Tag Archives: Amanda Steege

Amanda Steege and Lafitte De Muze Win $50k WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular

Amanda Steege and Lafitte De Muze ©Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – February 20, 2021 – Seasoned hunter rider Amanda Steege guided Cheryl Olsten’s Lafitte De Muze to top honors in the $50,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular during “Saturday Night Lights” at the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).

Thirty-three junior, amateur, and professional hunter riders took their turns over the track designed by Andy Christiansen. The course consisted of 12 elements and was offered at 3’6”, 3’9”, and the 4’ height. After all riders completed the first course, the top 12 returned for a second classic round. Six judges split into three panels oversaw the class with panel one consisting of Mary Lisa Leffler and Chris Wynne, panel two being Rachel Kennedy and Sissy Wickes, and the final panel including Tom Brennan and Mark Jungherr.

Harley Stays Hot, Taking Top Honors in the $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI3*

A successful week at WEF continued for Gavin Harley (IRL) and Corbawido PS, owned by Wolfstone Stables and Sales Inc, as they flew to the top of the podium in the $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI3* on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village.

A starting field of 66 was narrowed down to 16 for the jump-off, which featured eight jumping obstacles set by Catsy Cruz (MEX). Harley and the nine-year-old Polish Warmblood gelding by Cornet’s Balou x Widolan, stuck to their plan and it paid off, finishing with a double-clear effort in 39.44 seconds.

“He’s quite inexperienced at this level,” said Harley. “It’s kind of his first proper test, and he just keeps proving to us how good he really is. I started riding him at the end of his seven-year-old year and had a great summer on him last year. We gave him a bit of a break and started back with him for the winter circuit, and it has started off well. My trainers on the ground were giving me strict instructions to stick to my numbers and my plan, and it worked out.”

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Brazil Tops Ireland in WEF Challenge Cup Round 6

Yuri Mansur and Everglade Santo Antonio. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – February 13, 2020 – Brazil’s Yuri Mansur bested four Irish jump-off contenders to take the top spot in the $37,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 6 CSI3* during week six at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Thursday, February 13.

From a starting field of 44, six horses advanced from a technical first round to the tie-breaking jump-off built by course designer Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz Harris (MEX). It was a face-off between Irish riders for the top call before Mansur and his mount Everglade Santo Antonio saved the best for last, breaking the timers in 37.03 seconds to win by fractions of a second over Darragh Kerins (IRL) riding Carlos JD Z. Kerins set the pace as the trailblazer in the jump-off with a time of 37.76 seconds.

Mansur began his partnership with Everglade Santo Antonio, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Clinton x Voltaire) in August 2019. They got to know each other in the 1.20m and 1.25m ranks before quickly stepping up to the international scene.

“I have not had him that long, and he was sent to me by an English rider to sell,” said Mansur of how he got the ride. “Straight away I realized that he is a nice horse. I never imagined he would be as good as he is, but I knew he was going to be good. He was quickly going in the right direction, and already in the indoor season [this fall] he was jumping fantastic.”

Hunter Competition Takes Center Stage on Day Two of WCHR Week

Amanda Steege and Lafitte de Muze started off the second day of World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week at WEF with a championship in the Antarès Sellier High Performance Hunter division.

“He knew just as much as I did that we had to win that class,” said Steege of Lafitte de Muze, who was recently named the 2019 USHJA Hunter Horse of the Year. “From the moment I got on him today, he was totally focused and on it. I don’t think he put a foot wrong in the class.”

The next division to take place in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring was the High Performance Conformation. Scott Stewart and Private Life took home the tri-color ribbon by winning three out of five classes. This was Private Life’s first show back since the National Horse Show, and he will probably not show again until the Devon Horse Show.

“Private Life is really trustworthy and always the same. He’s very simple to ride, and he’s a good jumper,” Stewart said of the nine-year-old gelding owned by Dr. Betsee Parker. “We plan to try to peak for this week, so it means a lot to be champion.”

For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Stephanie King Crowned Adult Amateur Jumper Champion with Co-Starr at Devon

Stephanie King and Co-Starr. Photo: The Book LLC.

