Tag Archives: Colorado Summer Circuit

Kristen VanderVeen Defends Her Title in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Grand Prix

More Than $6,000 Raised for Wildfire Relief

Kristen VanderVeen defended her title in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix. Photos: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — Six weeks of fantastic competition and wonderful events at the Colorado Horse Park (CHP) were capped off with a weekend to remember. There was truly something for everyone, including pony rides and face painting for military families during the second annual Military Appreciation Day; equestrian safety and the distribution of free helmets during the Parker Adventist Hospital Helmet Fitting; and the Wildfire Relief Fundraising Auction spearheaded by Liliane Stransky and her Step by Step Foundation that raised more than $6,000 for the victims of the Waldo Canyon fire. The day concluded with world-class competition in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix.

Kristen VanderVeen, of St. Charles, IL, defended her title as reigning champion of the biggest Grand Prix of the Colorado Summer Circuit. On her horse Bull Run’s Zino Platinum, VanderVeen led the victory gallop for the second year in a row. Bull Run’s Zino Platinum is an 11-year-old Holsteiner (Accorodo) and has been with VanderVeen for about a year and a half.

Continue reading Kristen VanderVeen Defends Her Title in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Grand Prix

John Pearce Wins Second Grand Prix in a Row

John Pearce & Chianto. Photo: Jon Kassel

Parker, CO — The first half of the Colorado Summer Circuit came to a close this weekend and was highlighted by the $25,000 Summer in the Rockies IIII Grand Prix.   Eighteen horses and riders competed for first place and a large cash prize at the Colorado Horse Park (CHP). This was the third Grand Prix in the series of six events, with the action continuing the week of July 2 with Summer in the Rockies IV. John Pearce has had an exceptional three weeks, winning two out of the three Grand Prix.

The riders raved about Saturday’s course by international designer Marina Azevedo of Brazil. The track took advantage of the large derby field at CHP, and included a triple combination toward the crowd and an oxer along the VIP seating area, making it exciting for the spectators. “Today’s course was the best of the circuit by far. [The designer] was great; she is one of my favorites,” exclaimed winner, John Pearce.   Azevedo had the perfect number of five horses in the jump-off: Pearce and Bjorn Ikast with two rides each, and Christian Heineking of Wylie, Texas.

The jump off was a nail-biter with Heineking laying down a scorching clear trip. Neither Pearce with Johnny B Good or Ikast with Brave Heart could catch Heineking. With his WEG mount Chianto, Olympian Pearce gave an exciting, determined ride that somehow managed to cut .58 seconds off Heineking’s seemingly unbeatable time. Ikast and his second mount, Colorado, were unable to duplicate Pearce’s efforts and finished in fourth place.

Continue reading John Pearce Wins Second Grand Prix in a Row

John Pearce Continues His Winning Ways in the $25,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance Grand Prix

John Pearce and Johnny B Good. Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — John Pearce had a winning week at the Colorado Horse Park during Summer in the Rockies II. First clinching the victory in the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake and then again during the $25,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance Grand Prix when he finished first and second. Twenty-two talented pairs faced the challenging Danny Foster course, but only three turned in phenomenal, clear, first-round performances.

“I love the look of riders working hard,” Danny Foster, FEI I course designer, said of his track. “Just like any other sport, spectators want to see athletes performing.” Foster used CHP’s bank and a long gallop to the last jump among his tools to separate great from good riding.

Though Foster, a Pan-American Games gold medalist during his competitive career, agreed that the track was challenging, he had hoped that more riders would master the questions and advance to the jump-off. “As a designer you want to encourage them, but if you don’t have scores, you don’t have sport,” he explained. “So, I need to create scores without causing a loss of confidence in the horses or riders. I don’t want to take away any heart.”

Continue reading John Pearce Continues His Winning Ways in the $25,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance Grand Prix

John Pearce Wins $10,000 Welcome Stake at Summer in the Rockies II

John Pearce & Chianto. Photo: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — Summer in the Rockies II kicked off the second week of the Colorado Summer Circuit with a multitude of impressive horses and competitors from around North America. One of the first big classes of the week was the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake held Thursday afternoon.

Danny Foster’s track proved to be a technical one for the riders and horses, but a few particular pairs were able to conquer all of its obstacles. In first place, was John Pearce, riding his WEG partner Chianto to the victory.

“Today we saw a very challenging course, and it was a long course. It wasn’t real tall, but it was tricky. It was very technical, but obviously it rode well for me today,” said Pearce. This is not the Canadian Olympian’s first appearance at CHP, and he was seemingly thrilled to be back in Parker, stating, “It’s a great spot and I enjoy it thoroughly.”

