Lexington, Ky. – July 24, 2019 – The opening day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show kicked off Wednesday in the Rolex Stadium with David Beisel winning the day’s highlight event, the $5,000 1.40m Open Jumper. Saving the best for last, Beisel rode his 10-year-old KWPN gelding, Essince W, to the top of the leaderboard with the only double-clear performance of the class. Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios finished the class in second place aboard Gut Einhaus LLC’s Le Vio, while Rachel Kennedy rounded out the top three on Fandango.
Kentucky Summer Horse Show Features Classic Champions Developing Jumper Tours for 5, 6, and 7-Year-Old Horses
New this year to the Kentucky Horse Park, the Classic Champions Developing Jumper Tour kicked off its fourth show of the eight-part tour Wednesday at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show with three divisions offered for 5, 6, and 7-year-old horses. A talented collection of up-and-coming young horses tackled the 5-year-old and 6-year-old divisions in the Walnut Ring on Wednesday, while Grace Long and Andrew Kocher’s Happiness VD Hazel HOF emerged with the fastest clear round in the 7-Year-Old Jumpers set in the Rolex Stadium. Long tripped the timers in 36.521 seconds, and Aaron Vale was hot on her tail, finishing second in the class on Thinks Like A Horse’s Prescott in 37.319 seconds. Ridden by Jennifer Waxman, Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Maui SCF finished the jump-off in third place in 39.494 seconds.
Witness Takes Wednesday’s Green Hunter Incentive Stake
Green Hunters took center stage in the Stonelea Ring on the first day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show held July 24-29. Champion hunter rider Kelley Farmer walked away with the win in the prestigious Green Hunter Incentive Stake 3’6″/3’9″ aboard Witness, owned by David Glefke, to kick off the week’s hunter action.
Lexington, Ky. – July 30, 2017 – David Beisel and Ammeretto led a ten horse jump-off to race home with the first place finish in the $50,000 Rood and Riddle Grand Prix. In front of a packed crowd in the Rolex Stadium, Beisel capped off a week of top finishes at Kentucky Summer Horse Show by also winning the Leading Rider Award presented by Envisian Products, LLC. Amaretto narrowly beat Australia’s Scott Keach on Fedor, with Beisel piloting the mount to a quick time of 39.230 seconds. Taking third place honors was Nicole Shahinian-Simpson on her mare Akuna Mattata.
Ammeretto, who is owned by Equine Holdings, LLC, has been with Beisel since he was a 3-year-old. The now 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion has had a very competitive summer with top place grand prix finishes at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival as well as the Tryon International Equestrian Center before coming to Kentucky. Beisel credits having the stallion his entire career for their unique ability to make quick adjustments while on course. It was one of those quick adjustments on the long gallop to the Rood & Riddle oxer that helped Beisel overtake Australian Olympic athlete Keach who had taken the lead in the jump-off round from Shahinian-Simpson with a time of 41.296 seconds.
With a lineup of 29 top equestrians, the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix was the perfect event to entertain the crowds who had amassed at the Kentucky Horse Park to enjoy ‘Hats Off Day.’ This annual event is held to pay homage to the equestrian industry which holds a very special place in the Bluegrass state. During the day-long event, visitors were able to enter the Horse Park free of charge and enjoy family friendly events throughout the park.
After winning three over fences classes, placing second in the handy and coming in third in the undersaddle during the Amateur-Owner Hunter division, Didi Mackenzie and MTM Inside Scoop claimed the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship. Mackenzie of Flower Mound, Texas and her 11-year-old gelding commanded both days of hunter competition and she was thrilled to receive the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship title, sponsored by Visse Wedell with Kirkpatrick & Companies.
The breezy and cool temperature on Saturday morning at the Kentucky Horse Park was the perfect weather to add spark to Mackenzie’s Inside Scoop, and her second horse, MTM Do Right, who won the division’s reserve championship. MTM Do Right placed second in one over fences class, placed third in two over fences classes and placed third in the handy.
Mackenzie purchased both geldings when they were pre-greens from Mike McCormick and Tracy Fenney. She works with McCormick and Fenney when she is home in Texas, but spends her winter competing at HITS Thermal before heading to Kentucky where she spends the summer.
Lexington, KY. – July 26, 2017 – On the opening day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, the Rolex Stadium played host to four show jumping classes that offered combinations the opportunity to warm up for an upcoming week of competition. David Beisel of Cincinnati, Ohio and Sharn Wordley of New Zealand both achieved blue ribbons and set themselves up for a successful week of showing at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Beisel and Colato Sabata were the fastest of seven entries in the 7-Year-Old Developing Jumper class, presented by Spy Coast Farm. The chestnut gelding navigated the first portion of the power and speed class with no faults, allowing him to move on to the speed phase, where he was also clear in a time of 33.094. In addition to Colato Sabata, Beisel rode two other entries in the class, which made for an exciting hour as he quickly dismounted one horse just to mount another that was being held for him at the ingate.
New Kentucky resident, Sharn Wordley, also found success in the Rolex Stadium on Wednesday afternoon in the $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m Speed class, besting a field of thirteen other competitors with his gelding Famoso D Ive Z. The pair completed the course, designed by Oscar Soberon, in a time of 62.934, a full three seconds faster than the next fastest competitor.
Hunter Divisions Kick Off on Opening Day
On the opening day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park, top hunter competitors were eager to head into the Stonelea Ring to kick off competition. On Wednesday morning, Tim Goguen aboard Belhaven Stables LLC’s Perhaps led the way in the Green 3’6″/3’9″ Hunter division after placing second in the first over fences round, winning the second over fences round and placing third in the under saddle.