Devon, Pa. – May 27, 2019 – After two top finishes on Sunday and earlier in the day on Monday, Stephanie King of St. Augustine, Florida and her own Co-Starr rode away with the win in the $7,500 NAL/WIHS Adult Amateur Jumper Classic, sponsored by Equifit, to secure the 2019 Adult Amateur Jumper championship, sponsored by Patriot Dealerships, with 25 points at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair. Claiming the reserve championship with 15 points was Lexi Maounis and her own Roos.

Amanda Steege Starts Strong in Green 3’9″ Hunter Division with Lafitte De Muze

Monday marked the start of Senior Week at the 2019 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, where professional hunter athletes kicked off competition in the Dixon Oval with the Green Hunter divisions. Leading the way in the Green 3’9″ Hunters, with a total of 18 entries, was Amanda Steege and Lafitte De Muze, who dominated both over fences classes to take home two Devon blues.

Rebekah Robinson Wins Single/Pair Pony Driving Championship

Memorial Day at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair concluded with the naming of the Single/Pair Pony Driving championship winner, sponsored by Patriot Dealerships, and the recipient of the Joseph M. Pierce Challenge Trophy, donated by Holly Ventures. Rebekah Robinson earned the tricolor with her Saylor Wagon, owned by Mrs. Collin F. McNeil, after accumulating 13 points throughout the division. Robinson claimed fifth place in the Single/Pair Pony – Pleasure Turnout and took home the top prize in the Single/Pair Pony – Scurry Driving competition on Monday evening in a blazing fast time of 54.949 seconds, outpacing the runner-up finisher by four full seconds.

For more information, visit www.DevonHorseShow.net.

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Steege and Stewart Secure Devon Hunter Championships

Amanda Steege and Mirror Image.

Before competing in the First Year Green Hunters, Ellen Toon and Amanda Steege joked that Steege, Havens Schatt and Liza Boyd should all take a turn in the Devon Horse Show’s Dixon Oval aboard Mirror Image.

It was in fact only Steege who rode Mirror Image, or “Mimi,” to Devon’s First Year Green Hunter Championship on Tuesday morning, but had the three professionals made the unusual decision to each ride, it would not have been the first time they had all competed aboard the 8-year-old Oldenburg mare. Steege, Schatt and Boyd took turns competing Mirror Image throughout the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).

“I started showing Mimi for [the Toons] last spring and showed her all last year in the 3’3″ Pre-Greens,” Steege explained. “Then we had sort of a weird situation with Florida because Mimi goes to Wellington, and I go to Ocala.”

Steege showed Mirror Image at the beginning of the winter season, and she then turned to good friends Schatt and Boyd for assistance in bringing the mare along throughout the circuit.

“Havens [Schatt] and Liza [Boyd] both rode her for us during the circuit, which was amazing. I kept saying all winter that I hope Mimi’s champion at Devon so we can do an interview about what an awesome experience it was to have those two girls step in and help me!” Steege said. “Everybody was just so nice through that whole process.”

Steege continued, “Each girl, when they would show her in Wellington, they would text me at the end of every class and let me know how it went. They were super supportive. When we started Wellington, she was a little nervous the first couple weeks. Then those girls did her for a few weeks. I came back and did her in WEF 12. Ellen had also been showing her really successfully in the 3’6″ Amateurs. She was like a different horse when I came back WEF 12, so I couldn’t wait to text those girls and tell them how much it helped me and her. That was just the most awesome experience ever. I can’t imagine doing that with two other riders and having it go as smoothly.”

Jimmy and Ellen Toon initially found Mirror Image in Europe and were struck by her striking resemblance to Ellen Toon’s extremely successful amateur-owner hunter mount, Invincible or “Shaq,” and hence the name, Mirror Image was born.

“When we were in Europe and we were looking for a horse, we both kept saying ‘she looks so much like Shaq,'” Ellen said. “She’s so Shaq-ish we would say. If they’re right next to each other they don’t, but we do confuse them a lot.”

Jimmy and Ellen Toon imported Mirror Image to their JT Farm, where Jimmy Toon handles her training, meeting Steege on the road at horse shows.

