The second of three weekends of 2023 Great American Insurance Group (GAIG)/United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Regional Championships, held across a total of nine USDF regions, offered more riders the chance to pick up qualifying berths for the 2023 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® at the Kentucky Horse Park on November 9-12.

Photo – Casey Eiten leaned on her long-term relationship with Eschaton to win the Region 4 Intermediate II Championship title. (John Borys Photography)

It was a memorable weekend for Adult Amateur (AA) Casey Eiten. Not only did she and the 14-year-old Eschaton win the Region 4 Intermediate II Championship title with 60.074%, but they also contested their first ever Grand Prix, gaining a score towards the rider’s USDF Gold Medal in one of the warm-up recognized classes that ran alongside the Regional classes. Eiten, who is 28 years old now, was 15 when she and her parents bought Eschaton, and they have climbed the competition ladder together.

Seemed Right

“We didn’t know very much about what kind of baby horses we were looking for,” admitted Eiten, who liked the look of the young son of Sir Sinclair. “He was actually born and bred at the farm where I took lessons, and the breeding seemed right. I was out there every day when I was younger, getting him used to all the little stuff, like brushing and bringing him in.

“We started him, and I was the first person on him. It’s kind of crazy because I went through high school and college and now my adult career and life with him; he’s been there with me through it all. I feel really lucky that he turned out the way he did.”

The pair have been to Finals every year since 2017, the year in which they won the AA Second Level Championship.

“He’s been so fun to bring along. I didn’t quite realize what I had done — now I’ll be chasing that feeling again at Finals,” added Eiten, who works for a local feed company and keeps Eschaton two hours from home at Kathryn and Martin Kuhn’s barn, Star West.

Wouldn’t Trade it for Anything

“I usually ride twice a week and it’s a lot of driving, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Kate and Martin have one of the best training programs in the area, and I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else. Martin has done an amazing job bringing ‘E’ up to the Grand Prix. Everyone was a little teary last weekend, and the whole barn family was there watching. This wouldn’t be as fun without them all.”

Eiten will attend Finals for the Intermediate II Championship and also hopes to ride a warm-up Grand Prix to garner her remaining Gold Medal score.

The 2023 US Dressage Finals will be held November 9-12 in Lexington, KY, at the Kentucky Horse Park and is a national championship competition that showcases the Adult Amateur and Open divisions. Classes run at Training Level through Grand Prix, plus divisions for Junior/Young Riders at Training Level through Fourth Level. There is $120,000 in prize money up for grabs over the four days. Learn more here.