United States Eventing Association

The USEA Area VII Championships were held alongside the Aspen Farms Horse Trials in Yelm, Washington, from Sept. 12-14. We caught up with some of the winners below!

Open Intermediate Champions | Tommy Greengard & Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad | 33.6

Tommy Greengard and Patricia Culleton's 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad (A. Umonia 60 x Aubane Girl) moved up from second after dressage to win the Open Intermediate Championship.

Open Preliminary Champions | Tommy Greengard & MBF Google | 26.1

Greengard and his own and Andrea Pfeiffer's MBF Google (Casallo Z x Icarronne-S), a 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, led their division from start to finish.

Open Training Champions | Jordan Linstedt & Liberty R | 26.4

Professional rider Jordan Linstedt (Monroe, Washington) was thrilled with Amy Itkin’s 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Liberty R (Goodtimes x Coco Chanel R) over the weekend.

“‘Libby’ really showed up and led from start to finish, which was such a rewarding experience,” she said. “She’s owned by the phenomenal Amy Itkin, who has been such a wonderful supporter of our partnership. Libby came to me about three years ago. She was originally a dressage horse, but it became clear she wanted to cross train. Once she started jumping, she lit up, and now I couldn’t imagine taking the jump out of her. She’s truly phenomenal in all three phases, and she’s been a pleasure to produce.”

Lindstedt said she’s never had a horse with so much genuine joy for her job. “She absolutely loves what she does, and I think that’s a big part of her success,” she said. “I credit so much of that to Amy’ she’s an outstanding owner who gives Libby every opportunity to be her best. The support she shows both of us means the world, and I’m so excited to continue producing Libby up the levels.”

Training Junior Champions | Olivia Harris & Checker Can | 38.5

Olivia Harris (Redmond, Washington) and her mother Joanne Harris’ Checker Can, a 7-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Canstakko x Cardenia) topped the Training Junior championship after starting out the weekend in second place after dressage.

“The weekend went amazingly,” said Joanne. “Aspen is such a great event. So well organized, beautiful facilities, and great touches like bringing coffee to competitors in the morning which is always very welcome!”

“Teddy” came from a family breeder in Germany. “For Olivia it was love at first sight, and she knew he was the one. Teddy was only 5 when she got him, and she has brought him on herself with support from our wonderful trainers,” said Joanne.

Training Amateur Champions | Hanni Sreenan & Enchanted | 28.1

Hanni Sreenan (Hood River, Oregon) and Amy Haugan's Enchanted, an 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Ehrentusch x Levantine) led their division from start to finish.

Novice Amateur Champions | Melissa Mohr & Ferrani | 22.2

Melissa Mohr and her 8-year-old German Sport Horse mare Ferrani (Finest x Comtess Ferrara) finished in an impressive score in their division.

Mohr, Vashon, Washington, has owned the mare for three years after Jordan Linstedt found her in Germany.

“She has a wonderful temperament and truly wants to do her job well,” said Mohr. “Jordan Linstedt and Debbie Dewitt have been instrumental in helping us build a partnership, and we have definitely improved a lot this past year and really started to compete as a team. I grew up riding but took about 10 years off, so she has been a really wonderful mare to get me back into competing.”

Mohr was happy with their weekend, which included a “solid” dressage test a brave cross-country round, and she was able to handle the pressure of no margin for error on show jumping day to have a perfect round. “It's such a great feeling when you put together all three phases,” she said. “As much as winning was a great cap to the year, my favorite part of eventing continues to be the amazing community of riders, trainers, and owners. I have made so many great friends and love how supportive all the riders are to each other. We have a great team, and it's just fun to be at the event watching everyone ride, catching up and talking through the course, tests, et cetera, with your fellow competitors.”

Junior Novice Champions | Emma Lee & Andiamo Baum | 29.0

Emma Lee (Ridgefield, Washington) had a “perfect” weekend on her own 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Andiamo Baum (Private Gold x Andiamo Deb). They earned a personal best dressage score of 25.0, showing off lots of hard work this year. One rail in show jumping didn’t change the standings, and they took home the win.

The pair have been together for two years.

“It has been amazing to see how much we have grown and learned together,” said Lee. “From all the ups and down we have had, it has had created a lot of trust between ‘Andi’ and me. I trust him to keep me safe, and he trusts me that I’m not going to put him in bad situations. I cannot wait for our future together with all the adventures and memories we are going to make, as well as how our relationship is going to grow even stronger than it already is.

“Looking back on the weekend, my favorite and most memorable moment was definitely cross-country,” she added. “The course was definitely the most fun course I have ever ridden. Even thought I was focused during the whole course, I smiled through the whole thing, and I had so much fun. Andi had just as much fun as I did. I always love how proud he is of himself after we finish. He always knows he did amazing.”

Lee also noted that she saw a lot of amazing sportsmanship throughout the weekend and was reminded of how close-knit the eventing community can be.

“Everyone supported each other while still being competitors,” she said. “It was so nice to see everyone being so kind to each other because at the end of the day, we all do this sport because we love our horses, friends, and of course cross-country. Sometimes we forget that it’s not all about winning; sometimes it just means ending on a number, sometimes it just means getting below a 40 in dressage, but it’s also about all the friends you are going to make on the way. And I think that is one of the most important parts we forget about.”