Continue reading John Pearce Wins $10,000 Welcome Stake at Summer in the Rockies II

Allison Kroff Wins $10,000 Open Welcome Stake at the Colorado Horse Park

The Colorado Summer Circuit Kicks Off–More Than $1,000,000 in Cash and Prizes

Allison Kroff & Washington. Photo: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — It has been an exciting first week at the Colorado Horse Park (CHP) with professionals from around the world completing their first rides of the Colorado Summer Circuit. Summer in the Rockies I has been awarding cash prizes to an assortment of hunters and jumpers, but one combination is already standing out. Allison Kroff and her horse Washington jumped to victory on Thursday, placing first in the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake, the first big jumper class of the circuit.

“It’s very exciting; he’s just stepping up to this level,” Kroff said of her 9-year-old stallion from Holland. “I’m very excited that he marched in here for the first time and jumped around and did his job!” Washington, a Dutch Warmblood with Heartbreaker and Indorado bloodlines, was imported from Holland as a 6-year-old.

“It was a really good course,” Kroff reported of the Hector Loyola-designed track. “You had a lot of questions and you had to know your horse very well to be able to answer the questions.”

Continue reading Allison Kroff Wins $10,000 Open Welcome Stake at the Colorado Horse Park

Kristen Vanderveen Wraps Up the Colorado Summer Circuit with a Big Win in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix

Kristen Vanderveen earned the top prize money in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix during week six of the Colorado Summer Circuit. Photo credit: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — Kristen Vanderveen made her trip from Wellington, FL worthwhile when she capped three weeks in Colorado with a win in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix. The six-week Colorado Summer Circuit ended with a bang, complete with Military Appreciation Day, a visit from Congressman Mike Coffman and the final distribution of nearly $1,000,000 in cash and prizes.

“When we expanded the Colorado Summer Circuit from four to six weeks, we had high expectations,” said vice president and general manager Brian Curry. “We were excited when we sold out more than 1,000 stalls, plus the 100 horses that call CHP their permanent home.”

Added show manager Pat Boyle, “Our goal is to build fun, exciting shows so that competitors will enjoy spending their summer in Colorado. The feedback for the new classes, additional prize money and more parties was really extraordinary.”

The six-week extravaganza was highlighted by the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix. Featuring Olympians and World Equestrian Games-competitors, the class was part of an afternoon of entertainment that included Military Appreciation Day. “We wanted to support and recognize military families. They deserve our gratitude and thanks for their service. We are very happy to do our part by offering them the chance to relax and enjoy a pleasant afternoon with their families,” said Helen Krieble, The Colorado Horse Park’s founder and president. Veterans and their families were able to enjoy the horse show, along with activities for the kids that included bouncy houses and pony rides. Congressman Mike Coffman, a Major in the Marines, Retired, also attended.

Continue reading Kristen Vanderveen Wraps Up the Colorado Summer Circuit with a Big Win in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix

Page Tredennick’s Splash Wins $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Page Tredennick's Splash took home the blue ribbon in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsored by Nutrena. Photo credit: Flying Horse Photography

Jackson Brittan Finishes 1st and 2nd in the $5,000 Pony Hunter Derby

Parker, CO — Because the popularity of the hunter derby continues to grow, an entire day was devoted to this event during the final week of the Colorado Summer Circuit. From the ponies to the high performance horses, there was a big money derby in each division. The day was punctuated with the popular Pink Coat Luncheon sponsored by Littleton Equine Medical Center and produced by Foxfire Farm, as well as an end of day exhibitor’s party.

$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby Sponsored by Nutrena
Thirty-three horses competed in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsored by Nutrena during The Colorado Horse Park’s Derby Day. Riders found a flowing course that utilized the hilly terrain of the large derby field at the park.

Emily Hertz rode Page Tredennick’s Splash to the win in the two-round class. The nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood/Thoroughbred gelding had only competed in one non-rated Derby prior to today’s class. “He really rose to the occasion,” Tredennick said. “He’s a ham — a sweet, sweet horse.”

While Splash may have wondered what he was doing in the large arena with long, flowing distances to the heavily decorated fences, he quickly got down to the business of showcasing his quality jump and beautiful canter. Hertz explained, “I thought he was perfect in the handy round; I couldn’t have asked him to be any better.”

Continue reading Page Tredennick’s Splash Wins $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

John Pearce Victorious in the $40,000 Griffis Apartment Funds Grand Prix

Small Affair Dominates the Hunters in Week Five at the Colorado Summer Circuit

Small Affair, shown here with John French, dominated week five of the Colorado Summer Circuit with two championships and two classic wins. Photo credit: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — Have you jumped at a mile high? If not, you are missing one of the most talked about horse shows of the year. With its expanded six-week schedule, The Colorado Horse Park has been the summer vacation spot with big money for both hunters and jumpers. Of course, this show is also about the parties, including the Friday Afternoon Club at A Bit of Tack, sponsored this week by Arenus, and an exhibitor party that rocked for hours after the Grand Prix.

