Sophia Calamari and Smitten.
Lexington, KY – August 5, 2014 – Sophia Calamari is a USEF Pony Finals veteran – this year marks her sixth time making the trip from home in New Milford, PA to the Kentucky Horse Park. What makes this year a little extra special however is that it is her first year making that trip with Smitten.
Thirteen-year-old Calamari got the small green pony two years ago and, under the instruction of Gary Duffy and Little Brook Farm, has been bringing him along herself since then. Today on the opening day of the 2014 USEF Pony Finals, Calamari and Smitten, or “Smitty,” kicked things off in one of the best possible ways: by earning the highest score in the Small Green Pony Model and moving into the overall lead in the Small Green Pony division.
“He was a little bit tough when we got him, but he’s worked through it,” Calamari said. “Now he’s amazing. He’s very silly. He’s great and serious on his back, but in the barn he likes to play a lot.”
In addition to winning the Small Green Pony Model, Calamari rode Smitten to third place in the Small Green Pony Under Saddle rankings, which further secured the pair’s spot atop the Small Green Pony overall leaderboard. The final division standings for the small ponies all come down to tomorrow’s over fence classes, which kick off beginning at 8 a.m. in the Walnut Ring.
“It’s really neat knowing that he could actually be champion,” Calamari said, and win or lose she is happy to be here. “I love the atmosphere at Pony Finals and that it’s all ponies and all of my friends. Everyone just has a really good time here.”
Calamari is also competing throughout the week on her two other mounts: her medium pony, Power Trip, and her medium green pony, Boca’s Unbridled Dreamer.
Ali Tritschler and Enjoy the Laughter Lead the Way in the Larges
In the Large Pony division, there is another veteran rider hot on the heels of a championship – Ali Tritschler riding Dr. Betsee Parker’s Enjoy the Laughter.
After a successful USEF Pony Finals last year, Tritschler said she was hanging up her hat in the pony ring and focusing on the junior and equitation divisions. That changed when her trainer, Timmy Kees of Norfield Stables LLC, got a phone call from Scott Stewart with an exciting offer that Tritschler could not refuse.
Stewart and Parker were looking for someone to ride Enjoy the Laughter, or “Maddox” at this year’s Pony Finals, and Tritschler fit the bill perfectly.
“It’s an opportunity that I thought would be really good for me,” Tritschler said. “I’d never shown him before, so I showed at Fairfield, and I showed him again a couple of weeks ago at Lake Placid. He’s really nice to ride because he’s just like a big horse. He goes around just like my equitation horse does, so it’s not that big of a switch for me. He doesn’t go like a normal pony, and I think that’s part of what makes him that pretty and stand out as much as he does.”
Enjoy the Laughter bested 99 other ponies to take the blue ribbon in the Large Pony Hunter Model this morning, and he and Tritschler also rode away with the seventh place ribbon under saddle to give them the early lead in the overall Large Pony Model standings.
Earning today’s blue ribbons under saddle were Emma Lemke and Brownland Miss Kimmy, owned by Brownland Farm, in the Small Green Pony division and Alexandra Pielet and Love and Logic, owned by Jill Shulman, in the Large Pony division.
Both pairs will be back tomorrow to vie for their championships as the Small Green Pony and Large Pony divisions come to a close. The Small Pony Hunters kick off tomorrow, with the Small Pony Model beginning at 7 a.m.
To learn more about the USEF Pony Finals, please visit www.ponyfinals.org.
Kentucky Summer Series Fast Facts
Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2014 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.
What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC’s 2014 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions host the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award, as well as the Hallway Feeds National Derby Series.
Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Home to the United States Equestrian Federation.
When:
NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS – July 15-20, 2014
KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 23-27, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 29 – August 3, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
2014 USEF PONY FINALS – August 5-10, 2014
BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW – August 12-17, 2014
USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event
KHJA HORSE SHOW – August 20-24, 2014
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Audi of Lexington, GGT Footing, Equestrian Services International, Johnson Horse Transportation, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program, Sleepy P Ranch, and the Official Hotel The Clarion
Hours:
8am – 5pm daily
Parking:
Horse Show Exhibitors may purchase a weekly parking pass at the main Horse Park entrance for $15.00. Dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash.
Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located 8 miles northeast of Lexington, Kentucky at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.
Information:
Before Show – (859) 233-0492, Email: hakshows@earthlink.net
During Show – Telephone: (859) 254-3343, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling – Email Tom Blankenship at tomblank@bellsouth.net
Stable office – Before Show: (843) 269-4737, During Show: (859) 255-0605
Prize List Advertising – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Vendors – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Shownet – www.shownet.biz
Website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
Ring Dimensions/Specs:
The Stonelea Ring, Murphy Ring, Walnut Ring, Stonelea/Murphy Schooling Ring, the Alltech Arena and the Rolex Stadium have Otto Sport footing consisting of fine sand and synthetic fiber on pvc mats. The Claiborne, Annex, and Covered Arena (old) rings’ footing consists of a sand cushion on limestone base. The dimensions of the competition areas are as follows:
Stonelea: 140′x 280′, Murphy: 135′x 280′, Stonelea and Murphy Schooling: 110′x 400′
Walnut: 300′x 370′, Claiborne: 140′x 270′, Annex 130′x 250′, Covered Arena (old): 145′x 285′ Rolex Stadium: 360′ x 384′, Alltech Arena: 132′ x 265′
Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring.
Hotels:
CLARION HOTEL (Formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859-233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles (OFFICIAL HOTEL)
Discover the place where elegant comfort in an ideal location meets excellent service and affordability. At the Clarion Hotel Lexington, you’ll find well-appointed accommodations with options of double/doubles, double queens, king rooms or suites, exceptional amenities such as our free hot breakfast buffet, and Southern hospitality at its finest. The best hotel for Keeneland – located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region – home of the Kentucky Horse Park, the Lexington Convention Center, University of Kentucky, and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – our Lexington hotel is on Newtown Pike at Exit 115 on I-75, close to all the big attractions, and is the perfect place to stay whether you’re here to get down to business or have some fun. Best of all, bring your furry friends for any trip because the Clarion Hotel in Lexington is also pet-friendly.
CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS:
Reservations may not be made through the Horse Show office. To reserve a campsite at the Kentucky Horse Park for any of the horse shows, please call the Campground store at (800) 370-6416 or 859-259-4157 or email Sherry Logan at sherryd.logan@ky.gov. Be specific as to the show name and the dates you wish to stay. Check-in time is 2:00 p.m. and check-out is 12:00 noon. You must make arrangements with the Campground store if you plan to arrive earlier than 2:00 p.m. or stay later than 12:00 noon. Vehicles that are not removed from a campsite by check-out time will be towed.
Management:
Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC
P. O. Box 11428
Lexington, KY 40575-1428
859-233-0492 (phone)
859-233-0495 (fax)
email: hakshows@earthlink.net
website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
Media Contact:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com