Tag Archives: Alltech National Horse Show

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Abigail McArdle Captures $50,000 Junior/A-O Jumper Classic Victory at National Horse Show

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Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 won the $50,000 SJHOF Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic at the Alltech National Horse Show. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington, KY – November 7, 2012 – Abigail McArdle of Barrington, IL finished her outstanding junior year with two major victories in the High Junior Jumpers during the Alltech National Horse Show. After winning the $10,000 Deeridge Farm Junior Jumper Welcome Stake her first day out with Cosma 20, the pair returned on Saturday to lead the $50,000 SJHOF Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.

On Thursday, November 1, the top junior riders in the country gathered at the Alltech Arena to compete during the $10,000 Deeridge Farm Junior Jumper Welcome Stake.  Eighteen-year-old McArdle and her speedy mount Cosma 20 would prove to be the best of the day. Even with adding a stride in one of the lines, their smooth turns and quick track bested the competition as they stopped the timers at 62.983 seconds, three seconds faster than the second place finisher. The pair returned to the ring at the end of the class to claim their blue ribbon and lead the victory gallop.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Maclay, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Jacob Pope Wins 2012 ASPCA Maclay National Championship Title

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Jacob Pope won the 2012 ASPCA Maclay National Championships. Photo: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington, KY – November 4, 2012 – It was another fairytale day for Jacob Pope of Columbia, MD, during the 2012 Maclay National Championship for the ASCPA Alfred B. Maclay Horsemanship Classes. The Alltech National Horse Show, 129th Edition, welcomed 152 riders for the prestigious event. At the end of the day, it was 18-year-old Pope whose horsemanship outshined the rest to capture the coveted winning title after four challenging rounds of competition.

“I am still in shock that I won,” smiled Pope after the victory gallop. “It is unreal, and being on the trophy with such legends such as George Morris, and everyone else that is on the trophy. I just can’t believe it.”

For the first round, riders had to compete over a technical course designed by judges George H. Morris and Hap Hansen. They began with an “S” shaped bending line with the iconic ASPCA jump to a triple bar, followed by a blind turn to a steady gymnastic line. Then riders made another “S” line with two Swedish oxers and a natural skinny jump with no wings in the middle. Finally they galloped home to a wall fence towards the in gate. While some riders had difficulties during the first round, the course was very inviting overall and gave each rider many opportunities to show off their equitation.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Emotional Victory for McLain Ward and Antares F in $250,000 Alltech Grand Prix

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McLain Ward and Antares F. Photos By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington, KY – November 3, 2012 – It was a very emotional night at Alltech National Horse Show as McLain Ward piloted his top mount Antares F to victory during the Alltech $250,000 Grand Prix, benefitting the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. The win comes just days after the passing of his father, Barney Ward, who had been Ward’s most important supporter. Ward rode through his grief to beat six others in the jump-off, as the first to compete on his speedy partner.

Christine McCrea followed in second place aboard Romantovich Take One with the only other double clear effort, while the third place award went to Candice King and Whistler with a single time fault over the speed track.

“This has been the hardest week of my life,” admitted Ward. “My dad was my world. If I was right with my father, I was right with the world. My dad certainly had some flaws in his life, but he sacrificed an unbelievable amount for my family and me to live our dreams, and this is our dream. We shared the same dream,” he said with tears welling. “I owe a career and a life to what he provided for me and taught me to do. I didn’t know we would win today, but I knew we would go on and do well, that’s what he taught us to do in life. I think everyone knows how much I loved my father, and how much I am going to miss him. I loved him very, very much. I rode with a heavy heart today, but we forge on and do his dream.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Victoria Colvin and Inclusive Crowned Junior Hunter Grand Champions

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Victoria Colvin and Inclusive captured the Overall Grand Junior Hunter Championship. Photo By: Shawn McMillen

Lexington, KY – November 3, 2012 – The Alltech Arena was filled with top junior talent as riders showcased their mounts during the handy and stake classes this afternoon at the Alltech National Horse Show, 129th Edition. Victoria Colvin and Inclusive were awarded the Large Junior 15 and Under Championship for their efforts throughout the division. They were also presented with the Overall Junior Hunter Grand Championship for their first-rate placings over the last two days.

Inclusive with Victoria Colvin in the irons earned the top call in the $7,500 Large Junior 15 and Under Hunter Stake this afternoon. Coupled with their sweep of the over fences yesterday, they scored the division’s championship tricolor. Hannah Showell and Just Dessert, owned by Rolling Acres Farm of Brookeville, MD, rode to the reserve championship honors with their consistent ribbons.

“He is jumping higher and higher, to the in and out today he really surprised me with his jump,” Colvin laughed. “It can be a little surprising. He gets there and just explodes of the ground. He is getting more comfortable with showing.”

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Breeds, Competitions, Events, More/Other, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group

American Saddlebreds Create Excitement at Alltech National Horse Show

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David Rudder and Phind the Treasure. Photos By: Brooke Jacobs with Jacobs Photography

Lexington, KY – November 3, 2012 – Saturday night at the 129th Edition of the Alltech National Horse Show, the American Saddlebred Divisions concluded their amateur division championships of Three Gaited, Park Horse and Five Gaited. The return of the Saddle Horses to the Alltech National Horse Show at the Alltech Arena in Lexington, KY has been met with much enthusiasm.

Kentucky is a hub of some of the most celebrated trainers in the American Saddlebred world and it is only natural that with the move of the Alltech National Horse Show to the area, that the American Saddlebreds return to the fold of the tradition rich show.