Week five of the Colorado Summer Circuit was highlighted by the $40,000 Griffis Apartment Funds Grand Prix. Twenty-nine entries contested the course designed by Dave Ballard. Among the trouble spots was the triple combination into the crowd, with a related distance to the Griffis Group jump, the final obstacle on the course. Maggie Jayne, Elgin, IL, who had four rides in the class, reflected, “I thought it was a nice, challenging course.”

John Pearce had no difficulty with the first round, qualifying both of his rides, Son of a Gun and Chianto, for the jump-off. Karen Cudmore also qualified two horses and Jayne, rode Thomas Edison to a perfect first round to join the World Equestrian Games veterans in the second round.

Karen Cudmore and Southern Pride were first to return. As always, the perennial winner gave the audience a thrill. The 1998 Holsteiner stallion cut an impressive figure, but he lowered the last fence in a time of 33.892.  Pearce and Son of a Gun were next. Although they had won last week’s $30,000 Grand Prix Presented by Nutrena, this week they too were foiled by the last jump. Although the pair’s time of 31.973 gave the rest of the class something to aim for.

Continue reading John Pearce Victorious in the $40,000 Griffis Apartment Funds Grand Prix

John French Leads an Impressive Group of Hunters at the Colorado Summer Circuit

John French and Crown Affair won the $1,000 Open Hunter Classic Sponsored by Horse Connection. Photo credit: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — While the Grand Prix horses are always a big draw at any hunter/jumper show, the hunters are getting a lot of attention during the Colorado Summer Circuit. Show manager Pat Boyle not only has great prize money in every division, but he’s created a wonderful, lush platform for the course designers to develop classes that show off the athletic ability and beauty of some of the nation’s finest hunters.

Last week John French and Yellow Dog Farm’s Crown Affair won three of four over fences classes in the High Performance Hunter division and also took home the blue ribbon in the $1,000 Open Hunter Classic sponsored by Horse Connection. Crown Affair, a Holsteiner stallion by Cor de la Bryere out of a Capitol I mare, is always a favorite in the Derby classes. “We’re preparing for the Derby Finals in Kentucky,” French explained. “He’s on his farewell tour and will retire at the Hampton Classic.” Although his show schedule is winding down, the handsome bay stallion will continue his already successful breeding career. With Crown Affair’s incredible performances, French said, “It’s hard when he goes so well. Does he really want to retire? I was so proud of how he went this week.”

French also praised the courses. He said, “The jumps were amazing with so much greenery and brush, plus a few natural jumps. It makes the horses jump their best. I was really happy that we came.”

Continue reading John French Leads an Impressive Group of Hunters at the Colorado Summer Circuit

John Pearce Finishes First and Second in the $30,000 Colorado Circuit Opener Grand Prix

John Pearce and Son of a Gun bested a jump-off field of seven competitors to win the $30,000 Colorado Circuit Opener Grand Prix Presented by Nutrena. Photo credit: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — Seven horses and riders returned for the second round over the Peter Holmes-designed course in the $30,000 Colorado Circuit Opener Grand Prix Presented by Nutrena. Twenty-five horses and riders started in the featured event on Saturday July 9, 2011 during week four of the Colorado Summer Circuit at The Colorado Horse Park. Canadian WEG riders John Pearce and Karen Cudmore each had multiple rides in the jump-off, with the two of them galloping off with the top four ribbons.

Course designer Peter Holmes, Cowichan Bay, B.C., planned to use the Park’s Derby Field to full advantage. “It’s a beautiful big arena on two levels, which is not that common. I wanted to use the slope as part of the course; it’s a balance test that we don’t often get to see.”

In his pre-ride course walk Olympian John Pearce speculated that four fences could be problematic for riders in the first round of the class: fence #3, a vertical off of an inside turn; the double combination, an oxer to a vertical; the triple combination of vertical, oxer vertical, that was set completely on its own and faced into the crowd, and the line from fence #9 to #10. And he was right. All four jumps presented problem spots for the class. The result — an excellent selection of horses that advanced to the second round. “I thought the course designer did a great job all week,” Pearce said. “He nailed it.”

In the jump-off Pearce was first to go with his eventual winner, Son of a Gun, delivering a clear round with a 36.148. This put the pressure on the rest of the class, who each faulted, until Pearce returned with Chianto. This was his partner in last year’s World Equestrian Games, where they finished in eighth place overall. The duo was clear, but finished with 36.474, leaving Son of a Gun in the lead. Cudmore was last to go with her mare Shea; the perennial favorite in Colorado didn’t disappoint her loyal fans. Cudmore put in a great run, but pulled the last rail to finish in third.

Continue reading John Pearce Finishes First and Second in the $30,000 Colorado Circuit Opener Grand Prix