Category Archives: Kentucky Horse Shows

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group

Kelley Farmer and Act of Valor Validate Victory in $5,000 Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show

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Kelley Farmer and Act of Valor won the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show of Kentucky Summer Series. Photo By: Ashley N. Williams/PMG

Lexington, KY – August 19, 2012 – Along the fence line of the Stonelea Arena, people watched as the first competitor entered the ring for the $5,000 Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby. In the fourth week of the Kentucky Summer Series, the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show welcomed riders of all experience to a challenging course, and a chance to earn qualifying points to win the Hallway Feeds Leading Rider Bonus. At the end of two rounds, Kelley Farmer and Act of Valor rose to the occasion seizing the win, and the blue ribbon. Kelli Cruciotti and Promo put forth a determined effort to earn high scores and the red ribbon. Shawn Casady and Bolero rightfully claimed a score among the great, placing in the top three.

Participants definitely had their work cut out for them as they took on this week’s hunter derby course. Designed by Patrick Rodes, the top 12 horse and rider combinations qualified from the first round, returned to the ring to ride the skillful handy course and compete for the chance at the top honors. The course contained four option fences where the rider could navigate their horse to the higher option and receive additional points. The short course options where presented at the first, second, sixth and ninth fences while the trot jump presented itself later.

Continue reading Kelley Farmer and Act of Valor Validate Victory in $5,000 Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Kaitlin Campbell Continues to Lead 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series

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Kaitlin Campbell continues to lead the 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series (pictured with Rocky W). Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington KY – August 19, 2012 – Friday night was filled with anticipation as two of the Hagyard Lexington Challenge Series Leading Riders went head-to-head in a battle to the top. Kaitlin Campbell and Shane Sweetnam rode to the leading finishes in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show, slots that would determine their ranks in the series. It was Campbell who continued to hold the lead in the Standings after her second place finish, with Sweetnam closing in on her. Sweetnam’s first place finish with Amaretto D’Arco knocked Olympian Reed Kessler from the second place position. Campbell still holds the top spot in the 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series, sponsored by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.

Consisting of seven grand prix classes to be held during the 2012 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park, the Hagyard Challenge Series offers a $50,000 Leading Rider Award. The rider accumulating the most points throughout the series will be presented with the bonus during the $50,000 World Cup Qualifier at the Kentucky National Horse Show in September 2012.

Continue reading Kaitlin Campbell Continues to Lead 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping, USHJA

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy Capture $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals Victory

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Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy captured the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals Championship at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – August 18, 2012 – It was a night that will be well remembered, and a win well deserved. The Rolex Stadium was packed at the Kentucky Horse Park as the Handy Round brought the 2012 $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals to a close during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. One of the industry’s most successful hunter professionals, Jennifer Alfano, led the victory gallop aboard her renowned mount Jersey Boy. Elizabeth Boyd and Brunello rode to the second place honors, while Scott Stewart and Garfield took the third place award.

After a 12-month qualifying period, the hunter elite were invited to compete for the coveted championship title. With a record number of 95 entrants, the Derby Finals got underway yesterday in the Rolex Stadium, with the top 30 horse and rider combinations returning to tackle the handy hunter course. The scores from the Classic Hunter Round carried over into tonight’s competition, factoring into the overall score for each pair.

The esteemed Rob Bielefeld, Patrick Rodes, Linda Hough, Geoff Teall, Betty Oare and Scott Williamson had the pleasure of judging the rounds tonight, scrutinizing the style and handiness of each trip. Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL, designed the final course and riders were able to increase their overall score by attempting the high options, adding an additional point per fence to their base score, as well as earning ‘handy points’ from the judges’ panels for their ingenuity and ability.

Continue reading Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy Capture $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals Victory →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Meagan Nusz and Vesuvius Garner High Amateur-Owner Jumper Win at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show

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Meagan Nusz outclassed other top riders with Vesuvius, riding to one of only two double-clear efforts in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper division. Photo By: Ashley N. Williams/PMG

Lexington, KY – August 18, 2012 – It was a clear, crisp morning at the Kentucky Horse Park for the fourth day of the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. A select group of talented riders looked on to the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper course at the Rolex Stadium with anticipation in hopes of posting the best-marked time. Taking home the division’s blue ribbon, Meagan Nusz outclassed other top riders with Vesuvius, riding to one of only two double-clear efforts. Placing the lead score until bested by Nusz was Alexandra Duval aboard Cipriani Z, who expertly navigated a faultless short course and received second place in the class.

