Heather Blitz Continues Domination of USEF I-I Dressage National Championship

Heather Blitz and Praestemarkens Quatero (Photo: Emma Miller/PS Dressage)

In the second class of the USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship, Heather Blitz continued her domination aboard Praestemarkens Quatero with an impressive score of 73.529 percent in the Intermediate I, surpassing their 72.853 percent in Wednesday’s Prix St. Georges. The 9-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding put in a flawless test and Blitz was thrilled by his power and high-quality pirouettes.

Maintaining her second-place finish from Wednesday’s class, Jennifer Baumert and Betsy Juliano’s Handsome, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding, also improved upon their Prix St. Georges score to receive a 72.824 percent in the Intermediate I.

Moving up from sixth place in the Prix St. Georges into third, Jodie Kelly-Baxley on Caymus, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Beth Godwin, earned a score of 71.912 percent.

Jennifer Baumert and Handsome (Photo: Emma Miller/PS Dressage)

The combinations in the USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship will perform their final test of the division, the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 12:40 p.m. Final championship placings will be determined by overall average of the Prix St. Georges (40 percent), the Intermediate I (45 percent) and the Intermediate I Freestyle (15 percent).

For results and starting times, visit Foxvillage.

Live streaming is available on the USEF Network

For more information about the Lamplight Equestrian Center, click here.

Click photo to watch winning ride

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Heather Blitz – Intermediate I Winner
On her test:
“I felt like my test had a bit more power. I figured that my horse would be a little more tired just because of the trip and the first two days he was just on fire. Today he was really on and I like that because the hotter he is, the better. He is a really passionate horse so when he wants to do something he does it with more passion than any other horse that I’ve ridden. That was really present in my test today. I’ll never forget our test today because of that feeling and he was giving me 200 percent on every step. He is such a great horse and I’m so lucky to be able to ride him.”

Heather Blitz and Praestemarkens Quatero (Photo: Emma Miller/PS Dressage)

On her Test Highlights:
“With my horse, he has always had a talent for pirouettes but he has never had the strength to do them as well as he has wanted to. Now he finally has the strength for it — those felt really beautiful today.”

On Her Goals for the Next Test:
“My goal is to have fun. Mine is a freestyle that I have done in four shows now so I know it pretty well. I really want to take tomorrow a little bit easy on our off day. I’ll work him a little bit, but I really just want to come out and have fun. Reliability is another thing I want. It is moving higher and higher up on my list of priorities, along with soundness.”

Jennifer Baumert – Intermediate I Second Place
On Her Test:
“I was super pleased with my horse! We had a little bit of a distraction right in the beginning with a pile of poop, and he stayed a little preoccupied with that. He lost his confidence a little bit but I was so proud of him. He was right with me. He felt as good as he did in the Prix St. Georges and I can’t ask for more.”

On Her Test Highlights:
“Handsome has such a gigantic canter that it sometimes is challenging to bring him back in the pirouettes. I was super pleased with our pirouettes today.”

On Her Goals for the Next Test:
“I just want to have fun. I have a really fun freestyle and I love my music. The music gets Handsome a little amped up too and I’m really looking forward to it.”

On Her Team:
“Just like Heather said, the list is too long. I definitely want to thank the owner of my horse, Betsy Juliano, Debbie McDonald, who came to help me this week, and my groom, Morgan. My parents also came out. I also really want to thank Lamplight Equestrian Center and all of the sponsors here for putting on a fabulous show and making this all possible.”

Jodie Kelly-Baxley and Caymus (Photo: Emma Miller/PS Dressage)

Jodie Kelly-Baxley – Intermediate I Third Place
On Her Test:
“I was so happy with my horse today. It was truly the first time that I’ve felt like I took everything that I had in the warm-up into the show ring. It was such an amazing feeling that I even had a few moments where I spaced thinking about how amazing it was. I was so happy with it. I had a little bobble during a change and few other things that I can clean up still. He is such an honest and consistent horse and I can always count on him every single day. I don’t have to worry about him letting me down.”

On Her Test Highlights:
“For me, it wasn’t just one specific movement but it was the trot itself. I have been struggling with being consistent in the show ring so when I can take that and have that quality it’s like we’re on autopilot. It felt all right there today.”

Results: Intermediate I for USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship
Rider / Horse / Owner / Total Score
1. Heather Blitz / Praestemarkens Quatero / Heather Blitz / 73.529
2. Jennifer Baumert / Handsome / Elizabeth Julianno / 72.824
3. Jodie Kelly-Baxley / Caymus / Beth Godwin / 71.912
4. Nora Batchelder / Faro SQF / Andrea Whitcomb / 69.794
5. Nick Wagman / Ferano / Elizabeth Keadle / 69.735
6. Nora Batchelder / Fifi MLW / Nora Batchelder / 69.147