The 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions officially began Monday at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in HITS Chicago, showcasing the nation’s top competitors in the Intermediaire I and Adequan®/USEF Para Dressage National Championships. The event opened following Sunday’s successful horse inspection, with all entries passing veterinary evaluation in the Grand Prix Arena.
USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship
Thirteen combinations contested the FEI Prix St. Georges test Monday morning in the opening class of the competition. Taking the early lead and holding it through the end was Sabine Schut-Kery (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) aboard Jojoba de Massa, a 2014 Portuguese Sporthorse stallion owned by Four Winds Farm. The pair posted a leading score of 72.235%.
In second place was Elizabeth Bortuzzo (Frenchtown, N.J.) riding Vincent, a 2017 Oldenburg gelding she co-owns with Mark Paul. They earned a 70.647%. Rounding out the top three was Lauren Spreiser with C. Cadeau, a 2016 Danish Warmblood gelding owned by the Elvis Syndicate LLC, scoring 70.235%.
Competition in the Intermediaire I Championship continues Tuesday with the FEI Intermediate I test, beginning at 9:00 a.m. CT / 10:00 a.m. ET.
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Adequan®/USEF Para Dressage National Championship
Intermediaire I Para Dressage Division
Making its debut at this year’s Festival is the new FEI Para Intermediaire division. Three combinations took to the arena in Monday’s FEI Para Intermediate Test A.
Claiming the top spot was Victoria Yu (Coatesville, Pa.) and Carrera GH, a 2005 Hanoverian mare owned by Tami Glover, scoring 63.570%. Close behind was Sienna Busking (Owasso, Okla.) on Divino, a 2000 Hanoverian gelding owned by Roberta Clark, with a score of 62.936%. Elizabeth Welch (Summerville, S.C.) and Baltico BRH, a 2018 PRE gelding, finished third on 61.606%.
Grand Prix Para Dressage Division
Three combinations also competed in the FEI Para Grand Prix Test A. Leading the class was Kate Shoemaker (Wellington, Fla.) aboard Supreme, a 2016 Westphalian stallion she owns and rides. They earned a winning score of 74.444%.
Roxanne Trunnell (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) followed closely in second place with Rumour Has It, a 2012 Hanoverian gelding owned by Simone Van Der Schalk, on a 69.583%. In third, Eleanor Brimmer (Wellington, Fla.) and My Moment, a 2010 Hanoverian mare she owns, scored 68.850%.
Both Para Dressage divisions resume competition Tuesday, starting at 11:55 a.m. CT / 12:55 p.m. ET.
The 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions continues throughout the week, celebrating elite performances across multiple divisions as athletes vie for national titles.
