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Kayla Kadlubek Takes Lead in USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Posted by Dana Riddlemoser & Kathleen Landweh
US DRESSAGE FESTIVAL OF CHAMPIONS
Kayla Kadlubek (Fairfax Station, Va.) continued her success from the Adequan® FEI North American Youth Championships presented by Gotham North (NAYC) by taking the lead in the USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship. She and Perfect Step, her 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding, earned a score of 70.196 percent in the FEI Young Rider Team Test. “We put in a nice, clean test, which I am very happy about. The changes are a little hit-and-miss sometimes, so I’m really happy I got them today,” said Kadlubek, who is a member of the Discover Dressage USEF/USDF Emerging Athlete Program with Perfect Step. “They were clean and uphill...I would like to add a little more power and energy, but I’m really happy with his performance today.”
Photo - Kayla Kadlubek and Perfect Step (SusanJStickle)
Quinn Iverson (Wellington, Fla.) and Black Diamond CL, Billie Davidson’s 13-year-old KWPN gelding, followed in second with a 69.951 percent. Bianca Schmidt (Edina, Minn.) and Lou Heart, Eliana Schmidt’s 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding, placed third with a score of 68.676 percent.
The FEI Young Rider Team Test counts 50 percent towards their overall score. The division championship will be decided after completing the FEI Young Rider Individual Test, which counts for the remaining 50 percent, on Friday.
On continuing with success following the NAYC:
Kadlubek: “I’m feeling the pressure a little bit coming off doing so well at [NAYC], but it is good learning experience. It’s nice to know I can achieve those scores, [but I want ] to keep striving for more.”
On the progression since last year’s U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions:
Kadlubek: “I feel more comfortable and confident in myself. Going to Europe [as part of the U.S. Dressage European Young Rider Tour] was a huge help in that. The work feels more solid, and I feel stronger in our partnership. We are working more harmoniously.”
On today’s test:
Iverson: “I was so incredibly happy with him. He let me ride him, which is a big thing for us. With all of our traveling, he came off [the trailer] ready to go. It took us a second to get our feet under ourselves, but once we were there, I was very happy with him.”
Schmidt: “Before I went into my test, my reigns and gloves were wet. It started thunder storming. I thought ‘Will I not get to show now?’, but Lou [Heart] did his test fine and helped me through everything. He calmed me down when I got into the ring. It was a really smooth test. We had a couple mistakes, but I’m happy with the overall result.”
On competing at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions:
Iverson: “This is my second time here. I came with Adrienne [Lyle] as a groom when she brought Horizon, so I could see everything and watch from afar. Now, here I am getting to [compete] myself, which is cool because it has been quite the journey with this horse … but he’s worth it.”
Schmidt: “My horse is happy here. He likes Lamplight a lot. We [compete in] local shows here, but it is a different atmosphere compared to qualifying and then being here. There are a lot of great riders. It’s very exciting to feel like I should ride better, and I’m improving a lot just being here.”
Keep up with the 2019 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions on USA Dressage Facebook where you can find winning rides and daily photo galleries, USEF Network Twitter, and USEF Network Instagram featuring Instagram Stories. Use #USADressage and #FestivalofChampions.
