Bella Cramer and Emilio.
Lexington, KY – May 16, 2014 – Balancing school or a career with riding and showing is a feat familiar to many Amateur-Owner riders, and it is one that Bella Cramer is handling quite successfully. The High Point University upcoming sophomore and her own Emilio earned back-to-back blue ribbons in the Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’3″ Hunters today at the Kentucky Spring Classic.
Scores of 88 and 89 earned Cramer and Emilio the dual victories over today’s courses designed by Bobby Murphy in the Stonelea Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park. Their successful performances marked the pair’s first time back in the show ring together after several weeks away while Cramer, a Michigan native, was at school in North Carolina.
“I’ve been away at school and haven’t been able to ride him, but he went out there today and was perfect,” Cramer said. “Emilio’s 11 now and I’ve had since he was a First Year horse.”
Cramer continued, “He has a big step, so I have to go a little bit slower with him so that we’re not leaving out strides in the lines. I just have to sit back and slow him down. He’s pretty straightforward.”
While today was the pair’s first time back in the show ring together this spring, Cramer has been able to stay in the show ring herself on High Point University’s Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) team. Competing in the open division, the highest division of the IHSA, she was the only freshman on the High Point team to qualify for their Zone 5 Region 4 Finals.
“I like the whole feeling of a team,” Cramer said. “You don’t get that when you’re regularly riding and showing.”
While Cramer enjoys the team aspect, she is also extremely happy to be back riding and showing Emilio here at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Also glad to be showing at the Kentucky Horse Park this week is one of the nation’s top Amateur-Owner Over 35 riders, Dawn Fogel. She dominated the Amateur-Owner Over 35 3’3″ Hunters this afternoon with her newly acquired mount Summer Catch.
“I actually leased him from Ashley Hotz for two weeks to show during [the Winter Equestrian Festival] Week V and Week VI, and we ended up purchasing him around Week X,” Fogel said. “He has a great personality. He’s very sweet, which is always nice to be around.”
Fogel continued, “He’s got a really big jump which is fun to ride. He’s got a great canter to go to the jumps on. He has a long stride, and he’s just generally a really, really neat ride.”
Fogel and Summer Catch earned scores of 88 and 92 to take both of the top calls over fences in their debut together at the Kentucky Horse Park.
“I love it here,” Fogel, a Louisville, KY resident said, “The footing is incredible, and to be able to go out and ride in the fields is fantastic. My other horse loves to go hack out on the grass, so I take him out there a lot. I think it’s the best facility to show at.”
Fogel will head to the Devon Horse Show next week before returning to the Kentucky Horse Shows this summer.
Hunter competition continues tomorrow with this week’s hunter highlight class: the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby at 5 p.m. in the Stonelea Ring.
For more information on the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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