United States Eventing Association

Beginner Novice Riders Shine in the Dressage Rings at #AEC2024

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 30—It was the Beginner Novice riders' time to shine today in the dressage ring at the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. Read on to learn more about our six division leaders.

USEA Beginner Novice Rider Championship

The biggest Beginner Novice Division at the AEC started with a bang today. With 50 combinations in the division, the USEA Beginner Novice Rider Championship is highly competitive. Joanna O’Connell and her own Clary (Cabardino x Clearly) were able to secure the lead at the end of the dressage phase with an impressive score of 24.2. Securing the lead this early in the week has them well-set for a successful weekend.

“She was super. She gets really professional when we go in the ring. It's really cute, she's like, ‘Oh, I know what I'm doing. I'm gonna show off,’ ” O’Connell said. “I was super nervous, but she really stayed right with me, and I felt like it was a really smooth test, which I was super proud of.”

O’Connell, of Hudson Valley, New York, purchased Clary when the German Sport Horse was just over 4-years-old. Now 10, Clary and O’Connell have learned a lot together over the years. “Very slowly and carefully, we've grown together. She's very careful and cautious, so it’s been a long journey of getting confident with jumping and getting myself confident with the fact that she needs me to be the confident one,” O’Connell said. “I was used to horses that were like, ‘Let’s get to the other side!’ I'm still pretty new to eventing. It’s been a really rewarding experience to learn together and get my own confidence up so I can give her some confidence.”

At the very start of their partnership together, Clary and O’Connell attempted eventing for the first time, but without great success. Two ½ years later, O’Connell decided to try again. This time, she and Clary not only made it to the AEC, but are in the lead at the end of the first phase of competition.

O’Connell is closely followed in the standings by Kelly O'Brien with Susie Beale’s B.E. Never Say Never (Spirit House x Renkum Blathainn), who finished on a score of 27.0. In third place is Laila Chance, riding her own A Gladiators Heart - Maximus (Felkert K. x Nikka-MH) with a score of 28.9.

USEA Beginner Novice Junior Championship

Lynne Franzen started off the day with a strong performance in the USEA Beginner Novice Junior Championship with Optical Illusion (Fuehertanzer x Puppies Longstocking). Earning a total score of 25.9, Franzen is well-poised going into the cross-country phase tomorrow. Franzen described her test as “a lot of fun.”

“I was a little bit nervous going in, just because it is a big atmosphere, and I didn't want to get in my head,” Franzen said. “I wanted to make sure all my geometry was good and had nice, clean transitions, and he was nice and forward.”

Owned by Rachel McIntosh, “Magic” is a classic professor of a horse. He’s been showing Franzen the ropes as she discovers the sport of eventing. “He's definitely a good teacher. He'll let me know when I'm doing it wrong, but he's always sweet and forgiving,” Franzen said.

Franzen took the ride on the 17-year-old Trakehner cross two years ago when she first decided to pick up the sport. “Our first event was just a small, little local show. Looking back, I didn't really think I'd go to the AEC,” Franzen said. “This is my first year here, but I went last year to groom for Liz Lund, and I just loved it here in the atmosphere. I thought it’d be cool to go. So, we set a goal, and here we are!”

Following Franzen is Jane Dorsey and her own HSF Milchem MBF (Goodluck VDL x Milchem Dreaming) who have claimed second place with a score of 26.6. Holding onto third place by just 0.2 points is Christina Elliott and her own Zesty Storm (Get Stormy x Granny Green Eyes) with a score of 28.6.

USEA Beginner Novice Horse Championship

It’s anyone’s game in the USEA Beginner Novice Horse Championship this weekend—one point is all that separates the top 5 combinations. Leading the way is Finn, ridden by Emily Hansen-Palmus and owned by Skylar Ragsdale on a score of 27.8.

According to Hansen-Palmus, the 7-year-old Irish Draught Sport Horse has a big personality. “He is very mischievous,” Hansen-Palmus said. “He thinks he's hysterical. The entire time I was braiding him today, he was trying to knock me off [the mounting stool] and then he tried to come on the mounting stool with me. The more mischievous he is, the better the test is gonna be.”

Finn has an easygoing and steady personality, perfect for his owner, 8-year-old Skylar Ragsdale. “His owner, Skylar, is actually one of my girls,” Hansen-Palmus said. “He's a young horse. She's 8-years-old, and she's actually going to be riding him in the next show. I spent this season getting him ready for her. The Ragsdale family bought him green broke, and they brought him to me. They've done a lot of the producing. I would just get him for boot camps before shows. He's just a lovely horse, just tries his little heart out.”

