Ashley Foster and Leena L. Photos by Randi Muster.
Jacksonville, FL – September 22, 2013 – The highly-anticipated ASPCA Maclay Regionals were held on the final day of the 2013 Southeast Medal Finals at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. Ashley Foster of Brookeville, MD executed Allen Rheinheimer’s course flawlessly aboard Leena L, owned by KMW Ponies LLC, to take home the coveted prize out of a total of 39 riders. Her life-long friend, Haley Waters, earned the second place prize with an impressive performance with Quito, owned by Chuck and Dana Waters. Barbara Ann Merryman, who won the Phelps Media Group Junior Medal on Saturday, came in third aboard Don Stewart’s Fernway Park.
Rheinheimer built a challenging course that asked many questions of the junior riders. The first line was an oxer to an oxer going away from the in gate. A tricky forward triple bar to a natural vertical then a quieter five to a natural oxer challenged some, while fence 8, a natural vertical then an immediate rollback to fence 9 had a number of riders cutting it too close.
“I think it was an excellent course,” said show organizer James Lala. “I think it is about precision and pace. The two things we talk about the most in riding and teaching are pace and line. I think it was the foundation of negotiating this course correctly. Having the knowledge and the experience, to know what to do and how to fix it when plan A doesn’t work, is what separates the exceptional riders from the good riders.
“The errors occurred at different places in the course, not all in one spot,” continued Lala. “To me, that is the sign of a great course designer. I think he asked many important questions in this course. HIs use of oxers, natural hunter-type jumps, jumper-style jumps, the fill, the flowers, the turns and the use of the islands is brilliant. Allen is a master course designer. He asks the right questions, at the right level.”
“It was difficult,” said Foster about the course. “My horse rides more like a jumper and this was more like a jumper course, which played to my advantage. I know her and I knew she would jump the triple bar really big so I stayed out and I did the six to the five and it made the five easier.” From fence 8 to fence 9 Foster also stayed out and did it in seven instead of six.
Foster’s mother Patty Foster is a trainer and runs Rolling Acres Farm in Brookeville, MD with her sister, Mary Lisa Leffler, who also rides and trains. She rides with Bobby Braswell and Courtney de Hechavarria for equitation.
“I had a pretty good week. We came here last year and we came back. I’m glad it went well. I’m glad I made it to Kentucky.”
“I had a different plan going in than what happened,” said Waters, the daughter of Dana and Chuck Waters of Waterworks Farm in Ocala, FL. “I had to make some adjustments. But he (Quito) went great. There was the forward five and I ended up staying out and doing six and he was really good. It rode a lot smoother in six. I’m excited. I did better than last year. I’m happy. I like to thank my parents and my trainer, Daniel Damen.”
Foster and Waters have known each other all their lives. “They have been together since they were a year old at the horse shows,” said Dana Waters, about the top two finishers. “Same babysitters, same birthday parties – to see them together now is really fun.”
Earlier in the day, Gallant, owned and ridden by Millie Russell, won the SEMF Adult Hunter Classic with smooth and rhythmical performance over the beautiful hunter course in the indoor arena. The pair also won the Adult Amateur 36+ Hunter Stake. Don Perignon, owned by Castlewood Farm and ridden by Barri Plant, earned the second place prize. The pair had a great show, also winning the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Stake.
The win of the SEMF Children’s Hunter Classic went to Carriage Hill Farm’s Lavish, ridden by Jia Meininger. The pair also won the Taylor Harris Medal and the Children’s Hunter Stake 14 and under. Bismark, owned by Harriet Schiele and ridden by Marissa Damone, earned the red ribbon. The pair also won the Children’s Hunter 15-17 Handy and the Under Saddle.
The Southeast Medal Finals was a huge success with increased entries and interesting new classes and divisions.
“We plan on tweaking a few things,” said organizer Bob Bell. “But the core of the show is really going in the right direction. We want to thank all our competitors, parents, trainers and sponsors for another great Southeast Medal Finals. We look forward to next year!” Lala and Bell and his Classic Company created the show in 2012 and experienced 100 percent growth in its second year.
“I have been asked why we don’t make it a 3′ medal and not allow the 3’6″ kids to go in Phelps Media Group Junior Medal,” said Lala. “A novice rider that rides the same course as, perhaps, the winner of the Maclay Regionals is not only watching the more experienced rider, but they are executing the same course, the same track, at the same height. They get to see the difference in the smoothness and the intricacies in the same course they ride. This format is a much more profound learning experience.
“We would love to see the Adult divisions grow,” continued Lala. “I have some ideas, such as higher jumps, so when you’re done with your junior equitation horse you don’t necessarily have to get rid of him. The last junior year is not the end of riding. There is so much more to learn.”
The dates for next year’s show are: Sept. 18-21, 2014.
Southeast Medal Finals Fast Facts:
WHAT: The Southeast Medal Finals is a USEF A-Rated indoor hunter, jumper and equitation horse show. USEF Rated Jumper Level 3
WEBSITE: www.southeastmedalfinals.com
WHEN: September 19-22, 2013
WHERE: The Jacksonville Equestrian Center, Jacksonville, FL, featuring a large indoor coliseum with 3,000 seats, two outdoor rings and 500 permanent stalls.
13611 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32221
FEATURES:
- Phelps Media Group Southeast Junior Medal Finals
- Southeast Adult Medal Finals
- ASPCA Maclay Regionals
- $25,000 Land Rover Grand Prix of Jacksonville
- $5,000 Welcome Stake
- $7,500 Child/Adult Jumper Finals
- New European Style Developing Sport Horse Division
- New Southeast Children’s Hunter Final
- New Southeast Adult Hunter Final
- EMO Cup Championship
Click here for the prize list, entry forms, schedules and more.
HUNTER & EQUITATION JUDGES: Linda Andrisani & Molly Flaherty (Hunter, Maclay & SEMF), Tony Sgarlatta (Hunter, Equitation & SEMF), Jennifer Drahan (SEMF)
JUMPER JUDGES: Allen Rheinheimer & Fred Brown
STEWARD: Janet McCarroll
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Susan Rindal – 904-655-5497 – rindal@bellsouth.net
James Lala – 561-906-6668 – jdlala@aol.com
Bob Bell – 843-768-5503 – bbell@earthlink.net
DIRECTIONS: For map and address information, visit http://www.southeastmedalfinals.com/Location.aspx.
Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com