Record-Breaking 2021 US Dressage Finals

Contributed by Yellow Horse Marketing, jennifer@yellowhorsemarketing.com Susan J. Stickle

After a year away due to the COVID-19 pandemic, horses and riders from across the country once again have descended upon the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington for the 2021 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, a unique national head-to-head competition being held November 11-14 which offers a wealth of championship titles and over $120,000 in prize money.

With entries representing all nine USDF regions from coast to coast, the record-breaking participation numbers prove that that the Finals are back, bigger and better than ever. The number of horses on the grounds for this year’s Finals increased by almost 50% from two years ago to a total of 538, and the number of rides increased a whopping 55% (from 541 in 2019 to 839 in 2021). In addition, the 379 riders participating in this year’s event reflect an increase of 25% over the previous Finals – a total which doesn’t include an additional 67 youth competitors who are competing for national titles for the first time in the new Junior/ Young Rider divisions for Training through Fourth Levels.

Across eight rings of championship competition at the Kentucky Horse Park, horses and riders from across the country shared the excitement and camaraderie of coming together in one incredible venue to vie for national titles. Here are the big winners from Region 9.

Canter Claims 2nd Level Adult Amateur

Bonnie Canter & Vitali

Susan J. Stickle

As a regular competitor to the US Dressage Finals, Bonnie Canter has grown relatively used to the 1000-plus mile drive to Kentucky from her home in Hockley, Texas (Region 9). But the trip always feels easier when going home with fancy awards, and once again Canter will carry a championship sash home as she and her five-year-old Hanoverian gelding Vitali scored 70.556% to top the Second Level Adult Amateur Championship.

“He is the most cheerful horse I have ever ridden in my life,” Canter explained. “We were looking online for a youngster last summer and saw him listed in Germany. He’s little (only 15.1 hands) and that’s just what I like. Of course we couldn’t travel there because of COVID, so we bought him sight unseen based on videos. I hate to pass on something that is perfect, but you never know – they get off the trailer and you say ‘oh boy I hope I like him.’ It could go so bad but it’s turned out so well.”

Despite his young age, Canter reported that “Rudie” handled not only the demands of Second Level but also the intense atmosphere of the Finals with flying colors. “I did worry a little about coming here because the young ones are a bit emotional and you don’t want a bad experience to set them back,” Canter admitted. “But he’s just been so steady, and full of happiness and wonder – it’s a great feeling. We’re also riding at First Level here but we started doing Second because he seemed a little bored, and I think he’s actually better at Second. He’s getting his balance and really coming along.”

Vashti Wins Grand Prix Open Freestyle

Kristin WasemillerKnutson & Vashti

Susan J. Stickle

The Grand Prix Open Freestyle Championship was a fight to the finish as 23 of the country’s top horse and rider combinations sought to have their names engraved on the Jazzman Perpetual Trophy (presented by Donna Richardson). As one of the last exhibitors to enter the Alltech Arena, Kristen Wasemiller-Knutson of Oklahoma City, Okla. (Region 9) brought the crowd to its feet aboard her 12-year-old Friesian/Warmblood cross mare Vashti (Nico x Thekla by Onassis, bred in the U.S. by Sherry Koella) as the pair earned 74.275% for their “The Grinch That Stole Christmas”-themed freestyle.

The victory was the continuation of a family tradition in the Finals Grand Prix Open Freestyle division as Vashti’s half-sister Adiah HP won the last three editions (2017-2019) with rider James Koford. After finishing second to Adiah HP in 2019, this year was Vashti’s time to shine.

“It is a fantastic feeling to win this and I have not stopped smiling. Everyone is sending me texts and emails and it’s so exciting,” said Wasemiller-Knutson. “Over the last year with COVID, we really worked on polishing our basics to get a solid, clean test. She is a great showman in the arena, but in the beginning of the year she would get a bit tense going into the arena. Now we’ve gotten over that and she really gets into the performance, staying soft and happy while still having that feeling of a little extra excitement. Tonight she was super with the crowd and the atmosphere of the arena, and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Chanca Wins I-I Adult Amateur Freestyle

Anartz Chanca & Dazzle

Susan J. Stickle

A slight bobble at the start of their test did not deter Anartz Chanca (Region 9) and his nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding Dazzle from trotting into the winner’s circle in the Intermediate I Adult Amateur Freestyle with a top score of 69.942%.

“Yesterday in our Intermediate I test in the Rolex Arena, and it was very windy with the judges’ tents flapping a bit so he was a little worried about his surroundings, but still real-

When The BEST is Your Only Option

Adeptus Animal Health at www.Pyranhainc.com.

ly tried to listen to me,” Chanca explained. “Then again today he was a little distracted at first so we missed one of the changes at the start, but he just kept looking to me for direction as if to say ‘okay, what do I do now?’, so I am very proud of him. He’s such a fighter and has a very big heart.” Working as business executive in Houston, Texas when not in the saddle, this was the first trip to the Finals for Chanca and his wife, who also competed in the open divisions as a professional. “We have three young children at home, a one-year-old and seven-year-old twins,” Chanca noted. “It takes a lot of work to balance work and family with riding and competing, and we are so thankful to have such a great support system to be able to do this.”

Roy Claims 1st Level Adult Freestyle

The second time’s a charm as Emily Roy traveled to the Finals from Round Rock, Texas to take home the First Level Adult Amateur Freestyle Championship with a score of 74.244% earned aboard her 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding Santana (EX Sonntagskind x E Atlanta by ES Akatschi). “I purchased him from my trainer Jenna Stern who not only bred him, but who also introduced me to dressage from the hunter/jumper world,” Roy explained. “This is our second time coming to the Finals – we finished in eighth place at this level in 2019 and now it feels really special to win and build his confidence for the future.”

Watts Earns Prix St. Georges Adult Amateur

Ashlee Watts & Hampton

Susan J. Stickle

Capping off an incredible weekend of competition was the highly-competitive Prix St. Georges Adult Amateur Championship, where Ashlee Watts (Region 9) saved the best for almost last in a field of more than 30 combinations, moving to the top of the leaderboard with 68.088% to earn the coveted Janine Westmoreland Malone Perpetual Trophy (presented by USDF) aboard her 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Hampton (Blue Hors Hotline x Madigan L).

“My horse is just so good and absolutely amazing,” said an emotional Watts, who works as an equine orthopedic surgeon in College Station, Texas. “We’ve been together since he was five and we won the First Level title here in 2016, so it’s crazy to be here now. We were outside today in the cold and wind for our test and he was spooky and wild at first, but he just perked up and went to work for the test. I can’t say enough how amazing he is.”

Alice Tarjan & Serenade MF are MVPs

Alice Tarjan & Serenade MF

Susan J. Stickle

After sweeping the Intermediate II and Grand Prix Adult Amateur Championships earlier in the week, Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, N.J. (Region 8) and her nine-year-old Hanoverian mare Serenade MF (Sir Donnerhall x Duet MF by Don Principe, bred in the U.S. by Maryanna Haymon) were presented with the Lloyd Landkamer Perpetual Trophy for FEI Highest Scoring Mare (presented by Janet Foy), as well as the inaugural Verne Batchelder Memorial Trophy (presented by River House Hanoverians), awarded to the FEI highest-scoring U.S.-bred horse at the US Dressage Finals (74.928%).

To learn more about the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, visit the event website at www.usdressagefinals.com. 🎠