Kent Farrington won Thursday’s $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic with Venus at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, and currently leads the 2013 Hagyard Challenge Series. Photo: Rebecca Walton/PMG.
Lexington, KY – May 22, 2013 – Kent Farrington has taken over the lead in the 2013 Hagyard Challenge Series after winning the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic during the Kentucky Spring Classic. The talented rider showed Raylyn Farm’s Venus to the victory by overtaking the jump-off with two seconds to spare and a clear effort.
Richie Moloney maintains the second place position in the standings after earning second with Slieveanorra during the first event, and then going on to place seventh, eighth and ninth with Equinimity LLC’s Carrabis Z, Call Me Number One, and Slieveanorra. Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios is currently ranked third in the standings after winning the first event aboard Zara Leandra with the fastest double clear effort.
The Hagyard Challenge Series is a summer-long series of seven show jumping events at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The rider who accumulates the most points in the series will receive a $50,000 Leading Rider Award, presented during the Kentucky National Horse Show in September. The second event in the series will be next Thursday during the Kentucky Spring Classic at the Kentucky Horse Park.
“I think any kind of rider incentive iss great for the sport, especially at the professional level,” commented Farrington. “There is so much money in the junior and amateur divisions at the shows. We have to keep the true professional sport and people have to be able to win money. I think having rider incentives for the people that are consistently successful is a great thing. I am huge supporter of any kind of incentive or bonus like that for riders that are consistently successful.”
Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry, and Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and well-being of the horse for more than 130 years.
The facility at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute offers 13 Digital Radiology systems, 1.5 Tesla Siemens MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy, a high speed treadmill, an on-site laboratory, an on-site pharmacy, full surgical services, 24-hour emergency services, and Hyperbaric Medicine. The institute has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 133 years and is currently composed of over 60 experienced veterinarians, with 12 board certifications in specialty areas of Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care, and Theriogenology.
Several generous sponsors have helped make this exciting series event happen. These gracious supporters include: title sponsor MWI Veterinary Supply, and presenting sponsor Zoetis, as well as Audi of Lexington, Dean Dorton Allen Ford, Hagyard Flex-tra HA, Johnson Horse Transport, Hallway Feeds, Kirk Horse Insurance LLC, Pike and Preston, and Stoll Keenon Ogden.
For more information about the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, please visit http://hagyard.com.
Emanuel Andrade guided ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek Z to an eighth place finish in the $75,000 Mary Rena Grand Prix. Photos by Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group.
Lexington, Kentucky – It was another week of show jumping success for Emanuel Andrade of Venezuela as the 16-year-old continued to test his skills against the top professionals at the 2013 Kentucky Spring Classic held May 15 to 19 in Lexington, KY.
Having dominated the Junior Jumper divisions for the past two seasons, Andrade is quickly proving he has what it takes to compete against the sport’s top professionals. During the Kentucky Spring Classic, Andrade qualified two mounts for the 13-horse jump-off in the week’s featured event, Saturday night’s $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix. His jump-off time with Walter 61 would have been fast enough for the win, but a rail down left the pair in seventh place in the final standings. Another four-fault jump-off effort earned Andrade eighth place with ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek Z.
One week earlier during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show held May 8 to 12, Andrade had placed third from a competitive field of 42 entries in the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic riding Walter 61, a 12-year-old Sachsen-Anhaltiner gelding owned by Hollow Creek Farm.
Andrade also competed in the Open Jumper divisions at heights of 1.30m, 1.40m, and 1.45m, scoring several wins against the professionals. Carboni picked up two wins in the 1.30m division, while Boccaccio also scored victory at the same level. In the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Young Jumper division, Andrade guided Black Pearl to victory.
In the Low Junior Jumper division, open to riders aged 14 to 18, Andrade scored a hat trick in Friday’s competition, sweeping the top three spots. He won with Carboni, placed second with Casanova Junior, and rounded out the top three with Luky des Rocquelines. Having also won the $2,500 Low Junior Jumper Classic with Quebec Star and placed second with Luky des Rocquelines, it was no surprise that Andrade took home both the Championship and Reserve Championship titles in the Low Junior Jumper division. In fact, it was the second week in a row that Andrade and Quebec Star were crowned the Low Junior Jumper Champions.
In Friday’s High Junior/Amateur-Owner competition, Andrade topped a 31-horse starting field to win with Wilkina Lithya, a 10-year-old mare that he began riding during the winter season in Wellington, Florida. He also placed third with Tiny Tim and seventh with La Fe Forli, and rode away with the Reserve Championship division title.
Angel Karolyi placed fourth with Indiana 127 in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
Andrade, who commutes between his native Venezuela where he is a student and the United States, trains with Angel Karolyi and Andrea King of Hollow Creek Farm in Aiken, SC. Already a veteran of the Venezuelan Show Jumping Team, Karolyi, 26, also enjoyed a top 10 finish in the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic riding Amigo, a nine-year-old bay Zangersheide gelding, on the final day of competition. During the first week of competition, Karolyi guided Indiana 127 to a fourth place finish in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic.
With their combined success at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, Hollow Creek Farm certainly made its mark during the two weeks of competition.
