Category Archives: Hunter/Equitation

Hector Florentino and Ultimo Speed to Victory in $35,000 Welcome Cup at Kentucky Spring Horse Show

Hector Florentino and Ultimo won the $35,000 Welcome Cup at the 2012 Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 9, 2011 – Speed was the name of the game during the first day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, and the Dominican Republic’s Hector Florentino had it with Ultimo. The pair dominated the $35,000 Welcome Cup, clocking in at a speedy 67.530 seconds, which earned the blue ribbon prize during the speed event. Ashlee Bond stepped up to place second with her veteran mount Cadett 7, while the lead-off rider Kent Farrington, placed third with Voyeur.

Today’s class was the first major event during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, which will be hosting two Observation Events for the U.S. Show Jumping Team later in the week. To welcome the riders, course designer Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England built a speed track in the Rolex Stadium that included a double combination, a triple combination, and open water with a pole, and multiple inside options. Seven of today’s 24 entries completed their rounds without fault, but it was Hector Florentino and Stransky’s Mission Farm’s Ultimo that took home the lion’s share of the prize money.

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2012 Atlanta Spring Challenge Just Under a Week Away

Daniel Geitner and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bostwick's Sympa, winners of the 2011 Atlanta Spring Challenge Grand Prix. Photos by Shawn McMillen

May 10th, 2012 – The 9th annual Atlanta Spring Challenge Horse Show is just under a week away.   The highly anticipated show takes place at the renowned Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia with J. P. Godard and Equus Events, Inc handling the duties.  The show holds a USEF AA hunter rating and is a Jumper 4.  It is sanctioned by USEF, USHJA, SCHJA, GHJA, NCHJA, NAL, and WIHS.

This year’s event looks to be the biggest to date and Godard is very grateful.  “Many shows have seen a decline over the past few years as the economy has hit us all so very hard.  We are pleased that we are seeing a positive response in what we are doing,” said Godard.  Good footing, good weather, good staff and officials, and hospitality seem to be the key as the Atlanta Spring Challenge show continues to pick up some of the best riders and trainers in the country.

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Jennifer Alfano Sweeps First Day of Professional Hunters at Kentucky Spring Horse Show

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy scored two blue ribbons at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show in the High Performance Hunters, sweeping the first day of classes. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 9, 2011 – Riders gathered at the Stonelea Ring to face the demanding hunter course as the first day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show got underway. They were greeted with a brisk morning air, and a cloud filled sky, as the divisions commenced with top riders from across the nation competing for the winning honors in their respective divisions. Opening day marked the beginning of the First Year Green Working Hunter, Second Year Green Working Hunter, Green Conformation, Regular Conformation and High Performance Hunter classes. Leading the way in the Green Conformation Hunters was Hunt Tosh aboard Say Again, while Havens Schatt exhibited both Macallan and Valencia to top honors in the Second Year Green Working Hunters. It was Jennifer Alfano, however, who stole the show in the Regular Conformation Hunters with Lions Paw, as well as the High Performance Hunters with the revered Jersey Boy, sweeping both divisions.

Alfano piloted the nine-year-old thoroughbred, Lion’s Paw, owned by Danny Robertshaw of Camden, SC, to two blue ribbons in the Regular Conformation Hunters. She originally began showing the gelding at the beginning of HITS Ocala; however, this was her first time show with him this spring. “I had him since the beginning of Florida, and he hasn’t actually been shown since the third week. I was thrilled with him. He was great, and the course rode nicely. He’s pretty simple to ride, he never spooks at anything, and he is just a fun horse to ride.”

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First-Ever Southeast Medal Finals in Jacksonville Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project

Jacksonville, FL – May 7, 2012 – The Southeast Medal Finals is pleased to announce the event will be a proud supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). The First Annual Southeast Medal Finals will take place on September 21-23, 2012 at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. Highlights include the Southeast Junior 3′ Medal Finals and the Southeast Adult 3′ Medal Finals, the Region Three ASPCA Maclay Regionals.

WWP was founded by several veterans and friends, moved by stories of the first wounded service members returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq, took action to help others in need. What started as a program to provide comfort items to wounded service members has grown into a complete rehabilitative effort to assist warriors as they recover and transition back to civilian life.

Tens of thousands of Wounded Warriors and caregivers receive support each year through WWP programs designed to nurture the mind and body, and encourage economic empowerment and engagement.

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Charleston Summer Housing

Planning early for accommodations in Charleston is important.  There are hotels but many are more than 15 miles away.  Most exhibitors have rented condos on Seabrook or Kiawah Island in the past and our show is in high season for the islands.  Plan early.

Coastal Getaways handles the rentals of homes/villas on Seabrook Island.  They have everything from one bedroom villas to five bedroom homes.  They will work closely with you to accommodate your arrival and departure dates since they realize that not everyone will come from Saturday to Saturday.  Their website is www.coastalgetawaysofsc.com or call 843 789 4438.

If you have any questions, call our office:  843 768 5503 or send us an email at info@classiccompany.com.

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Lene Bruheim Wins High Children’s Jumper Championship at Texas Shoot Out

Lene Bruheim and NLF Valhall won the High Children's Jumper Championship at the Texas Shoot Out Horse Show. Photos By: Shawn McMillen.

