SAUGERTIES, N.Y. — Gwyneth McPherson of Limington and Lawool, a 17-year-old Dutch-bred gelding, were named the United States Dressage Federation Region 8 Grand Prix (Open Division) Dressage Champions on Sept. 16.

Competing at the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 8 Championships, McPherson and Lawool achieved the top score of 63.23 percent in a field of 10 professional competitors.

McPherson serves as Lead Trainer and Director of the Pineland Farms Equestrian Center in New Gloucester. Region 8 covers all of New England and New York.

It has been a breakthrough year for McPherson’s recognition as a candidate for United States national teams. With several wins on the highly competitive Florida circuit this past winter, her Region 8 Championship secures her reputation among the most elite riders in the country.

“I have been riding all my life, and suddenly there are some significant opportunities,” said McPherson. “The chance to compete with Lawool at this level has been tremendously fun for me,” she added.

Dressage is an Olympic medal sport showcasing a horse’s natural movements under the guidance of a skilled rider’s aids. Judges evaluate prescribed “tests” performed by horse and rider.

Grand Prix is the highest level of dressage, requiring years of training by both horse and rider. The Grand Prix test ridden in the Region 8 Championships is the same test that is ridden at the Olympic Games.

On the same day, another Pineland Farms rider and a student of McPherson, Carissa Lizotte, rode Cadence, a 3-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (bred, raised and trained by Pineland Farms) to fourth place with a score of 69.2% in the Training Level (Open Division) Finals. Lizotte and Cadence competed in a field of almost 30 horses.

The Regional Championships include all riding levels, from USDF Training Level to international level Grand Prix. The divisions are divided into Junior/Young Rider, Adult Amateur, and Open (professional).

McPherson is coached by Olympic bronze medalist and Fairfield native Michael Poulin, who is internationally regarded as one of top dressage instructors in the United States.