Danli Valdez

Danli Valdez

Nominated by Bri Hight

Youth Spotlight: Danli Valdez

"Danli is expected to work just like any other cowboy and that has made her quite a hand. She successfully rodeos with hors- es that she has trained herself." Bri

Fourteen-Year-Old Freshman Danli Valdez was raised on a ranch close to the NM border in Animas, New Mexico. She is a member of the AZ High School Rodeo Assoc, Hidalgo Youth Rodeo Assoc, Willcox Junior Rodeo Assoc, WPRA, Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo Assoc, and NM 4H Rodeo Assoc. Danli shows in barrels, goat tying, breakaway roping and team roping.

Danli Valdez

Becenti Photography

Moment(s) you will always re

member: My first junior high rodeo in Arizona. I was so nervous, but the people were so nice. I made good friends and my horses calmed my nerves.

2020 Covid: Competing? I’ve competed everywhere I can. Arizona has had a lot more rodeos and jackpots than New Mexico. What changes have you made? I’ve had to travel a lot farther to compete.

Favorite event(s)? Barrels, goats, and breakaway.

Role model? Sherry Cervi and Hailey Kinsel

Career path you are consider

ing? I want to Pro Rodeo and I want to open a rehab center for horses at my ranch. w

Dressage Festival of Champions

Dressage Festival USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final - 14-18

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Fifteen youth riders enAveri Allen tered arena to display their eq& Superman uitation in the 14-18 division SusanJStickle.com of the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final. The young athletes rode in front of the judges, performing rail work and a pattern to demonstrate their skills. Sixteen-year-old Averi Allen (Pleasant Hill, MO) stood out in the class while riding Superman, Jonni Allen’s seven-yearold Hanoverian gelding. Allen earned a score of 86.000% to earn top honors in the competitive class.

“I just went in the class and rode my best and tried to breathe through everything,” said Allen.

Seventeen-year-old Emma Teff (Renfrew, PA) rode Beaudacious, Rhianna Pankhurst’s 11-year-old RPSI gelding, to reserve national champion honors on a score of 84.000%. Seventeen-year-old Caroline McQueen (Milton, GA) collected third-place honors with a score of 79.000% on Mandolin RH, her 16-year-old Hanoverian mare.

Adequan®/USEF Young Adult "Brentina Cup" National Championship

Sara Hassler & Harmany's Boitano

Seven combinations closed out Friday’s competition with the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle Test to decide the Adequan®/ USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ National Championship. After winning the first test and SusanJStickle.com having some bobbles in the second test, Sara Hassler (Chesapeake City, MD) and Harmony’s Boitano laid down an excellent freestyle to clinch the national championship title with an overall score of 69.269%. Hassler and Leslie Malone’s 14-yearold KWPN gelding were third in the 2019 USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship, and they demonstrated that a year of hard work paid off.

“I love this horse so much. I truly did not think that was going to happen because we are so green still,” Hassler said of winning the national championship. “I was just so grateful that the judges and everyone have rewarded what they can see as a future for him. That meant so, so much and I just feel like he always try two million percent in that arena and that is just the greatest feeling in the entire world. Just to get here we were pretty emotional and excited, but to win it, I don’t really have words yet.”

Kerrigan Gluch (Wellington, FL) and Vaquero HGF, Hampton Green Farm’s 13-year-old Andalusian stallion, earned the reserve national champion title with an overall score of 68.457%. Rebecca Roman (Birmingham, AL) and Ultimo, Nancy Roman’s 19-year-old KWPN

USEF Children Dressage National Championship

Twelve combinations took to Lexie the Grand Prix Arena for the FEI Kment & Children Individual Test of the USEF Manatee Children Dressage National Championship. The FEI Children Tests have judges on the short side focusing on technical marks, while judges on the long side focus on the quality marks. Lexie Kment (Palmyra, NE) and Manatee were able to defend their 2019 USEF Children Dressage National Championship title after having a respectable test with a score of 71.982%. Kment was hopeful, though nervous, about trying to be a back-to-back national champion, but she and Jamie Kment’s 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding keep their cool and managed to win the title with an overall score of 74.354%.

“It feels really great,” Kment said of her title. “I was kind of worried coming into this year with all the nerves of ‘Am I going to be good enough? Am I going to be as good as last year?’ Me and my mom, [who is] my trainer, we really talked about just keeping calm and working on the ride and not focusing on anything else other than riding.”

Maren Elise Fouché-Hanson and In My Feelings, her 25-year-old grade pony gelding, won the FEI Children Individual Test with a score of 75.236% to clinch the Reserve title with an overall score of 73.781%. Kat Fuqua (Atlanta, GA), an experienced hunter rider crossing over into the dressage arena, finished third overall with a score of 71.705% on Dreamgirl, her 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare.

Averi Allen & Superman SusanJStickle.com Adequan®/USEF Jr Dressage National Championship Sixteen combinations had their focus on taking home the Adequan®/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship title. Averi Allen (Pleasant Hill, MO) and Superman put forth a solid effort in the FEI Junior Individual Test, earning a score of 70.637%. Allen, a frequent USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final competitor, and Jonni Allen’s seven-year-old Hanoverian gelding maintained their lead from Friday to win the overall national championship with a score of 70.723%.

“It’s overwhelming. I am really happy! I don’t really know what to say. I’m just really happy,” said Allen. “I’m proud of my horse and thankful for everyone who has helped me along the way. My mom is very helpful with everything.”

Annelise Klepper (McCutchenville, OH) and Happy Texas Moonlight, Shannon Klepper’s 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding, claimed reserve national champion honors with an overall score of 69.627%. Sydney Lipar and Herzkonig were third with an overall score of 68.178%. w