Adrienne Lyle and Horizon Claim Developing Prix St. Georges Championship at the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse National Championships

Adrienne Lyle and Horizon
Adrienne Lyle and Horizon

Wayne, Ill. – Aug. 27, 2016 – Adrienne Lyle and Betsy Juliano’s 9-year-old Oldenburg mare Horizon (Hotline–Revue, Don Schufro) clinched the win in the Developing Prix St. Georges at the Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse National Championships. The pair held their lead from Thursday, winning the USEF Developing Horse Prix St. Georges test with a score of 74.020 percent to earn the overall win with a combined score of 74.272 percent.

“She had two totally clean tests this weekend, which is always your goal,” Lyle said. “She was really able to give me even a little more quality today in some of the movements. I’m trying to let her be a little bit more up and open and show herself off, and she handled it really well.

“I’m just so excited about this horse,” Lyle continued. “I feel really fortunate to have such a great support team — thanks to Betsy Juliano for giving me the chance to work with her, and Debbie [McDonald] for helping me. You’re just always really glad when you can deliver with that team behind you. I think it’s been a wonderful experience.”

Adrienne Lyle and Horizon
Adrienne Lyle and Horizon

Her team has had an emotional weekend with the news of the passing of their longtime supporter Parry Thomas. Thomas was the owner of Debbie McDonald’s Olympic mount Brentina as well as Lyle’s Olympic mount Wizard.

“Today’s ride was special,” Lyle explained. “Parry has been incredibly influential and a huge supporter of U.S. Dressage. Just on Friday he was watching the livestream of us competing while he was in bed. He was still loving the dressage, right up until the day he went. I told Debbie I think he’s watching over us and we are going to ride for him today. So I’m really glad he was there with us.”

Adrienne Lyle and Horizon
Adrienne Lyle and Horizon

The reserve championship went to Cesar Parra and the 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding Fashion Designer OLD (Faustinus–Forst-Design, De Niro). The pair scored a 70.294 percent in the Developing Prix St. Georges test to finish with an overall score of 70.440 percent.

“I just love this horse, he had so much to give me,” Parra said. “I was very excited with him and the way he improved much of the things that the judges saw the first day. I’m very happy to be second.”

Parra enjoyed his trot and walk tour, but a mistake in the canter serpentine caused him to rethink his test strategy.

Cesar Parra and Fashion Designer OLD
Cesar Parra and Fashion Designer OLD

“In those three seconds I had so many thoughts in my head, but then I thought, ‘You know what? Who cares? Just ride for nines and 10s.’ I rode the changes super forward. I had nothing to lose, and wanted to have fun.”

Nicholia Clarke and Jennifer Mason’s 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding Quincy (Quateback–Breanna, Brentano II) rounded out the top three with a Developing Prix St. Georges score of 70.539 percent and an overall total of 70.429 percent.

“I was thrilled with him today,” Clarke said. “He definitely gave me his all. He’s a great horse, he’s got a great temperament and he tries so hard. I made some costly mistakes and that’s always a tough pill to swallow when you know it’s on your shoulders, but I couldn’t be happier with him.”

Nicholia Clarke and Finesse
Nicholia Clarke and Finesse

When Clarke began the season, one of her short term goals was to qualify and make the long trip from California to compete at the national championships.

“I felt like it was important for these horses to get out in a bigger venue and try to showcase their abilities and talents and hopefully be able to do them justice at this level,” Clark concluded. “I was very happy to make it here!”

5-year-old Division

Christian Hartung and Desario
Christian Hartung and Desario

Christian Hartung and Christiane Noelting’s Oldenburg gelding Desario (De Champ–Rosaria, Rosario) were initially not sure that they would be making the trip to Lamplight for the Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse National Championships. The pair were the second alternates for the championship. They certainly proved that they deserved to be competing with the best young horses in the nation Saturday, holding their lead from the preliminary test and scoring an impressive 8.92 in the final test for an overall score of 8.824.

“This is all a big surprise,” Hartung said.  “My goal was to be in the top ten given where I stood coming here. He felt good going into the test, maybe I could have pushed a little bit more in the trot but overall I was quite happy with him. I think that the canter work was the highlight.”

Christian Hartung and Desario
Christian Hartung and Desario

Christian Hartung and Christiane Noelting’s Oldenburg gelding Desario (De Champ–Rosaria, Rosario) were initially not sure that they would be making the trip to Lamplight for the Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse National Championships. The pair were the second alternates for the championship. They certainly proved that they deserved to be competing with the best young horses in the nation Saturday, holding their lead from the preliminary test and scoring an impressive 8.92 in the final test for an overall score of 8.824.

“This is all a big surprise,” Hartung said.  “My goal was to be in the top ten given where I stood coming here. He felt good going into the test, maybe I could have pushed a little bit more in the trot but overall I was quite happy with him. I think that the canter work was the highlight.”

“The judges loved the trot,” Persson continued. “At the moment the trot is the strongest, which was not the case half a year ago so I’m very happy about that. He will get a little vacation and then we will start him back and start putting the changes on. I can’t wait.”

