©ESI Photography. Patricia Garrett and Casper Van’t Gestelhof cool and precise on their way to winning.
Saugerties, NY (September 21, 2014) – As the 2014 Marshall & Sterling Insurance League Finals came to a close at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, onlookers had a chance to preview the future of the sport as medalists and Equitation finalists, M&S best of the best, entered the Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium, and came head to head.
Poised under pressure, there were many moments of equestrian grace, horsemanship and athleticism on display. If these Marshall & Sterling competitors are any indication of the future in the show ring (and sport itself), it looks promising.
Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal Final
Winner: Patricia Garrett from Victor, New York, on Casper Van’t Gestelhof
Since her first lesson seven years ago, fifteen year old Patricia Garrett’s passion has been horseback riding. No stranger to HITS, she competes on both circuits in Saugerties and Florida — and this year’s Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal Final winner.
Garrett is also a dedicated student with a near perfect GPA who enjoys Chemistry — but her main concern is riding. She often begins the day doing so, and ends the same way. She trains with Kristen Montevecchio out of Blumont Stables, without whom Garrett said, “None of this would have been possible.”
The horse that carried her to victory was Casper Van’t Gestelhof (or “Casper”), a twelve year old Belgian Warmblood she’s owned for year and a half. Garrett noted how Casper was, “On and perfectly prepared for the class. Every distance I asked him to move up to he opened his stride and jumped smoothly. Around the barn he’s a sweetheart and favorite of everyone. He loves bananas!”
Her favorite aspect of Marshall & Sterling Finals? “I LOVE competing in the Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium at HITS, being able to gallop up to the lines in such an open space.”
Of her Medal winning round she noted, “When I saw the course I was a bit concerned about the bending five stride line off the right lead, but we pulled it off smoothly… Kristen gave me a plan I was able to execute immediately and overall we were happy with how it went.”
Upon hearing she’d won the class Garrett admitted, “I was totally overwhelmed because it was my first Finals. I never expected to win!”
Garrett’s main goal all year was to qualify for Marshall & Sterling Finals. She wants to ride in college and eventually the Olympics. She said her parents are “wonderfully supportive” and she’s grateful. They’ve taught her life lessons that carry into the show ring: “One is that trust is earned — and anything is possible.”
Second place in the class was Kennedy Knapic, of Smithtown, New York, on her own Zedulon. Knapic rides with James Benedetto at Stonyhill Farm. Lauren Paddock riding Camora, owned by Prosapia, Inc. took third. Fourth was Adriana Savettiere and Lazio, owned by Redfield Farm. Caroline Berman on her own Signature was fifth.
Marshall & Sterling Junior/Amateur Horsemanship Final
Winner: Stephanie Moscove of Avon, Connecticut on El Passo, owned by Theresa Lamothe of Falls Village, Connecticut.
Moscove, eighteen, trains with Carolyn Mainardi and began riding at the age of three. Her mount for the M & S Junior/Amateur Horsemanship Final was El Passo, a stunning black 17.2 hand gelding she’s leased from owner Theresa Lamothe for only five months. In that time the pair have worked diligently, hit their stride, shown and placed well at many horse shows — quickly rising to the top or cream of the crop among Marshall & Sterling qualifiers.
“I was winning the M&S Horsemanship Class the entire time when we tested on the flat… exciting but nerve wracking too,” Moscove said. “But Passo knows when it’s showtime and tries his heart out no matter what, wherever he is. It was exhilarating to win — and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Second went to Katie Gray from Essex, Vermont on her own Q Two. Gray has been riding for seven years and a student at Sacred Heart University. She rides with Tara Valade at Stonehaven Farm in Milton, Vermont.
Gray, pleased with her placing in the class, said, “HITS Saugerties is one of my favorite shows and I spend a lot of time there during the summer. I started doing the jumpers this year and rode in the Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium before this event. That experience helped prepare me for today’s medal.”
“The course was a lot of fun,” she added, “I like when they begin with forward lines because it sets the pace for the rest of the trip… placing second in this class was rewarding because this was my horse, Q-Two’s (or “Q’s”) first equitation final. Though he was doing Grand Prix in Europe!” (where Gray and her trainer found him).
Her favorite thing about Q is that “he will jump anything and you can see he is really having fun. It’s wonderful and rare to have a horse who enjoys his job and wants to win as badly as I do.”
Going into the first round Gray’s plan was to make it as smooth as possible. “I’ve shown at the M&S Finals a few years now but this year was a high point. Having a horse with no equitation experience walk out second place was such a satisfying moment for me.”
Gray will continue riding throughout the school year. After college she wants to be a working student, show Q in the jumpers, “and return to HITS Saugerties, home to some of my best memories,” she smiled.
Caroline Berman of Lexington, Massachusetts placed third on Signature, fourth was Ariana Morales on Louvell, owned by Morgan Schneider and fifth Cali Ebersol of West Granby, Connecticut, on Nick of Time owned by La Luna Partners.
Sore No-More Children’s Medal Final – Horse
Winner: Nicola Boulter, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey on Lorentin, owned by Redfield Farm. Boulter is trained by Robert Beck at Hunters Crossing Farm.
