Codi Harrison Takes Early Lead in the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions U25 Division

Codi Harrison and Katholt’s Bossco (Photo: Emma Miller/PS Dressage)

Wayne, IL. - Two youth divisions of the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions held their first classes on Wednesday afternoon at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. The FEI Intermediate II Test for the USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship, presented by Dressage Today, attracted some of the nation’s top under 25 Grand Prix competitors. Codi Harrison aboard Katholt’s Bossco started off on the right foot, taking a victory in the first portion of the championship with a 71.941 percent.

Harrison and Katholt’s Bossco, her 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding, have been partnered together for three years. Though Bossco was only schooling Prix St. Georges at the time and Harrison had never competed a Grand Prix test before, the pair have developed into a formidable Grand Prix combination in the last few years.

Molly Paris and Countess (Photo: Emma Miller/PS Dressage)

Riding into second place with a 69.147 percent was Molly Paris on her 17-year-old Danish Warmblood mare, Countess. At the 2017 championship in Gladstone, New Jersey, Paris won one of the division’s classes and finished the overall championship in third, so she is looking to improve her placings this year.

Earning the yellow ribbon aboard Hampton Green Farm’s 13-year-old Andalusian stallion, HGF Brio, was Kerrigan Gluch. Also no stranger to national championships and a member of the new Discover Dressage© USEF/USDF Emerging Athlete Program, Gluch earned a score of 68.147 percent.

The U25 athletes will be required to complete three tests to determine the champion with an overall average determining the placings: the Intermediate II Test (40 percent), the Grand Prix 16–25 (45 percent) and the Grand Prix 16–25 Freestyle (15 percent). They will compete in their next class on Thursday, Aug. 23, beginning at 8 a.m. and the division will conclude on Saturday, Aug. 25, with their last class at 3:45 p.m.

To see results from the FEI Intermediare II USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National ChampionshipI  - Click Here

Click photo to watch video of winning ride.

Results: Intermediate II for the USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today
Rider / Horse / Owner / Total Score
1. Codi Harrison / Katholt’s Bossco / Codi Harrison / 71.941
2. Molly Paris / Countess / Molly Paris / 69.147
3. Kerrigan Gluch / HGF Brio / Hampton Green Farm / 68.147
4. Claire Manhard / Wilfonia / Claire Manhard / 67.088
5. Kerrigan Gluch / Bolero CXLVIII / Hampton Green Farm / 66.059
6. Jannike Gray / Giraldillo Cen / 65.353

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

 

Codi Harrison – Intermediate II Winner
On her performance:
“I was really happy with Bossco today. He felt really good and really with me. I was happy with his piaffe and passage work in the ring. We haven’t shown since season so I’m thrilled that he felt so good.”

On Katholt’s Bossco:
“I got him when he was 8 and he is 11 this year. I’m with Lars and Melissa [Peterson] and they helped me find him. He’s so fun to learn and develop with. He was [schooling] Prix St. Georges when I got him, but I don’t think that he had shown yet. It’s been really fun to learn, grow and develop with him. He’s so sweet, he’s like a little dog.”

On preparing for the upcoming tests:
“Tomorrow I hope to have the same energy that I had today. He can sometimes get a little bit behind me in the ring. I hope that we have the same feeling tomorrow as we did today. I want to improve our connection, really using the corners to set him up. For the freestyle, hopefully, we do everything in it.”

Molly Paris – Intermediate II Second Place

On her performance:
“Tess was really good. She is really feisty and is 17, but thinks that she is 6. We’ve been working on connection throughout the summer, just getting her more through the topline and getting her more responsive to aids. I’m so happy with her. She had two days of travel and still came out like a champ.”

On her test highlights:
“Her extended trot has come so far since last year and she’s strong enough to carry herself. It’s a really good feeling to have that underneath me. That was definitely a high-point for me today.”

Kerrigan Gluch – Intermediate II Third Place

On her performance:
“I was really happy with both horses but especially with Brio. He has been out of competition for a couple of months, since the Wellington season. He came here and was so relaxed and was so with me. It was a really big surprise and also a gift. He did everything that I asked him to do and there was nothing he said no to. That was really awesome to feel. I think that going into tomorrow I could improve on overall energy in the collected work. I can’t really ask anything more from him right now.”

On her test highlights:
“I think, in general, our biggest highlight is the connection I have gained with him, with his personality and rideability overall. Like I said, I can’t ask anything more movement-wise from him. He did everything that I asked of him. I think the connection between horse-and-rider has gotten a lot better.”