Tag Archives: featured

Steege and Stewart Secure Devon Hunter Championships

Amanda Steege and Mirror Image.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scott Stewart and Ashcroft
Scott Stewart and Ashcroft

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

McLain Ward Kicks Off Devon with Open Jumper Domination

McLain Ward and HH Ashley.

The country’s top show jumpers have arrived at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, and in a fitting fashion eight-time Grand Prix of Devon winner McLain Ward claimed the first two Open Jumper victories. In the first Open Jumper class, he piloted the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare HH Ashley to the fastest double clear effort during the five-horse jump-off for owners Double H Farm of Wellington, Florida. He followed it up with a victory in the $10,000 Open Jumper Speed class aboard HH Best Buy, also owned by Double H Farm.

“It’s a great way to start off Devon,” smiled Ward. “Ashley is a wonderful horse and she’s actually been jumping really well lately – a little bit of four-faultitis, so it was nice for her to have a little more luck tonight and have a win.”

Twenty-three entries showed over the opening track, and Ward was the pathfinder with HH Ashley and the first to return for the jump-off. With a faultless round in 38.181 seconds, they set the pace to beat.

Switzerland’s Beat Mandli came close with the Grant Road Partners’ Celina, clearing the course in 38.308 seconds, which would be good enough for second place. Sarah Wayda was next with Faroukh, but the pair lowered the height of a vertical for four faults in 41.213 seconds for fifth place.

Adrienne Sternlicht also had four faults with Raia D’Helby, but was a bit faster in 38.638 for fourth place. The third place ribbon went to the last pair on course, Peter Leone with Lionshare Farm’s Wayfarer. They were clear over the track, but a time of 38.739 seconds would put them behind Ward and Mandli in the event sponsored by Herr’s.

“HH Ashley is a fast horse, so that makes it a little bit easier,” explained Ward. “I thought I had a nice cut on the yellow vertical, but she’s also just quick naturally.”

The $100,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon is scheduled for Thursday evening, and while Ward plans to compete with HH Ashley and his World Equestrian Games partner Rothchild, he also aimed for the win tonight.

“Her job, more than anything, is to win classes,” noted Ward. “My plan tonight was to try to be competitive with her and set Rothchild up for the grand prix with a little more of a training round. Going along with her doesn’t really hurt her for the grand prix. It kind of gets her in gear and gets her jumping across the fences a little bit.”

HH Ashley was injured in early 2013, but Ward had confidence that she would make it back to the winner’s circle. “It’s my second season with her,” he said. “She had been injured and been out for several years, and I asked the Harrisons if I could have an extra shot to bring her back with my team, and they did an incredible job. She’s had two great seasons. We felt she had a few good years left in her, and it’s really great to see her back in the sport and doing it happily.”

In 2012, the two-time Grand Prix of Devon winner and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Sapphire was retired by Ward at the Devon Horse Show, and this year the event will be named after the incredible mare, making the event that much more special for Ward as he competes with HH Ashley and Rothchild.

“It’s a really special thing – such a large event with so much history, such an important event on the schedule, so it’s a great honor,” he commented. “The pressure is the same all the time though.”

McLain Ward and HH Best Buy
McLain Ward and HH Best Buy

In the final event of the night, Ward once again led the victory gallop, this time aboard HH Best Buy. Brandie Holloway with Hays Investment Corp’s Lucky Strike posted the first clear round in a time of 61.399, which would hold up for second place. Mandli was also faultless later in the order, but was more conservative with Grant Road Partners’ Antares F for fourth place in 70.806 seconds. Taking home third was his student Katie Dinan riding Bijou de Balou to a clear round in 68.108.

With the door cracked open for Ward, he raced through with HH Best Buy, an 8-year-old Holsteiner mare. They broke the beam at 58.985 seconds to take home the blue ribbon.

Ward concluded, “Devon is a great show. Phenomenal footing, the best atmosphere in the country and it’s a great event – I always really enjoy being here and trying to be successful here.”

The Open Jumpers will continue on Wednesday with two events, including the Hit & Hurry feature event in the evening. The Young Jumpers will also get underway with the 5-Year-Old and 6-Year-Old classes in the morning, followed by the 7 & 8-Year-Old Jumpers later in the afternoon.

For more information about the Devon Horse Show and complete results, visit www.DevonHorseShow.org.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Paintings of Old Friends Retirees Featured on New Website from Artist Dagmar Galleithner Steiner

Portrait of Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm by Dagmar Galleithner Steiner, original pastel on Clairefontaine Pastelmat (photo courtesy of Kate Hunter).

