Hilltop News
Michael Scores Over 80% - twice!
We had a great weekend at the WPDA Summer Sizzler shows on July 30-31. Two of Michael’s students reached big milestones. Beth Custalow qualified for the USDF Regional Finals at Fourth Level and Robin Birk won her very first Intermediaire I test with a 64.3%. Congratulations Beth & Robin!
Michael had a pretty good weekend riding too. He moved Kaja Brix’s wonderful gelding Feuerbach up to Prix St. Georges and won his classes both days with scores of 71% & 68%. Then it was onto the Freestyle’s. This was the first time showing either Witness or Qredit in a Freestyle, but you wouldn’t have known it watching. Qredit earned scores of 80.5% and 74% over the two days, and Witness earned an 82.72% and a 72% over the two days. Yes – that was two 80% rides! While the heat had everyone a little tired the second day, we couldn’t be happier. A huge thank you to Karen Robinson who created these freestyles for Michael!
Stallion News
Hilltop Archives

Once again we made the long drive out to the beautiful Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL for the Markel/USEF Young Horse Championships. Michael qualified two horses for the Championships this year.

With each step in their careers, the Riverman offspring continue to impress us with the versatile athleticism that has allowed them to succeed at the highest levels of most every discipline. Over the years we’ve seen Riverman ranked near the top the USEF Leading Sire rankings in multiple disciplines.
Hilltop Articles & Interviews

Whether you are learning about showing your horse in hand or just looking for some tips, this excerpt from the 2015 USDF Sport Horse Breeders/Handlers Seminar is for you – Showing Sport Horses In Hand with Michael Bragdell.

The dramatic view at Hilltop Farm is as beautiful as its magnificent horses, but the facility's scenic side in a relatively rural section of Maryland is just one of the many things that make it unique, the word most often used by people describing this one-of-a-kind property.