The Developing Grand Prix horses had their first turn in the Markel Arena on Friday as they came to complete the FEI Intermediate II Test. Emily Miles (Paola, Kan.) and Leslie Waterman’s Sole Mio, a 2014 Hanoverian stallion, earned the day’s top score of a 68.970%.

Photo – Emily Miles and Sole Mio. (©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian)

Class Results

Current Overall Standings:

1. Emily Miles and Sole Mio
2. Marcus Orlob and Spirit of Joy
3. Ali Potasky and INXS

From the Mixed Zone:

Tell us about your horse.

Emily Miles: Sole Mio is the best. I love him dearly. Leslie Waterman bought him as a two-and-a-half-year-old at the Hanoverian stallion auction. It was funny because he’s short and I was pregnant at the time, and the joke was, ‘You just want a little pony for your son that’s coming!’ But he’s fantastic. It’s been an amazing journey with him. He won the four-year-olds here, he won the five-year-olds here. When he was a 7-year-old, we did the Developing Prix St. Georges. As an eight-year-old, he did the Developing Grand Prix, and this year as a 9-year-old he’s doing the Developing Grand Prix again, so it’s been super fun to develop him and super fun to bring him along. I think he’s such a wonderful personality match for me. He wants to show off. He wants to be fancy and at the same time, he’s a little bit of a punk, but he’s not the type to get nervous. He’s so self-confident. I just adore that about him, and I trust him so much. It’s a gift to ride him every day, and I just really appreciate that Leslie lets me take this journey with him.

Take us through your test today.

EM: We had two little mistakes that I think pulled us down a little bit, but we can fix those, no big deal. He anticipated that change in the medium canter, but I thought the medium trots were fantastic. He’s so steady and he just takes me along and the rhythm stays beautiful. The pirouettes were good today. Our half-passes in the canter were lovely. He has fantastic changes for his age. They felt so secure today. I think the highlight of the test was for sure the changes and I think that shows his personality, that it doesn’t faze him to switch leads every other step or every step. It doesn’t rattle his brain at all, so I think that’s indicative of his brilliant personality.

What does FOC mean to you?

EM: Both Daily Show and Sole Mio qualified for the Developing Horse Championships, and we’ve had both of them since they were two-and-a-half. I think it’s fantastic to be able to develop that relationship with your horse and bring them along and have an owner that’s so supportive of all the time and energy and money and years that go into taking it step-by-step. This program is so fantastic, to be able to showcase horses that are coming up through the levels. I think it’s just a wonderful program to be able to funnel into and then have the big tour and small tour right next door where that’s where we hope to be next year or whenever. I’m so blessed and happy to be part of it and to have that opportunity with this horse.

Full Schedule and Results

2023 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions Livestream

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