The course, designed by Allen Rheinheimer, featured elements from yesterday’s Hunter Derby at the Rolex Stadium, to provide accents for the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class today. The course used several natural colored hunt jumps, sponsor fences and an option fence offering the liverpool to the left and an oxer to the right. The obstacles of the short course included a vertical-oxer-liverpool triple combination, stonewall pillar oxers, and a vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination. For the jump-off, riders began with a single oxer taking a hard left loop to the Sleepy P Ranch oxer; they then completed a right turn to a natural looking vertical and long line to natural oxer. The rider then rode a line to the right over the vertical-liverpool combination, taking a left to finish over a brick pillar oxer to break the beam within the allotted time of 47 seconds.

Continue reading Meagan Nusz and Vesuvius Garner High Amateur-Owner Jumper Win at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Shane Sweetnam and Amaretto D’Arco Capture $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic Victory at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show

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Shane Sweetnam and Amaretto D'Arco rode to the top of the leaderboard during the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – August 17, 2012 – The lights were bright in the Rolex Stadium as the onlookers cheered on their favorite horse and rider combinations in a highly competitive 14-horse jump off. It was the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic that took center stage tonight, seeing a field of 50 entrants vie for the top prize and valuable series points. Shane Sweetnam and Amaretto D’Arco jumped to the fastest of only four double-clear efforts, leading the night’s victory gallop. Kaitlin Campbell was just a hair shy of Sweetnam’s time, finishing in the second place spot with Rocky W.

Tonight’s class was the fifth of seven grand prix events that make up the Hagyard Challenge Series, sponsored by Hagyard Medical Institute and presented by Pfizer Animal Health. The rider accumulating the most points throughout the series will be presented with the bonus during the $50,000 World Cup Qualifier at the Kentucky National Horse Show in September 2012.

Allen Rheinheimer designed the track tonight, utilizing standalone verticals, rollbacks, technical lines, an oxer-oxer double combination, a vertical-oxer double combination, and a tight oxer-vertical combination leading into a daunting oxer. Riders had to navigate the course within the tight time allowed of 95 seconds, treading carefully with the agility to leave all the rails in their cups.

Continue reading Shane Sweetnam and Amaretto D’Arco Capture $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic Victory at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Scott Stewart Takes the Lead with Dedication in $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show

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Scott Stewart and Dedication took top honors during the Classic Hunter Round of the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – August 17, 2012 – The crème de la crème of the hunter world gathered at the Rolex Stadium for the first day of the long awaited 2012 $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals. All the attention turned toward the classic hunt course that decorated the Rolex Stadium at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Scott Stewart rode to the top of the leader board with Dedication, laying down a stunning round and showing the necessity of fluidity, athleticism and rideability along with finesse. Elizabeth Boyd piloted Brunello to the second place finish, while Jennifer Alfano navigated the famous Jersey Boy to the third place slot.

This is the fourth year the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals have been in existence, created purely to bring show hunters to the world stage in an effort to increase spectators, media, sponsorships, and bring tradition and basic riding principles back to the sport of show hunters. The top 81 qualifying horses were invited to showcase their talents over the demanding traditional hunter course this morning. The International Hunter Derby Finals include a 12-month qualifying period, and only the top 30 horses will continue into tomorrow night’s handy round with the hopes of garnering the championship title and lion’s share of the prize money.

Continue reading Scott Stewart Takes the Lead with Dedication in $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Scott Stewart Leads Mounts to the Winner’s Circle at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show

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Scott Stewart won the Regular Conformation Championship with recently acquired mount Showman at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show.Photo By: Ashley N. Williams/PMG

Lexington, KY – August 16, 2012 – It was perfect weather at the Stonelea Arena for greeting champions into the winner’s circle today at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Professional Hunters Divisions wrapped up the two-day competition with one name resounding above others. While Hunt Tosh and Rosalynn earned an honorary moment of pinning in the High Performance Hunter division, it was Scott Stewart who brought an A-team of mounts who gave top-notch performances, all worthy of the championship tricolors in three of today’s five hunter events.

Aligned in an original pattern, today’s hunt course designed by Patrick Rodes, posed an intricate track for riders to navigate. The first over fences class used only eight of the eleven obstacles, while the handy class used nine of the eleven, with fence two consisting of two options, creating different lines to fence three, the narrow trot-jump. Both courses’ lines closed with the vertical-oxer outside line, finishing on the near side of ring.

The first of the elite team to make their mark was in the Green Working Hunter Conformation division, the second event to be seen in the Stonelea Arena. Scott Stewart rode Beholden, a dark brown gelding, owned by Fashion Farm of Philadelphia, PA, to a back-to-back class win in the over fences and handy class, as well as a second place in the under saddle class. The duo was awarded the championship honors, while Chris Payne and Lugano, owned by Susan Moriconi of St. Louis, MO, also ranked high and took the reserve championship.

