The competition wrapped up on Sunday at the 2023 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. After a week of weather ups and downs, riders and spectators were rewarded with a comfortably cool day at HITS Chicago at Lamplight Equestrian Center for the seventh and final day, which saw the final five dressage national champion titles awarded.

Winners in each division received prize packs generously provided by Le Mieux, which included an ear bonnet, saddle pad, and leg boots. Division winners also received Equine KONGS contributed by KORE Equine by KONG.

Photo – Sven Smienk and Fontenay. (©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian)

Markel/USEF Six-Year-Old Dressage National Championship

Sven Smienk (CAN) and Fontenay, a 2017 Hanoverian owned by Dr. Cesar Parra and Gina Raful, went two for two in the six-year-old division, impressing the judges and earning an 88.200% in the FEI Six-Year-Old Final Test. David Blake (Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.) and G.Q., a 2017 Danish Warmblood gelding owned by Helen Stacy, finished second in the class with an 86.400% and earned the overall reserve champion title. Lindsey Holleger (Middletown, N.Y.) and MW Fürstencharmant, a 2017 Oldenburg stallion owned by Jennifer Vanover, rounded out the top three for the division.

Class Results

Final Results:

1. Sven Smienk (CAN) and Fontenay
2. David Blake and G.Q.
3. Lindsey Holleger and MW Fürstencharmant

From the Mixed Zone:

Tell us about your horse.

Sven Smienk: I started riding Fontenay in November of last year. I believe Dr. Cesar Parra owned him since he was 3 or 4. I’ve gotten to know him in a relatively short period of time being a newer combination.

David Blake: My horse is a Grand Galaxy and Florencio. We found him in Denmark at Helgstrand’s. We’ve had him a little under a year. Helen Stacy owns him, and we picked him out together. She’s going to ride him, but she lets me do this for now.

Lindsey Holleger: My horse is by Furstenball out of one of Jen’s mares—Jen Vanover bred him. He’s exceptionally trainable. He’s still a stallion and he’s the best boy ever. He’s so well behaved. He’s been lovely.

What does it mean to you to have had the highest-placed U.S.-bred horse in the division?

LH: It’s good for the country. It’s really important for [U.S. dressage] to grow, and he’s an amazing horse.

What were some highlights of your tests this week?

SS: I think what I was most happy with is he’s a very powerful horse, and to have to be really soft and supple and light, but still powerful with balance, I think I really managed to pull that off and present a harmonious picture.

DB: I thought along the same lines of the highlights for this horse. He’s really powerful but he was really with me and super obedient. I’m really happy with it.

What are your plans with this horse?

SS: My plan is to back off a little bit for now, do some trail riding, and give him sort of a break. Then we’ll slowly start working towards the Wellington season and see what we can do.

Full Schedule and Results

2023 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions On-Demand Replay

US Equestrian subscribers and members can watch the on-demand replay of the 2023 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions on USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV. Not a member? Join now.