Boulter, eighteen, has been riding for eleven years. She credits trainer Robert Beck for “polishing me off.” Boutler just began as a freshman at Villanova University and double majoring in English and Education.
She’s only owned Lorentin, a sixteen year old Holsteiner gelding, since January and said, “It was surprising and gratifying to win the Final on him after not riding for a month.” (She was at school.) “He’s fantastic and I could not ask for a better teammate.”
What does she love about the Marshall & Sterling Finals? “The courses are always beautiful in Saugerties and jumps this year very creative (!),” she noted.
Boulter was “nervous going into the second round but scored an 86 — so guess it went well. The best part was having my close friends and fellow M&S competitors congratulate me with open arms. Their love and support made my day!”
She also wanted “to thank everyone along the way for the amazing memories. I do not know what the future holds for me as a rider but know I will never stop. This was a great way to end my junior career!”
Success was even sweeter as Boulter’s barn mate and close friend Nina Columbia, thirteen, from Kinnelon, New Jersey, took second. Third went to Kendall Casaccio of Marmore, New Jersey, riding Wilhelm, owned by Cristyn Edwards. Fourth was Lena Rae Reeb of Weston, Connecticut, riding Jamie Ringel’s Private Ryan. Alyssa DiFazio, hailing from Far Hills, New Jersey, riding Eye Spy, owned by Morgan Windish of Hillsborough, New Jersey, took fifth.
M&S Child Pony Medal Final – Sm./Med.
Winner: Julia Blaney of Westport, Connecticut riding her pony Rainsox. Blaney is trained by Jenny Martin-Rudaz at Fairfield County Hunt Club.
Second went to Amanda Panaccione from Old Bridge, New Jersey on her own Cowboy. Third was Lauren Reid from Martinsville, New Jersey and Kiss Me Kate, owned by Kelly Lasch of Bedminster, New Jersey. Fourth was Lila Ouellette and Pentimento Bay, owned by Mary Beth McGhee,and fifth went to Eliza Kimball from New York, New York and One Hot Pepper, owned by Joe Currais, also of New York.
M&S Child Pony Medal Final – Large
Winner: Meghan Knapic of Smithtown, New York on Sunlight, owned by First Blue LLC.
Knapic, fourteen, has been riding since she was two years old and worked all year to qualify for the Marshall & Sterling Children’s Working Hunter Medal – Large Pony section. She trains with Jenna Weinfurt and Lauren Gridley of First Blue LLC, to whom she credits her success.
The Marshall & Sterling Finals is one of Knapic’s favorite shows all year, “because you’re with great competitors and friends and the staff is so helpful and friendly.”
Her mount, Sunlight, is a 14.2 Welsh gelding owned by Weinfurt. The young rider was “excited to show Sunny in the Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium because it’s large and jumps this year were so cool,” she smiled. “The best part was my second trip because the course felt great and I was happy with how I rode.”
Knapic will be moving up to horses soon, showing in the jumpers and junior hunters — and plans to return to the Marshall & Sterling Finals next year. “I love the Finals; it’s a very inviting show; there are cool places to go nearby and showgrounds are beautiful.”
Second was Carlie Taurosa from Allenwood, New Jersey, on her own Scoop Me Up. Taurosa is trained by Barbara Feigus at Nevergreen Farm. Chloe Terestcheuko on Benlea Sea Wolf came in third while Cloe Hymowitz from New York, New York on Olivander took fourth. Angela Jean Peck, riding Onstar, owned by Kylie Schoelen, rounded out the top five.
M&S Adult Medal Final
Winner: Britta Lippert from Sea Girt, New Jersey riding her own mount, Archie. She trains with Crystal Young at Forever Young Show Stables.
Second was Tracie Schoelen from Toms River, New Jersey riding Redford. Schoelen is also a student of Young’s and Forever Young Stables. Third was Katie Gray on Q Two (who placed second in the Jr/Am Horsemanship Final; see above), Mindy Whitman on Beni took fourth, and Tyler Linde on Zikomo, owned by Alyse Kuprionas, was fifth.
Best Overall Adult Rider went to Erin Harvill from Orlando, Florida and A Lasting Impression, trained by Elizabeth Cloutier and Brookmore Farm.
Year-End Award Winners Honored
Between the weekend’s heated competition and festivities the Marshall & Sterling Insurance League celebrated 24 years of shows and closed the qualifying season with its annual awards banquet. The event was held at the popular Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern in Saugerties, New York.
About the Marshall & Sterling League
The Marshall & Sterling League was designed to enhance the level of competition for children and adult riders, with an opportunity to qualify for a prestigious National Finals competition. Now celebrating their 23rd year, the Marshall & Sterling League features 14 divisions of competition. Riders who are members of the League have the opportunity to earn points throughout the year by competing in Marshall & Sterling classes to qualify for the Marshall & Sterling League Finals, held at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.
The Marshall & Sterling League is proudly sponsored by Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Inc., founded in 1864 and among the largest privately owned insurance agencies in the United States. For more than a quarter century Marshall & Sterling has protected precious equine assets with unparalleled service and support, whether the family hunter, a champion racehorse or a commercial farm. An employee-owned company, Marshall & Sterling is recognized throughout the nation as a leader in providing exceptional service and support. The company maintains a national presence and licensed in all 50 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS: join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!
HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com