Tag Archives: Elizabeth Boyd

Lamaze Proves Unbeatable with Fourth Consecutive WEF Challenge Cup Victory

Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady 5. Photos © Sportfot.

Elizabeth Boyd and Dalliance Earn Championship Honors for the Second Time in the CWD Saddlery Performance Working Hunter 3’6″

Wellington, FL – January 29, 2015 – The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued its fourth week of competition on Thursday with an incredible fourth consecutive win for Canada’s Eric Lamaze in the Ruby et Violette Challenge Cup Series. One of the most competitive classes each week with a roster of top international horses and riders, Lamaze won the first two classes of the series riding Rosana du Park and earned his third and now fourth victories aboard Fine Lady 5. He rides both horses for Artisan Farms LLC.

WEF 4, sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, continues through Sunday, February 1, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The week will feature the $372,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI-W 5*, presented by Fidelity Investments®, on Saturday, January 31. Other highlights include the $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Team Event, presented by the McNerney Family, on Friday, January 30, at 4 pm at The Stadium at PBIEC, and the $85,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Classic on Sunday, February 1.

The $50,000 Wellington Eventing Showcase, presented by Asheville Regional Airport, will also be held on Friday and Saturday, January 30-31. The special showcase will feature some of eventing’s top horses and riders competing for phenomenal prize money in the winter equestrian capital of the world.

All three phases of the $50,000 Wellington Eventing Showcase, presented by Asheville Regional Airport, and Saturday night’s $372,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI-W 5*, presented by Fidelity Investments®, will be live streamed at www.COTH.com.

Thursday’s $127,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4 was held as a speed class. Course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) set the track for 72 starters with 14 clear rounds. Lamaze and Fine Lady 5 earned their victory with the fastest round of the day, clear in 63.08 seconds. Andrew Ramsay (USA) and Winn Winn finished second in 65.13 seconds. Marie Hecart (FRA) and Myself de Breve placed third in 66.41 seconds.

Fine Lady 5 is a 12-year-old Hanoverian mare by Forsyth x Drosselklang II. Lamaze paired up with the mare last spring, and together, they have won numerous classes around the world.

“She is my kind of horse. She knows why she is out there,” Lamaze said of Fine Lady. “She is competitive, she likes to fight, she is a blood horse and she was winning before I got her, so this is nothing new to her. I am just continuing what she was already doing. I’d love to take all the credit, but this is a great horse.”

Commenting on his incredible success early in the season, Lamaze stated, “I have some very good, well rested horses at the moment, and I take Florida seriously. That is why I stopped after Barcelona and let all of the horses rest, to try to come here and have them really fresh to compete. You don’t expect to win three in a row, you don’t expect to win four in a row, but when you have good, competitive horses, anything can happen. McLain (Ward) had a blistering round today. He was really, really fast and he just toed a fence off. Sometimes you just need a little luck. When you play the game at this level, and you are competitive, you need a little luck.”

“I think the way you select your horses for these events is so important,” Lamaze added. “You have to pick the right horse out of the barn. If you have the luxury of having a few, you need to pick the right one for the right class, out of the box and the one that’s fresh. We are already planning for the last few weeks of the circuit which horses we are going to use. It is all about the right planning and sometimes you can easily make a mistake and put the wrong horse at the wrong time. This year I seem to have a plan that has worked with some very talented horses. That is the secret of a long circuit like this. You need to juggle things around in a way that is going to work for you. I guess we have the recipe for Thursday right, now we just have to get it for Saturday too.”

“She is dependable when you get to the fence,” he detailed of Fine Lady’s performance. “You give her a fair chance to see where she is going and she is going to give you all she has. She is very quick across the ground and quick in the air. An oxer-vertical-vertical (triple combination) is not a difficult exercise for her, so I knew I could trust her there. I was a little wide to the skinny, but at the end she just carries natural speed.”

Even the world’s best horses and riders have their challenges every now and then, and Lamaze laughed when explaining that he almost fell off of Fine Lady in the warm-up ring this morning.

“She is laid back, but she is petrified of other horses coming towards her,” he stated. “When you are just walking on her you have to really be careful. This morning even in the FEI practice ring I almost fell off. She sees a horse coming towards her, and she is very shy about that. She has her own little way, but all the great horses all have their little quirks about them. She is a great horse.”