GEORGETOWN, KY – MAY 26, 2015 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY, is pleased to announced the launch of Dagmar Galleithner Steiner’s new fine-art website, which will offer for sale original pastel, pencil, and watercolor portraits of Old Friends retirees.

The artwork, which has been three years in the making, will be featured in Galleithner Steiner’s forthcoming book In the Company of Old Friends.

A portion of the proceeds from online sales will benefit Old Friends, a 501 (C) (3) charitable organization that cares for more than 150 former racehorses.

To view and purchase the images, visit the website at http://www.dagmar-galleithner.com or contact the artist at (626) 999-6213 or by email at info@dagmar-galleithner.com.

Many of Galleithner Steiner’s original canvases are based on photographs taken by such equine photographers as Barbara Livingston, Matt and Wendy Wooly of Equisport Photos, Rick Capone, Laura Battles, Candace Chavez, Suzie Picou-Oldham, John C. Engelhardt, and many others.

The featured Old Friends retirees include Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm, Eclipse Award winner Sunshine Forever, Breeders’ Cup Champion Gulch, Hall of Famer Precisionist, and fan favorites Ogygian and Clever Allemont.

Original canvases vary in size and range from $1,800 to $8,600. Print reproductions of three images — Silver Charm, Ferdinand and Ogygian — are also available. They have been created in limited editions of 450, with each signed and numbered by the artist. In the coming months all of the images will be available as prints.

Galleithner Steiner was raised in Germany, and horses have been a part of her life since childhood. During college she spent a great deal of time at the harness racetrack in Munich, helping to retrain and re-home horses done with their racing careers. It was at the tracks, both harness and Thoroughbred, that Steiner earned her first commissions as a painter from various owners and trainers who wanted portraits of their horses.

She is married to jockey Joe J. Steiner and now lives in Southern California.

Galleithner Steiner’s work can be seen in private collections around the world. She has also donated paintings and prints to numerous equine aftercare programs around the country, including Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue, Save a Forgotten Equine (SAFE), CANTER California, Thoroughbred Charities of America and Old Friends.

Most recently Galleithner Steiner was commissioned to do the official portrait of 2014 Pacific Classic winner, Shared Belief.

“It would be a mistake to classify Dagi as just an ‘equine’ artist,” said Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends. “Her talent is enormous, and she is very accomplished. But we’re thrilled that she has made horses — especially our Old Friends retirees — her subject of choice. Her style perfectly captures their beauty, their grace and, more importantly, their soul.”

About Old Friends

Old Friends is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that cares for more than 110 retired racehorses. Its Dream Chase Farm, located in Georgetown, KY, is open to tourists daily by appointment. Old Friends also has a satellite facility in Greenfield Center, New York, Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division, which is also open to visitors. For more information on tours or to make a donation, contact the main farm at (502) 863-1775 or see their website at www.oldfriendsequine.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Cynthia Grisolia, (347) 423-7322, cindy@oldfriendsequine.org or Michael Blowen, (502) 863-1775, michael@oldfriendsequine.org

Harvey Waller Wraps Up Horse Pairs Championship

Harvey Waller.

Harvey Waller sped to a win in Monday’s Scurry Driving class en route to taking the Horse Pairs Championship at the Devon Horse Show. He drove the H. Waller Spider Phaeton, which he owns with his wife Mary Stokes Waller, to consistent finishes in the division on Sunday and Monday, earning the Championship Apron presented by Misdee Wrigley Miller.

The reserve honors in the Horse Pairs Championship went to Rich O’Donnell, who is President of the Board of Directors of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair Inc. and Devon Horse Show & Country Fair Foundation. He drove the O’Donnell Spider Phaeton, which he owns with his wife, to victory in the Horse Pairs Pleasure Turnout.

“We have some fantastic competitors that come to Devon,” O’Donnell said. “As President of the Horse Show, I intend to make sure that carriage driving and coaching continues at Devon. It’s a crowd pleaser. I think spectators are amazed to see some of these vehicles that are turned out. The vehicle that I have today was actually built in 1882, so the vehicle is over 120 years old, and it’s still in operation today.”

The focus shifted to ponies for the evening events, and Lisa Koehler’s Koehler Gig, driven by Nicole Cable, received the Joseph M. Pierce Challenge Trophy for the Single/Pair Pony Driving Championship. Their consistent record in Sunday and Monday’s classes, including wins in Monday night’s Single/Pair Pony – Pleasure Turnout and Sunday’s Single Harness Two Wheeled Vehicles, placed them ahead of the competition. The reserve championship in the competitive division went to Tara Miliziano-Crowley, driving her own Miliziano-Crowley Saylor Wagon.

