All Festival of Champions Horses Accepted to Compete

Jenna Upchurch and Greystoke
Jenna Upchurch and Greystoke

Wayne, IL – August 25, 2016 – Running alongside the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse National Championships are the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals as well as youth divisions from the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. The horse inspection for Festival of Champions was held Thursday evening at Lamplight Equestrian Center, and it was clear sailing for all entrants, who will go on to compete for top honors over the next several days.

Katie Foster is thrilled to be competing in the U25 Brentina Cup with her longtime partner, Sacramento, a 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding because it is her final year eligible before she ages out of the division. Foster has ridden him for 11 years and the pair have had success throughout her junior and young rider career.

“I’m really excited to be here and I love Lamplight,” Foster said. “This has always been one of our favorite venues. I’m really grateful that we can be here!”

Allison Cyprus and Madoc Gareth
Allison Cyprus and Madoc Gareth

13-year-old Sailor Boden and Blitzwane, a 19-year-old German Riding pony owned by Susan Peacock will be competing in the Pony Division.

“I’m really excited,” Boden said. “I’m just concentrating on getting through the test and hitting all the points accurately. This is my first time here, it’s really fun.”

Sailor Boden and Blitzwane
Sailor Boden and Blitzwane

Allison Cyprus and Madoc Gareth, a 12-year-old Welsh Cob gelding owned by Kristin Cyprus will be competing in the Young Rider division. Cyprus is feeling confident and excited after the long trip from Houston, Texas.

“Our schooling ride was awesome today so we are just hoping that it sticks for the next two days and we can have great rides,” Cyprus said.

Madoc Gareth was originally ridden by Cyprus’s mother but she turned the reins over to her daughter and the pair have come up through the Junior and Young Rider ranks learning together.

“It took us a good 6 months to build a bond and work well together,” Cyprus explained. “But since then it’s been such a blast riding and learning on him, we just work really well together and we’ve built such a bond.”

Allison Cyprus and Madoc Gareth
Allison Cyprus and Madoc Gareth

Riders vying for the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship, the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship, and the USEF Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today will all have their first tests Friday, while the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship begins Saturday.

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. The AGCO/USEF Young Rider division will begin at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26 in the Grand Prix arena.

 

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