Third Times a Charm for Kasey Denny to Win USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final 13 & Under Championship

Wayne, Ill. – Aug. 23, 2019 – The final class of the day in the Frey Arena at the Lamplight Equestrian Center, the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final 13 & Under Championship, was highly anticipated by the youth riders who qualified, drawing a large crowd to the prestigious final. After being named the 2017 and 2018 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final 13 & Under reserve champion, Kasey Denny of Hutto, Texas, returned to the championships on a mission to claim the top prize. Successful in her venture after years of developing her dressage equitation, Denny was named the division’s 2019 national champion.

Kasey Denny
Kasey Denny

The USEF Dressage Seat Medal program, which promotes building a strong foundation in equitation, is a positive and exciting way for young riders to focus on their riding development without the horse’s quality playing a factor in the results. The finals features two divisions—a 13 & Under division and a 14-18 division. The riders are first assessed in groups during the finals, being asked to perform various gaits on demand. 

Kasey Denny
Kasey Denny

After they have shown their abilities in groups, the riders are then asked to perform a test pattern in the dressage arena that the judges have designed. The pattern of the day, which began as the riders entered the arena at H, asked them to perform a medium walk to M, begin sitting trot at M, then circle right 20 meters at B, picking up the canter as they crossed over X the first time. As they crossed over X for the second time, they were asked to go back to sitting trot, ride a half circle right at B, change the bend to ride a half circle left at X, and continue to trot until they arrived at V. The riders were asked to halt at V, then pick up trot once again until they reached A. At A, they were asked to transition to medium walk and continue to walk out of the arena opening straight ahead.

Kasey Denny
Kasey Denny

Denny smoothly and efficiently navigated Feyock, a 22-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by her mother and trainer, Amy Denny, around the test pattern to impress the judges, who awarded Denny a score of 8.9 for her efforts in the class, and that high score earned her the gold medal. Denny explained how special and emotional the victory was for her, as she had been the reserve champion twice before and she was finally able to claim the victory on her mount Feyock  who would soon be retired. Winning the final on her horse that she shares such a meaningful bond with was icing on the cake. 

Abigail Taft
Abigail Taft

Abigail Taft of Traverse City, Michigan, was named the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final 13 & Under Reserve Champion. Taft rode Whisper, a 7-year-old American Warmblood mare owned by Janine Fierberg, to a score of 8.7 to secure the silver medal. Taft is looking forward to working towards qualifying for the 14-18 division finals next year, developing her equitation further and improving her placing.

Joslyn Allen
Joslyn Allen

Joslyn Allen of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, rounded out top three in the championship with the bronze medal. Allen rode Mary Adams’ 10-year-old Friesian Heritage Horse mare Lady Lilliana to a score of 8.6.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Kasey Denny – USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final 13 & Under National Champion

On what it means to be a national champion:
“It’s really emotional knowing I’ve been reserve two years in a row and was able to go up another place in my third year.  It is really amazing. My horse is 22 and this is his last national show, so it was amazing to get the gold medal in this class.”

Kasey Denny
Kasey Denny

On her test:
“My mom usually helps me, and then Robert Dover helps me once a month on my other horse which has helped me improve on this one. Today’s ride I was pretty happy with. I wish he had a little more energy because he felt kind of tired but he was really good.”

On the pattern:
“This year’s pattern I liked because the horse had stuff to think about and the rider had something to think about. I know in past years the patterns have been short and easy and my horse would get distracted easily. He can spook a lot but he didn’t in this pattern surprisingly. I like this pattern because it had a lot of circles, changes of bend and a bunch of transitions.”

Kasey Denny
Kasey Denny

On her long term goals in the sport:
“Next year I would like to say that I placed top three in the FEI Children’s and then hopefully get on the Junior Team for Region 9 to do well at NAYC. Long term, my goal is to be a professional trainer in the sport and hopefully be in the Olympics!”

Abigail Taft – USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final 13 & Under National Reserve Champion

On her preparations for the equitation:
“I ride with my mom, Julie Taft and ride the farm owner’s horse, Whisper. I am just so happy that they allow me to ride her. We have been focusing on the equitation and fixing the little things.”

Abigail Taft
Abigail Taft

On her test:
“I felt like I was really able to focus on myself and keep my equitation nice on Whisper, who really did her job well.I liked this pattern because it felt fairly easy compared to some of the other ones we have practiced. I tried to focus on making it the most accurate that I could.”

On her long term goals in the sport:
“My goals are to try and make it to the 14-18 division next year, eventually the junior/young rider teams, and like Kasey, I would like to be a trainer.”

Joslyn Allen – USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final 13 & Under Championship third place

On her preparations for the equitation:
“My mom is also my trainer, she has been training me since I was little. I have been working on my seat, my reaction to the aids and keeping my chin up because I tend to look down. I tried for this a couple of years ago and I didn’t make it so it was really exciting that I made it and this was my last year. I was really excited to get third.”

Joslyn Allen
Joslyn Allen

Results: USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final 13 & Under

Rider / Horse / Owner / Total Score
1. Kasey Denny / Feyock / Amy Denny / 8.9
2. Abigail Taft / Whisper / Janine Fierberg / 8.7
3. Joslyn Allen / Lady Lilliana / Mary Adams / 8.6
4. Paydan Mclaughlin / Lily Of Chincoteague / Paydan Mclaughlin / 8.1
5. Regan Walmer / Challenger’s Fourth Angel / Katherine Walmer / 8.0
6. Chelsea Christensen / Isadora / Margo Berry / 7.8

For results and starting times, visit Foxvillage.

Live streaming will be available on the USEF Network

Full competition schedule, click here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The above press release text is available for publication. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release.

No Comments Yet

Comments are closed