Open Novice Champions | Jenniver Turla & SV Royal Robbie | 31.1

In the Olive EQ and Caroline Pamukcu Eventing Open Novice Championship, Jenniver Turla (Kingston, Washington) and SV Royal Robbie came out on top.

“This was a thrill of a lifetime for me,” said Turla, 56. “I have been riding horses 50 years and eventing in Area VII for over 40 years. Eventing is my passion and to have this big of a win for me at this stage of my life on ‘Robbie,’ who I bought sight unseen as a 2-year-old from his breeder Sunshine Valley Sporthorses in Eden, Utah, [is amazing.]”

Turla is proud to have done all of the riding on Robbie, a 6-year-old Connemara/Hanoverian gelding (Royal Prince x Elphin Milis Rosanna), as she’s brought him along, and he lives like a pet on her small farm. Turla’s husband, two teenage sons, and her 93-year-old father live with her and rarely have a chance to see her compete, and the highlight of her weekend was when he son Quinn and husband John came to cross-country day to watch the upper levels.

The venue at Aspen was perfect; the footing was fantastic, and the jumps and courses for cross-country and stadium were perfect,” Turla said. “I could not have asked for a better weekend. It is always wonderful to be guests at the Elliot’s Farm.As my son said, it’s like a big party all weekend long, and the camaraderie is wonderfully supportive.”

Beginner Novice Amateur Champions | Susan Harrel & Odonnells Riverdancer | 22.2

Susan Harrel (Ellensburg, Washington) and her own Odonnells Riverdancer, a 10-year-old Irish Draught Sport Horse/Thoroughbred (Snowford O’Donnell x Macarena Girl) led their division from start to finish.

“Eventing can have so many ups and downs,” Harrel said. “It was amazing to have a practically perfect weekend. The weather, the fabulous Aspen Farms facility, friendly and helpful people. Our weekend was great!”

She bought “Rio” after a long and unsuccessful horse search when he 4 in 2019.

“With the help of Mary Burke and Asia Thayer and many excellent clinicians, we have progressed together,” she explained. “From lows, including being unceremoniously dumped off during stadium where she proceeded to cross the arena and jump a coop with me sitting in the dirt, to being bucked off in warm-up minutes before my stadium round and having to brush the dirt off and proceed, to our current reliable partnership, it has been a journey. It was so exciting to compete at Aspen Farms, something that seemed far out of my reach not that long ago. We have worked hard at dressage, and so I am very proud of our personal best 22.2 dressage score.”

Junior Beginner Novice Champions | Izabella Fierner & Devotion WGF | 29.3

Izabella Fierner (Rainier, Washington) rode her 7-year-old Westphalian gelding (Devon Heir x Zekoya) to a big win in the Junior Beginner Novice Championships. It was a busy weekend for Fierner as she was also competing her other horse, Aspen P in the same division, finishing ninth.

“My horses share saddles and other equipment, so it was quite the task to transfer equipment and get back to start gates!” she said. “I managed, and I learned a lot. I am very proud of both of my horses. This was both of my horses second shows in eventing.

“Devo” was bred at Willow Gate Farms in Idaho, and is Fierner’s first horse. “When we found Devo, I think we all knew he was the horse we had been waiting for,” she said. “Devo is a very calm, easygoing dude with a very chill temperament. His favorite thing to do is pull fly masks off his pasture buddies and then run around with the mask in his mouth playing keep away.”

Fierner lives down the road from Aspen Farms and grew up watching the events held there.

“To actually have the opportunity to compete at the venue is a dream come true,” she said. “I also love shopping at Gallops Saddlery. Every year I save up my money to shop at the pop-up store at the Aspen Farms event. This year I bought some new shirts and accessories that I actually wore in my show jumping round. Pretty sure my new sparkly belt is a good luck charm!”

Although Fierner is still new to eventing, she was welcomed with open arms by the Area VII community.

“I really appreciate how the community is very kind, supportive, and welcoming,” she said. “I also really enjoyed that my friends and family were able to come and watch me at this show and cheer me on. Special thanks to Salem, Lilah and Peyton. These three are my barn besties and helped keep me laughing and prepared throughout the event. Special thanks to Team Karen O'Neal! The entire team has been supportive of my development and growth throughout this past year at practices and events.”

Open Beginner Novice Champions | Mikaela Kuiper & Smitten | 28.6

Hot off a reserve championship in the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Rider division at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds, Mikaela Kuiper (Vancouver, Washington) and Smitten topped the Open Beginner Novice Championship at Aspen Farms.

Owned by Jaime Huff and Jessica Wickersham, the 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Minister’s Wildcat x Tiz A Problem) has been in Kuiper’s barn for about a year after he came into her dressage training program.

“His owners convinced me to dip back into the eventing world after I had spent the last seven years focusing on dressage,” she explained. “Smitten—nicknamed Kitten—is an off-the-track Thoroughbred, and this is our first year competing together. We are looking forward to what next year may bring. Our favorite part of the weekend was receiving the lowest dressage score [a 20.6] of the entire show.”

For full results, click here.