Dressage-News

WAYNE, Illinois, Aug. 25–Vitalis, as expected after competing with Charlotte Jorst just two weeks ago in the World Young Horse Championships, became the United States six-year-old champion Sunday while Wakeup ridden by Emily Wagner took the developing Prix St. Georges title to add to their six-year-old championship two years ago.

Vitalis, a KWPN stallion (Vivaldi x Donnerschwee) ridden by Charlotte of Reno, Nevada demonstrated athletic, expressive gaits; including the trot for which he was awarded 10, 7.5 for walk and 9.8 for canter along with 9 for submission and 9.3 for general impression

The score of 9.120 for Vitalis in the championship was combined with the preliminary score for an overall result of 9.152.

Charlotte and Vitalis represented the United States two weeks ago at the world championships in Verden, Germany and believes the championships are important.

“I think you put a stick in the ground and you train forward from that,” she said, “you know where to focus and what to do. The exposure is really important.”

Sunshine Tour (Sir Donnerhall  x Alabaster) ridden by Jane Karol of Concord, Massachusetts was reserve champion. The Oldenburg mare was regarded highly for her trot and canter earning 9.5 and 8.3, respectively, but receving 6.6 for walk.

Caliente DG (Oo Seven x Contango) ridden by Craig Stanley of Madera, California was placed third and the KWPN mare was the highest placed U.S.-bred award winner on an overall score of 7.940.

The American-bred Wakeup won the Developing Prix St. Georges championship a year after claiming the reserve title a year ago and taking the six-year-old title in 2011.

Emily of La Cygne, Kansas and Wakeup (Wagnis x Macho) scored 76.520 per cent that gave the pair a championship result of 75.298 per cent. The horse that Emily’s family bred was the Reserve Champion in theDeveloping Horse Prix St. Georges and in 2013 the eight-year-old American Warmblood gelding went one better.

“On Friday, I had a little bobble in the walk and I didn’t have that today,” Emily said. “I was also bolder in the extended canter and was able to show a good difference coming back. I think showing those differences really helps with the scores.”

Of the national championships, she said: “It’s a roadmap; it’s a good checkpoint and shows you’re going the right way. I think coming to these big shows as a four, five, and six-year-old is really helpful. It definitely helped him and I could come here and really ride him.”

Charlotte Jorst claimed the reserve championship with Skagen Holdings’ Adventure (Special D x Mandrain) on an overall score of 70.859 per cent.

Silva Martin of Unionville, Pennsylvaia and the nine-year-old mare Rosa Cha W placed third on an overall score of 69.724 per cent.

Results: