“I was really happy today,” said Hickok. “He was super relaxed and felt more like my horse than he has all week. It was just a very nice, consistent, clean test, which was our goal.”

Though she’s aged out of the FEI Under-25 division, she plans to step up to the CDI Grand Prix in Florida this winter and is looking forward to learning the ropes of that new level with Sagacious HF.

(Allison Nemeth and Pablo S)

Allison Nemeth took the U.S. Dressage Festival Of Champions Pony Championship with a total score of 70.16 percent. In spite of the windy weather, she kept Pablo S focused and on the aids for her FEI Pony Individual test, which scored a 69.39 percent.

“I thought my trot work was a lot better today, and my simple changes were really great today,” said Nemeth, 13. “This whole experience has been amazing, and I just feel so lucky that I got to be a part of it.”

Mckenzie Millburn was reserve overall (65.52%) on Darius. 

(Alexander Dawson and Shamrock)

Alexander Dawson kicked off his inaugural year in the 14-18 age group of the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals with a win aboard Shamrock. Their score of 85 topped the class of 15 riders.

“Yesterday [in the warm-up class] they said they wanted me to sit deeper in the saddle, so today that’s what I was really trying to work on,” said Dawson, 14. “The take home for me is to develop really sitting in the saddle more and also just to be up in every breath: to stay upwards and not slouch down in my shoulders.”

(Julia Lee Barton and Bonnaroo)

Julia Lee Barton, riding Bonnaroo, picked up the top placing in the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final, 13 and under. Her score was an 88.00, and she finished just ahead of Tillie Jones on Flavio and Camille Molten on Mom’s Little Lulu. The pattern for the class included a 20-meter circle with a canter transition, a 10-meter half trot circle and a halt. 

“I rode a lot without stirrups before this class, and I focused a lot on keeping my toes in and not sitting too far back,” said Barton. 

See full results on Fox Village, photos from the classes, and coverage from yesterday’s championships.