Richard O'Donnell
Richard O’Donnell

The coaching division also got underway Monday night and will continue this week at the Devon Horse Show.

Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Scott Stewart and First Light Shine in Devon’s Dixon Oval

Scott Stewart and First Light.

Come Memorial Day each year, Scott Stewart can generally be found at the Devon Horse Show, and he can often be found doing one thing: winning. This year Stewart kicked off the professional hunter divisions with four blue ribbon wins across the Green Conformation Hunter and Second Year Green Hunter divisions.

Stewart started the day on Monday with the win in the Green Conformation Hunter Model with Stephanie Danhakl’s First Light. The pair followed that win with back-to-back victories in both of the Green Conformation Hunter over fences classes.

“When I got [First Light], it took me until week four or five [of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF)] to show him. Every time I brought him up for warm-up day on Tuesday he would be a little wild and stallion-y so I never got to show,” Stewart said of the 6-year-old. “As soon as I got to show he was just so easy.”

Since then, First Light has been extremely consistent, finishing as the Green Conformation Hunter Circuit Champion at WEF and claiming championship honors at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show right before coming to Devon. First Light showed that consistency again in Devon’s Dixon Oval where he earned scores of 88 in both rounds.

“I wasn’t really sure how he’d be out here, but he was just perfect,” Stewart said. “Every time you get on him, even when he’s quiet, he pumps up, and you feel like he’s going to do something. So not knowing him early on in Florida, I didn’t know what that was going to be so I got off a couple times. He does that even when he’s quiet. I think he’s just in the groove now. He’s very brave about the jumps, so it’s never an issue about that. He’s so fun, and he’s so comfortable to ride.”

As eye catching as First Light’s impressive jump is, his coat, conditioning and turn out are just as striking.

“He’s a stallion so he has a stallion coat,” Stewart explained. “He looked good in Kentucky, but he was a little bit hairy. The last time we clipped him he didn’t clip out that great, so we were a little bit hesitant to do it, but we did it [in Kentucky] the day he was done showing. He clipped out so pretty, and now he looks great.”

Following Stewart’s success in the Green Conformation Hunters with First Light, he returned for the Second Year Green Hunters with Gina Day’s Ashcroft.

Scott Stewart and Ashcroft
Scott Stewart and Ashcroft

Just last year the 6-year-old stallion was competing in the jumpers with Canadian show jumper Ben Asselin, but he has made the transition to the hunter ring quickly and successfully, as he displayed on Monday with Stewart. The pair earned the win in the first Second Year Green Hunter over fences class with a score of 90, and they finished second in the second class with a score of 89.

“He’s really fun to ride. He’s a little bit not used to what the hunter thing is, but he was actually super here the first time. The big ring suited him,” Stewart said. “He sometimes looks around a little bit like a stallion. He’s not spooky; he’s just noticing the surroundings like a stallion might.”

The first place in the second over fences class and the second behind Ashcroft in the first class went to Certainty, ridden by Peter Wylde and owned by Nicole Lyvere.

In the First Year Green Hunters the blue ribbons over fences went to Boss, ridden by John French and owned by Laura Wasserman, and Mirror Image, ridden by Amanda Steege and owned by Ellen Toon.

Victories in the day’s under saddle classes went to Steege and Mirror Image in the First Year Green Hunters, Havens Schatt and Custom Made in the Green Conformation Hunters and Schatt and Set to Music in the Second Year Green Hunters.

Hunter competition continues Tuesday at the Devon Horse Show with the First Year Green Hunters beginning in the Dixon Oval at 8 a.m.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Sydney Crenshaw and Camera Ready Score Adult Amateur Jumper Championship

Sydney Crenshaw and Camera Ready.

Some horses were born to be in the spotlight, and on Monday night Camera Ready lived up to his name by claiming the Adult Amateur Jumper Championship after winning the $7,500 NAL Adult Jumper Classic and the Adult Amateur Jumper speed class with Sydney Crenshaw for Fit To Print Farm.

“It’s definitely something that you imagine, that you feel like you’re prepared for, but it’s just surreal,” expressed Crenshaw at the end of the night. “You imagine it, but you don’t really expect it to actually happen.”