Lamaze and Fine Lady will now head on to contest Saturday night’s $372,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI-W 5*, presented by Fidelity Investments®. Lamaze hopes to continue their success with a Saturday night win.

In addition to Thursday’s winning portion of prize money, Lamaze was awarded the $3,000 SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” bonus for the fourth week in a row. Each week of the WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible. Lamaze has now won all four bonuses, totaling $12,000 in additional money earned.

Also showing on Thursday, Heather Caristo Williams and Holly Caristo’s Cosmopolitan 20 won the $8,000 1.45m jump-off class in the International Arena in the morning.

Elizabeth Boyd and Dalliance Earn Championship Honors for the Second Time in the CWD Saddlery Performance Working Hunter 3’6″

To kick off WEF 4, Elizabeth Boyd and Dalliance finished the day as the CWD Saddlery Performance Working Hunter 3’6″ champions. Dalliance and Boyd received three seconds and a third over fences, along with a third in the under saddle to top the field of 28 competitors.

Chablis and Peter Lutz ended the two days of competition as reserve champions in the division. Chablis, owned by Libertas Farm, showed off his winning style topping two of the over fences classes.

Dalliance and Liza Boyd
Dalliance and Liza Boyd

Last year Dalliance, owned by Avatar Real Estate of Coral Gables, FL, was competing in the jumper ring, but after teaming up with Boyd in the fall, Dalliance has become a natural in the hunters. “He’s [Dalliance] just been so consistent. He was champion of the Performance Hunters 3’3″ the first week, champion of the Performance Hunters 3’6″ the second week, took a week off and is now champion again,” Boyd smiled.

“He [Dalliance] goes in there every day and is the same. He’s really easy and has great form over the jumps. He is the type of horse that a lot of judges really like!” Boyd exclaimed.

One of the things that Dalliance had to learn, moving from the jumpers to the hunters, was slowing down through the inside turns during handy classes. While he was always able to do the challenging inside turns, he would be too quick through them. After a good handy this week, Boyd said, “He [Dalliance] did all the inside turns without dropping his shoulder or speeding up. He’s perfected that.”

While Boyd spends a lot of time showing younger horses, she is thankful for the opportunity to show Dalliance. “It’s nice to have one consistent horse. I don’t have Brunello here this year because he is really just a derby horse now, so it’s nice to have one that I can really count on,” Boyd explained.

Boyd currently has Dalliance as a sale horse, and she has enjoyed being able to show him during the beginning of the season. When talking about Dalliance’s future, Boyd said, “I think he is going to be a great Junior or Amateur Hunter. He has proven himself very well, and he is ready.”

Boyd also added, “He [Dalliance] would do derbies really well because he is super brave, doesn’t need to get in the ring in the morning and comes to work the same every day.”

If Dalliance is still with Boyd during WEF 6, she hopes to show him in the USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular.

Jumper competition continues on Friday with the $8,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m in the International Arena during the day and the $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Team Event, presented by the McNerney Family, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Stadium at PBIEC in the evening. Equitation will take center stage with coverage of the WIHS Equitation Hunter Phase in the Rost Arena. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Lauren Fisher and Maddy Stover for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Eric Lamaze and Rosana du Park Win $25,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 1

Eric Lamaze and Rosana du Park. Photos © Sportfot.

Elizabeth Boyd and Ghostwriter Top Equine Tack and Nutritionals First Year Green Hunter Section A

Wellington, FL – January 8, 2015 – The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) hosted it second day of competition on Thursday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with the second win of the circuit for Canadian Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze. After winning the first class of the circuit in Wednesday’s 1.45m speed class with Check Picobello Z, Lamaze topped Thursday’s $25,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 1 aboard Artisan Farms LLC’s Rosana du Park. The 12-week WEF circuit runs through March 29, 2015, awarding over $8.2 million in prize money.

Eric Hasbrouck (USA) is the course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC for week one competition and set another great track for Thursday’s Challenge Cup class. Forty-five entries showed in round one with nine advancing to the jump-off and four double clear rounds. Eric Lamaze and Rosana du Park were first to go in the jump-off and put the pressure on with a clear round in 38.18 seconds that would hold on for the win.