“Jimmy’s amazing. He can just take a horse that’s a good horse and make it a great horse,” Ellen Toon said.

Steege added, “I think it really says a lot about Mimi that all of us got tricolors on her in Wellington: Ellen, Havens, Liza and me. I just don’t think that there are that many First Year horses that can do that. I think it also shows what a good job Jimmy does to make her so trained and nice to ride that four different girls could ride her in a 12 week period and all end up with tricolors.”

Taking the reserve championship in the First Year Green Hunters were John French and Sochi, owned by Lee Kellogg Sadrian.

Scott Stewart and Ashcroft
Scott Stewart and Ashcroft

The rest of the day’s hunter divisions belonged to Scott Stewart. Stewart claimed the championship in the Green Conformation Hunters with Stephanie Danhakl’s First Light, and he followed it up with the Second Year Green Hunter championship aboard Ashcroft, owned by Gina Day.

Before jumping to two Devon blue ribbons and earning scores of 90, 89, 89 and 86 in the Dixon Oval with Stewart, Ashcroft was competing in the 5-Year-Old Jumpers with Canadian rider Ben Asselin.

Stewart and Ken Berkley tried him, and, with their positive endorsement, Day bought him sight unseen.

“I trusted their judgment. I’ve been riding with these guys for a long time; they know my ride,” Day said. “[Ashcroft’s] mind is amazing. He’s 6 years old. He’s a baby, and he doesn’t get frazzled. He’s great. His head is really good. You can’t buy a mind. That’s hard to find.”

Ashcroft is not the first Devon winner Day has had with Stewart and Berkley at Rivers Edge Farm. She also owned the 2010 Devon Grand Hunter Champion, Premier, ridden to the win by Berkley.

“Premier is totally perfect for me, and I think Ashcroft is the same,” Day said. “You wouldn’t know he’s a stallion; he’s so mellow.”

Like Ashcroft, Danhakl’s First Light is just a 6-year-old stallion that is already coming well into his own in the show ring. He came into the day on Tuesday with three wins already in the Green Conformation Hunters, and he added another over fences victory to his win list before riding away with the division championship.

The reserve championship in the Green Conformation Hunters was awarded to Havens Schatt and Custom Made, owned by Shaw Johnson Price. Schatt also earned the reserve championship in the Second Year Green Hunters aboard Deborah Perkins’ Set to Music.

The professional hunters return to the Dixon Oval on Wednesday for the conclusion of the professional hunter divisions and the naming of the 2015 Devon Leading Hunter Rider and Devon Grand Champion Hunter honors. Competition resumes at 8 a.m. beginning with the Regular Conformation Hunters. For the full schedule and results, visit www.DevonHorseShow.org.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Amanda Steege Wins Second $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix on Zidane

(c) ESI Photography. Amanda Steege and Zidane jump in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

Steege’s Student Kimberly Maloomian Takes $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix on Urlala

Ocala, Florida (January 31, 2015): Saturday was a great day for Amanda Steege and Zidane, owned by Susan Darragh, who took home a $1,500 prize for first place in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, and chalked up two in a row after their win last week. They scored an 85.5 in the first round and an 87 in the second, propelling them to the top of the leaderboard. Steege’s student, Kimberly Maloomian, of Needham, Massachusetts, also won Saturday in the $1500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix.

Hunters were the focus of Saturday afternoon’s Outside Course at HITS Ocala with the two special classes: the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix and the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. These classes are qualifiers for the $250,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Final and the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final held at HITS Saugerties in September during the HITS Championship.

Saturday’s courses, designed by Doug Russell of Ocala, Florida, included jumps up and down a hill, bending lines, and an option on the approach to the first jump in round two.

Steege, of Bedminster, New Jersey, said she wants to be among the top 20 riders in the year-end standings so she can ride two horses in the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final at HITS Saugerties in New York in September. So far, she has won two out of three HITS Ocala $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix this season after placing second in week one.

