Competitors flocked to the Kentucky Horse Park for the 10th anniversary edition of the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® for the opening day of the show on Thursday, November 9, 2023. The marquee national show — which competitors qualify for via the Great American Insurance Group/United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Regional Championships in nine USDF regions — offers a wealth of championship titles and more than $120,000 in prize money. The competition runs through Sunday, November 12.

Photo –  Jennifer Truett’s 2022 Intermediate I champion Absolute Dream seamlessly stepped up to claim the Intermediate II Open crown this year. (SusanJStickle.com)

Four champions were crowned on the first day of the show. Jennifer Truett’s 2022 Intermediate I champion Absolute Dream seamlessly stepped up to claim the Intermediate II Open crown this year, topping the class with 68.235%, with reserve champion Michael Bragdell and Vallos Dreaming Marong just 0.2% behind.

Super Proud

Absolute Dream, a nine-year-old Westfalen gelding by All At Once, looked every inch the developing Grand Prix horse, showing powerful piaffe passage work and expressive, elastic canter work.

“I was super proud and thrilled for him to win again. He’s a breakthrough horse in my career. He came into the arena and puffed up but stayed with me,” said Truett, who is based just two hours from Lexington, near Cincinnati, OH. “He’s so powerful and electric that he might just start throwing one tempis in here and there because he really likes them.”

Truett, who trains with Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, noted that the step up from Intermediate I to Intermediate II is massive, and Absolute Dream has developed physically as a result.

“He was much more up in his chest — not just in his hindlegs — and also he was sitting powerfully with his loin and croup, and that’s really new for him,” she explained. “He’s always had crazy legs, but the stability through his whole length, so he can really rock back and take the weight, is brand new for him. I admit that I lost count in the ones — that was on me. I thought, ‘Is this 11 or 13? I don’t know! I should stop.’ Sadly, it was 13.”

Enjoys

Truett bought Absolute Dream as a two-year-old from Reesink Horses in The Netherlands and has trained him herself.

“He’s always been a bouncy ball,” she added. “We still have a lot of strength to build, but he’s only nine. He really enjoys this work and keeping the horses wanting to do it and to please you is so important because the work is hard. All the Grand Prix work is right there — I can taste it — so I am super excited.”

The pair will spend the summer in Florida and contest the Lövsta Future Challenge for developing Grand Prix horses before heading back to Cincinnati to prepare for a potential Grand Prix debut next summer.

Competition resumes on Friday, November 10, with nine championship titles up for grabs from Training Level to Grand Prix. Follow the action via the USDF Facebook page and the US Dressage Finals website, plus live online streaming on the USEF Network. To learn more about the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, view results and start lists, and read daily news releases, visit the official US Dressage Finals event website.