The highlight event of the evening saw 19 competitors in the Dixon Oval, all aiming for the winning prize. Seven entries made it to the tiebreaker, where Phoenix Cooke and Skys Burnin Blue set the pace with a clear round in 35.613 seconds. Their effort would only be good enough for second place though as the winner of the speed class earlier in the day came into the ring.

Crenshaw showcased Camera Ready’s speed and winning ability for the second time today by blazing across the finish in a faultless 32.211 seconds, three seconds faster than Cooke. The only other rider to clear the track was Nancy Hooker aboard Corianos Boy, but their time of 37.090 seconds would capture the third place award.

Despite galloping Camera Ready around the speed class earlier in the day, Crenshaw was confident the 13-year-old Brandenburger mare would be ready for the final event.

Phoenix Cooke and Skys Burnin Blue
Phoenix Cooke and Skys Burnin Blue

“Camera Ready is a good horse,” said Crenshaw. “She loves to go into the ring. She was maybe a little quiet earlier, but I just put a little spur on and she was ready to go. She knows when it’s a night class; she really knows when it’s a big deal.”

Crenshaw has been riding Camera Ready for owner Kathy Coffey for a number of years, and when the mare hurt her tooth trainer Sharon Enteen had to get creative. The talented grey mare now goes in a “sponge bit” – a thin nylon strap surrounded by sponge.

“Any time that she had anything bigger and you would pull the opposite rein it would really upset her,” explained Enteen. “We ended up in a sponge. There is no lateral control, but she’s happy in it. You can’t even give her treats because her mouth is so open. She likes it. You can squeeze water out of it – it’s an actual sponge.”

Crenshaw added, “She was in a rubber snaffle before, so she’s never been in a lot of bit. For me, I sometimes feel a little out of control. It takes me a couple laps to stop sometimes. It’s not that big of a thing though. She’s not the kind of a horse that needs that big of a bit anyway.”

The University of Georgia senior will continue showing Camera Ready throughout the year and is aiming for Pennsylvania National Horse Show and the Washington International Horse Show at the end of the year.

On Tuesday, the Open Jumpers get underway with two events in the evening, gearing up for the $100,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon on Thursday night. For more information about the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair and complete results, visit www.DevonHorseShow.org.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Carriage Pleasure Driving Delights the Crowd

Rachel Shoemaker.

The Carriage Pleasure Drive, or Carriage Marathon as many may call it, is one of the most anticipated events during the Devon Horse Show. The much anticipated event took place on Sunday, May 24 from 12-2 p.m. This year the carriages met on the Devon Grounds and proceeded on a route through residential neighborhoods in Devon. They were judged for the condition of the horses and ponies, the soundness of the wind and limb and complete turnout. The term ‘complete turnout’ is a special phrase used to evaluate the overall picture of the horses, carriage, harness and attendants. There are specific guidelines as to how the attendants must dress. They are also expected to sit erect, and the women should have a blanket over their legs. The route itself cannot take any longer than 40 minutes to finish.

Once they depart the Dixon Oval, the single, pair and four-in-hand carriages and coaches began their progress to Leopard Lakes, passing groups, small and large, who waved and cheered them on. Several neighborhoods made it quite an event with sumptuous spreads laid out under tents on the lawn. Upon their return to the Devon, they carriages again entered the Dixon Oval for a second round of judging where a large crowd had assembled and loudly cheered for their favorites. Finally, the ribbons were awarded for best turnout in each class.

Exhibitors for the Carriage Pleasure Drive come as far as California, the Midwest, Florida and New England to partake in this elaborate event. Jamie O’Rourke has had an entry in the marathon since 1968. “I grew up in Long Island, New York, and I moved down here about 25 years ago. My mother’s family has been showing at the Devon Horse Show since the 1940s. My aunt’s family was among the founders in 1896. I guess you could say we’ve had some involvement for a period of time.”

The carriages are prized possessions themselves and are built anywhere from 1890 to 1910. They are in spectacular condition and have been built by the best makers in the country – Brewster and also Studabaker, who also built cars for a time. “These carriages were properly equipped with large luncheon boxes so you could serve your champagne and eat lunch along your trip. The men wear top hats, and the women are dressed elegantly. It’s a throwback to a bygone era,” said O’Rourke.

Laurie Wightman for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Hannah Dodd and Blink of an Eye Capture Pony Jumper Championship

Hannah Dodd and Blink of an Eye.

