Para Dressage National Champion Crowned, Brentina Cup and Grand Prix Begin at 2022 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions
by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | Aug 24, 2022, 9:00 PM EST

The first national championship of the 2022 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions was awarded on Wednesday. The day began with the Adequan®/USEF Young Adult Brentina Cup Dressage National Championship and USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship competitors riding the first of three tests this week. Mia Rodier-Dawallo and Jayden concluded the day by winning top honors in the USEF Para Dressage National Championship.

Adequan®/USEF Young Adult Brentina Cup Dressage National Championship

Photo – Quinn Iverson and Beckham 19, 2022 (SusanJStickle.com)

The small but mighty field of five combinations rode the FEI Intermediate II Test of the Adequan®/USEF Young Adult Brentina Cup Dressage National Championship. Quinn Iverson and Beckham 19 had a solid test to take top honors in the class. Iverson (Wellington, Fla.) and Bille Davidson’s 2009 Hanoverian gelding earned a score of 67.676% in the first of three tests for the division.

“I was very happy with him,” said Iverson. “We came in, started a little bit shaky, but he settled and actually let me ride him. He was very honest in there, which I was very happy with. A few bobbles we’ll clean up, but overall, I’m so happy with him.”

Callie Jones (Henderson, Ky.) and Don Philippo, her 2008 Hanoverian gelding, finished second on a score of 67.529%. Callie Rose O’Connell (Wilmington, Mass.) and Eaton Unitechno, Ruling Cortes, LLC’s 2009 KWPN gelding, were third with a score of 66.705%.

The FEI Intermediate II Test counts for 40 percent of the overall score, while the FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Test on Thursday counts for 45 percent. The division will conclude on Saturday with the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle Test, which counts for 15 percent.

From the Mixed Zone:

What were some of the highlights in your test?

Iverson: “I think his piaffe-passage tour was one of his highlights, and the half-passes too.”

Anything you want to improve upon in the next test?

Iverson: “That canter-trot transition. But overall, I’m very pleased with him.”

How long have you been riding Beckham 19?

Iverson: “I have had him since December of last year. We are kind of a new partnership, but I’m very happy with him.”

Have you been to Festival of Champions before?

Iverson: “I have been here. Actually a horse with the same owner, Bille Davidson. She has supported me for many years now. We had [the other horse] two years ago, and we have ‘Beckham’ this year.

Competition continues Thursday in the Grand Prix Arena with the FEI Grand Prix Special of the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship at 8 a.m. CT., while the FEI Prix St. Georges Test of the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage National Championship starts the Markel Arena at 8:30 a.m. CT.

Watch the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions live stream this week on USEF Network.

Complete Schedule