“I am super happy and grateful to have this opportunity with Hollow Creek,” said Andrade. “I am trying to stay focused so I can continue winning. Kentucky is one of my favorite shows here in the United States. The whole team likes it here, and the horses love it.”
Andrade and the Hollow Creek team will return to Lexington in June for their next competition. Held at the Kentucky Horse Park, site of the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games, the show jumping competition provides a unique opportunity for both horses and riders to gain experience competing at a major games venue.
Hollow Creek Farm has the unique distinction of winning three prestigious titles at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. At only 16 years of age, Andrade was named the Leading Jumper Rider, Andrea King was named the Leading Jumper Trainer, and Hollow Creek Farm was named the Leading Jumper Owner.
For more information on Hollow Creek Farm, a large training business focusing on both horses and riders, please visit www.hollowcreekfarms.com.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
Lexington, KY – May 19, 2013 – Today marked the end of the 2013 Kentucky Spring Classic and the finale of a winning weekend for Jenna Selati and Greytful. Selati, a Chicago, IL native, will return home from the Kentucky Horse Park with the championship tricolor in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter division.
Selati navigated Greytful, or “Empire”, to two blue ribbons yesterday over the Bobby Murphy designed courses in the Murphy Ring. She returned today to turn in equally impressive rounds in the Stonelea Ring with the seven-year-old gelding, finishing second in the both first class and over the handy course.
“We got him in November, and he’s just so easy going and laid back. He’s like a big puppy,” Selati shared. “I thought the courses were challenging and fun, and he was great over them.”
Selati is unsure what the future will hold for herself and Empire, but she hopes to aim him at hunter derbies down the road. The young rider also hopes to be back in Kentucky.
“It’s beautiful here; the courses are great, and the weather’s been beautiful this weekend,” Selati concluded.
Finishing in reserve in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters were Piper Benjamin and Corvine. Benjamin and Corvine bested the field in the handy class to claim the blue ribbon, and they immediately returned to win a second blue ribbon in the under saddle class.
Winning the championship in the Large Junior 15 and Under Hunter division was Vivian Yowan aboard Roc A Bye, owned by Marigot Bay Farm LLC of Dover, MA. Yowan picked up the catch ride aboard Roc A Bye, consistently turning in solid rounds. Today, Yowan finished second in both of the division’s over fences classes before being named champion of the division.
“He was a little tired today, because he showed a lot yesterday, but he was still really, really good,” Yowan explained. “I liked the handy course today. I thought it was pretty tricky and there were different options that you could take. I did some inside turns in the Small Junior class that I didn’t do her.”
The blue ribbon in both of today’s over fences classes went to Meredith Darst and Vida Blue, owned by Elm Rock LLC of Bronxville, NY, earning them the division’s reserve championship.
Meredith Darst and Val D’Isere
Darst also earned a second tricolor today with Val D’Isere, owned by Natalie Allen-Barinsky of Mendota Heights, MN. Like Yowan and Roc A Bye, Val D’Isere is a new catch ride for Darst, but the pair connected quickly, finishing first and second over fences today and earning the division championship.
“Val D’Isere’s been great, and I’ve really enjoyed having the ride,” Darst said.
While the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows have come to an end, the ‘AA’ rated hunter and jumper competition will resume when the Kentucky Summer Horse Show comes to the Kentucky Horse Park on July 24-28, 2013.
Lexington, KY – May 18, 2013 – The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows came to a close today with amateur rider Meagan Nusz claiming her second major victory. During the 16-horse jump-off in the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic, Nusz piloted Vesuvius to the winning clear time to lead the victory gallop during the Kentucky Spring Classic. Ramiro Quintana of Argentina was hot on her heels, qualifying three mounts for the tiebreaker and scoring second and third with Ollywood Des Horts and Ziedento, respectively.
Thirty-nine entries showed over Conrad Homfeld’s first round course, which mimicked portions of last night’s grand prix with multiple bending lines and sharp bending line. There was also a challenging triple combination and technical vertical-vertical double combination. Sixteen of the original starters managed to master the 1.45m track and advance to the jump-off. The short course began with an oxer-vertical line before riders had to roll back to a skinny vertical to an oxer. After galloping across the ring over two more obstacles the qualifiers had to speed toward the final fence with precision.
Ramiro Quintana was the pathfinder over the first course aboard Ziedento, owned by St. Bride’s Farm of Upperville, VA, and he managed to match the effort as the first in the jump-off. The duo easily maneuvered over all of the fences, setting the time to beat at 42.258 seconds, which would be good enough for third.
Fernando Cardenas had the next clear round with Quincy Car, but they ended up with the most conservative faultless time in 43.729 seconds for fifth place. Canada’s Ian Millar came very close to taking Quintana’s early lead with Baranns, but fell just 2/10ths of a second short. The clear effort would pick up the fourth place award.
Meagan Nusz and Vesuvius, owned by Amalaya Investments of Houston, TX, would produce the next double clear effort, and they had their eye on the winning pace. Easily making the rollback to the skinny vertical, they were able to handily gallop across the middle of the ring before leaving a stride out to the last obstacle. The pair dashed through the timers in 41.462 seconds to claim the victory.
