Exciting Conclusion in the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Dressage National Championship Presented by HorseShow.com

Top Developing Prix St. Georges horses put their best efforts forward in Lamplight Equestrian Center's Championship Arena in front of the judging panel of Lilo Fore, Anne Gribbons and Sandy Osborne. Wakeup and Emily Wagner stormed to top honors. Last year in 2012, Wakeup (Wagnis x Maiden Montreal/Macho) was the Reserve Champion in the Developing Horse Prix St. Georges and in 2013 the eight-year-old American Warmblood gelding went one better. In Friday's Qualifying Class the stallion and owner/rider Emily Wagner (LaCygne, KS) led the field with a polished performance. On Sunday, they topped their previous performance with an expressive and near flawless effort to score 76.520%. "On Friday, I had a little bobble in the walk and I didn't have that today," said Wagner. "I was also bolder in the extended canter and was able to show a good difference coming back. I think showing those differences really helps with the scores." They finished on a championship score of 75.298%.
 
Wakeup has come through the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program competing at the Four, Five and Six-year-old Championships and was also the winner in his six-year-old. Wagner believes that coming through the program was extremely helpful in gaining her second National Title. "It's a roadmap; it's a good checkpoint and shows you're going the right way," said Wagner of the importance of the program. "I think coming to these big shows as a four, five, and six-year-old is really helpful. It definitely helped him and I could come here and really ride him." 

Charlotte Jorst returned to the Championship Arena later in the afternoon to claim the Reserve Championship with Skagen Holdings' Adventure (Special D x Sunette S/Mandrain) on an overall score of 70.859%.

The pair improved upon their performance on Friday to score 71.520% in the Championship Class. "I think he went great, especially because I didn't ride him the whole month in Europe," said Jorst. "I was thrilled he was so good. He tried his heart out and I was thrilled to get everything. He was amazing." Silva Martin (Unionville, PA) and Rosa Cha W Syndicate's nine-year-old Warmblood mare finished in third place on an overall score of 69.724%. They scored 69.804% on Sunday.

Results Developing Prix St Georges Championship Test

Results Markel/USEF Developing Prix St Georges Championship