Early Mornings Reap Rewards for Motivated Triple Winner Emily O’Neill at USDF Regional Championships

October 8, 2025 – Lexington, KY – Five out of nine Great American Insurance Group/United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Regional Championship shows took place over the weekend of October 2–5, 2025. Along with being major national events in their own right, all served as qualifiers for the 2025 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Wilmington, OH, running October 30–November 2.

Emily O’Neill’s Triple Triumph

At the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 1 Dressage Championships at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, Emily O’Neill rode 16 tests, coming away with three championship titles and qualifying four horses for Finals.
She piloted Johanna Walters’ six-year-old MW Empire (by Escamillo x San Amour) to a Second Level double, topping both the Open straight and freestyle classes with 71.488% and 76.842% — the latter being the highest championship score of the show. It also helped them earn the Barbara Silverman Memorial Freestyle Award for consistent high scores this season.
“We found Empire as a green broke three-year-old with his breeder Jen Vanover of Maplewood Warmbloods, and I fell in love with him after a couple of laps around the arena,” said O’Neill. “This year, I had five horses at Regionals, which is the most I’ve taken in 15 years.”
O’Neill, who trains with Heather Mason, repurposed her Imagine Dragons freestyle music in just 45 minutes over Zoom with Mason’s help.

A Life Fueled by Early Mornings

O’Neill works out of Elysian Hill Farm in Elverson, PA, where she has nine horses in training and does nearly all the stable work herself. A dedicated marathon runner, she starts her day at 3 a.m., runs five to ten miles, then cleans stalls and rides — with help from just one part-time groom.

Young Horses and a Pony Powerhouse

She also won the First Level Open title on Oliver Twist JP, a six-year-old Sir Sinclair x Charmeur gelding owned by Lory Eighme. Another of Eighme’s horses, the 13hh Dartmoor stallion Fiddlemaker’s Line Drive, earned a Finals qualification at Second Level freestyle with over 72%.
“I love ponies, and it’s going to be so special that he’ll be showing against the big horses,” said O’Neill.
Her own horse, Presely, also heads to Finals at Second Level.

Denise Steele’s Adult Amateur Triple

Adult Amateur Denise Steele and her 15-year-old Belissimo M mare Bon Chance 8 scored a trio of wins — all over 70%. The reigning US Dressage Finals Prix St. Georges AA champions will now defend their title and contest both Intermediate I classes.

Young Rider Elena Moffitt Shines

13-year-old Elena Moffitt claimed both First and Second Level Junior/Young Rider titles and topped the USDF Dressage Seat Semi-Finals 13 & Under with Diano, a 22-year-old Belgian Warmblood.

Region 4

Nicole Harrington’s Flawless Freestyle

At the Region 4 Championships in Lake St. Louis, MO, Nicole Harrington achieved her goal of qualifying two eight-year-old geldings for Finals. Her First Level freestyle on Maximus B (by Toto Jr. x Painted Black) scored a stellar 77.764% to AC/DC and “Paint It Black.”
“It was a phenomenal ride — just about as flawless as it could be,” said Harrington.
Her other mount, Despacito Corazon (by Destano x Belissimo M), topped the Third Level freestyle with 73.55%.

Grace Christianson’s Junior Triple

Teenage rider Grace Christianson finished in the top three in all seven classes she contested, including picking up a trio of championship titles in the Junior/Young Rider classes at First, Second, and Third Level. The 13-year-old — who was the triple gold medalist in the Children’s division at the 2025 FEI North American Youth Championships — capped her Regionals by winning the USDF Dressage Seat Semi-Finals 13 and Under.
She scored a winning double and one reserve champion title on Karissa Gearen’s six-year-old KWPN Outsider DRH (by Spielberg x Apache), heading up the First Level class with 71.319% and the Training Level test with 74.8%. Her Second Level winner, the American-bred FHF Roulee (by Routinier), led the field by nearly four percentage points with 70.238%.

Region 9

Birgitt Dagge’s Dutch Harness Duo

Adult Amateur Birgitt Dagge brought two Amish-bred Dutch Harness Horses to the Region 9 Championships in Katy, TX, and both came away with winner’s sashes. Her nine-year-old Pharaon won both the Third and Fourth Level straight classes and earned a reserve champion ribbon in the Third Level freestyle.
“He’s in his fourth year under saddle,” said Dagge, who made the 20-hour trip from Florida. “I tried to ride Pharaon before he was five, but we call him ‘Sir Buckalot,’ and we had to wait a bit to really get going with him.”

Freestyle Fun with Black Jack

Her Intermediate I freestyle winner, Black Jack, scored 73.4%. Bought sight unseen, he was briefly borrowed for a driving competition before returning to Dagge, who has since brought him up to I-1 level. “The freestyle at this level is my absolute favorite; we both love it,” she said. “We go in there and dance away. I love to pick upbeat music like ‘Mambo Number 5’ and ‘Banana Boat.’”

John Mason’s Triple Victory

John Mason also produced a triple triumph, taking titles on three different horses. At First Level, Starburszt SWF (by Sternlicht GGF x Gribaldi) scored 74.306%. At Fourth Level, he won with Mein Toto (by Toto Jr.) on 71.181%, and with True Temptation SWF (by Tailormade Temptation) he topped the Prix St. Georges with 68.309%.

Gail Abele’s Double Delight

Adult Amateur Gail Abele rode her six-year-old Bonds x Sir Donnerhall gelding, Baronato, to a double win at Second Level, scoring 71.905% in the straight class and 72.447% in the freestyle.

Looking Ahead to the 2025 US Dressage Finals

The 2025 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® takes place October 30–November 2 at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, OH. This national head-to-head competition showcases riders in Adult Amateur, Open, and Junior/Young Rider divisions from Training Level through Grand Prix, including freestyle classes, with over $125,000 in prize money.

About USDF

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org or email usdressage@usdf.org.

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