Markel/USEF Four-Year-Old Division Sets the Stage

Michael Bragdell and Debonair MF. Photo: Susan J Stickle

Update - Alice Tarjan with her own Serenade MF, Hannoverian mare by Sir Donnerhall, wins the first class of the event with an 8.44. In second place it was Alice Tarjan again with Fairouz and Oldenburg mare by Franziskus with a 8.06. In third Kimberly Dougherty with her own Celebration, an Oldenburg Mare Couer d' Amour with an 8.04.

Results USEF 4 Year Old Test

The Four-Year-Old Division sets the stage today for the Markel/USEF National Dressage Young Horse Championships. The first of two tests they be performed in front of a judges' panel Gary Rockwell FEI 5*, Jane Weatherwax FEI 4*, and Lois Yukins, FEI 4*. The first test will count 40% towards their overall scores, and the second test which will be Saturday afternoon will count 60% for a combined score to determine the champions.

The USEF Network will live stream all competition beginning Thursday, August 25. The live stream is only available to US Equestrian members; however, a special promotional code for viewing will be available.

What makes this competition unique is that for the the Four, Five, and Six-Year-Old divisions, the judging panel addresses each rider at the end of the test. On the speaker system for all to hear, their comments on gait, transitions, and submissiveness are discussed. Each gait is scored from a 1-10, and this is announced for spectators as well. This is often helpful to the competitor after the first test, to improve on their presentation.

After winning the 2012 Four-Year-Old National Championship with Hemmingway, Michael Bragdell (Colora, Md.) will ride two horses in the 2017 division. Debonair MF, Maryanna Haymon’s Hanoverian stallion and SenSation HW, Carol McPhee’s Westphalian gelding, will seek to carry Bragdell to another title.

Currently ranked first in the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage National Championship Four-Year-Old division, is Maryanna Haymon’s Hanoverian mare Serenade MF ridden by Alice Tarjan (Frenchtown, N.J.). No stanger to this competiton Tarjan will be looking to add another Four-Year-Old National Championship title to her resume. In 2015 she won with Tiko. Tarjan’s second mount is her own Fairouz, an Oldenburg mare.

Rebekah Mingari (Louisville, Ky.), a developing Young Rider competing in both the Young Rider and Young Horse divisions, will ride Icarus TF, Kerrin Dunn’s KWPN gelding.

They will join a field of 15 combinations when they begin on Thursday, August 24 with the USEF Four-Year-Old Test. The Four-Year-Old National Champion will be determined on Saturday, August 26 following the USEF Four-Year-Old Test.

Markel/USEF Four-Year-Old Ranking List 2017
Follow the rides - USEF Four-Year-Old Test

Four-Year-Old Division
Athlete (In Alphabetical Order) Horse

• Ryan Bean - C.H.E's Furst Intention
  Breeder: Willem Klausing Breed: Hanoverian
  Sire: Furst Romancier Dam: Paris D'Amour Dam's Sire: Prestige Pilot
• Michael Bragdell - Debonair MF
  Breeder: Maryanna Haymon Breed: Hanoverian
  Sire: Doctor Wendell MF Dam: Rising Star Dam's Sire: Rotspon
• Michael Bragdell - SenSation HW
  Breeder: Alfons Bergjohann Breed: Westphalian
  Sire: Sunday Dam: Donata Dam's Sire: Dancier
• Kimberly Dougherty - Celebration
  Breeder: High Point Hanoverians Breed: Oldenburg
  Sire: Couer d' Amour Dam: Rhythm N Blues Dam's Sire: Rosenthal;
• Christian Garweg - MW I'm The Lady Texel
  Breeder: C. Ironside Breed: KWPN
  Sire: Charmeur Dam: A Special Lady Texel Dam's Sire: Krack C
• Lauren Griffin - Indorado
  Breeder: Unknown Breed: KWPN
  Sire: Davino V.O.D. Dam: Evil Dam's Sire: Citango
• Angela Jackson - Herzchampionate
  Breeder: Theresa Schnell Breed: Oldenburg
  Sire: Hemmingway Dam: Rio Dam's Sire: Rotspon
• Martin Kuhn - Ronin
  Breeder: Katherine Ratliff Breed: Hanoverian
  Sire: Wolkentanz II Dam: Colleen Dam's Sire: Contango
• Kate Mikulay - Friedrich
  Breeder: Josef Buter Breed: Oldenburg Sire: Furst Romancier Dam: Sunday Rose Dam's Sire: Sir Donnerhall I
• Rebekah Mingari - Icarus TF
  Breeder: KC Dunn Breed: KWPN
  Sire: Fairbanks Dam: Oleander B Dam's Sire: Havidoff
• Brittany Murphy - Flirt
  Breeder: Friedhelm Frenzen Breed: Rhinelander
  Sire: Furst Piccolo Dam: Ver PR St Akita Dam's Sire: Abanos
• Carlos Santos - Inferno M
  Breeder: C.F. Van Mook Breed: KWPN
  Sire: Davino V.O.D Dam: Uganita M Dam's Sire: Jazz
• Alice Tarjan - Fairouz
  Breeder: Bramall/Dusche Gbr Breed: Oldenburg
  Sire: Franziskus Dam: Diva Dam's Sire: Don Frederico
• Alice Tarjan - Serenade MF
  Breeder: Maryanna Haymon Breed: Hanoverian
  Sire: Sir Donnerhall Dam: Duet MF Dam's Sire: Don Principe
• Nicole Trapp - NT Phantom Valor
  Breeder: Nicole Trapp Breed: Oldenburg
  Sire: Parcival Dam: Whimsical PCH Dam's Sire: Welser