Ramiro Quintana and Ollywood Des Horts
The only other rider to come close to catching them was Quintana with his other mount, Ollywood Des Horts, owned by Remarkable Farms of New York, NY. The duo added to the final fence to leave it intact, but the careful approach proved costly with a time of 41.718, which was just 3/10ths of a second shy of the leader for second place.
“With my first horse Ziedento, I was trying to lay down a trip where it was as fast as I could go without knocking down a rail, and put pressure on the other riders coming behind me,” explained Quintana. “I knew I could go faster with Ollywood. I watched Meagan’s round, and I was neat to one and two and did a good turn back to skinny. I was pretty right on it until the last jump. I did an extra stride there because I felt the horse hadn’t really sighted on the jump, and I wanted to gather him a bit. I didn’t feel like I could leave the stride out, and that’s where I think I lost the class.”
One other competitor managed to leave all the jumps up, but clocked in over the time allowed. Marcelo Barros chose a conservative route with Lordes to trip the timers at 50.558 seconds, for two time faults and sixth place. Nusz also went home with the seventh place award after having just four faults in the jump-off with her second mount Dynamo to claim the seventh place honors, as well as the win.
“Vesuvius is naturally a super fast horse, so I didn’t have to push him out of his element too much in the jump-off,” stated Nusz. “Usually, if I can just get a good distance at the first fence and stay on that pace, I can pretty much match any round and then shave off a little bit here and there. Luckily for me I have a super careful horse that I can push a little for the speed, and he’s always going to try and stay clean. Other horses can get a little frantic when they are going that quickly, but I just to get cruise around. He loves it; he loves going fast.”
Nusz has been partnered with Vesuvius for two years and won the Amateur-Owner Jumper National Championship in 2012. “I get along with him really well; he’s so much fun to ride,” she expressed. “Every time you go in the ring you can’t help but smile when you come out because he’s such a trier and he’s always looking to be a winner for himself and for me, which is a really nice feeling. This year I’ve kind of moved out of the amateurs and have been trying to do more of these types of classes and some speed classes. I am trying to do more with him now and push myself too. I’m learning and it’s exciting when I win because it’s my first time to do all of this. I’m thrilled, I am really happy.”
Although Nusz won the $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix last week, they were not as lucky last night and today’s victory came at just the right moment. “Yesterday I had a terrible day with Dynamo, and we were so frantic when we went in the ring that I had a number of rails,” she admitted. “It’s so funny in this sport how you go from hero to zero, so that was a little bit hard on me. I had to move on to today and I am really happy that I was able to go in with Vesuvius and Dynamo and have really, really good rounds. I needed to end the show this way and not the way I ended last night, so I am really excited.”
Nusz has used the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows to help prepare for Spruce Meadows, and it very happy to have classes like the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic available. “It’s nice to have a class that’s worth a lot of money that you can show your second and third string horses in and still have a chance to go in and win and get a little bit of money,” she commented. “Vesuvius can’t go in and do those bigger grand prix classes, but this is perfect for him. They’ve done an excellent job with all the big classes at this show.”
The High Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumper Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classics were held later in the day. The Amateur-Owner Jumpers saw four double clear efforts, with Wilton Porter piloting Neolistio Van Het Mierenhof to the win for Sleepy P Ranch of Bartonville, TX. Canada’s Jordan MacPherson and Aanwinst claimed second, Kenzie Donovan of River Hills, WI, placed third with Boomerang, and Leah DeMartini rounded out the faultless efforts in the jump-off with True Love for Elm Rock LLC of Bronxville, NY. In the High Junior Jumper Classic, there were no double clear rounds, but Sophie Simpson had the fastest four fault round in the jump-off aboard Chico’s Girl, owned by Katherine Gallagher of Medfield, MA. Kady Abrahamson of Loveland, OH, followed in second with Irish Hunt.
Today marked the conclusion of the Kentucky Spring Classic, but in July competition will continue at the Kentucky Horse Park during the Kentucky Summer Series. Throughout July and August, riders will have the opportunity to compete in top-notch hunter/jumper events, and also try to earn valuable points toward the $50,000 Hagyard Challenge Series’ Leading Rider Bonus, and the $15,000 Leading Rider Bonuses available during the Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby Series.
Lexington, KY – May 18, 2013 – Havens Schatt and Just Fred were just about flawless in tonight’s $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby. Schatt and Just Fred, owned by R. Bruce Duchossois of Aiken, SC, claimed the victory in what is one of the Kentucky Spring Classic’s most highlighted hunter events. The class, held today in the Stonelea Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park, is the second in the seven-part Hallway Feeds Series in which top riders from across the country vie for their share of the $15,000 Leading Rider Awards.
Tonight’s ten obstacle first round course set by Bobby Murphy featured a number of bending lines and rollbacks all set at 3′ with four 3’6″ option fences. If cleared successfully, the higher options were each worth an additional point added to each of the judges’ scores. From the opening field of 32 horse and rider pairs, the top 12 scoring combinations made the cutoff to come back for the handy round course, also designed by Murphy. The handy course featured nine obstacles, many of which were built to imitate the fences a rider would face on the hunt field. It presented riders with even more tight turns and rollbacks and different options to showcase their horses’ handiness.