Darragh Kerins (IRL) and Jan Van Tricht’s D Elia van het Molenhof finished second in 38.47 seconds. Ian Millar (CAN) and The Baranus Group’s Baranus placed third in 39.13 seconds, and Denise Wilson (USA) and Blue Gate Farm LLC’s Quidam’s Hero finished fourth in 43.39 seconds. Leslie Howard and The Utah Group’s Utah had the fastest time in 37.91 seconds, but dropped a rail at the second to last fence to finish fifth.

Rosana du Park, a ten-year-old Selle Francais mare (Kannan), competed in Wellington last season with rider Carly Anthony and Lamaze took over the ride in Chantilly over the summer. She is a horse that Lamaze has high hopes for this winter.

“Rosana as well as Check Picobello Z are horses that we bought young to hopefully become great horses in the future, and I think we have achieved that,” Lamaze stated. “Rosana was ridden by Carly Anthony last year, and she brought her along fantastic for me. She gave her such great mileage with great confidence. The mare is now ready to do whatever you ask of her. Picobello is also an outstanding young horse. I am pretty fortunate for this Winter Equestrian Festival that I have fresh older horses and I have upcoming young ones that are ready to really start doing some big things, so I am very well mounted.”

In Thursday’s jump-off, Lamaze and Rosana went first and held onto the lead with some top horses and riders still to come. Lamaze knew he had to be fast to force the other riders to catch him.

“All of the classes are very competitive here. I don’t care if they are two-star, national, or anything, as you see, this jump-off was still fast enough,” he commented. “I think I went quite fast being first in the ring. I think the time was beatable. Some riders came close and some riders had the time with four faults, but I think as an opening WEF class I was happy with my plan. At the end it paid off.”

Describing Rosana’s ride, Lamaze explained, “She is very hunter like. She doesn’t really like to go in a frame or be held together. She is one of those horses where you just let her nose poke up a little bit and give her a little balance and she takes care of the fences. She is really a careful mare. She wants to overachieve if anything. She has a canter that you can just stay in balance and canter along. It’s not a really complicated ride.”

With his second win of the week, Lamaze praised this week’s course designer, stating, “I think Eric Hasbrouck is doing a fantastic job. He is giving us some great opening lines to the courses. They start easy from the beginning and then get very technical as you go around. The time allowed has been short enough that it makes the course quite difficult, but it is really fair. I think for the opening week we could not have asked for a better course designer. Every class starts with a long line or a seven stride. At the beginning of the season that is what you need. We don’t need anything too severe, but it is challenging and the horses are learning, so great credit to him.”

Rosana du Park will now compete in Sunday’s $30,000 WEF 1 Grand Prix while Check Picobello Z will do Saturday’s $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic.

In addition to the winning portion of prize money, Lamaze was awarded the $3,000 SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” bonus. Each week of the WEF Challenge Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.

Also competing in the International Arena on Thursday, Ireland’s Conor Swail won the $8,000 1.45m jump-off class aboard Simba de la Roque, owned by Sarl Ecurie Sens O Riel. The class saw 33 rounds with 16 in the jump-off and eight double clear rounds. Swail finished in 38.01 seconds, just ahead of Laura Chapot and Mary Chapot’s ISHD Dual Star, who placed second in 38.62 seconds.

The High Amateur-Owner Jumpers also got a chance to jump in the International Arena in the afternoon with a win in their first speed class for Emanuel Andrade and Anker. Kelsey Thatcher and Pony Lane Farm’s Athena finished second.

Liza Boyd and Ghostwriter
Liza Boyd and Ghostwriter

Elizabeth Boyd and Ghostwriter Top Equine Tack and Nutritionals First Year Green Hunter Section A

Elizabeth Boyd and Ghostwriter topped both classes today in the Equine Tack and Nutritionals First Year Green Hunters to claim the section A championship. Ghostwriter, owned by Madeline Thatcher and Pony Lane Farm of Bluffdale, Utah, also finished first yesterday in the handy hunter round.

The Section B champion was Kelley Farmer riding David Glefke and Kensel, LLC’s Mindset. Farmer and Mindset finished third in both classes today and won the under saddle and an over fences class yesterday.

With two second place finishes today, Amy Guth’s Bossa Nova, ridden by Louise Serio, ended up as reserve champion of section A. La Bonita, ridden by Scott Stewart and owned by David Gochman, was the reserve champion of section B. The pair finished first and fourth over fences and took home second in the under saddle.

