Twenty-eight horse and rider teams jumped the $10,000 Horseflight Open Welcome yesterday on the world class grass grand prix field which saw nine return for the jump off round.
Andy Kocher of Ocala, Florida had all three of his rides qualify for the jump off round and he and his own Red Lady were the first tackle the jump off round after posting a clean first round in a time of 80.681 seconds, well within the eight six seconds time allowed. They also were clear in their second round in a time of 47.619 seconds, beating the time allowed of 62 seconds and temporarily took the lead.
Amanda Comly of Waller, Texas rode her own Can Do It 16 in a clear first round in a time of 84.974 seconds and their second round was also clean in a time of 47.804 which would have them in second place. But with seven more to go in the jump off, it was still anyone’s game.
Loretta Patterson’s Silverstone, ridden by Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama, followed Comly in the jump off. She and Silverstone posted a clear first round in a time of 85.382 seconds. Their jump off round saw a rail come down which resulted in four jump faults in a time of 46.922. The pair stood in third with four left to go.
Kocher and Eagle Valley Partners’ Ciana had a clear first round in a time of 82.991 seconds and their jump off round saw them go clean in a time of 45.480 seconds, taking the lead.
Honorway Farm, LLC’s Leander and Leann Kelly of Valatie, New York followed Kocher and Ciana in the jump off. The pair turned in a clear second round in a time of 47.329 seconds which would have them win the fourth place ribbon overall.
Shepherd returned to the grand prix field, this time in the irons of Patterson’s Triompf. The pair had posted a clean first round in a time of 82.035 seconds, but a rail in their second round in a time of 47.406 seconds would see them finish in ninth place overall.
Kocher followed Shepherd with his third ride in the jump off, Postage Stamp Farm, LLC’s Prof De La Roque. They had four faults in a time of 45.965 seconds which would see them finish in seventh place overall.
Shepherd returned with her third ride in the jump off, this time in the irons of Patterson’s Sky Miles. They turned in a fault free round in a time of 45.979 seconds, which would find them in second place in the class overall.
Tim Maddrix of Leeds, Alabama and Baily Martin’s Contador De Bornival Z sat in the enviable last to go spot in the jump off round. Although they turned in a clear round in a time of 46.328 seconds, their time was not fast enough to grab Kocher and they would finish in third place overall.
Kocher took the win with Ciana, followed by Shepherd and Sky Miles. Third was awarded to Maddrix and Specialized, and fourth went to Leander and Kelly. Kocher and Red Lady returned for the fifth place ribbon, and sixth went to Comly and Can Do It 16. Seventh place went to Kocher and Prof De La Roq, and eighth was awarded to Silverstone and Shepherd. Shepherd returned for a ninth place ribbon in the irons of Triompf, and tenth place went to Jennie Nolen of San Antonio, Texas and Daryl Nolen’s Quasi Modo H. Frank Owens of Windcrest, Texas and DS Holdings’ MTM Twenties Girl earned eleventh place, and Hannah Donald of Highland Village, Texas and her own MTM Macho Camancho wrapped it up in twelfth place.
Microchipping is now a requirement!
The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) now requires horses to be microchipped by December 1, 2017 in order to be eligible for Horse of the Year awards. Get ahead of this requirement at a very reasonable price while showing at the Gulf Coast Winter Classics. Dr. Patrick Cleveland, the Official Veterinarian of the Gulf Coast Winter Classic, is offering those showing in Gulfport a discounted rate of only $28 to microchip your horse. Dr. Cleveland is available to discuss any questions you have about microchipping and Mary Babick, United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Hunter Vice President, is also available for questions about the rule change.
The Gulf Coast Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. For more information on Gulf Coast Classic Company and its exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at www.gulfcoastclassiccompany.com.
All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director, at lisa@classiccompany.com.
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See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd.
www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island SC 29457