“I thought the courses were great. The handy course really made you think, and it really made you go to all angles of the ring to see what was possible and what wasn’t,” Schatt commented. “There were so many different ways to ride it.”
Kelley Farmer returned to the handy round in the third place position with a first round score of 90 aboard Red Sky, owned by Dr. Kenneth and Selma Garber and Larry Glefke of Keswick, VA. Farmer and Red Sky took all of the higher options over the second course to earn a handy round score of 87, for a grand total of 177 over both courses, which would end up cementing their spot in third place for the night.
Farmer’s high score in the first was overtaken by Schatt and Just Fred, who returned as the second to last to go with a first round score of 91. The pair skillfully maneuvered the handy course to earn a base score of 84, plus four additional points for taking each of the higher options for a total second round score of 88. That score combined with their first round score of 91 moved them into the first place position with an overall point tally of 179.
Kelley Farmer and Skorekeeper
Farmer was back again as the final rider to return, this time with Skorekeeper, owned by Larry Glefke and Quail Run Partnership of Keswick, VA. The seven-year-old horse earned a total first round score of 94 to shoot him to the top of the leader board going back in to the final round, but a slight chip to the third fence of the handy course would leave him with a second round score of 84. That 84 left Farmer and Skorekeeper with a final point total of 178, just one point behind Schatt and Just Fred for the second place award.
“The camaraderie in these classes is really nice. It’s competitive, but it doesn’t seem so high stress,” Schatt said following the class. “The classes are great to get young horses in the ring and get them going and get them used to the people watching, the crowds and the banners. I think it’s an awesome series.”
Both Skorekeeper and Just Fred are brand new to the hunter derby field and are already making their mark in winning style. Both made their derby debuts just last weekend, at the Memphis in May USHJA International Hunter Derby for Skorekeeper and at the first $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby for Just Fred.
“We bought him last year in Florida, and he was actually doing the jumpers,” Schatt said of Just Fred. “We thought that the derby would be really fun out there in the big ring [the Rolex Stadium] last weekend, and he was awesome. We were fourth going back into the handy round, but I walked the trot jump. It wasn’t Fred’s fault. So we planned to do it again this week and see how he’s coming along.”
Schatt continued, “Fred can really jump, so we’ll see how he comes along, but I would hope come June I could do the bigger derbies. I think he’d be really fun to do in those.”
The Hallway Feeds Hunter Derby Series returns at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, with the third class in the series being held July 27.
Hallway Feeds’ close proximity to the Kentucky Horse Park provides the opportunity to utilize the freshest feed, manufactured with time-honored commitments to high standards of quality and the latest scientific advances. Combining a premium nutrition package with a professional level of dedication in horsemen and women provides equine athletes with the Formula for Success.
The Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series would not be possible without many generous sponsors including Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Central Equipment, Alfagreen Supreme, Sweet PDZ Horse Stall Refresher, Caddel Equine Therapy Center, KER Sport Horse Nutrition, The Tack Shop of Lexington, Turf Town Properties, Trouw Nutrition and PNC Bank.
Hunter competition continues tomorrow at the Kentucky Horse Park as the Kentucky Spring Classic comes to a close with the awarding of the Small Junior Hunter and Children’s Hunter championships.
Lexington, KY – May 18, 2013 – Scope and stride proved to be the key to the win for Margie Engle and Royce during the $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, presented by Audi of Lexington, during the Kentucky Spring Classic. The pair out jumped 12 other horse and rider combinations during the tiebreaker to claim the winning prize with a double clear effort. Charlie Jayne captured the second place award with Chill R Z, while Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios galloped into third aboard Zara Leandra.
Forty-four entries showed over Conrad Homfeld’s opening course, which featured multiple bending lines, an open water with a scored pole, a steady vertical-oxer double combination, and an oxer-vertical-oxer triple combination that proved to be the bogey. It yielded 13 clear rounds, which eventual winner Margie Engle attributed to the footing. “He built a good course,” she commented. “The jumps were a good height and he had some tricky lines and some technical lines, but the horses give you a little extra on this footing.”
For the jump-off, riders had to begin with a rollback from a new vertical to a new oxer, before then slicing across the ring to the double combination. Then they galloped to a single vertical before making another rollback over a skinny vertical to a wide oxer, and then galloping home over a single oxer in the middle of the Rolex Stadium.
Captain Canada showed the way over the short course with his top mount Star Power, owned by Team Works of Perth, Ontario. The duo left all the rails intact, but had a conservative gallop going early in the field to finish sixth with a time of 44.786 seconds. The next to go was Pablo Barrios and Zara Leanrda, owned by ZL Group of Wellington, FL. The speedy duo was clear over the course and broke the beam at 41.834 second, which was good enough for third.
Katie Prudent raced to catch Barrios’ time with her winner from yesterday, V, owned by Michael Smith of Winchester, VA. They came just 1/10th of a second with their fault-free effort for fourth.
The next to tackle the short course was Margie Engle aboard Royce, owned by Elm Rock Partners LLC of Bronxville, NY. They had their eye on the prize and picked up a quick gallop to the first fence. The duo sliced through the double combinations and made a short turn to the skinny before leaving a stride out to the final oxer. The final time of 40.757 seconds would be good enough for the win.