Goguen rode the talented gelding to a handful of championship titles at the Winter Equestrian Festival earlier in the season and he has mainly competed in the Pre-Greens. Robert Crandall and On the Slye are following behind in the division standings after winning the first over fences round and earning a red ribbon in the second round.
In the High Performance Conformation Hunter division, Kathryn Haley of Colts Neck, New Jersey won both over fences classes on Outshine, a 9-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Alexandra Worthington. The pair placed second in the under saddle behind Jeff Gogul and Cortese.
Ocala, FL (March 18, 2017): Week IX at the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit continued on Thursday with the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium at HITS Post Time Farm.
David Beisel has been quite successful in Grand Prix this season at HITS Ocala, including two wins so far $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, making this week’s victory his third of 2017. Beisel rode Ammeretto, owned by Equine Holdings LLC., to the win in a 12-horse jump-off, where seven would go clear in contingency for the blue.
Beisel would take hold of lead going eighth in the order over the shortened course designed by Anderson Lima of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Beisel also garnered the fourth place ribbon with Call Me Hannes, owned by Harlow investment Enterprises, LLC.
First to claim a clear round in the jump-off was Emanuel Andrade riding Bon Jovi. They clocked in with a fault-free 35.898-second round right out of the gate, and their round would eventually settle them in third place. Andrade would also claim second place in the class aboard Reus De La Nutria with a thrilling ride as the second-to-last in the order.
The next clear round came third in the order with Hyde Moffatt of Canada and Granturo, owned by Western Sales & Development. They valiantly chased Andrade’s temporary lead, stopping the clock in 39.892, which would ultimately settle them into fifth place.
A few rounds would pass before another fault-free trip was delivered by Kelley Robinson, also of Canada, entered with Blue’s Yer Daddy seventh in the order. They snagged a clear round, but their time of 40.349 could not edge out the rest of the pack, putting them in seventh.
Following Robinson were the victors David Beisel and Ammeretto. They stormed through the course, taking each fence with force. The crowd cheered as they passed the timers in a cool, clear 34.755, a full second ahead of the leading time, where the lead would remain.
Melissa Rudershausen followed with Charmeur Ask for another clear round, and their time of 40.239 put them ahead of Robinson for the ultimate sixth place position.
There were only two left in the starting order, but only one chance to take the win away from Beisel, as he had one more horse left to show.
It was all down to the battle of the quickest between Andrade and Beisel. Andrade went first with his second mount of the jump-off, Reus De La Nutria. They came in hot, stopping the clock in 35.607 to step into second place.
The win was Beisel’s, but he still had one more ride. He followed with Call Me Hannes, putting in a clear round, but their time of 37.213 was not enough to overtake Andrade’s second and third place trips, settling them into fourth place for the white ribbon.
Ocala, FL (March 19, 2016): Riders went head-to-head for a shot at the winning title and the lion’s share in Ocala Week IX’s $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome and $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix.
$2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome
David Beisel of Goshen, Ohio gave a lesson in turning and burning on his way to victory in the $1,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome to kick off the penultimate week at HITS Ocala. Beisel and Cumana, owned by Kara Cooke, blasted the competition by a full second over his nearest competitor.
Course Designer Marina Azevedo of Sao Paulo, Brazil set a 1.45-meter course of 17 efforts for the 39 starters, many of whom are preparing for the $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix this weekend and the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix next week on March 27. With a class chock-full of talented competitors, including Brook Ledge Leading Rider, Aaron Vale, and returning Week VI Brook Ledge winner Matthias Tromp, the battle for the blue was on.
Twelve horses jumped first round clears and nine jumped clean over the shortened course, which started a serpentine pattern from the first oxer to a vertical, then another oxer, followed by a to the outside line. The course finished with a left turn to a final oxer.
First to jump double-clear was Derek Petersen from Archer, Florida riding his own Diamant’s Legacy. Putting down an impressive, tone-setting round, they sliced each turn and angled across every jump to set a Great American time to Beat of 28.539. They held on to the top spot through the next 16 competitors, but would ultimately place fourth in the ribbons.
Hyde Moffat of Brantford, Ontario, riding Egor, owned by Martha Younger, was the next to jump double clear, but his time of 30.614 was two-seconds shy of capturing the lead, eventually placing fifth.
Next to contest the shortened course was Aaron Vale of Williston, Florida aboard Carlo, owned by Amatoville Enterprises. Vale was a man on a mission as he angled the first jump at a gallop. He and Carlo sliced and diced their way to a time of 28.426, edging out Petersen by a fraction of a second to garner the lead. Their round would eventually land them the third place prize.
Twenty-third in the order was winner David Beisel riding Cumana. Beisel set up his first round course to prepare for the jump-off, with tight, snug turns that beckoned cheers from the crowd.
As Beisel jumped the first fence in the jump-off, it was apparent that he was going to go all out for the win. They took a speedy turn from one to two, opting for five strides between the jumps. Flattening the serpentine pattern, they angled hard and cut back to the mid-course oxer. The win was just on the horizon as the pair flew through the timers in a blazing fast 25.841-seconds
“What fun – Cumana lives to turn and burn,” said Beisel after setting the jump-off ring ablaze. “I think he had as much fun as I did!”
Matthias Tromp, winner of the Brook Ledge Welcome in Week VI, and KM Whatever RV, owned by the Beyaert Farm, gave Beisel a run for the money, riding the serpentine pattern as straight as possible. Early in the course it looked like Tromp might steal the lead, but a final time of 26.945 put him in second.
