Nora Batchelder (Williston, Fla.) and Nova (Grand Galaxy Win x Romanova), Carol Glover’s 2015 Oldenburg mare earned the overall Developing Grand Prix title with a score of 69.222%.

“I was really happy with both of my rides,” said Batchelder. “Today was a bit cleaner than Friday. Nova is just getting more and more confident at Grand Prix, like Developing Grand Prix is all about. Today, everything felt easy in there, and I still could have asked for more power. She was right with me, and she tried supper hard. And the piaffe/passage felt really confident. I felt like I could ask for even more, but I was so happy with what we got that I took it.”

Photo – Nora Batchelder and Nova. (©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian)

The 9-year-old mare is no stranger to the FOC atmosphere, and has earned good placings in the past two years leading up to her championship win this year.

“She’s a very special horse, and super talented, and I’m very lucky to ride her,” said Batchelder. “I’ve had her for a little over three years. She was 6, coming 7, when we got her, and this is her third time at Festival. We did 7-year-olds, I-1, and now Developing Grand Prix. She’s very special and I’m so grateful to her owner to let me ride her.”

Hannah Bressler Jaques (Mettawa, Ill.) and Jim (Ferdeaux x Evita), her own 2014 Dutch Warmblood gelding won the reserve champion title with a 67.761%. Bressler said that in his younger days, Jim was a bit wild, but he’s grown into an incredible partner.

Thrilled

“I was thrilled with my horse,” she said. “He was a bit of a cowboy starting out, so we didn’t do any of the young horse stuff, but he’s always had a ton of power. He hasn’t always had a lot of engagement, so I’m really happy to feel him with me and trying and feeling so happy in there, starting to learn his job. I’m over the moon.”

Jim, who is just Jim (“It’s on his passport—that’s the name he came with!” said Bressler), has been with Bressler since he was 5 years old, and has made great strides in the last five years with her.

“We spent years doing all kinds of interesting things to be creative and keep him happy,” she said. “But the more he learns and the more he shows, he just keeps getting better. In there now, he feels like he knows his job. If I put pressure on him, he tries, whereas before he would crumble a bit. I did a lot of groundwork, spent a lot of time making friends with him. I just believed in him.”

Kathleen Raine (Murrieta, Calif) and Figaro (Furstenball x Sunshine Show), a 2014 Westphalian gelding owned by Marti Foster and Kathleen Raine finished in third place with a score of 67.329%.

“I was very happy with my horse,” she said. “I had a few costly mistakes in both tests, but I felt like today I had a little bit more power. He’s a really fun horse, and he’s my genius. He’s super fun, and he learns so quickly. He tries hard.”

Competition Information:

The 2024 FOC takes place Aug. 19-25, at HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Ill. Competition takes place in two arenas and will be broadcast on USEF Network. Bookmark the FOC event page on USEF.org for the latest coverage of this year’s show.

Ring Schedule | Orders of Go and Results

2024 Festival of Champions Livestream

The U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions replay is available on-demand on USEF Network. US Equestrian members and subscribers, and fans can watch all classes live. Not a member? Join today!