Friday’s FEI Junior Individual Test was the second and final class of the Adequan®/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship. Taylor Allen (Niwot, Colo.) earned the top score of the class with her own 2010 Dutch Warmblood mare Fleur de Lis, bringing her overall score to a 69.472% and clinching the national champion title. Less than half a point separated the top three in the class. Allison Berger (Chicago, Ill.) and Delacure, the 2014 Hanoverian gelding she owns with Marianne Berger, finished second in the Individual Test to land in a close reserve champion position overall, and Leah Drew (Lincoln, Mass.) and Jazzbeat, a 2010 Hanoverian gelding owned by Berryfield LLC, rounded out the top three for both the Individual Test and the overall national championship.

Photo – Taylor Allen and Fleur de Lis. (©Devyn Trethewey/US Equestrian)

Class Results

Final Results:

1. Taylor Allen and Fleur de Lis
2. Allison Berger and Delacure
3. Leah Drew and Jazzbea

From the Mixed Zone:

How has your first Festival of Champions experience been?

Taylor Allen: It’s been incredible. For me this was a way to get back in the ring because I had a rough go at NAYC where I wasn’t able to make it through my team test. So, I spent the past two weeks getting back and really making sure I fixed what went wrong.

How did Fleur de Lis react to the environment here?

TA: I think it was a completely different experience (than NAYC), like getting to go in the ring more and hand walk in there every morning and just getting her in the ring more.

For those of you who have been here before, what makes you return to FOC?

Leah Drew: Last year I had a really bad experience. My horse in every test was just so hot and so spooky. And so, coming back this year and being able to prove to myself mostly, but also everyone else, that I can come here with this horse and show how good we can be. That was so good. This makes me so happy and so proud of him. He’s the best.

Allison Berger: I love Festival because there’s a junior and young rider division, and so you get to meet so many wonderful people. We saw a really close day today and yesterday. There are so many talented riders and they’re all super sweet, so I loved getting to know everyone last year and then again, this year.

What was your favorite part of your experience here?

TA: It was my final salute yesterday, knowing that I made it through my test and my horse stayed with me the whole time. Just getting redemption from NAYC.

AB: I love doing the lap at the end. I think it’s so fun. My horse gets so excited, so I have to keep him calm but also have a fun lap, so I love that.

LD: I think hugging my team at the end of every ride is the best.

Full Schedule and Results

2023 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions Livestream

US Equestrian fans, subscribers, and members can watch the 2023 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions on USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV. Not a member? Create your free fan account now.