Beth Parsons Bird was another rider to have faced challenges establishing the flying changes and whose patience is now paying dividends. She and Falkor, her nine-year-old gelding by Fantastic, danced to new freestyle music from Amanda Braun in the AA Third Level Championship and nailed it with 72.542%.

Photo – Beth Parsons Bird and Falkor, by Fantastic, topped the AA Third Level Championship 72.542% riding to new music. (Sue Stickle Photography)

“We got a little ahead of the music in the first part, but I managed to save a little time, go deeper in the corners, and get back on track,” said the mother of two who works as a sales rep for an oil company. “My mom Lucy Parsons, who I train with along with Chris Hickey, found him in Belgium as a coming four-year-old. We had difficulty with the changes and stayed out of the ring to work on them, and it’s paid off. I hope to make it to FEI with this one, and we’re halfway there.”

Barn Favorite

Parsons Bird is based in Southern Pines, NC, where her mother runs Fair Day Farm. She added, “He’s a really cool horse and the barn favorite. I won the Third Level Freestyle with my horse Fahrenheit in 2019, and we had to retire him early and unexpectedly, so this is a little bittersweet.”

Sunday’s classes conclude competition at the 2024 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®. Catch up with all the action via the USDF Facebook page, the US Dressage Finals website, and USEF Network. Full results can be found on www.horseshowoffice.com. The dates for the 2025 US Dressage Finals will be announced shortly.