Tyler, TX – May 1, 2012 – The winning show season for Nordic Lights Farm continued last week during the Texas Shoot Out Horse Show in Tyler, TX. Junior rider Lene Bruheim took home the High Children’s Jumper Championship aboard her talented mount NLF Valhall after winning two classes in the division. Also representing Nordic Lights Farm, professional rider Peter Pletcher claimed the victory in the USHJA International Hunter Derby with NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm.

Lene Bruheim and NLF Valhall were at the top of their game this weekend during the Texas Shoot Out Horse Show. She started off with a double-clear effort in Saturday’s High Children’s Jumper class to earn the blue ribbon honors. On Sunday, the duo laid down another pair of fault-free rounds to place second during the next class. The High Children’s/Adult Amateur Jumper Classic concluded the weekend, where Lene and NLF Valhall produced the fastest short course to earn another win. Their performance over the weekend garnered the High Children’s Jumper Championship. With her second mount Jessika, Lene placed third in the 1.15m Open Jumpers on Friday, and later placed fifth and eighth in the High Children’s Jumpers.

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Atlanta Summer – WCHR/Charleston/Southeast Medal Finals Updates

I just wanted to update you on a few things.

1. WCHR – I am still getting comments, emails and phone calls about the WCHR in Gulfport.  Just to set the record straight, I contacted Geoff Teal, the Chair of the WCHR Committee, to find out why a show that wins the USHJA Member Choice Award over all the show in Zone 4 for the entire year last year holds both a National and International Derby and call the show the “Celebration of Hunters” was not a WCHR show this year.  His response was very simple: VOTES. Each member of the WCHR is sent a ballot and we simply did not get enough votes for our show.  Geoff also shared that there are not a lot of members that vote.  So, if you want to see both Gulfport and Atlanta Summer be member shows, then vote for them when the ballot is sent to you – it’s that simple.  It has nothing to do with the caliber of event if it meets the minimal requirements.

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Champions Abound as Interscholastic Equestrian Association Celebrates 10 Years at the 2012 IEA Hunt Seat National Finals

Rebekah "Becca" Chenelle IEA 2012 Leading Hunt Seat Rider of the Year

Syracuse, New York – April 27, 2012 – More than 330 of the nation’s leading middle school and high school equestrians competed at The New York State Fairgrounds April 20-22 for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) National Finals sponsored by Dover Saddlery and the American Quarter Horse Youth Association (AQHYA). The finalists represented over 100 teams from seven zones throughout the United States. Individuals and teams participated in multiple competitions during the 2011-2012 regular season shows, regional and zone finals to qualify for the IEA National Finals competition.

Riders competed in Hunt Seat Equitation Over Fences classes and Equitation on-the-flat classes throughout the weekend. The IEA format requires that riders compete in unfamiliar tack on unfamiliar mounts; therefore, they draw their horses the day of competition and enter the arena after a brief, if any, warm-up.

In the individual competition Rebekah Chenelle, who rides for the Windcrest Equestrian Team of Hebron, Connecticut, was named the IEA Leading Hunt Seat Rider of the Year, winning the Varsity Open Championship class.

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Top Judges Named for the First-Ever Southeast Medal Finals in Jacksonville

Wellington, FL – April 26, 2012 – The First Annual Southeast Medal Finals will take place on September 21-23 2012 at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. Sponsors are lining up to support this great new show. Highlights include the Southeast Junior and Adult 3′ Medal Finals, ASPCA Maclay Regionals and much more.

Hunter and Equitation judges will include Kip Rosenthal, Brian Lenehan and John Roper. Allen Rheinheimer and Fred Brown will serve as jumper judges.

Kip Rosenthal is an accomplished equestrian, who has ridden and trained with such familiar names as George Morris, Victor Hugo-Vidal, Bert De’Nemethy and more. As a respected R-rated judge in both Hunter and Hunter Seat Equitation, Rosenthal has judged many of the most prestigious competitions in North America.

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Jeanne Hobbs Sails Southern River to Championship of Farm Vet Level Five Jumpers and Places Third in Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper

Jeanne Hobbs and Southern River in Wellington earlier this year. Photo by SportFot

Wellington, FL – April 24, 2012 – Jeanne Hobbs found her groove at HITS Culpeper winning the Farm Vet Level Five Championship with her own mount, Southern River. In the $40,000 Grand Prix, Hobbs piloted Nielsen B to third place honors.

The conditions were not ideal, with fifty-degree weather and rain. But Danny Foster’s courses rode well for Hobbs and her two horses and, despite the cold and rain, they delivered outstanding performances.

“Southern River is 100% Thoroughbred,” shared Hobbs about her twelve-year-old partner. “I’ve had him since he was about three and a half years old, and he’s a super-fast, careful and brave horse. He won the first day at Culpeper, and he went in and won the second day as well. That’s him. He’s a winner. He enjoys winning. The faster you go, the better he jumps.”

Continue reading Jeanne Hobbs Sails Southern River to Championship of Farm Vet Level Five Jumpers and Places Third in Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper