The USEF Young and Developing Horse Championships remain a highlight of our show plans every year.  With only the top 15 of each age group invited to the Finals, the competition is intense yet the sense of comradery and enthusiasm is one of the best of all the shows.  It’s especially educational to see many of the horses back year-after-year and watch their development up the levels.  This year, Michael qualified an impressive SIX horses for the Finals!  The two 4-year olds started the week off well.  Carol McPhee’s SenSation HW (Sunday-Dancier) has only been with Michael since the beginning of June, but is advancing well in the work.  He offered two harmonious, flowing tests which earned a 5^th place in the Preliminary and a 6^th place overall with a final score of 7.472.  Marydell Farm’s Debonair MF (Doctor Wendell MF-Rotspon) showed a lot of composure for a young stallion.  While the connection could be a bit steadier, he remains supple and swinging in his work and the walk is a real highlight.  He placed 5^th in the Preliminary test and moved up to 5^th in the overall standings with a score of 7.692.  This placing will also fulfill his sport requirements for ISR/OldenburgNA. 

Competing on the same days as the 4-year olds, was the Developing Prix St. Georges division for horses ages 7 to 9 years old.  Michael’s two 7-year olds have had great seasons so far and produced two solid tests each.  Sternlicht Hilltop (Soliman de Hus-Rascalino), bred by Rachel Ehrlich and owned by Hilltop Farm, finished in 12^th place overall with a final tally of 66.715 and was edged out by Mitch and Lara Mitchelson’s Faberge Blue (Contango-Democraat) who finished in 11^th place with a 66.86%. 

Qredit Hilltop (Quaterback-Dream of Glory) competed in the Developing Grand Prix division for horses ages 8 to 10 years old.  At 9, he is just in his first season at this level but came through with a 6^th place finish overall on a final score of 65.355%.  Qredit was one of two offspring in the Developing Grand Prix by Quaterback and bred in the US by Judy Yancey.  Ending the weekend on a high-note was Anne Howard’s wonderful 6-year old stallion Finery (Furstenball-Diamond Hit).  While still green at this level, Finery’s quality gaits were consistently evident and he stayed well focused on Michael throughout.  With an overall 7.6, he finished strongly into 3^rd place for both the Preliminary and the Final tests.