“I’m really excited about the changes HITS made for the specs for 2015 that are allowing for the top 20 for to ride two horses in the Diamond Mills $500,000 Final for a few reasons: First of all, I think making that change is going to encourage riders to show in that class more, but also will encourage hunter riders to ride their best horses,” Steege said. “The possibility of riding two will really motivate people to be more successful on a weekly basis, and I think it will make it a more exciting competitive class.”

A close second in the Hunter Prix on Saturday went to Patty Stovel of Georgetown, Kentucky, riding Winner HS, owned by Peggy Jones of Culpeper, Virginia, and trained by Sandra Ruiz. Stovel and Winner HS scored an 86 in the first round and an 85 in the second to earn $1,000. She said after the class, “We are getting closer. Last week he was ninth. He was a jumper and just started doing the hunters.”

Samantha Schaefer of Westminster, Maryland, placed both third and fourth. Schaefer was third riding her own Stallone, with scores of 87 and 82 — moving up from last week’s fifth place finish, and fourth with her horse Classified, with scores of 84 and 83.

$1500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

Kimberly Maloomian, riding her mother Terry Maloomian’s horse, Urlala, had a triumphant return to the winner’s circle in her first Hunter Prix since winning the $250,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Final last September. Maloomian and Urlala won $1500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Saturday with scores of 82 and 84 to top the leaderboard. Riders in the top 20 in the year-end standings for the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix can also ride two horses in the $250,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Final.

(c) ESI Photography. Kimberly Maloomian and Urlala jump to win the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix.
(c) ESI Photography. Kimberly Maloomian and Urlala jump to win the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix.

Maloomian, who trains with Steege, said, “Urlala was originally purchased for my Mom to do the 2-foot division. She may not be the fanciest horse that I have, but she’s the nicest one. You always know when you are standing at the in-gate that you are going to jump all the jumps — she’s not going to spook at anything and it’s such a nice feeling.”

Steege said of her student’s win, “It was a thrill for team Ashmeadow (Steege’s farm) to have dominated the Hunter Prix in week three of HITS Ocala.”

Casey Zuraitis of Sutton, Massachusetts, riding her own KT Four Seasons, scored a first round of 85 and a second round score of 80 to finish just one point behind and take home second place and a check for $300. Third place with an 83 and a 78 went to Alexa Riccio of Ogunquit, Maine, riding Captain Millet, owned by Kevin Davis of Lincoln, Nebraska.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS: join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

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Steege and Stewart Dominate World Championship Hunter Rider Week at Vermont Summer Festival

Amanda Steege guided Tony Arena’s Majestic to the High Performance Hunter Championship title. Photos by David Mullinix Photography.

East Dorset, Vermont — World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition took place throughout the third week of competition, held July 17-21, at the Vermont Summer Festival, attracting the East Coast’s top hunter riders as they prepare for WCHR Finals this fall.

Professionals were among the first to compete for championship honors at Harold Beebe Farm, located in East Dorset, VT.  Amanda Steege, who has made frequent trips to the winner’s circle over the years, claimed champion and reserve titles in the High Performance Hunter division with two of her clients’ horses.  Steege collected the tricolor honors with Tony Arena’s Majestic and finished reserve champion with Susan Darragh’s Zidane.

Steege’s clients also racked up WCHR points throughout the week with her student, Charlene Graham riding Only You, being named reserve champion in the Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 division.  Championship honors went to Barbara Spizzirro and Hundred Acre, trained by Brooke Baldwin DeGrazia.

“We had a great WCHR week,” Steege beamed who operates Ashmeadow Farm in Bedminster, NJ.  “We always put Vermont on our schedule, but now that there is a WCHR week, we’ve incorporated always coming during week three.  It gives us an added reason to come.”

Steege acknowledged that the quality of shows recognized as WCHR horse shows add an extra incentive for competitors.

“The horse shows that are recognized as WCHR shows are supposed to be the best horse shows in the country,” explained Steege.  “There’s a select group of them, and that in and of itself draws us to them because they (are) shows with the best footing, the best judges, the best jumps.  Just the fact that it’s a designated WCHR show makes us want to come.”

In Steege’s expert opinion, the Vermont Summer Festival more than lives up to the WCHR hype.

