Dressage-News

WAYNE, Illinois, Aug. 23, 2022–Laura Graves and SenSation HW won the U.S. Festival of Champions Intermediate 1 Tuesday, the second victory in the national Small Tour championship with only the Freestyle to come in two days.

Laura of the Orlando area community of Geneva and the nine-year-old Westfalen gelding were awarded 74.793% from the five American judges, a day after capturing the Prix St. Georges on a score of 75.117%. The scores in the two competitions counting for 85% of what will be the final total put the partnership about two percentage points in the lead. The Freestyle counts for 15% of the total.

Emily Miles of La Cygne, Kansas and Daily Show, an eight-year-old Hanoverian stallion, scored 73.440% for runner-up and to take over second  place overall. Nick Wagman of San Diego, California and Heatcliff, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding that placed second in the St. Georges dropped to 10th on 66.528% in the Int. 1.

Rebecca Rigdon of Encinitas, California and Iquem, nine-year-old KWPN mare, were third on 72.234% in Tuesday’s Int. 1.

Laura said the ride “felt pretty good” after Monday’s St. Georges.

“It felt maybe a little bit more tense, just a little bit more difficult.”

A mistake in the two-time tempi changes but otherwise, Laura said, “a clean test.”

“Luckily for me, I think it will be the last time he rides that test. Our plans are to move him up; I think he’s proved he’s ready for that.”

The Freestyle for Laura is the “time to celebrate” but it is still part of the championship that she said she has come to win “I want him to enjoy it, he feel a bit more free.”

The freestyle was created with the Grand Prix in mind for the future.

Results:

Intermediate 1 (for Intermediate Championship).