Another year of GAIG/USDF Regional Championships are in the books. The ISF stallions sired 14 Champions and Reserves at shows across the country, including 10 at FEI level. Sir Sinclair, Goffert 369, UB40, Consul and Contango, had champion and reserve champion offspring at Second Level to Grand Prix, with a total of 46 Top Ten finishes.
“It’s exciting to see ISF-sired offspring winning with their amateur and junior riders,” said Mary Alice Malone. “North American breeders work hard to produce wonderful horses and it’s very rewarding to see those efforts reflected in the results at the regional championships.”
Faberge Blue–Region 1 Grand Prix Freestyle Champion
Faberge Blue, by Contango, Preferent out of Kroniek U, by Democraat, earned an impressive 74.40% to win the Region 1 Grand Prix Freestyle Championship. With rider Michael Bragdell, Faberge Blue danced to 1980s tracks, including Tears for Fears and Roxette, put together by legendary freestyle designer Karen Robinson of Canada.
The pair also finished in fourth place in the Grand Prix Championship and earned a trip to the US Dressage Finals in both classes. “It’s very exciting for him and his owners to go to Kentucky,” Bragdell said. Faberge Blue was bred by Marie Emrey.
Faberge Blue, by Contango, Pref.
Hana—Region 4 Prix St. Georges AA and Intermediate I AA Champion
Hana, by UB40, Keur out of Jolien E. by Chronos, took home both the Prix St. Georges and Intermediate I AA championships at the GAIG/USDF Region 4 Championships. “Hana is competitive and loves going to shows,” said owner and rider Laura Crowl. “She focuses and loves her job.”
Crowl originally purchased Hana for eventing, but the mare didn’t love the show jumping phase. “Ultimately, she proved to really love dressage and since I believe in letting my horses pick what they do, she became a dressage horse.” For Crowl, it’s about being patient and trusting the process. “It’s been awesome to see the progress. Each level posed a new challenge we needed to overcome. For First and Second Level, it was the counter canter. I never thought that we would be able to hold it. And then we did. Next, it was teaching her the changes. Her right to left change was a struggle and now she can do 18 ones. Every time I question if this is the end of her ability, she proves me wrong.” The pair has won regional championships at every level from 1st Level to Intermediate I. The mare was named by her breeder Reese Koffler–Stanfield after the Road to Hana in Hawaii.
Hana, by UB40, Keur
Genius—Region 8 Prix St. Georges JR/YR Champion
Genius, by Sir Sinclair, Keur out of Magdalena by Taxateur, was named the GAIG/USDF Region 8 Prix St. Georges JR/YR Champion, as well as the Reserve Champion Fourth Level JR/YR. “It really felt like one of our best tests yet,” said rider Maggie Elsbernd of their Prix St. Georges ride. “We were so in sync and he was really there with me. It felt like it was a really clean and accurate test.”
Elsbernd has been riding since the age of five and discovered dressage at nine. “I began showing and was hooked,” she said. The pair showed at Third and Fourth Level during the 2022 Florida season. “As we were getting to know each other, we started progressing more and more and eventually debuted at FEI in June. We’ve been working every day with incredible support and help from Suzy and Gabriel Armando and have come a very long way from last year!”
Elsbernd attributes Genius’ success to both his attitude and his athletic ability: “I think a really important thing is how hard he tries. He really wants to please and do the right thing. He’s also built compactly and has really good mechanics for the collection. He’s super sweet, snuggly and loves scratches.” Genius was bred by and is owned by Hope Greenfield.
Friesian Success
The Friesians were also well represented at the regional championships. Thiadrik fan Matthys’ Meadow, Star won the GAIG/USDF Region 3 Fourth Level Freestyle Championship for a second year in a row, receiving a 70.80%. The 2006 stallion is by Goffert 369, Sport out of Lobke M, Star by Jurjen 303. He was ridden by Brie Seltser and is owned and was bred by Paul Woods.
Willow ISF, Sport/Elite (Erik 351, Sport x Anton 343, Sport/Preferent) was 5th in the Region 1 Second Level JR/YR Championship with rider Rachel Pugh. Willow ISF is owned by Lynn Phillips.
FEI competitor Windhorse Ysis, Sport,/Elite (Winand 405 x Heinse 354, Sport/Preferent) finished 12th in the Region 1 Prix St. Georges Championship with rider Allison Spivey. Windhorse Ysis is owned by Jamie Hedges.
Reina P (Teade 392, Sport x Tsjalke 397) had two top 10 finishes in the Region 6 Championships with Krista Porter, her owner, rider and breeder. The pair earned ribbons in the First Level AA and Dressage Seat Equitation AA Regional Final.
Rounding out the Friesian success, Zaida, Star (Teade 392, Sport x Ids 300) finished 8th in the Dressage Seat Medal 14-18 in the Region 6 Championship with Morgan Porter. Zaida, Star was bred by and is owned by Krista Porter.
You can find more GAIG/USDF Regional results here.
Photo of Genius, by Sir Sinclair, Keur, and rider Maggie Knowlton. Photo by Willow Van Antwerp.
Photo of Faberge Blue, by Contango, Pref., and rider Michael Bragdell. Photo by Susan J. Stickle Photography.
Photo of Hana, by UB40, Keur, and owner/rider Laura Crowl. Photo by Your Horse Photography.