$25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix
The 2016 Ocala Winter Circuit is building steam to its grand finale with the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix on Sunday, March 27. A class full of this circuit’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix winners competed for another title, but it was Hunter Holloway from Topeka, Kansas and VDL Bravo S, owned by Hays Investment Corporation, who claimed the blue after knocking on the door all season.
(C) ESI Photography. Hunter Holloway and VDL Bravo S
Holloway finished Thursday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix with a win with VDL Bravo S to head into the weekend’s $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix on a high note. Winner of Last week’s $50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix, Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas, had a strong second place performance with MTM Reve Du Paradis.
Course designer Marina Azevedo from Sao Paulo, Brazil set a challenging track of 16 efforts that “tested the ride-ability and the scope of the horses,” according to Holloway.
Thirty-six starters took on the challenge with six jumping clear within the time allowed to move on to the jump-off.
The jump-off course started by heading toward the in-gate over an oxer, rolling back and away over a five stride line. The course continued with a bending line to a mid-course oxer, back around over the combination at 9A and B and finished with a right rollback over the final vertical.
First to go in the jump-off was Matt Hollberg of Middleburg, Virginia and Viriato, owned by the Southern Cross Equestrian Center. They sailed around the course, setting the Great American Time to Beat as they crossed the timers in a fault-free 34.131.
Next to contest the shortened course was Mathew Williams of Wellington, Florida aboard Valinski S, owned by Michael Dorman and Wyndmont Farm. They finished just a tick slower in 34.403.
Amanda Flint from Long Valley, New Jersey jumped next on her VDL Wittinger, a winner in this class just three weeks ago. An unfortunate rail at the mid-course oxer would eventually earn them sixth place as they crossed the markers in 37.420 with four faults.
Fenney and MTM Reve du Paradis followed Flint, opting to leave out a stride in the bending line to the mid-course oxer, they clocked in at 32.778 to claim the lead from Hollberg.
Devin Ryan, also from Long Valley, New Jersey, jumped a clean trip on his mount Liratus and also opted to leave out a stride in the bending line to the oxer; his time of 33.884 was not enough to steal the lead from Fenney.
The final rider to contest the jump off was Holloway on Hayes Investment Corporation’s VDL Bravo S.
Holloway also followed Fenney’s lead, opting to leave out a stride to the oxer. They squeaked past Fenney to top the leaderboard with a time of 32.471, dropping Fenney to second and Ryan to third.
“Today in the jump-off, almost everyone was double clear, so my mom [and trainer Brandie Holloway] told me to just get out there and go for it,” said Holloway. “[VDL Bravo S] was with me every step of the way and really showed up for the party.”
Lexington, KY – August 14, 2015 – For David Beisel, the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show holds incredible memories, yet there is one in particular that stands out for him. It was three years ago exactly that David Beisel and Ammeretto, owned by Equine Holdings, LLC, entered into only the second grand prix of their show jumping partnership during the week of the USHJA Hunter Derby Finals, and they won. Friday night, under the lights of the Rolex Stadium, it was déjà vu for Beisel as he entered into a 12-horse jump-off with the small but mighty warmblood stallion, winning the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, presented by Zoetis.
“Before the jump-off, as I was getting ready to go over the course, I was thinking to myself that it was three years ago that he competed his second grand prix, and now, here were are,” Beisel smiled. “I knew that if I had a little faith in him, and with the good partnership we have now, that it all would work, and it did.”
Out of a field of 47 horse and rider combinations, Beisel and Ammeretto rose to the top of the leader board, besting 11 fellow contenders during an exceptionally fast jump-off. Shane Sweetnam and Easy Contact Humlan, owned by Sweet Oak Farm, were the first to tackle the shortened course, designed by Allen Rheinheimer. Although they posted the quick time of 40.487 seconds, he left the door open just enough to let Beisel take his shot.
Beisel sat ringside during the course change, observing Rheinheimer’s changes to the track. He noted that deeper cups were added to the skinny, warranting a tight turn back, and the black oxer originally the 11th obstacle of the opening track was narrowed, allowing for a tight rollback. It was the race to the final oxer with Ammeretto that would have spectators on the edge of their seats.
“I knew I really had to take a shot to the last one,” Beisel explained. “Allen had made the black oxer quite narrow, and I hoped to turn back as tight as I could and trust that he would hop over it. It didn’t come up exactly how I would imagine, but he gave a huge effort. I tried to be smooth to the in-and-out and then trusted him to fly to the Hagyard. He did just that.”
Ammeretto and Beisel have a special partnership, rooted in time and trust. Ammeretto originally found a home with Beisel as a 3-year-old, and now, seven years later, the pair has an unspoken understanding.
Beisel continued, “He is such a smart horse; he really truly enjoys competing and jumping. I think he totally understands to adjust his speed out there and slow up for the jumps. If I have an error in the jump-off it is usually because I am pulling on the reins and mess up his rhythm. I think staying out of his way is the best way to go.”
Beisel and Ammeretto stopped the clock in an astonishing 38.229 seconds.
Sweetnam did not want to take no for an answer tonight. Having already lost the lead to Beisel, as well as to the 18-year-old Emanuel Andrade who posted a clean and speedy effort in 39.962 seconds, he returned on his second qualified mount, Eregast Van’t Kiezelhof.
Although Sweetnam gave it a gamble on the course, his time would still fall 1/10th of a second shy of Beisel’s winning time, landing from the oxer in 38.332 seconds for the second place, pushing Andrade into third.
