For Immediate Release
MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer M. Keeler, Yellow Horse Marketing, jennifer@yellowhorsemarketing.com
|
Friday, November 10, 2017 |
Rides of Redemption Bring Victory for Lund and Bragdell on First Day of 2017 US Dressage Finals Presented By Adequan®
Source: Yellow Horse Marketing for the US Dressage Finals
Last year, Kristy Truebenbach Lund's trip to the US Dressage Finals
presented by Adequan® did not get off to a good start with her mount
Akvavit in the Intemediate II Adult Amateur Championship.
“My horse doesn't particularly like indoor venues anyway, and last year
when we came into the Alltech Arena someone was using a camera with a flash
throughout our entire test,” said Lund. “It completely unnerved my horse
and ruined our ride. So I was determined to come back this year and win.”
Mission accomplished for Lund, a small animal veterinarian from Wellington,
Fla., as she rode Blue Marlin Farm, Inc.'s 14-year-old Spanish Warmblood
gelding (Silvester x Onni by Jazz) to finally claim the coveted
championship with 65.088% in the Intermediate II Adult Amateur division,
the first of 30 national titles to be awarded over the next three days
across all levels from Training to Grand Prix for both Open and Adult
Amateur competitors at this year's fifth-annual Finals, being held November
9-12 in Lexington, Ky. Finishing in reserve was Selena Wilson of nearby
LaGrange, Ky. with her 12-year-old Holsteiner mare Vanity (Cotopaxi x
Silvershulace) on 64.298%.
Lund took an initial leap of faith when purchasing Akvavit off a video from
a bankruptcy auction in Spain years ago, but it's been her continued
patience that has finally allowed her mount to blossom in the show ring.
“He's hot, and while it's nice to have a horse with a lot of go, the trick
is controlling it,” Lund explained. “Even today when he tried to bolt on
our first trot extension on the diagonal, I just have to take a deep
breath, remember it's only one bad movement, and go on to the next. I pride
myself on having a special connection with my horses, and this is the first
year I finally feel like we've achieved that together – trusting each other
enough for me to let go and allow him to show what he can do.”
Lund and her fiery gelding will have two more chances to return to the
winner's circle this week as they compete in the Adult Amateur Grand Prix
and Freestyle divisions, and if victorious the pair will once again join
other Region 3 competitors in proudly sporting pink polo wraps during
awards ceremonies in honor of cancer awareness. “This event is the only
show that really feels like a national show – it's like the Olympics for
us,” said Lund. “I always said that adult amateurs are the backbone of USDF
but sometimes we felt a bit forgotten. There are plenty of programs for
juniors and young riders, and professionals of course have Gladstone and
their national championships. Finally we have something that recognizes the
adult amateurs on this kind of scale. It's wonderful that after all the
years of talking about creating an event like this that USDF finally got it
done and it's going so well, and it means so much to so many competitors.”
Michael Bragdell of Colora, Md. (Region 8) is no stranger to the winner's
circle at the US Dressage Finals, and he found his way back to victory lane
with his first ride down centerline at this year's competition aboard
Hilltop Farm, Inc.'s nine-year-old Oldenburg stallion Qredit Hilltop
(Quaterback x Dream Rubina by Dream of Glory, bred in the U.S. by Judy
Yancey). An impressive ride for a score of 71.535% earned the pair the
unanimous win under all three judges in the Intermediate II Open
Championship.
“He came here last year and caught me a little by surprise by being a bit
‘big-eyed' in the Alltech Arena,” said Bragdell of his young mount. “So
this year I took my time to focus on him being comfortable in there, and he
seemed much more laid-back this time around and I think that made a big
difference. He schooled really well yesterday, and my game plan was to keep
him happy, relaxed, and comfortable with the arena, and it worked out
because he felt super in the ring. I was very excited about our
performance.”
After a sixth-place finish at the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix
Championship in August, Bragdell felt like Qredit Hilltop brought his
A-game to Lexington. “At Lamplight I think I didn't have as much horse by
the last day as I would have liked to have, but as the season has
progressed he's gotten better and better and I feel like he really peaked
here. It's such a nice finish to the year in coming to the Finals because
it really feels like a national championship. You hear the announcer saying
riders' names from all over the country, and it's definitely something
special to be a part of.”
Also pleased with her performance was Reserve Champion Judy Kelly of
Clarkston, Mich. (Region 2) riding her 13-year-old Hanoverian mare Benise
(Breitling W x Rubina by Rubinstein) to a score of 68.509%. “This is our
first year at this level – we rode here at the inaugural Finals in 2013 at
Prix St. Georges, so as we continue to progress I was delighted to qualify
to come back here as well as with our ride today. I was very happy with her
piaffe and passage, and she tries so hard and has the best temperament.
This is such a special event and I'd like to thank
everyone who helps to support it, especially sponsors like Adequan which
have been there from the start.”
Wrapping up a busy first day of championship action and open classes in the
Dressage in the Bluegrass competition, exhibitors enjoyed a Competitor
Welcome Party and Trade Fair Kick-Off on the concourse of the Alltech
Arena. Championship competition resumes Friday at 8:00am ET – follow the
action through updates on the
USDF Facebook page
and the
US Dressage Finals website, as well as watch live online streaming on the popular USEF Network at
this link:
https://www.usef.org/network/coverage/2017usdressagefinals/. To learn more about the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®,
download competition information, review day sheets and results, and read
daily news releases, visit the official event website at
http://www.usdressagefinals.com.