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Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Megan Moshontz-Bash and Pourkoipa Fontaine Fault-Free and Fast for First Place in 1.35m Open Jumpers at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show

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Megan Moshontz-Bash and Pourkoipa Fontaine won the 1.35m Open Jumper class at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – August 16, 2012 – The morning was ablaze with fierce competition in the Rolex Stadium as the second day of the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show got underway at the Kentucky Horse Park. Time was the bottom line today, with riders speeding to break the beam with both accuracy and an unsurpassed pace. Shane Sweetnam and Solerina exceeded expectations in the 1.40m Open Jumpers, capturing the victory with an insurmountable lead. It was Megan Moshontz-Bash and Pourkoipa Fontaine who emerged triumphant in the 1.35m Open Jumpers with a spectacular double-clear effort, and an outstanding time to beat.

The 1.35m Open Jumpers welcomed riders and their mounts to a challenging second-day course, designed by Allen Rheinheimer of the United States. He utilized a tight time allowed of 77 seconds, and designed a course consisting of an oxer-vertical-oxer triple combination, a vertical-oxer double combination, standalone obstacles, and demanding lines. The jump-off was immediate, and Rheinheimer made sure it challenged the duos fairly. They began over a single vertical and with a bend to the left* took a large oxer. They continued through the double combination and with a sharp left rollback took a standalone vertical set in the center of the ring. From there, they made a right over the Sleepy P Ranch oxer and finished with the Hagyard Lexington blue-white-and-red vertical.

Continue reading Megan Moshontz-Bash and Pourkoipa Fontaine Fault-Free and Fast for First Place in 1.35m Open Jumpers at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Hunt Tosh and Rosalynn Repeat Excellence for Double Blue Ribbons at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show

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Hunt Tosh and Rosalynn were awarded two blue ribbons in the High Performance Hunter division at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo By: Ashley N. Williams/PMG

Lexington, KY – August 15, 2012 – It was a welcoming day for the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park show grounds where five divisions were set to display the top hunter horse and rider combinations. The morning started off with a variation of winners while the two divisions to emerge with double blue ribbons were Scott Stewart and Dedication for the Second Year Working Green Hunters and Hunt Tosh and Rosalynn in the High Performance Hunters.

The course, designed by Patrick Rodes, was made up of nine fences signature of a traditional hunt field. Made of natural woods, the obstacles assorted of vertical oxer combinations, decorative stand-alones and a grassy rolltop, all strategically arranged on a bed of freshly churned footing. The course lines ran smooth, with pleasant stride counts and thoughtful approaches, suggesting fine ingenuity.

The first division featured in the Stonelea Arena was the Green Conformation Hunters. Christopher Payne on his mount Lugano, owned by Susan Moriconi of St. Louis, MO, took home the first and sixth place ribbons after a show of beautiful horsemanship on the course. Kelley Farmer aboard Lightning Z, owned by Lochmoore Stables of Lebanon, OH, took two third place ribbons in the over fences classes in the division.

Continue reading Hunt Tosh and Rosalynn Repeat Excellence for Double Blue Ribbons at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Ilan Bluman and Quatro Go Clear with Blazing Speed in 1.40m Open Jumpers at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show

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Ilan Bluman and Quatro won the 1.40m Open Jumper class at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – August 15, 2012 – It was the start of the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park, and talented horse and rider combinations gathered at the Rolex Stadium to showcase their speed and agility in the 1.35m and 1.40m Open Jumpers. Today was all about accuracy and tripping the timers with a blazing fast time. It was Shane Sweetnam and Kalle who delivered the 1.35m Open Jumper Victory, and later in the day Columbia’s Ilan Bluman rode to the top of the leaderboard in the 1.40 Open Jumpers.

The 1.40m Open Jumper class featured a one-round timed course, and gave competitors a real challenge with courses designed by Allen Rheinheimer. Twenty-one horse and rider combinations were challenged over a course that included an oxer-vertical double combination, open lines, tight turns, and an optional water jump.

Kim Farlinger and Caprice Van De Brouwerhoeve laid down a competitive time to beat after clearing the course in a speedy 83.693 seconds. Although their time seemed as though it would be hard to beat, while still keeping all rails intact, Jorge Verswyvel aboard Victoria, owned by Louis Garcia of Mexico, stepped up to the plate. The pair posted a clean round more than ten seconds faster than Farlinger’s, proving that Rheinheimer’s course was built to test the strengths of horse and rider alike. Verswyvel’s time of 73.400 seconds proved good enough for the second place.

Continue reading Ilan Bluman and Quatro Go Clear with Blazing Speed in 1.40m Open Jumpers at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show →