“This horse was also second in the most recent Hagyard Challenge I did two weeks ago. He was close then and close again tonight. David is a very fast rider,” Sweetnam said. “Eregast Van’t Kiezelhof is not the fastest horse in the world, but he’s learning to be faster, as you saw tonight. He makes my job quite easy. I just have to find the jumps, and I think we’ll have a chance.”
All three top finishers plan to return to the Rolex Arena on Sunday afternoon for the $40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. For Beisel, he is aiming for even bigger purses and dreams.
“We plan to jump the HITS Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix and the [American] Gold Cup and to keep trying to climb up the ranking list,” Beisel concluded. “It is a dream of mine to get on the short list for Team USA, so I want to keep chipping away at getting more points and prove that [Ammeretto] is a competitor. I cannot thank Equine Holdings enough for their support; you cannot do this without owners; I am blessed to have them and for them to back our goals.”
Fourth place was awarded to Sweetnam for his earlier round aboard Easy Contact Humlan as the first of the class, while fifth place was won by Victoria Colvin and Echo Von T Spieveld with a clear effort in 42.645 seconds. Amanda Derbyshire and Lady Maria BH rounded out the top six as the last of the clear efforts in a conservative 48.232 seconds.
Liza Boyd, Kelley Farmer, and Sandy Ferrell Lead the Way in Day One of the USHJA International Hunter Derby Final
The question of impending retirement has been in the air recently for 17-year-old chestnut Brunello, famously ridden by Liza Boyd to two USHJA International Derby Championships in the last two years, but the elder horse put those rumors to rest in the Rolex Stadium Friday as he earned three top marks above 90 for a cumulative score of 287 to secure the lead after the Classic Round. Kelley Farmer and Mindful, one of Farmer’s numerous mounts of the day, closely trail the current frontrunners headed into the second day of competition, featuring the handy round. Sandy Ferrell, having just come off a reserve showing in the Pre-Green Incentive Finals Thursday, kept her momentum going by clinching the third position with El Primero ahead of the 76 other entries.
Liza Boyd and Brunello
“I think we can say that he is not retired. That is a question I have gotten a lot this year and I don’t think he wants to be retired. He just felt like he was six years old again,” Boyd gushed. “The horse is amazing. I will never have a horse like this again. I get a little emotional about him. He tries so hard; he loves what he does and he makes my life so easy. He is just really, really special; I can’t thank him enough.”
Although Brunello, co-owned by Boyd and Janet Peterson, has a few more notches in his belt than his younger counterparts, Boyd feels that the Hanoverian horse is still in great shape, which can be attributed to the training and fitness regimen she keep him on at home in Landrum, South Carolina. She credited lots of trail riding, treadmill workouts, turnout, and double rides on some days as their secret weapons to keeping him looking and feeling his best, a recipe that has shown successful.
“We do really focus on fitness, and this horse doesn’t have to show super often. The week before I locked him up in the stall and barely did anything with him. He had a massage, and I had a facial,” Boyd laughed. “I wanted him to be as fresh as possible.”
The winning pair laid down a stellar trip, proving that the best was saved for last as the final in the order to go over designer Steve Stephens’ classic round track, which presented riders with 13 efforts to show off their talents. Four fences offered high and low height options, giving competitors a chance to earn up to 12 additional points, four from each of the three judges, to their score. Boyd and Brunello opted for all the high options, contributing to their seamless round.
“I think it [the course] is typical Steve [Stephens]. You walk it and it seems pretty straightforward, but you get out there and they get a little wiggly; the horses don’t know where they are. It isn’t so much the height or that he didn’t test us with a lot of numbers. We only had one line. It was really where he placed the jumps,” Boyd said. “Even starting out with fence one, they didn’t expect the jump to be there; it was away from the in gate. He definitely placed them in tricky spots, but it was very rideable for a young horse and kept an old horse enthusiastic and sharp. Once again, he did an unbelievable job.”
As the two-time defending champions, Boyd and Brunello felt the pressure headed into the ring, but did not exude any of that anxiety to the crowd or, more importantly, the judges. The duo’s 287 score was pieced together of 90.5, 91.5, and 93.0 scores from the judges, plus the bonus 12 earned due to the high fence options.
“Last year was a thousand times less stress. I think I should have another baby before next year because last year I was just hoping to hold on and have fun. This year was a lot more stress; my palms are still sweating. I was super nervous,” Boyd reflected.
Currently in the reserve position, hometown rider Kelley Farmer aboard veteran mount Mindful, owned by Larry Glefke and Kensel, LLC, are hot on the heels of Boyd and Brunello, only a singular point behind the current leaders. She and the black gelding Mindful have an impressive résumé together, having accrued lifetime prize money topping $97,000, of which $65,000 was won this year alone.
“I can’t say enough about that horse. He is a fantastic horse, and he went beautifully today. I hope it goes the same tomorrow. I made some mistakes on some of the others, but the course was nice and the horses went well,” Farmer said.
Farmer also earned a stop amongst the frontrunners in the saddle aboard Dalliance, who is owned by Avatar Real Estate, LLC out of Coral Gables, Florida. The pair rode to a 276.600 score to claim the sixth position headed into the handy round.
On the opposite side of the age spectrum from Brunello sits El Primero, the 6-year-old bay stallion navigated to third in the standings by Sandy Ferrell of Bernville, Pennsylvania. The talkative horse whinnied all the way around the ring, but that did not detract from the strong performance as he proved to not only talk the talk, but also walked the walk to the tune of a 280.250 score in his first Derby Finals.
