Emily Wagner and Wake Up Break Tie For Championship Being an American Bred Horse

Complete Results for Six Year Old Division on centerlinescores.com. The Final Test for Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship 6-year-old division, again judged by McDonald, Zang and Barnett, was the final class of these Championships. And in a fitting end to fabulous weekend that showcased the best up-and-coming horses in the country, top honors were left up for the taking until the final horse of the day. Emily Wagner and her own American Warmblood stallion Wakeup (Wagnis - Maiden Montreal by Macho), the winners of Friday's Preliminary Test, were the last pair to compete. They trotted their way to third place in the Final Test scoring an 8.64, which earned them an overall score of 8.736. Four horses earlier, Roffman rode her own Bon Chance (Bellisimom - SPH Wintersong DE by Weltmeyer) to an impressive score of 8.88 in the Final Test. With scores from Friday's test counting for 40% of the overall, Bon Chance finished on a score of 8.736.

After consolation of the rules and procedures, Wakeup was crowned Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship for the 6-year-old division, as in the result of a tie for National Champion or Reserve Champion, the U.S.-bred horse prevails. Wagner (La Cygne, KS) was pleased with her horse's performance in today's test, for which he earned a 9.0 for submission and 8.7 for General impressions. "I was really happy with him," Wagner said. "Today, the thing was he was tired. At the end of a five-day horse show, he was just lacking flair. His flying changes and half pass were great."

For the third time in the week, Roffman claimed Reserve Champion honors. "I am so happy, you don't dream that will ever happen," Roffman said. "I hoped to get one Championship or Reserve throughout the weekend. I am on cloud nine."

Bon Chance, last year's 5-year-old Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Champion, displayed a ground covering walk, for which he scored a 9.2, and a phenomenal uphill canter which was rewarded with an 8.8. The canter score would have been significantly higher without mistakes in the flying change. However, Roffman was elated with the Hanoverian gelding, who obviously loves the limelight of the championship stage. "He shows off, he loves to do this. He's always fun to ride; ambitious, fun and spirited. He's everything."

Third place overall in the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship 6-year-old division was awarded to Faye Woolfe's Aesthete (Trento B - Unusual by Gribaldi), who earned an overall 8.728. Silva Martin (Unionville, PA) guided the lovely KWPN gelding to a score of 8.8 in the Final Test, earning them second place in today's class. The winner of the 4-year-old division in 2009, earned scores of 8.7, 8.8 and 8.9 for the walk, trot and canter respectively today and was rewarded for his expressive movement with a general impression score of 8.8. Martin was pleased with the horse throughout the weekend. "He couldn't have gone better," she said, "I have a fabulous horse."

Scott Hassler, USEF Young Horse Dressage Coach, has been involved with this program since 2005 and was extremely impressed with the week's competition and the talent and diligence displayed. "There was no clear winner coming into the Championships. You really had to ride and work for it." Hassler also was supportive of the process to break the tie. "I think the rule where we pick the American horse over the European is the right thing."

Wagner was also completely supportive of the program that allowed for horses to be scored closely, as it is a chance to recognize all the effort put in to training."It is cool, the two best horses should tie. I've known Caroline throughout Young Riders and she works so hard. Silva works so hard. So it's great."

For more information about the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage, Developing Horse Dressage, and Dressage Seat Equitation and Medal Programs please visit:
http://usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/natDressage.aspx.
For news, results, video and photos from these Championships please visit http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2011USEFDressageNationalChampionships.