Category Archives: Kentucky Horse Shows

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

Paige Johnson Wins $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at Kentucky Summer Horse Show

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Paige Johnson and Chiron S won the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington KY – July 26, 2012 – Thunderstorms plagued the Kentucky Horse Park as riders gathered beneath the lights of the Rolex Stadium to compete in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. Paige Johnson proved to be the best of the best, controlling the jump-off with one of only seven double-clear efforts aboard Chiron S to lead the victory gallop. Shane Sweetnam and Danielle Goldstein also tackled the short course, but their times could not catch Johnson’s speed, each placed third and fourth, respectively.

Marin Zevedo designed tonight’s course, using obstacles such as a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination, bending lines, an oxer-oxer double combination, a triple bar, roll backs and tight turns. The jump-off allowed 47 seconds for horse and rider to break the beam, using a serpentine path to guide them to the finish. Starting over the first oxer and making a right to a vertical, riders then took a standalone red-and-white vertical to the oxer-oxer double combination. Upon landing, they were in full gear, racing against the seconds as they maneuvered over the SSG Digital Riding Gloves vertical and finished over the final oxer.

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

Genevieve Zock Rises to the Top Winning 2012 USHJA Hunterdon Cup at Kentucky Summer Horse Show

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Genevieve Zock won the 2012 USHJA Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic at the Kentucky Horse Park. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – July 25, 2012 – As the sun began to set on the Kentucky Horse Park, the final work-off of the USHJA Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic got underway. The prestigious championship prize was only a test away from being revealed, and four riders were vying for the top honors. It came down to Meredith Darst, Lillie Keenan, Hasbrouck Donovan and Genevieve Zock as they completed the final event of the long-awaited 2012 USHJA East Coast Junior Hunter Finals. Sixty-two riders showed over the first-round course, showcasing their equitation skills with a classic flare. The riders with the top 15 scores returned for the handy round, and the top four returned to the ring aboard one another’s mounts to complete the final test. Genevieve Zock rose in the ranks, placing consistently high scores, and completing a picture-perfect final test. She took the championship prize with Confession, leading the victory gallop in the Rolex Stadium.

“I have only competed in the Hunterdon Cup once before – it was back in 2008 with my horse Caprice,” Zock recalls. “It was so fun being in the stadium; it was awesome being able to gallop around the ring.”

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

Inclusive and Victoria Colvin Capture 2012 USEF East Coast Junior Hunter Finals Grand Championship

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Victoria Colvin and Inclusive won the 2012 USEF East Coast Junior Hunter Finals Grand Championship. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – July 25, 2012 – The sweat beaded off the competitors’ brows today at the Kentucky Horse Park. It was the final day of the USEF East Coast Junior Hunter Finals, and the final determinant would be the handy round. Today’s second round course determined both Champion and Reserve Champion for each division, as well as overall High Point Mare, Reserve Grand Champion and Grand Champion. It was Victoria Colvin and Inclusive who took the prestigious Grand Championship, adding their names to the perpetual trophy.

Today’s course was designed by Bobby Murphy and involved tight inside turns, bending lines, rollback combinations, an in-and-out, and a strong hand gallop over the final oxer. The course proved difficult for many, testing both horse and rider alike with natural fences, hedges and brush.

The Small 15 & Under Junior Hunters were first in the order of go, and it was 14-year-old Victoria Colvin aboard Ovation, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, who posted a clear comeback from yesterday’s Classic Round to receive scores 92, 90 and 88 for a total of 270 points and the blue ribbon in the Handy Round.

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

Victoria Colvin and Inclusive Lead the Way during East Coast Junior Hunter Finals

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Victoria Colvin and Inclusive lead USEF East Coast Junior Hunter Finals on day one of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – July 24, 2012 – The Kentucky Horse Park was filled with anticipation as the top Junior riders in the nation gathered for the first day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show to vie for the championship honors in the 2012 USEF East Coast Junior Hunter Finals. The entire year of competition has led to this point in their Junior careers, with some continuing their dream to ride to the top of the ranks, and others keeping their fingers crossed as this year marks their final chance for the prestigious honor. After four divisions of competition, the lead is currently held by the Victoria Colvin and Inclusive, who posted the high score during the classic round in the Small 15 and Under Junior Hunter division, as well as the under saddle.

The skies threatened rain as riders arrived to walk the classic hunter course designed by Bobby Murphy of Lexington, KY. The opening round started with an option consisting of two natural brushes, one with a wider track, and the other providing a more straight-forward bend to the second obstacle, a natural vertical set near the in gate. Riders then continued forward in a bending line over an oxer, and with a right turn, they approached the difficult vertical-oxer combination. Although many took the short line with trepidation, the challenged continued as they were faced with another vertical-oxer line shortly after coming off of the outside turn. Bending from the second oxer, they took approached another oxer, and then finished on a diagonal over the seven-stride vertical-oxer line.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Kentucky Horse Shows, Show Jumping, Sydney Masters-Durieux

Teens, Amateurs & Pro Riders Joined Forces to Champion Step by Step Charity

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Hector Florentino pilots Stransky's Mission Ultimo to win $35,000 Welcome at Kentucky Horse Park. Photo by Ingrid Sabater

Grand Prix veteran Hector Florentino was the first member of “team” of international riders who champion the Step by Step Foundation (www.stepbystepfoundation.com) in competition to put in fault-free and fast rounds at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. The talented Dominican Rider piloted Stransky’s Mission Farm’s Ultimo to the blue ribbon and trophy in the $35,000 Welcome Open on day one of the two weeks of competitions at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky in the beginning of May.

