The 6-year-olds were the final group of young horses to make their 2024 FOC debut, kicking off with their preliminary tests at the start of Friday’s competition.

Photo:  Christopher Hickey and Saskatoon OMF, 2024 (Photo Credit:  ©Leslie Potter, US Equestrian)

Christopher Hickey rode Cecelia Stewart’s Saskatoon OMF (San Amour I x Dolce Nera), a 2018 Hanoverian gelding, to the day’s top score of an 83.800%. The judges awarded the black gelding an 8.8 for perspective, indicating their vision a great deal of promise for the future.

Charell Garcia (Middletown, N.Y.) rode MW Mercury, a U.S.-bred 2018 Oldenbug stallion owned and bred by Jennifer Vanover, to second place with a score of 82.000%.

Taryn Anderson (Boulder, Colo.) and Figardo (Furst Welhelm x Flame BV), a 2018 Westphalian gelding owned by Tammy Anderson, to the third-place spot with an 80.000%.

The 2024 FOC takes place Aug. 19-25, at HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Ill. Competition takes place in two arenas and will be broadcast on USEF Network. Bookmark the FOC event page on USEF.org for the latest coverage of this year’s show.

Ring Schedule | Orders of Go and Results

2024 Festival of Champions Livestream

 The U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions replay is available on-demand on USEF Network. US Equestrian members and subscribers, and fans can watch all classes live. Not a member? Join today!