Charlie Jayne and Chill R Z
Charlie Jayne attempted to catch Engle’s time with Chill R Z, owned by Alex Jayne of Elgin, IL. He and his World Cup mount were just a touch too slow, galloping through the timers in 40.905 seconds to take over second, sealing the victory for Engle.
“Last year, I practiced jumping clear rounds with Chill, and this year I’ve been trying to practice speed in the jump-off,” noted Jayne. “This was actually the first class that he jumped since World Cup finals that I just did two weeks ago. I jumped him a little bit this morning just to practice the Nations Cup format of jumping twice in one day, because I’m going to do the Nation’s Cup team coming up next month in Spruce Meadows. I was really happy that I could jump him this morning and then come back again this afternoon, and he just jumped to rounds like it was nothing.”
Jayne added, “He’s ready to win. He’s got a big, lofty stride, and I have to make it up in the turns and by leaving out strides. A bigger ring is easier for him because I can just pick up that nice forward gallop that I like. Today, I was really happy that he’s so adjustable. That’s one of his greatest assets.”
Young rider Reed Kessler of Lexington, KY, had the time with Mika, but a heartbreaking rail at the last oxer gave them four faults for sixth. Emanuel Andrade had a rail with each of his mounts from Hollow Creek Farm, Walter 61 and ZZ-Top VH Schaarbroek Z, to place seventh and eighth, respectively.
Mario Gamboa and the Stansky’s Mission Farm’s Unico, and Sharn Wordley with Ashland Stables’ Derly Chin De Muze each had four faults as well for the ninth and tenth place positions. The eight-faulters included Aaron Vale riding Zippo II for 2VR Showjumpers, Schuyler Riley aboard M. Michael Meller’s Waterloo, and Ramiro Quintana with St. Bride’s Farm’s Whitney.
This evening’s victory on Royce marks an improvement from second place in the event for Engle. “I was really pleased with him both rounds,” she smiled. “Royce is riding better and better. He’s always had all the ability in the world. He’s got unbelievable talent, and it’s just taken me a little bit of time to get the rideability in between the jumps. I was just starting to get it before I got hurt last year, so then he had some time off. He’s a horse that you really need to develop a rapport with. I lost half the year, so I was almost starting from scratch again. He jumped a lot of clear rounds in Florida, but I was just going medium because I still didn’t have the rideability where I wanted it. I am starting to get him back to where I had him last year.”
Engle continued, “Royce is not a quick horse by any means. He jumps very high and spends a lot of time in the air. He’s only eight years old, so he really over jumps the fences, and he’s very good behind. He is a little bit of a slower going horse. Since he has so much scope and ability you can turn back to things really quickly and he’s got the ability to get across easily. He’s so scopey he just gets higher where a lot of horses get flat.”
The next stop for Engle and Royce will be the Devon Horse Show, followed by HITS Saugerties and the Lake Placid Horse Shows, before heading to Europe for the end of the summer. She has very high hopes for the young mount and sees a very bright future.
“He’s not a speed horse and you’re not going to be able to go fast with him every time, but we’re working on his rideability and getting quicker,” she admitted. “I think his main qualities are going to shine through when the courses get really big. I really feel like he’s a championship horse and he can do big round after big round and it doesn’t take much out of him. I know he’s got all the ability and the talent. I really think he’s a horse for the big, big stuff.”
Engle has always enjoyed competing at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, and this year was no exception. “It’s a big open area and you’ve got plenty of room to ride here,” she said. “Weather is always unpredictable, and no matter what the weather does the footing is always perfect. It’s nice to have permanent stabling, and there are always good courses. Kentucky is horse area!”
The Kentucky Spring Classic will conclude tomorrow with the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic, which gets underway at 8a.m. The High Junior and Amateur-Owner Classics, as well as the Low Amateur-Owner Classic will wrap-up the competition in the Rolex Stadium.
Lexington, KY – May 17, 2013 – The young talent was shining brightly today during the Kentucky Spring Classic as Emanuel Andrade led the team from Hollow Creek Farm to multiple victories in the jumper ring. His highlight of the day was during the High Junior/Amateur-Owner jumpers, where he piloted Wilkina Lithya to the win, followed by Tiny Tim in third, while Kate Morrison and Four Roses DL Vie Z placed second. Andrade also scored all three of the top ribbons in the Low Junior Jumpers. Earlier in the day, Katie Prudent and V took home honors in the 1.45m Open Jumpers with their quick and clean jump-off round.
All of today’s courses in the Rolex Stadium were designed by Conrad Homfeld, and were similar to last night’s grand prix with a triple combination and double combination. The jump-offs featured technical lines, as well as areas to showcase tight rollbacks and long gallops. The final class was the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers where ten returned for the short course.
Andrade was the pathfinder with his first mount, Tiny Tim, owned by Hollow Creek Farm of Aiken, SC. They set the target in the jump-off by leaving all the fences intact and breaking the beam at 36.481 seconds, which would be good enough for third. He eventually bested his own time with his winning mount Wilkina Lithya, also owned by Hollow Creek Farm, later in the class. They shaved the turn in the first rollback and flew down to the final oxer to dash through the finish in 35.823 seconds. The clear effort would prove uncatchable and they would claim their winning stake.
