Wellington, FL – April 4, 2012 – The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show continues to be a highlight event for Nordic Lights Farm, where the horses and riders claimed top ribbons throughout the week. During the second week of competition, Peter Pletcher piloted NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm to victory in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, while sisters Eirin and Lene Bruheim had their own success in the jumper arena.
Pletcher and NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm started out the week in a winning fashion, sweeping the over fences classes in the High Performance Working Hunter division. Their efforts earned the division’s championship award for the second week in a row, and made them favorites going into Saturday night’s main event.
During the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, Pletcher and NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm went straight to the top of the leader board during the first round with a score of 183. During the handy round they used smooth inside turns and a beautiful gallop to earn a score of 192.5. The duo’s grand total of 375.5 was the highest of the night to claim the top prize and lead the lap of victory.
“NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm was really good,” commented Pletcher. “He jumped amazing; he jumped really high over all of the jumps. He was really smooth. The lines were long for a lot of the horses, but he just walked them. All of the four-foot options were really easy for him. He just went in a clipped around like he’s been going it his whole life.”
Pletcher continued, “During the Handy Round I knew that he had a pretty good lead, so I just needed to make sure that he just got a nice smooth round. I still did all the inside turns and jumped all the high options. He was amazing. He just really, really tried everywhere and just rose to the occasion.”
“He’s awesome and I love riding him,” concluded Pletcher. “It’s great to have the Bruheim Family as owners. They are more jumper-oriented, but it’s so nice that they support him for me.”
Junior rider Lene Bruheim had great success with her mounts NLF Valhall and Jessika in the Children’s Jumpers. She kicked off the week by placing second in the Children’s Jumper speed class with NLF Valhall, completing a clear effort in a quick time of 55.83 seconds. Later in the day she placed fifth in the Children’s Jumper Stake class with a fault-free first round aboard her veteran mount. The next day, Lene showed both horses in the Children’s Jumper Classic. A clear first round and just two rails during the short course earned Lene and NLF Valhall the fourth place honors. She also left all the fences intact with her newest mount Jessika, but in an effort to be clean they added three time faults to their score, which was good enough for the third place ribbon.
“The second week of Pin Oak was very fun,” said Lene. “I was thrilled that both of my horses went clean in the first round of the Classic; they were phenomenal! I really love them and I am hoping to move them up to the Low Junior Jumpers soon.”
Lene’s older sister Eirin represented Nordic Lights Farm in the Open Jumpers during the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show II. She began the week with a double clear effort riding NLF Trans Atlantic in the 1.25m Open Jumpers. Eirin then showed her veteran mount Cicero 75 in the $25,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix, where their speedy four-fault round placed sixth. They improved to fifth place during the $30,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix, where they managed to leave all the rails in place during the first round and jump-off. Eirin also showed Anyway during the $30,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix, advancing to the short course after a clear first round, and with just four faults during the jump-off they placed seventh.
“The second week of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show was wonderful,” noted Eirin. “NLF Transatlantic was second in the 1.25m, which is good considering its only his second week back jumping; he is rearing to go. Cicero 75 was a super star; he is my steady mount that always tries his very best to please me. Anyway did well in the first prix, really tried her heart out and went clear. It was our first time going clean in the prixs, so I am thrilled. I am so happy to have all my horses and can’t ask for anything else!”
Nordic Lights Farm will continue to show at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center during the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show this week, before returning home to Tomball, TX.
Nordic Lights Farm is a 70-acre establishment located in Tomball, TX, that was founded in 2007 by the Bruheim family to help further the equestrian goals of 19-year-old Eirin Bruheim and 17-year-old Lene Bruheim. Both girls have worked their way up through the ranks and are currently competing at the top levels in the hunter and jumper divisions aboard their incredible string of horses.
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