“(Show manager) Billy Glass and (show owners) Dotty and John Ammerman put so much extra effort into making sure everybody is happy,” complimented Steege.  “I love that Jennifer Glass is at the ring doing the awards and that they always offer such nice awards.  It feels important when you win something.”

Steege continued, “Billy is super organized, so the show always runs on schedule and you can expect how it’s going to run timing-wise.  They do a really good job trying to maintain the arenas, too.”

Besides the quality assurance that comes with WCHR designation, Steege looks forward to the fierce competition that takes place.

“I think it really spices up the hunter competition here.  This was, for sure, the strongest week competition-wise.  Lots of other hunter riders are after the same thing that we are,” she described.

What Steege and countless other riders are after is top placings in the year-end WCHR standings.

“WCHR is a really good goal.  The program gives great awards and since they only count your top four shows at the end of the year, it doesn’t encourage you to over-show the horse.  I think a lot of people set their sights on the WCHR awards, not only being a regional or national champion, but being in the top six of their region or the top ten in the nation.”

Steege has her eye on the WCHR Finals, to be held September 30 through October 6 at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD.

“Capital Challenge is one of my favorite shows of the year,” said Steege.  “It’s a lot more relaxing if you go into Capital Challenge already knowing that you’re qualified for those special classes as opposed to depending on having a great week there since it’s such a hard show.”

Scott Stewart claimed the Second Year Green Working Hunter Championship with Rose Hill Farm’s Enjoy
Scott Stewart claimed the Second Year Green Working Hunter Championship with Rose Hill Farm’s Enjoy

Perennial WCHR champion Scott Stewart collected champion and reserve titles in the Conformation Hunter division.  Stewart was champion aboard Humor Me, owned by Stephanie Danhakl, and guided Krista and Alexa Weisman’s Concept to reserve honors.

Stewart also enjoyed success in the Second Year Green Working Hunter division with Rose Hill Farm’s Enjoy.  The pair was named division champion while David Wilbur was named reserve champion with Eloise, owned by Caroline Connal.

Jennifer Bauersachs and Avignion, owned by Francesca Miglior, took the First Year Green Working Hunter Championship while Stewart earned reserve champion with Loyalty, owned by Fashion Farm.

Stewart’s clients at River’s Edge Farm in Flemington, NJ, also had plenty of reason to celebrate after Lili Hymowitz conquered the Large Junior Hunter division.  Hymowitz was champion with her own Statement and finished reserve with Tiffani, owned by Danielle Stacy.

Hymowitz also triumphed in the pony ring, finishing as reserve champion in the Large Pony Hunter division with Dr. Betsee Parker’s Enjoy the Laughter.  Ali Tritschler riding KAR, LLC’s Won Up won the division championship title.

Stewart’s success in the pony ring continued with his pony, Show Me Love, winning the Medium Pony Hunter division championship with Taylor St. Jacques.  Isabel Ryan was reserve champion with Cleverist, owned by Daisy Farish.

Hymowitz’s older sister, Cloe, was named reserve champion in the Small Junior Hunter division with Rose Hill Farm’s Enjoy.  The division was topped by Elle Young, who piloted Karen Young’s Boris to the win.

Gina Day, another student of Stewart’s, finished on top of the Adult Amateur Hunter 50 and Over Division with her horse, Premier.  Reserve champion for the division was Kim Miller and her own Fair Wind.

Day wasn’t the only rider from River’s Edge to collect top honors in the adult amateur divisions.  Alexa Weisman and Showman were champions of the Amateur-Owner 3’3” 18-35 division.  Jean Sheptoff and Alavanta, trained by Cory Hardy, finished as reserve champions.

River’s Edge continued to dominate the Amateur-Owner divisions over the weekend.  Krista Weisman and Reality were Amateur-Owner division champions while barnmates Nancy Hooker and Castlewalk were named reserve champions.

Stewart was thrilled with how his horses and students performed, describing the week as exceeding his expectations.

“It’s been great!” said Stewart.  “We won quite a bit so we’re very happy.  The kids and the amateurs all went well, so it’s been really nice.  The week really couldn’t have gone much better.  It’s something you hope for.”

