Last year’s Open Grand Prix Finals Champion Heather Mason , Califon, NJ was in action on three different horses at the Region 8 Championships in Saugerties, NY. Riding her own RTF Lincoln, Mason claimed victories at both Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle, ensuring that the decorated duo will defend their 2021 and 2022 titles at the level in Kentucky.

Photo: Heather Mason and the 18-year-old RTF Lincoln will return again to the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® to contest their Grand Prix titles from 2022.
Photo by SusanJStickle.com

Finals Winner Mason Solidifies Return at Regional Championships

Mason has competed at Finals every single year it has been held despite it being a 13-hour drive from her New Jersey base. Riding the now 18-year-old RTF Lincoln, by L’Andiamo, she topped the Grand Prix with 66.522% and went on to capture the Freestyle with a commanding 76.688%.

“My plan was to do Regionals and Finals this year as this is my last season with him,” said Mason. “He will either retire or take a step down. I have a system for him that works for now: He lunges two to three hours before his ride in just a halter. He’s terrible to lunge and cuts in and runs around like an idiot, but at home he lives out overnight, so it’s like his turnout.

Focus on the Young Ones

“He’s a character, but he’s fit and strong and feels better than ever,” she continued. “However, it’s time to focus on the young ones and see if he will step down to maybe fourth level with a client.”

Her other two rides, the six-year-olds Manuskript SCF and Shmoky Quartz, also went to Finals last year and picked up sashes as division champions. At Regionals, they both laid claim to their Kentucky tickets for 2023. Of the eight tests Mason rode on these two horses — four apiece — just one dipped below the magic 70% barrier. Her highest score of the weekend was awarded to Shmoky Quartz. The six-year-old Oldenburg, by the Sandro Hit son Shakespeare RSF, scooped the Second Level Open Freestyle blue ribbon with a massive 78.487% — with one of the two judges awarding over 80%.

In the Third Level Open Freestyle Championship, Shmoky Quartz — the First Level Open and Freestyle champion from the 2022 Finals — finished second to Manuskript (Jazz x Krack C), although both horses scored north of 74%.

Competing Against Herself

“They’re the same age so I’ll be competing against myself for quite some time,” quipped Mason, who acquired Shmoky Quartz from his breeder Mo Swanson for an affordable price as he didn’t have ideal X-rays. “He was very good at the show, and the freestyle is very complicated, but it rides well and Shmoky is naturally supple. I just forget about the X-rays; he’s been perfect.”

Of Manuskript she added: “Skript is small and very handy and energetic at the shows. He has two very difficult freestyles, and Shmoky won’t be able to do Skript’s Fourth Level Freestyle — he’ll get a new one.

Fun Time Ahead For the Finals

The goal was to qualify them all for Finals and make the trip because we love it. The atmosphere is great, it’s a fun show, and it’s great to see the amateurs ramp up and get excited. It feels like a big championship.”

Mason will contest a total of 10 tests in Kentucky, two with Lincoln and four apiece on her six-year-olds.

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 USDF Finals Official website