“He is a newcomer to the derby world. He just turned six this year, and he is a baby, and must be the youngest out there. I think that we are just seeing the beginning of his career. He was a little bit talkative out there today; I think he was wondering where his friends went because he couldn’t see anybody. He was talking all the way around the ring,” Ferrell said.
El Primero, owned by Bryan Baldwin and Meralex Farm of Brandon, Florida, is known as ‘Sexy’ outside the ring and was imported from Europe as a jumper, but smoothly transitioned into the hunter ring, where he has shined under the tutelage of Louise Serio.
“As a horseman, you are going to fall in love with that horse. Whether it is his look, his athletic ability is endless; his desire to perform is endless. He is an amazing horse, and I think great things are only yet to come,” Farrell commented. “It is rare that a horse comes out of the jumper ring in Europe and plops into the hunter ring and off we go. He is just an incredible animal. He has such a wise soul. He is so in control of everything.”
The top six horse and rider partners are separated by 11 points headed into Saturday’s handy phase. Trying to surpass the top three will be Cassanto, ridden by Brady Hamilton and owned by Emily Perez of Pittsford, New York, the current fourth place contenders, as well as Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy, owned by Helen Lenahan of Buffalo, New York, who rank fifth. Alfano also claimed the seventh and eighth position with Maggie May, owned by Billie Steffee of Noelty, Ohio, and Jersey Boy, owned by SBS Farms Inc. of Buffalo, New York. Farmer and Dalliance round out the top six.
Tomorrow the hunters will return to the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park for the Handy Round, which serves as the USHJA International Hunter Derby Final during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show.
David Beisel and Lilly French Tied in Hallway Feeds Standings
Lexington, KY – August 3, 2015 – Sydney Shulman has taken the Kentucky Summer Series by storm, and now she has taken over the lead in the 2015 Hagyard Challenge Series with her victory is Thursday’s $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. In the Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series, professional rider David Beisel is tied with junior rider Lilly French for the leading honors.
On Thursday, Shulman piloted Wamira to victory during the Hagyard Challenge Series event, and also picked up sixth place with Quidam 13. Combined with previous ribbons, Shulman has taken a solid lead over David Beisel who is ranked second after placing third on Thursday. Venezuela’s Andres Rodriguez sits third overall after earning top ribbons during the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows.
The Hagyard Challenge Series consists of seven grand prix classes to be held during the 2015 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the final event, a cash prize of $50,000 will be awarded to the rider accumulating the most points throughout the series, as well as a $10,000 prize for the reserve champion.
The Series concludes with the $65,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic during the Kentucky National Horse Show. Following that exciting competition, the winner of the $50,000 Leading Rider will be announced and presented with the prize by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. New this year, Brook Ledge Horse Transport will be awarding a $1,000 shipping voucher to the Leading Rider and a $500 shipping voucher to the Reserve Champion Leading Rider.
Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry, and Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and wellbeing of the horse.
The facility at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute offers 13 Digital Radiology systems, 1.5 Tesla Siemens MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy, an on-site laboratory, an on-site pharmacy, full surgical services, 24-hour emergency services and Hyperbaric Medicine. The institute has practiced veterinary medicine since 1876 and is currently composed of over 50 experienced veterinarians, with 13 board certifications in specialty areas of Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care, and Theriogenology. For more information about the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, please visit http://hagyard.com.
Several generous sponsors have helped make this exciting series event happen. These gracious supporters include: title sponsor MWI Veterinary Supply, and presenting sponsor Zoetis, as well as Audi of Lexington, Dean Dorton Allen Ford, Hagyard Pharmacy, Brook Ledge Horse Transportation, Hallway Feeds, Pike and Preston, and Stoll Keenon Ogden.
The Kentucky Summer Classic also hosted the fourth event in the Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series. David Beisel captured his second victory of the series on Sunday to sit atop the standings, but he is not alone. Junior rider Lilly French has earned top ribbons in three of the events, including a second place with Candor during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, and is now tied with Beisel for the top spot. Only 25 points behind Beisel and French is professional rider Molly Sewell in third place, followed by junior rider Kelli Cruciotti in fourth place.
The five-part series will feature a $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby throughout the spring and summer, and at the conclusion of the series the Leading Rider Awards for the Series will be presented. The $15,000 Hallway Feeds Leading Rider Awards will present a $10,000 cash prize to the professional rider accumulating the most points in the five classes that make up the Series. The amateur rider and junior rider accumulating the most points will each receive a $2,500 cash prize.
Riders will receive points only on their highest placed horse in each of the classes. The awards will be presented at the conclusion of the Hallway Feeds class at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show on August 16, 2015. Returning for the second year, the winning professional rider will win a free flight for a horse in the continental U.S., thanks to Tex Sutton.
Hallway Feeds’ close proximity to the Kentucky Horse Park provides the opportunity to utilize the freshest feed, manufactured with time-honored commitments to high standards of quality and the latest scientific advances. Combining a premium nutrition package with a professional level of dedication in horsemen and women provides equine athletes with the Formula for Success.
The Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series would not be possible without many generous sponsors including Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Alfagreen Supreme, Sweet PDZ Horse Stall Refresher, Caddel Equine Therapy Center, Trouw Nutrition, EquiVision, Fenwick Equestrian Products, Tack Shop of Lexington, Tex Sutton, Turf Town Properties and PNC Bank.
For more information about the Kentucky Summer Horse Show series, 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
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.
