Wellington, FL – January 14, 2012 – The prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival got underway with its first week of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. Derbydown owner and trainer Louise Serio started off right, claiming the Performance Working 3’6″ Hunter Championship after sweeping the division aboard Bryan Baldwin’s Castle Rock. Serio also took home the reserve championship honors in the Pre-Green Level 2 Hunters with Aate’, owned by Bright Star 158, LLC.
Over the years, Serio and Castle Rock have won many coveted titles, including WEF’s 2011 WCHR Pro Hunter Classic and 2010 USHJA International Hunter Derby. This week they returned the arena and were unstoppable. The duo claimed the first place prize in all of the Performance Working 3’6″ Hunter classes, and were eventually honored with the championship tricolor.
“I was thrilled with how my first week went,” expressed Serio. “I thought all the horses went really well and I am really happy. We did the Performance Hunter instead of the High Performance with Castle Rock just to get started and he couldn’t have been any better. His rounds were outstanding!”
Serio also competed with her newest mount Aate’ in the Pre-Green Level 2 Hunters. The talented young gelding was just recently imported from Europe, and is already proving that he is ready for the spotlight. Together they garnered three second place ribbons to take home the reserve championship award.
“Aate’ just got over here and I was thrilled; he walked right into the ring and was second and second,” explained Serio. “He jumps phenomenally. Sometimes when you buy them from Europe it’s hard to make them a hunter that quickly, so I feel like we’re in really good shape.”
Serio and the team from Derbydown also claimed three additional blue ribbons during the week. She won the Pre-Green Level 1 Hunter Over Fences class with Bridget Hallman’s Lulu, and the Second Year Green Working Hunter Under Saddle class riding Rock On. Serio also took home top honors with two more mounts owned by Baldwin, winning the Performance Working 3’3″ Hunter class with Maranello and placing second aboard Marshall.
Derbydown hopes to continue its winning ways throughout the twelve-week circuit at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
About Louise Serio and Derbydown:
Owned and operated by top hunter trainer Louise Serio, Derbydown is nationally recognized as one of the foremost show hunter barns in the country. It is a training, boarding, showing and sales business with a multi-level horse facility providing all levels of instruction to A-quality showing in Kennett Square, PA. Serio began training at Derbydown in 1975 and she consistently trains and rides champions in every division at the most prestigious shows on the East Coast. Serio also travels the country to judge at those top shows in which she is not competing. Some of her championship mounts include Gray Slipper, Rock On, Rock Star, and Phillipa. Most recently, Serio was victorious in the 2011 WCHR Pro Hunter Classic aboard Castle Rock at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
For more information please visit www.Derbydown.com.
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