Markel/USEF Young Horse Finals Highlights Up and Coming Talent

The Markel/USEF Young Horse classes concluded Sunday at the DASC Spring Benefit CDI, CPEDI and National Dressage Show, presented by Four Winds Farm, at the Galway Downs Equestrian Center.

Nobility LH and Dawn White-O'Connor topped today's 4-Year-Old Final with an 86.600%. Alyssa Doverspike Burkett and For Eddition followed with an 82.600%, and Willy Arts and New Adventure DG were third on a 78.400% from Ulf Wadeborn.

In the 5-Year-Old Final, Ikon and Laura Brandt earned at 81.400% to top the field. Marie Francesca Medosi and Eddie the Eagle followed on a 79.300% and Dawn White-O'Connor and Magnifico were third on a 76%.

Photo - Laura Brandt and Ikon (TheWestEquestrian.com)

The 6-year-old Gorgeous Latino wowed the judges again. He and Sabine Schut-Kery added an 87.20% in the Final to Saturday's 87.40% in the Preliminary Test from judges Magnus Ringmark and Ulf Wadeborn. Lionelle VE and Rebecca Rigdon followed in the Final with an 84% and David Blake and Lion Heart were 3rd on an 83.800%.I

In the two phases of the 7-Year-Old final, David Blake and Amelia Newcomb swapped places. David and Delilah won the first on a 70.357% and were 2nd in the second with a 72.300%. Amelia and Kensington won the second class on a 76.500% and were 2nd in the first class with a 69.500%.

Juggling three distinct competitions in the CDI, the CPEDI and National show on the same weekend is no easy feat, even for experienced and ambitious show manager Regina Antonioli. Reflecting on the show's origins, she explained that the suspension of the Southern California fixture, the Del Mar National, in 2020 was the catalyst for the Spring Benefit Show. "I felt that Southern California needed another premier show and I thought that Galway Downs, under Robert Kellerhouse's management, was ready to handle it."

"I'm grateful to the support of our exhibitors and sponsors, especially for the extra precautionary measures required in the aftermath of the EHV-1 situation. Expect more exciting enhancements to this special event and see you all next year!"

Full results can be found on www.foxvillage.com.