“In the jump-off, I was super quick from the second fence to the third fence, and made a very tight turn,” stated Andrade. “I was also very fast to the last oxer. Wilkina Lithya is 10-year-old mare that we just bought in France. She was doing some 1.40m and 1.45m grand prixs there. I started riding her at WEF and she jumped between the Mediums and Highs, but now she is just doing the Highs.”
Andrade added, “She is very hot and, in the schooling area she can give me a hard time. I focus on keeping her calm, and by time we go in the ring she is fine. I’ve gotten to know her a lot better the last few months.”
The win came shortly after Andrade’s top three placings in the Low Junior Jumpers. The Kentucky Spring Shows have been very successful for the young rider, who jumped double clear rounds with all three mounts. Carboni, Casanova Junior, and Lucky Des Rocquelines finished first, second, and third respectively.
Andrade represents Venezuela internationally, but is currently riding for Hollow Creek Farm, and will be returning for the Kentucky Summer Series later this year. “I am super happy and grateful to have this opportunity with Hollow Creek,” he expressed. “I am trying to stay focused so I can continue winning. This is one of my favorite shows here in the United States. We were originally planning to go to New York this summer, but we have decided to stay here and show here over the summer because the whole team likes it here, and the horses love it.”
In the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers, the only rider to best Andrade’s time with his first mount Tiny Tim was Kate Morrison with Four Roses DL Vie Z, owned by Craig Morrison of Dublin, OH. Their speedy jump-off effort claimed the second place award, and she also picked up fifth with her first mount, Windoctro. Leah DeMartini of Bronxville, NY slipped into the fourth place position with Elm Rock LLC’s True Love, while Daniela Stransky and Twister, owned by Stransky’s Mission Farms of Miami, FL, rounded out the top six and the double clear rounds.
Earlier in the day riders had the opportunity to showcase their mounts during the 1.45m Open Jumpers. Four riders advanced to the tiebreaker and all four posted double clear rounds. The first came clear came from the first duo on course: Richie Moloney with Freestyle De Muze for Equinimity LLC of Wellington, FL. They set the standard at 40.367 seconds, which placed fourth.
Katie Prudent and V
Katie Prudent was the next to tackle the jump-off aboard V, owned by Michael Smith of Winchester, VA. They had the most successful round, clocking in at 36.091 seconds with all the fences in place to eventually claim the win.
Fernando Cardenas and Quincy Car gave catching Prudent their best shot, but finished just 8/10ths a second behind the leading time for third. The last to show over the short course was Kent Farrington with Panama Tame, owned by Salamander Farms of The Plains, VA. They came even closer to Prudent’s time, but were still 7/10ths of a second shy to earn the second place award.
Although Prudent had been struggling with the strong mount last week, today played out perfectly. “V is very strong and I’ve been trying different bits,” she explained. “Each bit that I tried that was stronger just made him more mad, so today I just went back to my good old hackabit. He jumped beautifully and he likes when I let him go, so in the jump-off I just picked up a good gallop and let him do the whole course without interrupting him. He galloped around beautifully and everything came up nicely out of the turns. I felt like it was very smooth.”
Prudent continued, “He’s a strong horse and I’ve tried different bits on him, but like I said, if I try something strong on him he just gets mad. I just went back to the bit that he likes, the hackabit, and he’s still strong, but I can control him and he jumps really nicely in it. I think my experiments with different bits are over. I am just going to let him jump in the bit that he likes because he jumps well in it. I feel very good going into Spruce Meadows because he loves it there. The rings are big and I can let him gallop on, so he really likes that.”
Tomorrow, Andrade and Prudent will both be competing in the Kentucky Spring Classic’s highlight event. The $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington will get underway at 6:30p.m. at the Rolex Stadium in the Kentucky Horse Park. The show concludes with Sunday’s $20,000 Bluegrass Classic, where top riders will vie for the winning honors.
Vivian Yowan finished first in the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal aboard Sanderson, pictured, and first in the hunter phase of the WIHS Equitation Qualifier aboard Naf Naf. Photo by Emily Riden.
Lexington, KY – May 17, 2013 – From May 15-19, 16-year-old Vivian Yowan enjoys the best of the best in junior equitation competition right in her own backyard. The Kentucky Spring Classic attracts junior riders from across the country to the Kentucky Horse Park, just miles away from Boggs Hill Farm, where Yowan trains with Tim and Kelly Goguen. Today on her home turf, Yowan topped the field in both the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal, sponsored by Randolph College, and the WIHS Equitation Hunter Phase.
The ten obstacle course for the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal, designed by Bobby Murphy, opened over a straightforward line heading away from the in-gate, and it went on to test riders back and forth through tight turns and rollbacks.
“It was a good course. It was very twisty and turny,” Yowan commented following the class. “You really had to focus on all of those turns.”
Yowan demonstrated her exceptional equitation over the course aboard Sanderson, to earn her a spot as one of four riders called back to test. Along with Yowan, Addison Piper, Spencer Smith and Lizzie Vanderwalde all returned to the ring to line up as the top four finishers following the first course.