Karin Persson and Giuliano B
Karin Persson and Giuliano B

Rounding out the top three was Cyndi Jackson and Sir Amour (San Amour–Dorina, De Niro) The Hanoverian gelding is owned by Schuttler Stables

“I think the canter was his highlight today,” Jackson said. “It’s the best canter work he has given me in the ring so far so I am really happy with him.”

4-year-old Division

Craig Stanley and Habanero CWS
Craig Stanley and Habanero CWS

A borrowed saddle turned out to be a lucky charm for Craig Stanley and his own Habanero CWS (Idocus–Caliente DG, 00 Seven). The pair were in second place after Thursday’s preliminary test and put in an impressive final test garnering a score of 8.28 from the judges and an overall score of 8.256 to clinch their victory in the 4-year-old division of the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse National Championships.

Stanley had a bit of a tack mishap prior to Thursday morning’s test when a billet broke on his saddle and he had to scramble to find a new saddle right before the test. He kept the borrowed saddle for luck for Saturday’s test and it paid off.

“It’s amazing, it’s a surreal for me, I never thought that I could be sitting here,” Stanley said. “I’m really happy with my test today. I thought his canter felt really nice; it had a good jump in it. The trot was probably a little bit better than Thursday. It was a bit more energetic — a bit more up in the frame. Overall he came together and put in a good test.”

Justine Wilson and Hero BHS
Justine Wilson and Hero BHS

Justine Wilson and her Dutch Warmblood stallion Hero BHS (Cover Story–Andante, Prestige VDL) took home the reserve championship with a final test score of 8.16 for an overall total of 8.208.

“I had a much more explosive ride than I did thursday,” Wilson said. “He came back with a bit more tension throughout the ride than I’m used to. He’s so talented and I’m thrilled that we have such a strong partnership and that he came back around for me. I’m proud of him.”

J.T. Burnley and Won Million (Widmark–Flair, Fidertanz), a Hanoverian stallion owned by Anna Hopla, sat in seventh place following the preliminary test. An outstanding final test and a score of 8.32 gave the pair a total of 7.992, enough to jump up in the ranks and clinch the third place prize.

JT Burnley and Won Million
J.T. Burnley and Won Million

“I was very humbled to be in the crowd of people that were here — among these riders and these horses,” Stanley said. “I tried to concentrate most on having a supple, balanced horse rather than very expressive gaits. I just tried to have a very through and submissive horse. That was my goal. He is such a noble ambassador of this sport and was very generous to me.”

The Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse National Championships will conclude on Sunday with championships being awarded in the 6-year-old division and the Developing Grand Prix as well as the 13 & Under Dressage Seat Medal Finals, Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ and the National Pony Rider Championships.

For results and starting times, visit http://www.foxvillage.com. For more information about Lamplight Equestrian Center, visit http://www.lamplightequestriancenter.com. Live streaming will be available on the USEF Network.

USEF Developing Horse Prix St Georges Final Results
Rider/Horse/PSG Test/Developing PSG Test/Total
1. Adrienne Lyle/Horizon/74.649/70.020/74.272
2. Cesar Parra /Fashion Designer OLD/70.658/70.294/70.440
3. Nicholia Clarke/Quincy/70.263/70.539/70.429
4. Jessica Jo Tate/Summersby/70.219/70.392/70.323
5. Lisa Wilcox/Gallant Reflection HU/71.140/69.118/69.927
6. Rachel Wade/Cambria/66.579/70.441/68.896
7. Kelly Casey/Emilion SA/69.430/68.088/68.625
8. Nicholia Clarke/Finesse/70.351/66.912/68.288

5-year-old Championships Final Results
Rider/Horse/Preliminary Test/Final Test/Total
1. Christian Hartung/Desario/8.68/8.92/8.824
2. Karin Persson/Giuliano B/8.52/8.46/8.484
3. Cyndi Jackson/Sir Amour/8.02/8.42/8.26
4. Christian Garweg/Chancellor/7.90/7.91/7.906
5. Heather McCarthy/Au Revoir/7.02/7.90/7.548
6. Marne Martin-Tucker/Cante Coeur/7.68/7.74/7.716
7. Mike Suchanek/Hannigan L/6.98/7.64/7.376
8. Vanessa Gesierich-Voltman/Gladstone/6.70/7.55/7.210

4-year-old Championship Final Results
Rider/Horse/Preliminary Test/Final Test/Total
1. Craig Stanley/Habanero CWS/8.22/8.28/8.256
2. Justine WIlson/Hero BHS/8.28/8.16/8.208
3. J.T. Burnley/Won Million/7.50/8.32/7.992
4. Anna Wood/Hotshot/7.62/7.89/7.782
5. Nadine Schwartsman/Harvard R/7.98/7.58/7.740
6. Jennifer Wetterau/Hartog/7.72/7.70/7.708
7. Kim Gentry/Fine Art/7.44/7.84/7.68
8. Petra Warlimont/Dark Star/7.42/7.72/7.600

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