Amy Swerdlin went one better in the Fourth Level Freestyle AA at the US Dressage Finals, claiming an impressive and unanimous victory with 74.583%, almost 5% clear of the reserve champion, Rebecca Tadikonda (Rupert Angus).

Photo – Amy Swerdlin won the Fourth Level Freestyle AA, almost 5% clear of the reserve champion, with Fellowship CCW. (SusanJStickle.com)

Swerdlin rode her own eight-year-old, 17-hand home-bred Oldenburg gelding, Fellowship CCW. He was an embryo transfer foal by Follow Me out of Swerdlin’s Grand Prix-trained mare, Scholastica (Sir Donnerhall).

“Today was really special because I competed Fellowship’s mother here at the first US Dressage Finals, and she won the Third Level championship. This was the first time I’ve brought him here, so it was fun to follow in her footsteps,” said Swerdlin, who travelled from her base in Wellington, FL.

Fresh

“He really likes the cool weather. He’s been pretty fresh which has been nice because usually he’s a little lazy at home. It was probably the best freestyle I’ve ever ridden on him,” added Swerdlin, who used music from the movie “In The Heart of the Sea” and a freestyle from Marlene Whitaker.

“It’s instrumental and strong and powerful like him,” she said. “My goal was to get the Diamond Achievement, so I had to do a Fourth Level freestyle. Then I thought I might as well do Regionals, and now look!”

Competition concludes on Sunday, November 12, with the final nine championship titles to be decided, from Training Level to Prix St. Georges. 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.