Judges asked that each rider go directly from their place in line to jump what was formerly fence three, a vertical off of the left lead. From there, riders were instructed to ride a bending line to another vertical across the diagonal and then maintain a counter-canter around the end of the ring leading toward another vertical away from the in-gate. Riders then executed a rollback to the left to one final fence toward the gate before coming to a halt in front of the fence lining the Stonelea Ring. Adding to the difficulty of the test, all riders were asked to drop their stirrup irons.
“I’ve never had a test without my stirrups,” Yowan shared. “I really just wanted to stay on. It was tricky.”
Piper and Superfly, owned by Cavallo Farms, LLC of San Diego, CA, were the first to execute the four fence round. Piper rode Superfly through the shortened course without issue, providing an excellent example of how best to maneuver the test.
Yowan was the next to be asked to showcase her abilities, and she need not have worried about just staying on. Yowan rode the test seamlessly, cementing her spot as one of the top riders in the class. Smith tested next without issue aboard Icarus, owned by Ashland Farms of Wellington, FL, and Vanderwalde rounded out the top four aboard App For That, owned by Dasilva Investments of Ann Arbor, MI.
Following their tests it was Yowan who rode away with the blue ribbon, while Piper took the second place position, and Smith and Vanderwalde finished third and fourth respectively.
“This is only my second show on Sanderson,” Yowan mentioned. “I got him right after WEF was over, so last week we did the Pessoa Medal for the first time and finished second, and this week we won.”
While Sanderson is a new partner for Yowan, she’s seen similar success with her long-standing mount, Naf Naf, owned by Saddle Ridge LLC of Darien, CT.
“I’ve had him a long time so we have a great relationship built. He’s really lazy, but he has a big stride. Once you get him going he’s really fun to ride,” Yowan said of Naf Naf.
It was aboard Naf Naf that Yowan picked up her first win of the day, finishing with a score of 89 in the WIHS Equitation Hunter Phase. The WIHS Equitation Qualifier class will conclude on Sunday, May 17 at 10 a.m. with the Jumper Phase.
In addition to equitation classes, the Kentucky Spring Classic features a full array of hunter and jumper divisions. Hunter horses and riders take the spotlight tomorrow evening for the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby, the second in the $50,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series, a seven event series that culminates with the $15,000 Leading Hunter Rider Awards.
Lexington, KY – May 16, 2013 – Although thunderstorms disrupted competition throughout the day at the Kentucky Horse Park, the clouds parted as the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic got underway during the Kentucky Spring Classic. Sixteen horse and rider combinations advanced to the tiebreaker, creating a speed duel for the winning prize. Kent Farrington proved to have all the answers with Venus, blazing an uncatchable clear track that was almost two seconds faster than second place finisher Andrew Bourns of Ireland. Reed Kessler and Mika were the pathfinders to take home the third place honors.
Fifty-four entries showed over Conrad Homfeld’s opening course, which featured multiple bending lines, a vertical-oxer double combination, and an oxer-vertical-vertical triple combination. It yielded 16 clear rounds, all of whom returned for the short course, which began over a vertical-oxer bending line with a roll back to a single vertical followed by another oxer. Riders then galloped to the double combination before doubling back to finish over the final oxer away from the gate.
Reed Kessler of Lexington, KY, was the second rider on the start list and first to complete the course without fault. She and her top mount, Mika, also proved to be pathfinders during the jump-off, completing a clear effort in a speed of 36.217 seconds that would eventually place third.
Andrew Bourns and Gatsby
Seven rounds later, Kessler’s clear round was caught by Andrew Bourns aboard Gatsby. They were able to shave time through the rollback and took a long distance to the oxer before the double combination. Their risks paid off, and they broke the beam at 35.877 seconds with all the rails intact for the second place honors.
“Thankfully, I watched Reed, and I noticed she steadied up a lot for the double combination, and she was easy to the last, so I figured that’s where I could make up some time,” noted Bourns. “For sure from the first fence to second fence she was faster than me because she did one less stride, but I think I got a better turn after. This is the biggest class my horse has jumped so far. He’s been very successful, but now I am trying to up his level a little bit and have him jump a bigger track. I was very happy with him today.”
It was the next rider on course that would prove to have the winning round. Kent Farrington and Venus, owned by Raylyn Farms of Frederick, MD, were up to the speedy challenge. They quickly zipped from one to two and took a big risk to the combination. The mare easily cleared the obstacles and cut inside Bourn’s track to the final oxer with a clear round in 33.878 seconds for the win.
Five other riders had double clear rounds, with Ramiro Quintata coming the closest to Kessler’s time with Whitney, owned by St. Bride’s Farm of Upperville, VA, for the fourth place prize. Quentine Judge and HH Dark De La Hart, owned by Double H Farm of Wellington, FL, placed fourth, followed by Ian Millar and Team Works’ Star Power in sixth place for Canada.
Ireland’s Richie Moloney qualified three mounts for the jump-off for owner Equinimity LLC of Wellington, FL. Carrabis Z and Call Me Number One picked up seventh and eighth by producing matching clear rounds, while Slieveanorra proved to be the fastest four-faulter over the short course for ninth place.
