After her championship win in the 5-year-old division, Madeleine Bendfeldt (GER) came back to win a second young horse national championship with her 4-year-old Hanoverian gelding Zapatero. Petra Warlimont (Evergreen, Colo.) was the reserve champion with her own Deambulo PWD, a 2019 Hanoverian gelding, while Lindsey Holleger (Middletown, N.Y.) placed third in the overall championship standings with MW One More Dream, a 2019 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Jennifer Vanover.

Photo – Madeleine Bendfeldt (GER) and Zapatero. (©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian)

Class Results

Final Results:

1. Madeleine Bendfeldt (GER) and Zapatero
2. Petra Warlimont and Deambulo PWD
3. Lindsey Holleger and MW One More Dream

From the Mixed Zone:

How are you feeling after having two young horses win national championships today?

Madeleine Bendfeldt: I’m thrilled. It’s crazy. I did not really expect it.

Tell us about this horse’s background.

Petra Warlimont: I saw this horse a year ago from a friend of mine in Germany that I’ve worked with for over 10 years. I’ve done this since 2007 and I’ve always ridden horses that we found together. This is the best one we’ve had. He always showed me videos [of Deambulo PWD], and I said, “No, I can’t do this.” Then I went there to try out the other horses, and he said, “Just get on.” And I got on and I was like, well, now this has to happen. So I’m just so trhilled with this horse. He’s an amazing animal and the friendships that have been created through all his journeys are amazing. And all the help I’ve had was just amazing.

Lindsey Holleger: She’s owned by Jen Vanover of Maplewood, and she was found as a foal in the Netherlands. She bought her off an auction. It took maybe six months to start her. She was very reactive and it was tough. But you can feel it. The moment I sat on her I was like, “This is probably the best one that I’ve ever had the opportunity to ride. I just had a feeling of, “This is my horse.”

MB: I actually know the breeder. I know the guy where we found him in Germany. He’s a very good friend and I’ve known the horse since he was two. I was always thinking, “How can I get this horse under my saddle? It’s my dream horse.” I always wanted it, and here we are! Got it done. It took a while, but now I am in the saddle of my dream horse here. And [the judges] honored him, and we honored him the way that he should be honored and I’m just so thrilled. I think today was just 50% of what he can actually do. I’m sure about it.

Full Schedule and Results

2023 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions Livestream

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