Far from being reactive in the five-star atmosphere of the iconic Kentucky Horse Park here in Lexington, Finn thrives in the pressure of a big venue. “I was pretty happy with [my test],” Hansen-Palmus said. “It was really steady and focused. And he was a good boy. It was so hot; I was happy he had energy. He loves this stuff, you know. You just tell him, ‘Hey buddy, there's people watching.’ And I swear he gets better.”

Hansen-Palmus is closely followed by Sunhill Rover (Rosscon Castle King x Meelickisland Snowdrop), who is ridden and owned by Jillian Newman, with a score of 28.1. In third place is Natasha Arritt’s Overeasy with a score of 28.4, ridden by Mallory Huggins.

USEA Beginner Novice Junior 14 & Under Championship

Addy Sheplee of Ashburn, Virginia, danced her way into first place in the USEA Beginner Novice Junior 14 & Under Championship at the conclusion of the dressage phase. Sheplee has been riding Kinsale (French Twist x Martha's Blast) for less than a year and leases the mare from her owner, Michelle Johns. Sheplee said the hardest part of building a partnership with the Selle Français/Thoroughbred cross was actually on the ground.

“She's a little bit sassy on the ground, but under saddle she's super fun to ride and is a really good girl,” Sheplee said. “She really likes her personal space. She doesn't like when people or other horses get too close to her. I had to get used to her sassy personality and make sure that she respected me, but now I feel like we go really well together.”

The 20-year-old chestnut mare has taught Sheplee a lot in a short amount of time. “She's really taught me the basics of eventing and how to ride more confidently,” Sheplee said. “I'm very excited [for tomorrow] because cross-country is our best phase, usually, so I can't wait.”

Leading the division with a score of 27.3, Sheplee is one point ahead of second place Mackenzie Wendt, riding her own Castall (by Capryo). Wendt is closely followed by Kendall Menne and SBF Cool Snowflake (Dromard View x SBF Sunshine). Menne and her Irish Draught Sport Horse scored a 28.8.

USEA Beginner Novice Amateur Championship

Kylie Stangle and Redfield Mikke (Maximus x Maritza) took the lead by a whopping seven points in the USEA Beginner Novice Amateur Championship with their score of 20.3. A native of Stockton, New Jersey, Stangle doesn’t often leave her home state. Only once before have they competed out of state, attending the Bucks County Horse Park Horse Trial in Revere, Pennsylvania. Stangle said she had to take a moment to collect herself after entering the ring.

“I will say that when I went into the ring, I had to refocus because I was so excited just to be in that ring,” Stangle said. “It was awesome. This is my second away show, so pretty cool. Just being in that ring was it for me. It was beautiful. The judges’ boxes were fabulous.”

His rider may have been awed by the atmosphere, but Mickey thrived off the attention. “I wasn't worried about him in the dressage ring,” Stangle said. “His owner, Janina Parmelee, takes him to dressage shows all the time, so he shows quite a bit. This would be our fourth event of the season, I believe. He thrives off of all this stuff. He enjoys a crowd. When there's flags, when there's just lots of things, he loves it.

Stangle has been riding Mickey since circa 2021, but was a working student for five-star eventer and judge Marilyn Payne prior to that. Over the last three years, Stangle has developed a close relationship with the 11-year-old Deutsches Reitpony/Warmblood cross. “He is a puppy dog in the barn,” Stangle said. “He loves to be groomed. He loves to go for walks. He loves just hanging out. He prefers to be with his human.”

Ali Martinez claimed second place with Amanda Tamminga’s Codename Toby (Treasure Cove x Go Bubby Go) on a score of 27.2. She was very closely followed by Elizabeth Glowacki in third place, riding her own DCF Diamond Georgette (Kilpeck Diamond Knight x Angel Claire), with a score of 27.3.

USEA Beginner Novice Master Amateur

Eventing is one of the few sports where athletes can expect a career to last long past their thirties. Competing in the USEA Beginner Novice Master Amateur Championship at the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships is an honor. Limited exclusively to riders who are over 50-years-old, this division is filled with 28 horses who earned scores ranging from 38.7 to 25.9.

Leading the division is Roisin O’Rahilly, riding her own Happy Times (unrecorded breeding). “Paddy” is a 12-year-old Irish Draught that O’Rahilly sourced from The Plains, Virginia. It was a trial by fire for the pair from the very first time she sat on him.

