Sydney Shulman and Venice.
Lexington, KY – July 25, 2015 – Saturday night at the Kentucky Horse Park ushered in hundreds of spectators for Hats Off Day and one of Sydney Shulman’s biggest career grand prix wins. The 20-year-old and her mount Venice bested a field of 36 horse-and-rider combinations to win the $50,000 Rood and Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show.
“I’ve had a really good couple of weeks,” Shulman said. “I won the Ox Ridge [Hunt Club] and Fairfield [County Hunt Club] grand prix two weeks ago and the week before on two of my other horses, so it’s pretty cool to come here and do it on my favorite one!”
From the original starting field, only three riders successfully maneuvered the first round, Alan Wade-designed course without penalty to advance to the jump-off. The others all fell victim to faults both over the fences and on the clock – including 15 combinations who finished with at least one time fault. Three riders, including Alison Robitaille, Conor O’Regan and Ansgar Holtgers, all finished clear over the fences but faced heartbreaking time faults as they tripped the timers, keeping them from the second round.
It was only Shane Sweetnam and Easy Contact Humlan, Shulman and Venice, and Sharn Wordley and Corino who would successfully advance to the jump-off and vie for the lion shares of the prize money in front of the packed stands in Rolex Stadium.
As the early pathfinders, Sweetnam and Easy Contact Humlan, owned by Sweet Oak Farm, were the first to contest the short course, and they turned in an impressive double clear effort to finish on a time of 47.238 seconds.
“I knew he has a big stride, but he’s not the quickest horse; he spends a lot of time in the air,” Sweetnam said in regard to Easy Contact Humlan’s jump-off round. “He’s going to jump big tracks; he’s a great horse. I knew that I had to try to be quick, but I knew if they executed their plan, they would be faster, so I think I definitely did a lot less strides than Syd did everywhere; my horse just is a slower horse.”
Shulman and Venice, owned by Jill Shulman, returned next, and from halfway through the course it was apparent that they were gunning for it. As they crossed the finish, their time flashed 44.823 seconds, nearly three full seconds ahead of Sweetnam’s time to move them into the lead.
“I didn’t have a very good jump-off in the welcome class on [Venice], so I was a little skeptical going back in today,” Shulman said. “She’s super quick across the ground; she doesn’t spend much time in the air. Her strides not big so I know I can make up time in the turns because she’s careful.
“I said to everyone before I went in, ‘I’m going to play it safe to the double,’ because that’s where I messed up on Thursday, but then I saw it. She felt really good, and I think I made it up there and at the liverpool. Then I took a shot to the last,” Shulman said.
From there it all came down to Wordley and his own Corino. But as a rail fell out of the cups, Wordley elected to retire, knowing that he would still finish in third, and the victory was Shulman’s.
“Venice is just the best. She’s so quick off the ground. She’s so careful,” Shulman said. “We try to do the opposite of any other horse. We jump really small in the schooling ring. We jump small classes to gear her up for a big one. She knows her job.”
Shulman continued, “She jumped the $100,000 at Old Salem unbelievably. That was kind of the telling point that she can be my top horse. We just really get along well ever since the day I first got on her. She just tries so hard every single time.”
Shulman looks forward to coming to the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows every year, and she and Venice will return to competition next week during the Kentucky Summer Classic.
“It’s my favorite horse show. It’s my 12th year coming here every year for three or four weeks,” Shulman said. “The facility is unbelievable. The show is run so well. You have permanent stabling which is nice. You have more than six rings to ride in everyday with great footing, and I think all of my horses jump great here. I love it. There’s always atmosphere.”
The Kentucky Summer Horse Show concludes on Sunday with jumper competition resuming at 8 a.m. in the Rolex Stadium.
Vivian Yowan, Tyler Petrie Top Junior 16-17 Hunter Divisions at Kentucky Summer Horse Show
Young rider Vivian Yowan proves time after time that she can do it all, whether she’s riding her way to individual gold at the North American and Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC), winning in the jumper ring or claiming top honors in the hunters at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show.
As the Small Junior 16-17 Hunters began, Yowan and her own Ransom came ready to win, delivering two smooth rounds to boost them to the top of the pack. Scores of 89 and 88 earned the duo both blue ribbons over fences, with a fifth place finish in the under saddle rounding out their scorecard.
“I’ve had Ransom for two years now,” Yowan said. “I love him. I always feel like I can count on him.”
Yowan’s second mount in the division, Anytime, is a new ride for her. Despite being new partners, Yowan and Anytime impressed the judges, finishing second and fourth with scores of 85 and 81.
“Anytime felt really good today, and I think he’s on his way to being great,” Yowan said. “He’s just starting to figure it out, and today I really felt like he understood what his job is. He’s a little bit of a different ride than my other one [Ransom], but he’s very sweet. I think he seems very willing to do what you want him to do. I think today especially he was trying to please.”
Earlier in the day, the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters were underway in the Stonelea Ring, with rider Tyler Petrie outshining the field of top hunters on her two entries, Curious George and Quite Ruffy 840.
Petrie and Quite Ruffy 840, owned by Pamela Kahn, scored an 86 to collect the blue ribbon in the first over-fences class, with second place going to Yowan and Belhaven Stables LLC’s Character. Petrie and Quite Ruffy 840 followed up with another 86 to finish second in the next round. A third place finish on the flat marked a successful day for the duo.
“Ruffy was doing the grand prix with Wilhelm [Genn],” Petrie explained. “Then the jumps just got a little bit higher and a little bit wider so that was just his max. So Pamela bought him, and we were just trying to make him a hunter. If that didn’t work we were going to keep him a jumper, but obviously it worked out. He’s awesome. I can barely stay on sometimes because he jumps so hard, but he’s awesome.”
The second class went to Petrie and Curious George, who Petrie is riding in place of his owner, Lucy Loper, who is recovering from a broken back. The duo’s score of 87 gave them a slight edge over Quite Ruffy 840 to take the top spot.
“I was fortunate enough that Lucy was very generous and is letting me ride him while she’s recovering,” Petrie said. “This is about my third horse show on him. He’s awesome. He’s so much fun, but he can be really challenging sometimes because he’s only a baby. For the most part, he’s just so nice. He’s so comfortable.”
In addition to a full range of hunter divisions, hunter competition at the Kentucky Summer Classic culminates in Sunday’s $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby.
To learn more about the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
Kentucky Horse Shows 2015 Horse Show Series Fast Facts
Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2015 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals and the Pre Green Incentive Championship.
What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC’s 2015 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 14-19, 2015
KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 22-26, 2015
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 28 – August 2, 2015
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
2015 USEF PONY FINALS – August 4-9, 2015
BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW – August 11-16, 2015
USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix sponsored by Audi of Lexington
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event
KHJA HORSE SHOW – August 19-23, 2015
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Summer Series: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Hollow Creek Farm, GGT Footing, Rood and Riddle, Audi of Lexington, Sleepy P Ranch, CWD, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program, 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) 281-7979, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling – Pat Duncan (503) 510-8797
Stable office – Before Show: (503) 510-8797, 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
Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry, and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring.
Hotels:
CLARION HOTEL (http://www.clarionhotellex.com) (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 Ryan McGaughey at Ryan.mcgaughey@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 checkout 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