United States Eventing Association

Six divisions of riders, ranging from Training through Advanced, were the first to compete in the dressage at the 2009 Bit of Britain/USEA American Eventing Championships in Wayne, Illinois. Close to 400 competitors are entered to ride against their peers in this national championships, which is being held for the third year at the scenic Lamplight Equestrian Center.

Over $50,000 in cash and over $100,000 in fabulous prizes are on the line once again this year at the sixth annual AEC!

Top Divisions Prove Competitive

While the numbers in the Advanced division were small, the competition was mighty as six of the nation's top riders performed their dressage tests this morning. At the end of the day, it was Great Britain's Leslie Law, a multiple AEC champion, who took the lead aboard Peter Green's Evening Shade with a 27.5.

"He was the first in the ring, and he did a very solid performance. He's a very big-moving, fancy horse with great paces," said Law, who resides in Bluemont, Virginia.

Hopefully this weekend will be a breakthrough in the career of this promising ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. "He's been knocking on the door this year and last year as well, and his work at this level is becoming very confirmed," added Law. "Quite honestly, the thanks has to go to Peter Green. He really does ninety-nine percent of the work on the horse, and I just catch ride him."

It was interesting to see Law leading the pack aboard a grey horse, seeing that his most recent successful partners have been chestnut geldings, such as Fleeceworks Mystere du Val, who sits in fifth place with a 32.9. Of course, Leslie's most famous event horses were the grey full brothers Shear L'Eau (individual gold and team silver medal winner at the 2004 Olympics) and Shear H20 (Leslie's partner at the 2000 Olympics). Perhaps, his grey partner this weekend will prove just as successful!

The standings are incredibly close in the Advanced division with the top riders only fractions of a point apart. Jennie Brannigan's Cooper was very lively during his test, and obviously had cross-country on his mind. Their test was good enough to score a 32.1 and tie them with Nate Chambers and Rolling Stone II. Both Brannigan and Chambers work with Phillip Dutton at his farm in West Grove, Pennsylvania and obviously the lessons have paid off as they squeaked just ahead of Dutton and Woodburn, who posted a 32.5. Law and Fleeceworks Mystere du Val sit fifth, though Law seemed pleased with his ride, and considered it one of the gelding's best tests. Kelly List of Ontario and Minstral rounded out the division with a 45.4.

The Advanced division also serves as part of the 2009 Adequan/USEA Gold Cup Series, where horse and rider combinations from across the nation compete for cash, prizes, and points on the Gold Cup leaderboard. Both Leslie Law and Jennie Brannigan are well within reach of taking over the top position in the series, and could earn a check for $10,000 at the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention this December.

The Intermediate division was nearly as competitive, with seventeen talented horses and riders vying for top slots early on in the competition. It was nineteen-year-old Jordynn Sahagian of Barrington, Illinois who took over the lead aboard Nestor. Earning a satisfying 30.0, the pair don't have too much breathing room as Diana Rich and Primestar hang onto second with a 33.1, and Leslie Law and Hugo Fast round out third with a 33.8.

(Left: Jordynn Sahagian and Nestor lead the pack in the Intermediate division. Josh Walker photo.)

Preliminary Power

All three of the Preliminary divisions rode today, with the Preliminary Horse divisions being the largest by far, with close to 40 entries. The scores are tight at the top, but it was Phillip Dutton and Nina Gardner's stunning grey Dutch Warmblood mare Vidalia who posted the best score of the division with a 28.3. Previously shown by Boyd Martin, the seven-year-old mare competed successfully in the USEA's Spalding Labs Young Event Horse Series as a youngster.

Only one other combination scored under 30.0, as Kristen Rozycki and Full Circle trotted into second with a 29.2. Less than ten points separate the top 25 in this huge division - at this point in the competition, the final placings are still up for grabs!

Eleven horses and riders are competing this weekend in the Preliminary Amateur division, and Lynne Partridge and El Cid took the early lead this afternoon with a 25.4. This successful young gelding has a superb record, and like Vidalia, also competed extensively in the USEA's Young Event Horse series.

Kaitlynn Chambers and Enchanted ended their day in second place in the division with 28.8, while Dick Bayly and Lauderdale rounded out the top three.

Alison Wilaby, 20, of Lexington, Kentucky leads the group of ten Preliminary Junior/Young Riders aboard Memphis II, her English Sport Horse gelding with a very commendable 26.7. Elinor MacPhail and Woodstock II posted a 30.8, and Cora Katz-Samuels and All or Nothing sit in third with 32.1

Triumphant Training

Two of the three Training divisions completed their dressage this afternoon, with only the Training Junior division left to compete tomorrow.

Tracey Corey of Kentucky posted the best score of the day aboard her Thoroughbred gelding SuperNova, earning an impressive 24.7. Tera MacDonald and Cheryl Quick's La Tee Da are nipping at their heels with a 25.3. Both young horses competed in the Young Event Horse series, with La Tee Da earning Reserve Championship honors for both his four- and five-year-old years at the YEH Championships.

Kerry Torry and Wellfleet are tied with Phillip Dutton and Young Man in the Training Horse division, which is composed of nearly 20 horses. Bigger was better for these guys as, Torry, of New York, rode Carlin Vickery's 17.2-hand Hanoverian/Thoroughbred gelding, while Dutton partnered with Anne Jones 17.3-hand Thoroughbred gelding. Carol Kozlowski took second and third aboard Fuzzie's Hero with a 28.4 and Good Earth Bit O'Honey who earned 30.0.

What's Next?

The rest of the lower levels divisions will brave the dressage rings tomorrow, while today's competitors will hack across the road to the Pratt's Wayne Woods Forest Preserve for the cross-country phase designed by Ritch Temple.

Check out today's video to find out what Ritch has to say about the new changes to the course this year, and don't forget to check out the interactive course maps!

The dressage begins bright and early at 8:00AM tomorrow morning, while the first horse gallops out of the cross-country course at 9:00AM.

Thank you to all our wonderful sponsors who make the AEC truly a destination event: Title Sponsor: Bit of Britain; Legacy Sponsors: Amerigo, Nutrena, Sponsor Saratoga Horseworks, Contributing Sponsors: Adequan, Cover-All Building Systems; Platinum Sponsors: Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Charles Owen; Gold Level Sponsors: Fleeceworks; and Silver Level Sponsors: SmartPak Canine, Auburn Laboratories Inc., FITS, Revitavet, Mackinnon Ice Horse, Dubarry of Ireland, Horse Quencher, SSG Gloves, Spalding Labs, and SUCCEED; and Supporting Sponsors: ThinLine.