Ghostwriter, an eight-year-old gelding, is a new mount for Boyd after being purchased four days ago from Lane Change Farm. Not only is Ghostwriter new to Boyd, but new to the United States. Having only been here for a little over a month, this was only his second show and he is already off to a great start.

Highlighting Boyd and Ghostwriter’s championship performance was their winning handy round. Boyd explained, “They gave some really great options, and I was able to really go for it in the handy making the inside turns.”

Boyd went on to say that she felt comfortable going into the handy round after talking to Farmer. Farmer had practiced handy elements with Ghostwriter at home and knew he was ready to do it in the ring.

Thatcher is currently a student at Clemson University in South Carolina and will come next week to show her horse in the younger amateur owners. With Thatcher away at school, Boyd was excited to be able to show Ghostwriter this week. After a great first performance, Boyd said, “He [Ghostwriter] is going to be really super in the amateur-owner (division) and the derbies.”

Farmer, who previously rode Ghostwriter, was all smiles as she watched her horse shine with a new rider. “When my horses get to go somewhere else and go like that, it’s a good day,” exclaimed Farmer.

Following a successful start to a 2015 season, Boyd also commented, “The footing felt amazing, and the jumps were beautiful.”

The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival continues on Friday with the $6,000 Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off featured in the International Arena and the conclusion of the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 division in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com or www.pbiec.com.

Lauren Fisher and Maddy Stover for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
803.240.7488

Elizabeth Boyd Takes the Top Three Spots in the USHJA International Hunter Derby

Elizabeth Boyd and Brunello sail over an oxer en route to the win in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Flashpoint Photography.

Miramax and Julie Curtin Win the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby; Vale Is Victorious in the $15,000 Open Welcome

The Georgia International Horse Park is buzzing with activity as the Atlanta Summer Classics welcomes a record number of competitors to its opening week which kicked off Wednesday after the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program wrapped up.

Yesterday featured the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by FarmVet, as well as the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, which saw twenty-five and twenty-six, respectively, tackle the courses designed by Joe Carnicum.

In the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, the first round saw Triomph, owned by Loretta Patterson, ridden by Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama, take the lead with a score of 181, but Brunello, owned by Janet Peterson and Elizabeth Boyd, Fieono, owned by Kelley Maloney, and Quatrain, owned by Finally Farm and Janet Peterson, all ridden by Elizabeth Boyd of Camden, South Carolina, were on Shepherd’s heels with scores of 177.50, 177 and 164, respectively.

The handy round saw Boyd working a hat trick when she secured the top three spots on Brunello, Fieona and Quatrain, respectively.  Brunello and Boyd received a handy score of 201 and a final score of 378.50, giving them the win.  Fieono received a score of 186 in the second round and a final score of 363 which secured second place.  Boyd and Quatrain scored a 195 in the handy round bringing the total to 359 and a third place finish.

Shepherd and Triomph received fourth place honors with a second round score of 171 and a total of 352.

Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, North Carolina, in the irons aboard Caramo, owned by Caroline Russell Howe, had a fifth place finish after scoring a 151 in the first round and 182 in the handy round, securing a total score of 333.  Alexa Boggio of Canton, Georgia and her own SS Whisper had a final score of 308 which earned them a sixth. Wimberly Debono of Birmingham, Alabama and her own Tusker finished with a score of 299.50 and a seventh place.  Daniel Geitner of Aiken, South Carolina guided Damocles, owned by Janet Peterson, to a final score of 271 and an eighth place finish. Kelci Crenshaw of Woodstock, Georgia rode Fit to Print Farm’s Headliner to a ninth place finish with a total score of 269.75. Timothy Maddrix of Birmingham, Alabama and Stella Styslinger’s Trending finished in the tenth position with 269.50. Victoria Press of New York, New York and her own Charleston Z wrapped up the eleventh place with a combined score of 258 and Crenshaw and Fit to Print Farm’s Lead Story wrapped up the twelfth spot with a score of 243.

The USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by FarmVet, saw Miramax, owned by Donna Bassinger and ridden by Julie Curtin of Roswell, Georgia, take the win out of a field of twenty-five.  In second place, Fairfax, owned by Liz Hudspeth and ridden by Curtin, wrapped up the second position, while Lyn Sythel of Johns Island, South Carolina rode her own Versace to the third place position.

