Northwest Dressage Riders and Horses Rock the US Dressage Finals In Kentucky

Morgan Barrows, from Monroe, Washington, won the Second Level Freestyle Open on Saturday aboard San Corazon (by San Amour out of Ridehra), a 6-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Janice Davis, with a 74.678 percent.

Lexington, Ky. - Nestled in the Northwest corner of the U.S., is a hidden gem of an area that is home to some top-notch dressage riders and trainers. The judges know what a talented group reside there as the competitors received some of the highest regional scores in the country. Several of the riders banded together to travel across the country to compete in the U.S. Dressage Finals presented by Adequan held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington Nov. 7-9. They made their presence known in the Finals by showing the rest of the competitors that they are a force to be reckoned with. Morgan Barrows, from Monroe, Washington, won the Second Level Freestyle Open on Saturday aboard San Corazon (by San Amour out of Ridehra), a 6-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Janice Davis, with a 74.678 percent. She said that the seven horses that came together from Washington traveled well but were mischievous. Barrows, from Monroe, Washington, won the Second Level Freestyle Open on Saturday aboard San Corazon (by San Amour out of Ridehra), a 6-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Janice Davis, with a 74.678 percent. She said that the seven horses that came together from Washington traveled well but were mischievous.

Traveling buddies, Lauren Thornlow, Morgan Barrows and Jacquelyn McMaster

“We had some characters taking down the bars in the windows, or taking their clothes off,” she laughed. She said the riders were impressed by the beauty of Kentucky and they are taking advantage of their foray east to explore the area. “I think we made a good show of it,” Barrows said. “We’ve been the top three in these huge classes. Everyone thinks we are riding Western horses in the mud out West. No, we’re not! It’s really fun to come here and be so competitive.

It’s awesome!” Lauren Thornlow, from Monroe, Washington, was Reserve Champion in the Intermediaire-1 Adult Amateur Freestyle on Friday on her own Royal Konig, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding (by Rubin-Royal out of Pica Ramira) with a 67.193 percent, and took Reserve Champion on her horse in the Intermediaire-1 Adult Amateur Freestyle on Saturday with a 667.792 percent.

Lauren Thornlow, from Monroe, Washington on her own Royal Konig, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding (by Rubin-Royal out of Pica Ramira) win two reserves at US Dressage Finals

“I hadn’t even thought about making the trip until August,” she said, adding that although it was a long trip for her horse, he came out Saturday ready to go. Her plan, if the horse doesn’t sell, is for her trainer, Morgan Barrows, to try for the Pan Am Games on the gelding. Lauren Thornlow, from Monroe, Washington, was Reserve Champion in the Intermediaire-1 Adult Amateur Freestyle on Friday on her own Royal Konig, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding (by Rubin-Royal out of Pica Ramira) with a 67.193 percent, and took Reserve Champion on her horse in the Intermediaire-1 Adult Amateur Freestyle on Saturday with a 667.792 percent. “I hadn’t even thought about making the trip until August,” she said, adding that although it was a long trip for her horse, he came out Saturday ready to go. Her plan, if the horse doesn’t sell, is for her trainer, Morgan Barrows, to try for the Pan Am Games on the gelding.

Jacquelyn McMaster and Paviano earned a 68.156 percent on Paviano, her own 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Nimmerdor.

Also within Region 6, Jacquelyn McMaster, from Sherwood, Oregon, claimed the Reserve Championship in the Fourth Level Adult Amateur Freestyle on Saturday. She and Paviano earned a 68.156 percent on Paviano, her own 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Nimmerdor. “Two minutes before the test, he felt so good,” she said. “So, I just let it sink in, just being in that arena and that atmosphere. It was a lot of fun.” She said that she was nervous during the class but said she’s learned to channel her center and feel it and feel her horse. She’s a full-time student at Oregon State in public health and her goal is to start her professional career when she graduates after this year.

Shauntel Bryant of Redmond, Washington, rode Luis Vuitton, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Melissa Beardsley to the win in the Fourth Level Championship on Saturday with a 69.417 percent.

She said she was honored to participate in the Finals and would not have been able to attend without her grandmother, mother and her trainer, Leslie Chapman, whom she said put her through “boot camp” to prepare her for Finals. She added that her goal throughout the season was to qualify and attend the show. “It’s been an incredible experience,” she said.

Shauntel Bryant of Redmond, Washington, rode Luis Vuitton, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Melissa Beardsley to the win in the Fourth Level Championship on Saturday with a 69.417 percent. “It was a long journey,” Bryant said, adding that it took the horses three full days to get there. “The Seattle group, we are all pretty good friends. We’ve got a good group out there and there are some good trainers.”

Jessica Wisdom and the charismatic Welsh Cob stallion to became the fan favorite on his way to winning the final class of the night, the Grand Prix Open Freestyle Championship.

It may have taken North Forks Cardi four days to travel across the country from Battle Ground, Wash. (Region 6) to attend the Finals with owner/rider Jessica Wisdom, but it only took a matter of minutes for the charismatic Welsh Cob stallion to become the fan favorite on his way to winning the finale class of the night, the Grand Prix Open Freestyle Championship. "Freestyle is where he really shines - he hears that music and he becomes a big horse. Nobody told him that he's only 14.3 hands!," said Wisdom. "All he has to do is go out there and be the rock star that he knows he is. And you saw what happens! He has an ego the size of Texas. He seemingly becomes three hands taller and says, 'watch this."