Lexington, KY – August 1, 2015 – Alison Robitaille has traveled to the Olympics as a first alternate, competed at the World Equestrian Games and won team silver at the Pan American Games, but in recent years, as she busily brings along young horses and two young children of her own, she has been continually knocking on the door of a grand prix win. On Saturday night at the Kentucky Horse Park she knocked the door all the way down and rode away with an impressive victory in the $50,000 Kentucky Summer Classic Grand Prix, sponsored by GGT Footing.
“I’m really so excited. It’s been a long time since I’ve won a grand prix,” Robitaille said. “I’m so proud of my horse. I got her at the end of her 7-year-old year and sort of stepped her up into the grand prix. I’m just really proud of her.”
The mare that Robitaille speaks of his Cassinja, a 10-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Robitaille’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone. The pair of Robitaille and Cassinja was the ninth in the field of 41 to try their hand at the Florencio Hernandez-designed course set in Rolex Stadium, and they were the first to execute it without fault.
At the conclusion of the first round, six more combinations would join them on the clear list, advancing seven total on to the jump-off. As the first clear, Robitaille was also the first to return, and she laid it down again, finishing faultless with a time of 55.339 seconds.
“I was thinking going in, ‘it’s a long jump-off.’ So I wanted to put some pressure, but I wanted to really make sure that I was clean,” Robitaille said.
While Robitaille’s time seemed like it could be beatable, her strategy greatly paid off in the end.
Lucas Porter and Sleepy P Ranch’s Doma Sue returned next, finishing on five faults in a time of 58.633 seconds, which would end up being good enough for fourth as the next two to return did not fair quite as well.
Both Scott Lenkart, on Fleur De Lis Farms’ Ziezo, and Blythe Marano, on Riverview Farm’s Quabelle, fell victims to refusals on course. Ziezo’s refusal would result in a finish effort of 10 faults in a time of 63.834 seconds for he and Lenkart; Marano and Quabelle would be eliminated from the jump-off after Quabelle stopped twice at the fourth fence of the short course.
Sharn Wordley and Barnetta, owned by the Sky Group, came next, finishing clear but on two time faults after electing to take a slightly longer route to the last fence, finishing on a time of 59.259 seconds.
Wilton Porter and Paloubet, owned by Sleepy P Ranch, followed Wordley, but the refusal bug would strike for a third time in the jump-off phase, resulting in Wilton electing to retire and finish tied for sixth with Marano.
From there the final chance to topple Robitaille’s time was in Juan Ortiz’s hands with Dulien Van De Smeets, owned by Synchronicity Group. It looked like Ortiz had it all the way to the end, but as he tripped the timers the scoreboard flashed 53.38 seconds – just tenths off of Robitaille’s winning time.
“By nature, she’s not the fastest horse,” Ortiz said of Dulien Van De Smeets. “She’s a very scopey, powerful horse. Her advantage is to jump big classes with clean rounds, which is where other horses struggle. Going against a horse like Alison’s, which is a little smaller and lighter on his feet, I had to make too many efforts, and there were not really a lot of places for me to eat strides.”
Ortiz just acquired the ride on Dulien Van De Smeets this summer after getting a call from McLain Ward.
“There was a chance to go to Pan Am Games. So, my friend McLain, one of my best friends in the world, calls me on the phone and says, ‘Juan, I have the horse for you to go to Pan Ams,'” Ortiz explained. “I called the person in charge of the group, and said, ‘McLain just called and said he has the horse for us to go to Pan Ams.’ They said, ‘well, Pan Ams are in two months, and you haven’t ridden the thing.’ I said, ‘well, I trust him.’ My partner believed in me, and McLain thought that it was the right horse for me, so I jogged the mare, jumped the first class, and in the first grand prix I jumped double clear. Since then, we’ve only jumped one grand prix that I haven’t jumped double clear. It’s been an unbelievable experience.”
While Dulien Van De Smeets is a new mount for Ortiz, the winning partnership of Robitaille and Cassinja is one that has been three years in the making, and Robitaille was thrilled with the mare’s quick jump-off performance on Saturday night.
“She’s always been very brave and basically rideable. It’s just been a little bit of a process learning how to go fast on her,” Robitaille explained. “In the beginning, when I went to go fast, she thought that she was in trouble. She would be more looking back at me and worried. Now, in the last year, she’s really picked up on it and is so much more with me. I feel like she gets it more in the jump-off now. It’s really fun. It’s a fun part of bringing young horses along – to feel it come together.”
Robitaille continued, “I have to say a huge thank you to my parents. They’ve been supporting me for such a long time. And I’m so lucky to have my whole team and Efrain Vega who takes care of Cassinja. The whole team is really fantastic.”
Robitaille’s team will head next to HITS Saugerties, after enjoying their past two weeks at the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows.
“I love coming to Kentucky. We’ve been coming probably for 20 years,” Robitaille said. “It’s wonderful to be here and to get to ride out in the fields. We love the footing here. The horses seem to get better after being here for a couple of weeks, rather than feeling like they’re sore and want to go home.”
Sunday marks the conclusion of the Kentucky Summer Classic, and the jumper competition continues in the Rolex Stadium with the NAL/WIHS Child and Adult Jumper Classics beginning at 8 a.m.
Blue for David Beisel and Lavish in $5,000 USHJA Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby
Every now and then, Lavish wanders out of semi-retirement to play around in hunter derbies with rider David Beisel. On Saturday morning, Beisel taught a few lessons, loaded up the old pro and headed to the Kentucky Horse Park to compete in the $5,000 USHJA Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby at the Kentucky Summer Classic on Saturday afternoon.