Aaron Vale and 2VR Showjumpers' Zenith UHS beat 35 others to win the $15,000 Open Welcome
Aaron Vale and 2VR Showjumpers’ Zenith UHS beat 35 others to win the $15,000 Open Welcome

In other news:

Week I of the Atlanta Summer Classics saw thirty-five tackle the $15,000 Welcome Class designed by Manuel Esparanza of Mexico.  It was Aaron Vale of Ocala, Florida who stole the show and took home the $4,500 check aboard Zenith UHS, owned by 2VR Showjumpers.  Jared Peterson of Archer, Florida took the second place spot in the irons of Titus 2:11, owned by Derek Peterson, and third place went to Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, North Carolina and Calando Z, owned by Patty Ann Burns.  Fourth was awarded to Liza Finsness of Wellington, Florida and her own Ormsby Hill.  Lazaro, ridden and owned by Jordan Coyne of New Port Ritchey, Florida, earned a fifth place ribbon while Alex Grenato of Elizabeth, Colorado and his own Gangsta took sixth.

There are a handful of stalls left for next week, so make sure you get your entries in today because you don’t want to miss the fun at the world class Georgia International Horse Park, home to the 1996 Olympics, for these two weeks of non-stop show jumping action.  The venue offers the one of a kind Olympic feel and offers excellent stabling, arenas, footing and of course, award winning service found only with the Classic Company.  And make sure to catch the best of ringside action and reserve your VIP tables today.  There is no better deal on any circuit and cost only $300.00 a week for a table of eight.

Anyone who has shown with the Classic Company knows what sets them apart from the rest:  Classic Shows are FUN!  Complimentary exhibitor parties, luncheons, Saturday pizzas and the friendliest show management team anywhere work hard to make your showing experience the best.  Classic Company never charges an add or scratch fee for those last minute changes and there is no office fee added for credit card payments.

Whether you are a seasoned veteran or novice looking for a positive show experience, look to the Classic Company shows and join them in Atlanta this summer.  The Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States.  For more information on Classic Company and its exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at classiccompany.com or call them at 843-768-5503.

All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director at classicsponsorship@gmail.com.  All program advertising should be directed to Nate Poliquin, Program Sales Representative at classicshowads@yahoo.com.

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See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd.
www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX:  (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311  Johns Island  SC 29457

Classic Company’s Grand Finale at the Georgia International Horse Park Welcomes Top Riders

Elizabeth Boyd pilots Chestnut Avenue during the Adequan Pre-Green Hunter Championship Finals

The Classic Company is underway with another record breaking, sold out week at the Atlanta Fall Classic with more than a thousand horses and riders who rank among the best in the world competing and enjoying Classic Company’s renowned hospitality at the former show grounds home to the 1996 Olympics.

Inaugural Adequan Pre-Green Hunter Classic Is a Winner!

The Adequan Pre-Green Hunter Championship Finale kicked off the weekend yesterday when the top riders and horses competed for prize money banked throughout the show year.  “We anticipated that the class would offer $15,000 in prize money and as it turned out, we exceeded that expectation and awarded $16,800.00 in prize money,” said Classic Company President, Bob Bell.  “The class was very well received by the riders and trainers,” said Luitpold representative Wiss Costanza.  “I heard from many trainers how much they appreciated the class.  It was a real benefit for their riders and horses and was just what they needed for their clients.”  Winning the top honors was Chestnut Avenue, owned by Joanne Loheac and ridden by Elizabeth Boyd who also received a complimentary box of Luitpold’s product Adequan.  Finishing in second place was Kleiner Ralli, owned by Suzan Larson and ridden by Holly Shepherd.  Third place was awarded to First Dance, owned by Sarah Orberson and ridden by Elizabeth Boyd.

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Elizabeth Boyd and Casallo Showcase Winning Ways at Alltech National Horse Show

Elizabeth Boyd piloted Casallo to the prestigious Professional Hunter Grand Championship. Photos By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – October 31, 2012 – The Grand Champion Professional Hunter title at the Alltech National Horse Show, 129th Edition, is one of the country’s most coveted awards, and this year it went to Elizabeth Boyd aboard Casallo. The pair swept the over fences classes in the Regular Conformation Hunters for the division’s championship award, and eventually the Grand Championship. Scott Stewart claimed two championship honors and the Leading Rider Award, while Victoria Colvin and Inclusive swept the over fences classes in the Second Year Green Working Hunters.

