Gladstone, NJ (June 12, 2012) – Sixteen-year-old dressage rider Rebecca Cohen faced many challenges during her quest for success at the 2012 USEF Dressage National Championships in New Jersey. Despite the fact that Downtown, her 17.2 hand Westphalian gelding, spent more time with the veterinarian than in the dressage arena, Cohen and her mount proved their star power and bounced back from the setbacks. The duo rode to victory in the Junior Division, taking the Reserve Championship title. Rebecca Cohen and Downtown won the National Junior Dressage Reserve Championship at the 2012 USEF National Championships at Gladstone. Just weeks prior to the Festival of Champions, Downtown, aka Daddy, was hospitalized with a leg infection; Cohen was unsure if she would be able to compete at all. After making a full recovery and showing himself strong enough to make the trip to New Jersey, Daddy’s trials and tribulations were not over as he colicked when they arrived, just days before the prestigious show. The chestnut gelding showed his mettle, however, and despite the setbacks pulled through the colic and took his rider to victory. “When we arrived in New Jersey, he didn’t ship well and I couldn’t ride him for a few days,” Cohen said, adding that they were uncertain about whether they would be able to compete. “Daddy did get better and the first day I rode him was the day before the show so we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare.” Cohen and Daddy earned a score of 67.378% in the Junior Team Test and a 69.500% in the Junior Individual Test to ride away with a 68.493% combined total and the 2012 Junior Dressage Reserve Championship.
Read more at the source: Rebecca Cohen and Downtown Beat the Odds to Win National Junior Dressage Reserve Championship at 2012 Festival of Champions
Article excerpt posted on Sidelinesnews.com from Show World.