He continued, “For the heat, I guess it’s still best to be here!  I like this show a lot.  It’s quiet, the rings are nice, and they did a great job with the courses this week.  The Town of Manchester is also just a nice place to be.”

Stewart came to the Vermont Summer Festival specifically for WCHR week, but plans to extend his stay next summer.  Both he and his clients enjoy the show and especially value the opportunity to earn points towards WCHR Finals.

“We always work towards trying to do our best going into Capital Challenge.  That show, for me, is one of my favorites of the year because of the special WCHR classes.  It’s the first indoor horse show of the year for most of the horses, so I think they go their best,” Stewart commented.

The Small and Green Pony Hunter divisions were among the last to name their champions as WCHR week at the Vermont Summer Festival came to a close.  Ellie Ferrigno rode her pony, Clovermeade Peekaboo Street, to the division championship title in the Green Pony Hunter division.  Reserve honors went to Copperfield, owned by Catherine Black and shown by Madeline Schaefer.

Schaefer was also reserve champion in the Small Pony Hunter division with Further Lane Farm’s Rolling Stone.  The championship title was awarded to Believe in Blue, owned and ridden by Nicole Boyle.

The Vermont Summer Festival continues on Tuesday, July 23, with the fourth ‘Equitation Tuesday’ of the six-week circuit.

The Vermont Summer Festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary in its current Manchester location, offers more than $750,000 in prize money, making it the richest sporting event based on purse in the state of Vermont.

The first five Saturdays of the Vermont Summer Festival feature a $30,000 Grand Prix.  The $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix will be held during the sixth and final week on Saturday, August 10.  The weekly $10,000 Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, is held each Thursday.  The hugely popular $5,000 3’3” Hunter Derby is also held each Thursday for the first five weeks, with week six featuring the $15,000 Hunter Derby.

The Vermont Summer Festival is a proud member event of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL).  For more information about the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail info@vt-summerfestival.com or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.

Contact:  Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439
www.startinggate.ca

Amanda Steege Has a Big Weekend as Hunter Competition Gets Underway at HITS Ocala

©ESI Photography. Amanda Steege and Majestic rode to the win in the first $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit

OCALA, FL (January, 20, 2013) – Between riding to first and third in today’s $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and coaching fellow rider Ellen Toon to second, Amanda Steege of Bedminster, New Jersey got the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit started on a high note. After finishing third in last year’s Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, Steege has lost no momentum and has her sights set on returning to Saugerties, New York this year to again ride in the final.

She piloted Tony Arena’s Majestic to the win today after a first round score of 83 was combined with the high score of the second round, an 85, for a two-round total of 168.

“Not only is he [Majestic] an amazing jumper, he is just a good guy and he always tries his hardest,” said Steege of the 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding that carried her to today’s win. “We started together about four years ago and he does everything from International Hunter Derbies to the 2’ Pre-Adult Hunters – it isn’t often that you find a horse that can do it all.”

Continue reading Amanda Steege Has a Big Weekend as Hunter Competition Gets Underway at HITS Ocala

Amanda Steege Sets the Standard Topping Hunter Results for Tampa Bay Classic

Amanda Steege and Caschmier rode to the top of the hunter results during the Tampa Bay Classic's second day of competition. Photo By: Elizabeth Vieira/PMG

Tampa, FL – March 29, 2012 – Today saw immense competition as the hunters turned the second day of the Tampa Bay Classic into a nail biter. Although Hunt Tosh piloted his mount Say Again into the spotlight yesterday with his sweeping wins in the over fences, it was Amanda Steege who came out on top earning four hunter championships today. Adrienne Iverson also was awarded the tricolor championship aboard Maximus, taking the top honors in the second day of the Pre-Green Hunters.

The morning commenced with a competitive class of Pre-Green Hunters, completing the division for the first week of the Tampa Equestrian Series. Submerged in a group of talented horse and rider teams, it was Iverson who would take the championship honors. She directed Maximus, owned by Redfield Farm, to a triplet of winning rides. Under the direction of trainer Emil Spadone, Iverson managed to seal her spot at the top in the first day of the Tampa Bay Classic.

