Meet the Gypsy Vanner Who Scored a Reserve Championship Title at the US Dressage Finals

Horses of all kinds shipped in for the 2024 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan. In a sea of tall beautiful Warmbloods, one particular horse stuck out - Finals first timers The Chick Magnet and rider/owner Vasiliki Harvey of Region 3.

When it came time to go down centerline, the eye-catching Gypsy Vanner stuck out not just for his looks, but also for his performance. In a class of 13 in the 1st Level Adult Amateur Freestyle Championship, he and Harvey danced their way to a score of 69.148%. Harvey anxiously watched the scores come it, staring in disbelief when her horse, who she’d nearly lost to a colic and laminitis episode, finished as reserve champion!

In this YourDressage exclusive interview, Harvey shares the very special story of how, as an equine reproduction vet, she has been with The Chick Magnet since conception, and tells us a little about her first time at the US Dressage Finals. Meanwhile, the Chick Magnet proves his name a fitting one, as he steals the spotlight by befriending USDF Senior Marketing Coordinator Chelsey Burris throughout the interview.

To learn more about this power duo, visit YourDressage.org

[Music Credit: Austin Powers soundtrack. Copyright Disclaimer: - Under section 107 of the copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for FAIR USE for purpose such a as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statues that might otherwise be infringing. Non- Profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of FAIR USE.]

Videos by Chelsey Burris and/or courtesy of Vasiliki Harvey