Farrington and Venus were partnered together during last year’s Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, and he was ready to pull out all the stops for a win today. “The plan for the jump-off was to try to win,” he smiled. “Venus is a fast horse. She is my type of horse, a really thoroughbredy type of horse with a lot of blood. She’s naturally fast across the ground, and I think I just picked up a very fast gallop. I turned very quickly to the vertical at the end of the ring, and I just let her run to the last jump.”
Although champion eventer and show jumper Marilyn Little normally rides the horse, Farrington took over the ride for the last two weeks. “It was sort of a last minute thing,” explained Farrington. “Lynn [Little] called me up and asked me if I wanted to show the horse and if I did they were dropping it off in an hour at my farm, so that was that. I rode him last year and then Marilyn rode it this winter, but they asked if I would ride Venus for these shows.”
Tonight’s class was the second event in the seven-part Hagyard Challenge Series, which features a $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus to the top rider at the end of the season. Farrington has won the award twice already, and is a strong supporter of the series. “I think any kind of rider incentive is great for the sport, especially at the professional level,” he commented. “There is so much money in the junior and amateur divisions at the shows. We have to keep the true professional sport and people have to be able to win money. I think having rider incentives for the people that are consistently successful is a great thing. I am huge supporter of any kind of incentive or bonus like that for riders that are consistently successful.”
Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry, and Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and well-being of the horse for more than 130 years.
Several generous sponsors have helped make this exciting series event happen. These gracious supporters include: title sponsor MWI Veterinary Supply, and presenting sponsor Zoetis, as well as Audi of Lexington, Dean Dorton Allen Ford, Hagyard Flex-tra HA, Johnson Horse Transport, Hallway Feeds, Kirk Horse Insurance LLC, Pike and Preston, and Stoll Keenon Ogden.
The next event for Farrington and Venus will be Saturday night’s $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. The jumper action at the Kentucky Spring Classic concludes on Sunday with the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Lexington, KY – May 16, 2013 – The Kentucky Spring Classic features five consecutive days of top of the line hunter competition, running May 15-19. Day two of the popular spring series concluded today with the awarding of the professional hunter division championships, and it was Cookie Beck who rode away with the tricolor in the combined Second Year Green and High Performance Hunter division.
Beck finished first over both of today’s Bobby Murphy designed hunter courses in the Stonelea Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park to secure title of division champion aboard Last Call, owned by Lisa Cudahy of Mequon, WI.
Beck and Last Call came into the afternoon with a second place over fences and a first place under saddle earned yesterday, and they only improved upon their performances from there.
“He tries harder and harder every day. Other horses get tired the second day, but not him. He tries harder every single class,” Beck explained.
Persistent afternoon thunderstorms put the horse show on hold temporarily, but that did not deter Last Call as he returned to the ring amidst the showers.
“Since it was raining today, he just jumped higher and higher. He’s perfect; he’s very scopey,” Beck continued. “Last Call is a winner. He wants to go in and do the very best for you every single time.”
This is only Last Call’s second time competing in the High Performance division, but he’s shot to the top of the leader board to win division championship both times. While he’s new to the division, the 12-year-old gelding is no stranger to Beck. Since being purchased four years ago by Cudahy, Beck has brought him up through the Pre-Green hunters to where he is today, and she looks forward to what the future holds for the talented horse.
Finishing in reserve in the Second Year Green/High Performance Hunter division were Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy, owned by Helen Lenahan of Buffalo, NY.
In the First Year Green Hunters it was another talented horse, Balin, who earned the division’s highest honors with Havens Schatt in the saddle.
The seven-year-old, owned by Ainsley Sadlo of Atlanta, GA finished second in the first class of the morning behind one of Schatt’s other mounts, Sans Souci, owned by CH Farm LLC of Delano, MN. That second place finish coupled with two blue ribbons yesterday cemented Balin’s position as the division leader.
“He was a little more tired today,” Schatt commented. “He was awesome yesterday. He won both classes and really jumped super. Today, I thought he was a little bit more tired, but the courses still rode great. They’ve been really nice this week.”
Schatt continued, “He’s awesome to ride. He’s my most fun one. You just pick up a good gallop, and you can do pretty much anything you want out of that gallop. He’s kind of a laid back dude, but when you’re not riding him, it’s a little different. When he came from Europe, he tried jumping out of the stall. He doesn’t like being in the stall. He’s always moving around, and you’re worried about getting on. Then you get on him, and he’s perfect. You can bring him anywhere, anytime for anybody.”
Following their time in Kentucky, Schatt and Balin will travel to the Devon Horse Show where Balin will compete again with Schatt in the Green Conformation Hunters, as well as in the 3’3″ Amateur-Owner Hunters with his owner, Ainsley Sadlo.
The reserve championship tri-color in the First Year Green Hunter division went to Christopher Payne and Say When, owned by Danielle Baran of London, Ontario. Payne, of New Hope Farm LLC in Cincinnati, OH, navigated Say When to a third place finish over the first course before returning to the ring to display Say When’s handiness and finish first in the handy class.
Hunter competition continues tomorrow as the Amateur-Owners take to the Stonelea Ring. Among the highlight events of the week is the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby, the second in the $50,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series, a seven event series that culminates with the $15,000 Leading Hunter Rider Awards.