Despite their casual arrival, Beisel and Lavish came prepared to win, turning in an impressive first round over the Bobby Murphy-designed course to earn a score of 85, including the four extra points for taking all of the high options. With their spot high in the top 12 secured, Beisel watched the handy round from the sidelines, developing his strategy all the while.
David Beisel and Lavish maneuver a slick turn in the handy round to take the win.
“The name of the class is handy,” Beisel said. “I kept watching the other riders, and even as they turned inside from the Hallway Feeds jump back to the oxer, it seemed to take forever. I started seeing different ways to cut it down and make it a little handier. I checked with the owners, and I said, ‘I’ve got something different in mind. I think it’s super, super handy, and if I can pull it off, I can get some extra points.'”
And pull it off he did. Beisel executed a tight rollback to the aforementioned oxer – only one of two riders to attempt to cut down the turn and take the oxer at a sharp angle.
“For me, it was pretty risky,” Beisel said of his turn. “The oxer in the middle was really hard to jump; you had to catch it on a big angle, which made it quite a wide jump with the brush in front. It didn’t leave much room for air afterward.”
Beisel’s decision paid off, and the judges rewarded the duo with the highest handy round score of 92 for a combined total of 177 points, which would hold out to earn Beisel and Lavish the blue ribbon.
“He did it beautifully,” Beisel said of Lavish. “He loves his job.”
Hot on Beisel’s heels were last week’s derby winners, Molly Sewell and EL Raymond. In the classic round, the duo outscored the field by earning an 88, including the four extra points for taking the high options.
“EL Raymond went absolutely beautifully in the first round,” Sewell said. “The course was nice and flowing; he jumped beautifully, no rubs; he was perfect.”
The pair was last to go in the handy and missed seeing Beisel’s slick rollback while schooling in the warm-up ring.
“That move did not even cross my mind,” Sewell laughed. “Everyone was like, ‘oh my God,’ and I’m about to walk into the ring like, ‘what did [David] do?’ Bill [Schaub] said, ‘don’t change your plan. Do not change your plan.'”
A minor rub at the first fence would prove to be the round’s only blemish for a score of 86, including the four high-option points. A total score of 174 would secure second place for EL Raymond and Sewell.
Owner Leslie Campbell looked on proudly from the sidelines, saying, “EL Raymond is everything that’s great about this sport. He’s taught so many juniors, and now he has the best ride of his life, Molly, his forever rider now.”
Rounding out the top five were third-place finishers Virginia Ingram and Comanche, whose scores of 84 and 87 combined to a total of 171. In fourth place were Renee Lenkart and Cayman with a 169.5, while last week’s second-place finishers, Lilly French and Candor, took home fifth with a score of 165.75.
The hunter divisions at the Kentucky Summer Classic will wrap up Sunday with the presentation of the Visse Wedell-sponsored grand championship, which will be awarded to the amateur or junior rider who scored the most points.
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
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.
Mill Spring, NC – June 4, 2015 – Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) spectators witnessed a new face in the winner’s circle today, as David Beisel (USA) and Ammeretto proved victorious in the $34,000 Suncast® FEI 1.50m Challenge, besting the class of 33 entries. Beisel and Ammeretto made quick work of the Ana Catalina Harris Cruz-designed track to take a commanding win, finishing almost four seconds faster than Christine McCrea (USA) and Wannick WH who placed second in 33.045 seconds. Gemma Paternoster (GBR) and Osiris picked up third place, crossing the jump-off timers in 33.55 seconds. Tryon Spring 8 will continue through Sunday, June 7.
Beisel and Ammeretto collected their first victory at TIEC and the second big win of their 2015 season, along with top finishes in Ocala and Kentucky. “He’s had a great year this year. This is the second big class we’ve won and also have had several top placings in some pretty big classes,” said Beisel “I think I’ve been playing it too conservative with him. He’s a little guy and he likes to be able to get a good pace going and today I decided to let him go. If he’s not feeling challenged, he gets a little bit bored. He absolutely loves the challenge.”
The class saw 10 pairs move forward to the jump-off, but Beisel and Ammeretto laid down the fastest two rounds of the class, both in the first round and jump-off, finishing their first go around the course in 75.11 seconds and their jump-off in 29.465 seconds. The track proved difficult for a number of riders as several pairs accumulated time faults.
“I thought the course looked really nice. He’s got a great jump over the water, and I felt like that could save us some time. Plenty of people were having time faults so that’s where I was concerned,” said Beisel. “I got lucky because he rubbed both Fence 6 and 7 but he kept them up and after that he didn’t touch anything for the rest of the round.”
The spirited 2005 Dutch Warmblood stallion packs a big punch considering his relatively small size. Under Beisel’s guidance for nearly his entire life, Ammeretto’s personality shines in the ring and there are big plans on the horizon according to Beisel.
“I’ve been riding him for seven years. We started him when he was three years old and have had him ever since. I’m really looking forward to putting some consistent performances in this year,” he said. “I would love to look at going to World Cup Finals at some point or qualifying for some team participation down the road. That would be the ultimate goal.”
TIEC has served as a great destination for Beisel and his team, as taking advantage of FEI classes offered in the United States has been a high priority in their seasonal schedule. Beisel is entered in the $210,000 Tryon Grand Prix CSI 4* for the Governor’s Cup on Saturday, June 6, with both Ammeretto and his other ride, Call Me Hannes.
