Alicia Berger (Wellington, Fla.) and Aqua Marin (Ampere x Stedinger Heidi), her own 2011 Oldenburg gelding continued their winning streak, adding wins in the FEI Young Rider Individual Test and overall national champion with a score of 69.731%.

Photo – Alicia Berger and Aqua Marin. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian

“We’ve only been a partnership for a little bit now, and to end my season after [the European Young Rider Tour] and seeing how much we’ve improved from then was a highlight,” said Berger. We had an extended trot today that was just absolutely fabulous. It felt like I was flying. And you know, that’s what I love about riding—me and my horse are flying in that arena, just having fun, just us. And I think that was the highlight. Is he trusted me so much today, and we had a really great time.”

Berger and “Aqua” have had an exceptional 2024 season, competing in Germany at Future Champions and CHIO Aachen, and coming home to win the Young Rider individual gold at NAYC. She said that the experience in Europe helped prepare her for the championships at home.

“In Europe, we had three competitions each a week and a half apart,” she said. “Learning in Europe and getting to be with all our senior riders and the team, and George [Williams] and all the great people who helped us with what to do in that situation and how to prepare your horse. Aqua got a lot of light, stretchy days. He knows everything that he’s supposed to do, so we worked on a lot of thoroughness and making sure he’s happy and healthy and ready to go.”

Sophia Forsyth (Milton, Mass.), and her own Dimagico (DiMaggio x Femme Jazz), a 2014 Hanoverian gelding, finished second in the individual test to clinch reserve champion in the division.

Super Exciting

“I’ve also only had my guy for a little more than a year at this point, and we made the jump to young riders this year, which was super exciting,” said Forsyth. “Didn’t really expect much from it, but just the whole other level that I feel like I got from him this weekend, being able to trust each other in the ring. I think my half halts were a lot better. And kind of like Alicia said, our extended canter today was he was so uphill, he flew, and it was just an amazing feeling.”

Forsyth is starting her first year of college soon, but is staying close to home, so she’ll be able to continue working with “Magic.”

“He has a very big grass paddock that he loves to nap in, so I think he’ll enjoy that for a while,” she said. “So he’ll definitely have a lot of time off, and then we’ll slowly get back into things.”

Josephine Hinnemann (Murrietta, Calif.) and Copa Cabana MRF (Contucci x Britania), a 2009 Hanoverian gelding owned by Natalie Hamilton-Hinnemann earned the overall third-place spot with a score of 66.838%. Hinnemann has known “Copa” for his entire life.

“He has been in the family since he was three days old,” she said. My mom showed him up to Grand Prix, and three years ago, I started riding him from juniors to now. I think the tests I had this weekend were probably some of the best tests I’ve ever had. The highlights were my changes, especially in the first test today. I did have a blip in the threes, but I think my changes are a strong suit. And he was just very listening this weekend. He was forward and fluid and bending well. And I think we were just really on point this weekend together.”

Competition Information:

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!