Continue reading Amanda Steege Sets the Standard Topping Hunter Results for Tampa Bay Classic

Amanda Steege Takes Top Two Spots in $25,000 New England Hunter Derby Final at Fieldstone Summer Showcase

Amanda Steege and Duval. All photos © Anne Gittins Photography and © Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Halifax, MA – August 26, 2011 – The Fieldstone Summer Showcase had a full day of competition in the Grand Prix Field today and it was Amanda Steege of Bedminster, NJ, who rode to a one-two finish in the $25,000 New England Hunter Derby Final. Steege rode Duval, owned by Randi Vladimer of Malvern, PA, to victory. Majestic, owned by Tony Arena of Fairport, NY, and Steege were second. Olympian Leslie Howard of Fairfield, CT, took the top prize in the $7,500 Herb Chambers Companies Speed Stake on Goed Zo, owned by the 73 West Group of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Fieldstone Summer Showcase features top hunter/jumper competition at their beautiful facility in Halifax, MA.

UPDATE: Today marked the fourth day of competition for the Fieldstone Summer Showcase, which will now run through Saturday, August 27. The MHJ Finals will run at the same times and in the same rings but now on Saturday instead of Sunday. The $25,000 Herb Chambers Companies Grand Prix start time has been moved to 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 27.

There were 45 entries in the $25,000 New England Hunter Derby Final, and they competed through two rounds to find the winner. The top 12 scoring horses from the first round returned for a handy round, which included a trot jump, hand gallop, and walking over a log. The courses were designed by Nathan Panetta.

“I thought they were fun courses,” Steege said. “I loved that the jumps were mostly off your eye and off the gallop. It really let you show off on a horse that had a pretty canter who perked his ears and looked for the jump. I liked doing the natural jumps in the first round. The way that they used them was really appropriate for this level of a class because it definitely was somewhat challenging without feeling trappy or so different that the horses didn’t want to participate. I have to commend the course designer for that.”

Continue reading Amanda Steege Takes Top Two Spots in $25,000 New England Hunter Derby Final at Fieldstone Summer Showcase

Amanda Steege and Bavarian Rule in the $10,000 Fieldstone 2’9″ Hunter Derby Final at Fieldstone Summer Showcase

Amanda Steege and Bavarian won the $10,000 Fieldstone 2'9” Hunter Derby Final. Photo © Anne Gittins Photography

Halifax, MA – August 25, 2011 – The Fieldstone Summer Showcase hosted two hunter derbies today on the beautiful grass Grand Prix Field. Amanda Steege of Bedminster, NJ, rode Bavarian, owned by Lise Revers of Weston, MA, to victory in the $10,000 Fieldstone 2’9” Hunter Derby Final. In the $10,000 Pony Hunter Derby Final, Jordyn Freeman of Long Meadow, MA, took the top two places on Blueberry Hill and Head’s Up. The Fieldstone Summer Showcase features top hunter/jumper competition at their beautiful facility in Halifax, MA.

Today marked the third day of competition for the Fieldstone Summer Showcase, which will now run through Saturday, August 27. The MHJ Finals will run at the same times and in the same rings but now on Saturday instead of Sunday. The $25,000 Herb Chambers Companies Grand Prix start time has been moved to noon on Saturday, August 27 (from 3 p.m.). The $7,500 Herb Chambers Companies Speed Stake has been moved to Friday, August 26, at approximately 11 a.m. (from Saturday).

Professional rider Amanda Steege had a brand-new ride on Bavarian, who was only purchased three weeks ago by Revers. Revers trains with Lindsey Moore, who had Steege compete today on the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “My dad has been helping Lindsey Moore. I got lucky!” Steege said with a smile.

The new pairing practiced yesterday and entered the ring together for the first time in the derby. They had a solid score of 84 in the first round, and with a handy hunter score of 86, they moved into the lead with a total of 170. Second place in the class went to Socrates, ridden by Kristen Bumpus and owned by Jackie Arakelian of Winchester, MA.

Continue reading Amanda Steege and Bavarian Rule in the $10,000 Fieldstone 2’9″ Hunter Derby Final at Fieldstone Summer Showcase