Today’s Grand Champion Professional Hunter title was very special for Boyd, who has never earned the prestigious title. She and Casallo, owned by Erin McGuire of Cornelius, NC, have earned top honors across the country, but this year’s clean sweep over fences marked a new milestone at the national championship. The pair was perfect over fences in the Regular Conformation Hunters presented by Dr. Betsee Parker, and with a second place win, they sealed the championship award, while Hunt Tosh and Cold Harbor, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA, earned the reserve championship. At the end of the day they returned to center ring for the Grand Championship ceremony and the Isglide Challenge Trophy.

Continue reading Elizabeth Boyd and Casallo Showcase Winning Ways at Alltech National Horse Show

Hunters Claim Center Stage during Opening Day of Alltech National Horse Show

Elizabeth Boyd and Casallo go double blue for first day of the Regular Conformation Hunter division. Photos by: Rebecca Walton and Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – October 30, 2012 – The historic Alltech National Horse Show got underway today at the Alltech Arena, part of the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Today, the professional hunter divisions took center stage as they began competing for top honors during their over fences and handy classes. Elizabeth Boyd had winning rounds aboard Casallo in the Regular Conformation Hunters, while Scott Stewart and Enjoy led the First Year Green Working Hunter division. Chris Payne and Jennifer Alfano also took home winning honors as the horse show began its week-long series of events, while 14-year-old Victoria Colvin captured two blue ribbons in the Second Year Green Working Hunters with Inclusive.

The Regular Conformation Hunters presented by Dr. Betsee Parker and Huntland kicked things off this morning, where Elizabeth Boyd and Casallo, owned by Erin McGuire of Cornelius, NC, proved to be a dominating force. They scored the blue ribbon in both over fences classes and placed second in the model for an early lead in the division.

Continue reading Hunters Claim Center Stage during Opening Day of Alltech National Horse Show

Charleston Classic Off to a Great Start!

Elizabeth Boyd in the irons aboard Roc My World on course in the $2,500 USHJA Hunter Derby

The Classic Company’s twentieth anniversary of the Charleston Classic kicked off Wednesday with the young pony classes. The Thirsty Thursday “Come as you are” party, held and sponsored by Red’s Ice House and Bohicket Marina, was a huge success! All exhibitors were treated to a night of cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

Friday night, all eyes were turned toward the $2,500 USHJA International Hunter Derby sponsored by Kiara Barnet. The ringside was packed as all enjoyed complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Twenty-three riders negotiated the course designed by Allen Rheinheimer and Joe Carnicom. Elizabeth Boyd of Camden, SC, rode Roc My World, owned by Tequestrian Farms, LLC of Wellington, FL, to the win with a combined score of 183, just beating out her second place score of 181 aboard Marksmann, owned by Marilla Van Buerren of Middleton, RI.

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Charleston Summer Classics – A Vacation for Horses and Riders

Elizabeth Boyd and Marksmann Win $2500 USHJA National Hunter Classic

Liza Boyd & Marksmann ©Flashpoint Photography

Johns Island, SC — July 17, 2011 — How often during the heat of summer can an exhibitor in the Southern portions of the US say they enjoyed horse showing? While much of the equine community is experiencing uncomfortable temperatures, participants at the Charleston Summer Classics are being treated to a resort like atmosphere.

Week one at the Mullet Hall Equestrian Center welcomed riders with a vacation sensory overload – from pleasant ocean breezes billowing across the beautiful grounds – to put them in a beachy frame of mind to tropical drinks under the ringside tent each afternoon. “Exhibitors are enjoying a resort escape that just happens to include a horse show! Everyone is having a ball,” Bob Bell, President of Classic Company, said.  The Charleston Summer Classic is one of Bell’s Boutique Shows, which he defines as: “Boutique (boo teek)-noun- A horse show that is fashionable and unique. Always held at wonderful venues with excellent accommodations for special horses, owners, and riders. Always includes parties, trendy classes, and fun events. Always has stylish trophies and rewards for Grand Champions. Always has Mimosas on Sunday mornings.”  Bell even designed class schedules to allow exhibitors and their horses more time for fun on the multitude of white sandy beaches, a mere 10 minutes away.

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