“It’s great to come back to Kentucky and start off with a win,” said Florentino. “Last year, Ultimo and I put in 8 consecutive clean rounds in 4 grand prixs in Kentucky.   We placed 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.  Ultimo really likes this weather, this footing, the Kentucky Horse Park as an overall venue and horse show.   It would have been nice to have a little more sunshine the first week, but we will keep coming back to Kentucky.  For me, it is double the honor when I cannot only put in clean, fast rounds, but also represent Step by Step at the same time.   Every time we win, I know we are contributing to those kids with little or nothing, really making a difference in the life of someone who has nothing.”

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

Louise Serio Continues to Lead 2012 Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby Series

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Louise Serio and Corvine continue to lead the $15,000 Hallway Feeds Leading Rider Bonus standings. Photo By: Shawn McMillen Photography/PMG

Lexington KY – May 23, 2012 – Professional rider Louise Serio continues to hold the lead after the second part of the 2012 $45,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby came to a conclusion on Saturday, May 19, 2012 during the Kentucky Spring Classic. The Hallway Feeds Series consists of six national hunter derby events held during the 2012 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the final event, cash prizes totaling $15,000 will be awarded to the series’ leading riders.

The Kentucky Spring Series was held May 9-20, 2012, and featured two of the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derbies. The top riders from across the nation gathered to compete over the challenging courses and vie for the winning title and valuable points towards the $15,000 Leading Rider Awards. Louise Serio and Corvine led the victory gallop for the leadoff event during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, but it was professional Lourdes de Guardiola and Autumn Rhythm who took the top honors for the second derby event.

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

Abigail McArdle Dominates High Junior Jumpers at Kentucky Spring Horse Shows

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Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 won the High Junior Jumper Championship during both weeks of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 22, 2012 – The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows proved to be hugely successful for young rider Abigail McArdle of Barrington Hills, IL, who dominated the High Junior Jumper division with her eight-year-old mare Cosma 20. The unstoppable duo captured the division’s championship award during the competition’s two consecutive weeks, and also won each of the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classics.

McArdle was thrilled with her new mount’s performance and commented, “It’s one thing to win a Junior Jumper class, but I think it takes it to a whole new level to be that consistent at that level on a new horse. I am really lucky; Cosma 20 is so talented and went clear in every first round that we jumped. She’s only eight, and I have really big hopes for her in the future.”

During the first week of the horse show, McArdle and Cosma 20 placed third during the first High Junior Jumper class with a four-fault effort in the jump-off. They then went on to a double clear victory during the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic, which netted them the division’s championship tricolor. The talented pair continued their winning ways the following week, with a victory in the first High Junior Jumper class, and another blue ribbon effort during the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic as the lone clear effort over Olaf Petersen Jr.’s challenging course. With two championship awards to their name, McArdle and Cosma 20 will now travel to the prestigious Devon Horse Show to compete against the country’s top horses and riders.

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Richie Moloney Masters $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix at Kentucky Spring Classic

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Richie Moloney and Slieveanorra won the $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix at the Kentucky Spring Classic. Photo Credit: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 19, 2012 – It was a very exciting night for Ireland’s Richie Moloney as he captured his first international grand prix victory, riding Slieveanorra during the $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix at the Kentucky Spring Classic. The talented duo have been runner up on numerous occasions, even placing third during Thursday’s $32,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, but tonight the luck was on their side. Six horses advanced to the jump-off, but only three were double clear, with Moloney landing at the top of the leader board, while Margie Engle took second aboard Royce, and Egypt’s Nayel Nassar rode Raging Bull Vangelis S to third.

Germany’s Olaf Petersen Jr. created a very technical course for tonight’s main event in the Rolex Stadium. With a tight time allowed, riders had to show over a triple bar, an open water obstacle, a vertical-oxer double combination, and finally an oxer-vertical-oxer triple combination, which caused errors for many of the competitors. Only six of the 31 entries were able to master the initial track and advance to jump-off, where they had to jump the double combination again while also making tight rollbacks and then galloping across the ring to reach the final oxer.

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Lourdes de Guardiola and Autumn Rhythm Prove Victorious in $5,000 Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby at Kentucky Spring Classic

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Lourdes de Guardiola and Autumn Rhythm won the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby at the Kentucky Spring Classic. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 19, 2012 – The $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby saw nothing short of fierce competition this evening in the Stonelea Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. It was Lourdes de Guardiola and Autumn Rhythm who rode to the top of the leader board with two fantastic rounds, catching the judges’ eyes and being dually rewarded for their tremendous efforts. Ashley Hotz and Summer Catch eventually were presented with the red ribbon for their efforts and an overall score of 178 points, while Louise Serio took the third place prize aboard Corvine.

Riders were tested over a classic hunter course designed by Bobby Murphy, and the top 12 scoring combinations advanced into the handy hunter round. The course was skillfully set, and was evocative of a hunt field. The two-round course included stonewalls, oxers, standalone verticals, gates, brushes and a vertical-oxer line. Four high options were offered to the riders as a way of earning additional points on their base scores.

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Awards, Competitions, Events, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

2012 Hagyard Challenge Series to Feature Thoroughbred Award

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Beezie Madden and Simon lead the 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 17, 2012 – Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, is pleased to announce that the 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series will feature a high point Thoroughbred Award. The Hagyard Challenge Series consists of seven grand prix classes to be held during the 2012 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the final event, a $10,000 prize will be presented to the high point Thoroughbred participating in the Series. To be eligible for the Thoroughbred award, horses must be registered with the Jockey Club or have a verifiable lip tattoo.

Dr. Stuart Brown, President of Hagyard, commented, “This award is in keeping with Hagyard’s commitment to Thoroughbreds. Since we were founded in 1876, we have had a vested interest in the Thoroughbred industry through the relationships with our traditional clients in the Bluegrass. We want to encourage and reward those who seek opportunities for second careers for these horses in athletic endeavors beyond flat racing.”

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