The second of three weekends of the 2023 United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Regional Championships, held across a total of nine USDF regions, offered more riders the chance to pick up qualifying berths for the 2023 US Dressage Finals at the Kentucky Horse Park on November 9-12.

Photo – Brittany Burson and Fiorenza were double winners at Second Level Open. (John Borys Photography)

The Region 4 Championships on September 28-October 1, in Cumming, IA, proved to be a stellar show for Brittany Burson. The 31-year-old USDF Gold Medal rider picked up no fewer than five Regional titles riding three different horses.

Small but Mighty

Her diminutive 15.3-hand six-year-old Fürstenball mare Fiorenza, which Burson bought from Germany unseen, was a double winner at Second Level Open boasting high scores of 75% in the first class and 76.303% in the Freestyle. The pair’s results were even more impressive given that last year Burson came close to retiring Fiorenza from the sport altogether.

“Fiorenza had a really fantastic Freestyle at Second Level — she felt great, she was in front of my leg and wasn’t trying to get downhill. During the COVID-19 pandemic I bought her off a video and took a chance, but she’s truly wonderful,” said Burson, who is based with her long-time trainer Heather McCarthy in Union, IL.

“Last year Fiorenza was lame, and we couldn’t figure out her issue,” Burson went on to say. “I thought I was going to have to retire her, but we changed her foot angles a little bit, made some small shoeing adjustments, and that’s really helped her. For her to come back and be this successful is amazing; she tries her heart out. I still can’t quite process it all.”

Back to Basics

Linda Phifer’s seven-year-old Leonardo Z delivered Burson’s fifth victory. The Glamourdale son clinched the Third Level Freestyle with 74.688% and was reserve champion in the opening class with 71.188%. Leonardo has recently jumped up the levels.

“I’ve had him for around 18 months, and last year he showed Training Level because I had to go back a bit and figure him out,” explained Burson. “We went to Florida for January and February, and I felt he was getting stronger. When we got back home in the spring, we tried Third Level, and he’s really better moving up the levels. He’s surpassed all my expectations.

“I’ll be heading to Finals with all three of them and I’m so excited. It’s a show I look forward to every year, and it’s developed into such an elite competition. The sportsmanship and the level of riding are both wonderful,” she concluded.

Fighting Back Fear

At Fourth Level it was Furst Emilio’s turn in the spotlight — once he overcame his fear of the spotted horse in the warm-up arena. Patricia Joy’s 13-year-old gelding by Fürst Fugger is another bought from Germany unseen during the pandemic, and was intended for Joy, but he can be complicated, so Burson is sharing the ride with his 70-year-old owner.

“I really felt like in his Fourth Level Freestyle he was electric, fiery enough, and listening to me. It was a ton of fun,” said Burson, who scored 72.075% for the win. “Emilio was supposed to be a schoolmaster for Patricia, but he can be tricky and she’s allowing me to have the ride for the show season. He gets reactive and spooky — in the warm-up he was really afraid of the Appaloosa that was warming up with us.”

The 2023 US Dressage Finals will be held November 9-12 in Lexington, KY, at the Kentucky Horse Park and is a national championship competition that showcases the Adult Amateur and Open divisions. Classes run at Training Level through Grand Prix, plus divisions for Junior/Young Riders at Training Level through Fourth Level. There is $120,000 in prize money up for grabs over the four days. Learn more at www.usdf.org/usdressagefinals/index.asp.