Photo: Genay Vaughn and Hanoverian stallion Donarweiss GGF, 2013 Brentina Cup Reserve Champions

Genay Vaughn and her 12-year-old Hanoverian stallion Donarweiss GGF won the 2013 Brentina Cup Reserve Championship today at the United States Dressage Festival of Champions presented by the Dutta Corporation at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Brentina Cup is a USEF program for Young Adults age 16 through 25 who are making the transition to senior Grand Prix competition. “It was so exciting to be riding DW down the centerline in the Rolex arena at the Kentucky Horse Park,” Genay said. “It was our first year competing in the Brentina Cup, and we were among riders who have a lot more experience at this level, so I was thrilled we were able to win Reserve Champion. I couldn’t be more proud of DW, and I couldn’t be more grateful to my family for their support.” In their first year in Brentina Cup competition, Genay and “DW” scored an overall 64.646% for the Reserve Championship. Their scores of 65.641% in Wednesday’s USEF young Adult Brentina Cup and 63.651% in Friday’s 2009 FEI Young Rider Grand Prix 16-25 counted 50% each toward the final score.

2013 also saw Genay earn the final scores for her USDF Gold Medal and be selected as a participant in the Robert Dover Horsemanship Week in Palm Beach, Florida. “Now my mom and I both have our gold medals,” Genay remarked of Starr Vaughn Equestrian owner, manager and trainer Michele Vaughn. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without her – she’s been teaching and coaching me from my first pony ride.”

This lifelong dressage student also regularly clinics with Olympian Jan Ebeling, and has been coached by Hilltop Farm’s Christopher Hickey and USEF National Youth Coach Jeremy Steinberg.

This January at the Robert Dover Horsemanship Week, Genay had the opportunity to learn from six-time Olympian and USDF Hall of Fame star Robert Dover, who was later named Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor for the U.S. dressage team, in addition to lessons with U.S. dressage team riders Tina Konyot, 2012 Olympics; Katherine Bateson-Chandler, 2010 WEG; and Michael Barisone, 2008 Olympics.

Studying dressage fits into time carved out from college courses for this sophomore at the University of California, Davis. Genay fits in time for teaching and training as well; she teaches at her family’s Starr Vaughn Equestrian and trains some up-and-coming young dressage horses.

What’s next for this dedicated rider? “I’d like to spend a year training and competing in Europe,” Genay revealed. “That’s a goal worth working hard to achieve.” Meanwhile, Genay will continue her studies at UC Davis and training her horses. The 2014 competition year will see her aiming to top 2013’s accomplishments.

Donarweiss GGF (De Niro x Hohenstein x Archipel) is a 2001 Hanoverian stallion owned by Starr Vaughn Equestrian Inc. and bred by Greengate Farm, with frozen semen available through Hilltop Farm’s Guest Stallion Program. The 16-hand homozygous black stallion is approved AHS, ISR/OldNA, CWHBA, AWS, and RPSI. As the overall champion of his 30-day performance test, Donarweiss GGW scored 8.33 overall, with all scores of 8 or above, and 9s for rideability and jumping.