“We have certainly enjoyed it here. It is a really great facility, and we’ve been super impressed with everything since we’ve been here. I want to thank Mark [Bellissimo] for bringing these FEI ranking classes here. That is the main reason why we’re here and I’m already looking forward to coming back,” he remarked.
Competition at TIEC continues tomorrow with the $34,000 FEI 1.45m Speed Stake beginning at 12pm. The $210,000 Tryon Grand Prix CSI 4* for the Governor’s Cup will held on Saturday, June 6, in conjunction with The Festival of the Carolinas Craft Beer Festival and the naming of 14 local charities to participate in this year’s Great Charity Challenge of the Carolinas (GCC) to be held in October. Grammy-winning performer Lee Greenwood will also sing his hit “God Bless The U.S.A.” alongside a guest appearance by the Special Forces Parachute Team presenting a four-person tandem jump from 8,000 feet while landing with a 20-foot by 40-foot American flag in the George H. Morris Stadium.
For more information on TIEC and full results, please visit www.tryon.com. Please “Like” the TIEC Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tryonresort to be eligible for various contests and promotions.
About Tryon International Equestrian Center
The Tryon International Equestrian Center is destined to become one of the premier centers in the equestrian world. This new facility opened in June 2014 with sanctioned horse shows and initial supporting amenities including 10 riding arenas, 850 permanent stalls, a covered riding facility and fitness center. Future expansion includes a sports complex, two hotels, sporting clay course, and an 18-hole golf course plus a full calendar of equestrian competitions and activities. It is a spring, summer and fall haven for eastern and northeastern American equestrian competitors and enthusiasts. For more information, call 828-863-1000 or visit www.tryon.com.
Lexington, KY – May 16, 2015 – David Beisel was not going to let the pouring rain stop him and Lavish from wowing the judges during the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby at the Kentucky Spring Classic.
Beisel and Lavish, the 10-year-old gelding owned by Phyllis Harlow, shot to the top of the leader board during the classic round, taking all four of the high options along Bobby Murphy’s course to earn a score of 89.
The pair excelled in the handy round, once again taking all of the high options and topping the charts with a score of 94. Beisel said that this is only the gelding’s fifth time showing this year, and he just comes out to play for the derbies.
“He has a great life; he’s spoiled and loves peppermints,” Beisel said. “I think he did some really nice turns today, and I felt like he did a really nice hand gallop. I thought he balanced up really nicely and stayed soft for the next couple of jumps that followed.”
The second-place ribbon was awarded to Kelli Cruciotti and Totem Pole, who coincidentally finished second in last week’s derby, too.
When Serenity Farm imported Totem Pole three years ago, the gelding was never completely sound. The veterinarian eventually discovered a bone chip in his ankle, which was quickly removed. However, the next day, the horse’s condition had worsened. Totem Pole had EPM, but thankfully recovered due to Cruciotti family’s fast response.
Kelli Cruciotti and Totem Pole
Although the horse is coming on 11 years old, Cruciotti said he acts like a 7-year-old due to the three years he spent in and out of training.
“He’s finally really maturing,” Cruciotti said. “He’s an amazing jumper. He just has to learn where to put his legs sometimes.”
In the classic round, Totem Pole showcased his newfound mature side. The duo got a break from the rain, taking the course’s high options to earn a 90, beating Beisel in the first portion of the division.
“He was great,” Cruciotti commented. “The best part about him is that he’s so brave. It was a great class; I loved the course, and David’s horse went great, too.”
The pair returned for the handy, receiving a score of 91, including the added points for all four high options. Cruciotti and Totem Pole ended up settling for second with a two-point differential.
Third-place finishers Steve Heinecke and So Lucky were hot on the leaders’ heels, missing second place by only two points.
Heinecke and Jane Olsen Fisher’s So Lucky took the high options and were awarded a score of 89.5 in the classic round, also beating Beisel’s initial score of 89.
The pair returned for the handy, earning a 90 with the high options to secure the third-place ribbon.
Fourth place was awarded to Emma Kurtz and Scott Stewart’s VIP Z, earning scores of 87 and 85. The fifth-place ribbon went to Helen Voss and Cashmere, who earned scores of 85 and 86. Rounding out the top six were Lilly French and Candor, with their scores of 76 and 89.
The Hallways Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby is a five-part series that has become a staple at the spring shows and will continue into the summer series. The leading riders will be presented with the cash prizes at the end of the Bluegrass Festival on August 16, 2015.
After today’s win, Beisel commented, “It’s very generous of Hallway Feeds to sponsor this, and I appreciate their support. I think I have my eye on that bonus now.”
Coverage of the Kentucky Spring Classic will continue tomorrow in the Stonelea with the Junior Hunter divisions, which will wrap up the spring show series at the Kentucky Horse Park.
For more information on Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
Kentucky Horse Shows 2015 Horse Show Series Fast Facts
Events: 2015 Kentucky Spring Horse Shows
What:
The Kentucky Horse Shows 2014 series includes two weeks of top hunter/jumper competitions during the month of May. The Kentucky Horse Show Series is the host of the Hagyard Challenge Series and Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter 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:
KENTUCKY SPRING HORSE SHOW – May 6-10, 2015
$34,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic CSI2*
$85,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI2*
$25,000 Bluegrass Classic
$25,000 U25 Classic
$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Recognized Hunter Competition
KENTUCKY SPRING CLASSIC – May 13-17, 2015
$34,000 Welcome Speed CSI3*
$34,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic CSI3*
$127,000 Hollow Creek Farm Grand Prix CSI3*
$50,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix
$20,000 Bluegrass Classic
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Hollow Creek Farm, 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) 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
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.