The crowd was keyed up after enjoying the extremely exciting $250,000 Alltech Grand Prix, a spectacular FEI World Cup qualifier. When the jumps were cleared and the ring was dragged the $1,500 Park Horse Amateur Championship began.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, More/Other, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Tim Gredley and Unex Valente Soar to Top of $50,000 Puissance at Alltech National Horse Show

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Tim Gredley and Unex Valente. Photos By: Rebecca Walton

Lexington, KY – November 2, 2012 – Great Britain’s Tim Gredley proved to be one of the world’s bravest riders this evening when he galloped up to a 7’6″ wall aboard his talented mount Unex Valente. The pair was already champions of the $50,000 Puissance at Alltech National Horse Show, 129th edition after being the only horse and rider combination to clear the 7″ wall. Although they were unsuccessful during their final attempt, the crowd was on their feet to cheer on the brave rider at the Alltech Arena in Lexington, KY.

Eight entries gathered for tonight’s class to jump the wall built by Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England, the first time this show had hosted the event in 11 years. For the first round the jump was set at 5’9″, but as the height rose the number of riders left continued to dwindle. First it went up to 6’3″, then 6’6″ and finally for a brave final three, 7′.

Having successfully completed all three of the first heights, Gredley was the first to make the daunting gallop towards the in-gate with Unex Valente, owned by Unex Competition Yard. The pair made it look easy, clearing the wall with all the pieces intact.

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Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Tracy Scheriff-Muser and Absolut Dominate Amateur-Owner Division at Alltech National Horse Show

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Tracy Scheriff-Muser and Absolut. Photos By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – November 2, 2012 – The hunter action continued today at the Alltech Arena in the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The Amateur-Owner divisions concluded with their championships today, naming Tracy Scheriff-Muser and Absolut as the Grand Champion. Scheriff-Muser also earned the Amateur-Owner 35 and Younger Hunter Championship, with Lindsay Mutschler riding Fielding to the reserve. Lisa Williams and Sanmorino nabbed the Amateur-Owner 35 and Older Hunter Championship tricolor, while Katie Robinson and Arico took home the reserve championship honors.

The Amateur-Owner 35 and Older Hunter Stake presented by Suzanne Thoben Marquard welcomed riders to the remaining amateur-owner divisions this morning. It was eventual champion, Lisa Williams who piloted Sanmorino to the top of the pinnings, winning the blue ribbon. Williams also earned the blue ribbon during the over fences yesterday.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Sarah Sturges and One Shot Garner Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter Championship

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Sarah Sturges and One Shot capture the Amateur-Owner 3'3" Hunter Championship. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – November 1, 2012 – The third day of the Alltech National Horse Show, 129th edition, commenced with the Amateur-Owner Hunters taking center stage this morning. Sarah Sturges and One Shot rode to the top of the rankings during the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunters to capture the championship. The duo was only a half point ahead of eventual reserve champion Deborah Perkins and Whispering.

The Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunters sponsored by Jennifer Burger and Meredith Lipke was the only division of the day to wrap up their division championships. Last year’s stake class winner Deborah Perkins of Wellington, FL, showed Whispering to the fourth place finish, and with an additional first and third place ribbon from yesterday’s classes, the pair went into the under saddle with Sarah Sturges and One Shot right on their heels. Sturges rode to the second place finish in the stake, just behind Nancy Hooker and Castlewalk. Sturges also accumulated the first place finish in the handy, and went into the under saddle with a mission to edge out her competition.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Lauren Hough and Quick Study Speed to $75,000 Double H Farm International Open Jumper Victory

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Lauren Hough and Quick Study. Photos By: Rebecca Walton

Lexington, KY – November 1, 2012 – After spending the summer in Europe, Lauren Hough and Quick Study made a triumphant return to the United States during the Alltech National Horse Show, 129th Edition. The pair bested a 14-horse jump-off with a speedy double clear effort during the $75,000 Double H Farm International Open Jumper class. Ireland’s Richie Moloney galloped into second place position aboard Slieveanorra, while Kent Farrington and his young mount Venus left all the rails in place for the third place honors.

The riders found the key to Richard Jeffery’s first round early on, which featured a triple bar, a liverpool, an oxer-vertical double combination, and a vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination. Fourteen horses returned to the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park for the jump-off, which would prove to be a foot race over a bending line to a single airy vertical, part of the triple combination, and two final wide oxers.

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Breeds, Competitions, Events, More/Other, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group

Deknatel and CH The Daily Lottery Rock the Rack to Win the Five-Gaited Amateur Stake

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Heir to a Kiss and Dr. Merrell Magelli. Photos By: Brooke Jacobs with Jacobs Photography

Lexington, KY – November 1, 2012 – The American Saddlebreds made a triumphant return into the fold of the Alltech National Horse Show on Wednesday night to the delight of the spectators. The favorite breed of enthusiasts like William Shatner and Carson Kressley, the breed is known for its style, stamina and its bold, high-stepping way of moving.

Thursday evening at the Alltech National Horse Show, American Saddlebreds showed in Three-Gaited, Park Horse and Five-Gaited classes.

“They’re both three-gaited – walk, trot and canter,” said Marie Billings with the American Saddlebred Museum at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY about the difference between Three-Gaited and Park Horse classes. “The Three Gaited horses are shown with a roached mane. They are the ultimate in beauty and refinement with their graceful head carriage and the animation and action of their movement.”

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