“The day I went to try him out, three of us were going for a hack, and at one stage, I found myself in the front of the three, and we came to a T-junction,” O’Rahilly said. “I turned around and I said, ‘Which way, left or right?’ And the lady who owned the horse said, ‘Oh, it's straight ahead.’ Well, straight ahead was a stone wall and then down on across the river. And I just said, ‘Okay, Paddy, let's go.’ He went on over the wall, and through the river. I said, ‘That’s it, this is the horse for me.’”

O’Rahilly is looking forward to tomorrow when she and the Irish Draught gelding will tackle a beefy Beginner Novice course. “I grew up hunting in Ireland all my life, until my mid-20s, or early 20s,” O’Rahilly said. “That's how I got into eventing, because I felt that the cross-country was as close as I could get to hunting in Ireland. I just love cross-country.”

This is not the first time 81-year-old Roisin O’Rahilly has been in the headlines of the United States Eventing Association. Just last year, O’Rahilly made a splash when she completed her Century Ride aboard former five-star eventer, Ziggy, owned by Rachel Jurgen. Since then, O’Rahilly has also completed a Century Drive.

“I borrowed my neighbor's pony, who’s 20 something, and off we went. And we did great. The judge told me I had lovely hands,” O’Rahilly said, laughing. “It was the first time I’d ever driven.”

Toni Flory and her own Rewind (Rosenthal x Girl Dancer) are currently in second place with a score of 28.8. William Barclay took third with his own FE Violet Crumble (Crumble x Z-Concordia) on a score of 28.9.

Beginner Novice Adams Horse Supply Adult Team Championship

With 15 teams in the Beginner Novice Adams Horse Supply Adult Team Championship, teams will have to work particularly hard to come in first. Currently leading the herd is The Neigh Slayers on a score of 85.9. This team includes Ali Martinez riding Amanda Tamminga’s Codename Toby (Treasure Cove x Go Bubby Go), William Barclay and his own FE VIOLET CRUMBLE (Crumble x Z-Concordia), Eden Miller and her own Cupido T (unrecorded breeding), as well as Beverly Britton aboard her own Chesterfield Dauntless (Fort Prado x La Rocca).

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About the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC)

The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is the pinnacle of the sport at the national levels. Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Starter to Advanced. This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of combinations from around the country to compete for fabulous prizes, a piece of the substantial prize money, and the chance to be named the National Champion at their respective levels. In fact, the 2021 AEC garnered over 1,000 entries and now stands as the largest eventing competition in North American history. The 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held Aug. 27—Sept. 1 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Click here to learn more about the USEA American Eventing Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Presenting Sponsor: Nutrena Feeds; Advanced Final Title Sponsor: Adequan; Platinum Level Sponsor: Bates Saddles, Horse & Country; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, Parker Equine Insurance, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Smartpak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Canter Culture Riding Apparel, Kerrits, The Jockey Club, Rood & Riddle; Bronze Level Sponsor: 70 Degrees, Athletux, The Chronicle of the Horse, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Kraft Horse Walkers, Majyk Equipe, Retired Racehorses Project, Ride EquiSafe, Santa Cruz Animal Health; Contributing Level Sponsors: Cross Country App, Georgetown – Scott County Tourism, Lexmark, L.V. Harkness, #WeRideTogether; and Prize Level Sponsors: BEMER, Big Ass Fans, Boyd Martin Fan Shop, Ecogold, EquiFit, Equilab, FarmVet, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Horses 4 Your Consideration, I Love My Horse Eventing Boutique, Jack’s Favorites, Jane Heart Jewelry, Kentucky Equine Research, LeMieux, Mare Goods, Neighborly Tack, Outlaw Nutrition, Palmera Polo, Parkmore Supplements, Practical Horseman / Equine Network, Rachel Dory Equine Fine Art, Remond Minerals, Secretariat Center, Shapley’s, Sidelines Magazine, Strides for Equality Equestrians, and VTO Saddlery.

About the Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships

The Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships, which debuted in 2014, is the capstone event for the USEA Area Adult Team Challenges, providing adults the chance to compete as a team and represent their Area of the country in a friendly and fun environment. Historically, adult riders had three regional Team Challenges in which to compete with fellow adults in a team environment, with the locations changing each year. In 2013, the USEA Adult Rider Coordinators voted to move to support Adult Team Challenges taking place in all 10 Areas across the country, with the finale being the ATC at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds. Each Area can send up to eight teams from Beginner Novice through Preliminary level to the ATC. Adult Riders know how to have a good time, and there is no doubt that they bring an increased level of excitement and camaraderie to the AEC! Click here to learn more about the Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Title Sponsor, Adams Horse Supply, and ARMA, The Chronicle of the Horse, Equilab, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Kerrits, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Santa Cruz Animal Health, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, and SmartPak for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.