Hannah Dodd will be going home from the Devon Horse Show with much more than prize from the country fair and the famous Devon fudge. Competing at the historic event for the first time at just 13 years old, Dodd piloted her talented mount Blink of an Eye to the Pony Jumper Championship after winning the $2,500 Pony Jumper Classic.

Sixteen ponies competed in the Dixon Oval during Sunday night’s highlight event, and five advanced to the jump-off with clear efforts over the first course. Maya Lovdal was the first to return with Miracles Happen, but a rail at one of the tall verticals incurred four faults in 35.389 seconds, which would only be good enough for fifth place.

Elizabeth McDougald was the pathfinder during the tiebreaker, clearing the short course in a time of 34.143 seconds with Knock My Sox Off. Emily Schnebel tried to catch McDougald with Suspicious Minds, but as she raced to the last fence it hit the ground for a four-fault effort in 33.673 seconds for fourth place.

Prima Rose Bonaventura also tried to beat McDougald aboard Just One Look, and while the pair had the time, a rail at the double combination cost them four faults. Their time of 33.122 seconds would be good enough for the third place award.

It was the last in the class that would prove to be the best of the night. Hannah Dodd picked up a quick gallop to the first fence with Blink of an Eye and never held back. Slicing the fences and sharply cutting the turns, the duo raced over the final obstacle in a time of 33.792 seconds to take home the victory over McDougald.

“I think a lot of my time gets shaved off because I land and I try to go out as fast as I possibly can,” said Dodd. “I try to keep my momentum through the turns too. I work a lot on trying to control him while still going quickly. I thought the courses were really nice here.”

With Sunday night’s victory and a sixth place ribbon earlier in the day, Dodd and Blink of an Eye captured the division’s championship award, while McDougald and Knock My Sox Off’s second place finish paired with a win on Saturday earned them the reserve championship.

Dodd’s skillful ride with Blink of an Eye not only helped them win the Pony Jumper Championship, but they were also presented with the Pony Jumper Style Award sponsored by Kathryn Lily Equestrian, given to the pony jumper rider who exhibits the best classic jumper style of riding.

“This is my first time at Devon,” expressed Dodd. “I thought the show is really nice. I love the footing. I love everything about it like the location and all of the people here. Everyone’s been very nice.”

Dodd has been riding Blink of an Eye for two years and hopes to compete with him at the U.S. Pony Finals later this year at the Kentucky Horse Park. “He’s very funny,” she laughed. “We call him a drama pony, because he likes to throw little dramas all the time. He likes to flick his head overdramatically a lot.”

Dodd concluded, “I’ve always been really into my horses and try to give them lots of love and support for how much they’ve done for me.”

The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair will continue on Monday with the NAL Adult Jumper Classic taking center stage in the evening. For more information about the show and complete results, visit www.DevonHorseShow.org.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Todd Draheim Drives Misdee Wrigley Miller’s Four-in-Hand Team to Devon Championship

Todd Draheim and Misdee Wrigley Miller’s four-in-hand team.

Every Sunday before Memorial Day spectators line the streets surrounding the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair for one of the great Devon traditions: the Carriage Pleasure Drive, also known as the Carriage Marathon. Started in 1966, the carriage marathon is an integral part of the Devon Horse Show’s long history, and on Sunday afternoon, Todd Draheim and Misdee Wrigley Miller and James Miller’s four-in-hand team of horses drove their way into the show’s history books.

The team of bay Dutch Harness horses, owned by Misdee and James Miller’s Hillcroft Farm and driven by horseman Todd Draheim, was named the top team in the Unicorns and Four-In-Hand class for horses before returning for the championship drive-off. From among all of the day’s class winners, the team then received the Robert & Virginia Weaver Challenge Trophy as the overall best turned out team.

“What is so neat about the driving sport is that there’s so much tradition, especially here at the Devon Horse Show,” Draheim said. “It’s the best of the best. Just as it says over the ring, it’s ‘where champions meet.'”

The four-in-hand team driven on Sunday by Draheim is driven by Wrigley Miller throughout the United States and Canada and regularly prepared for the ring by Draheim. As the team’s horseman, Draheim ensures that the horses, harness and carriage are all in pristine condition, as was evident on Sunday.

The Millers’ Hillcroft Farm team was selected as the best of the day by judges Steve Holm and Sir John Richards who each bring to the Devon Horse Show lengthy driving histories of their own.

Hailing from England, Richards has been driving for 45 years, competing for Great Britain at the FEI level and serving as the chairman of the British Driving Society. Richards is also a two-time winner at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and the publisher of Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh’s, book on carriage driving.

Holm also has an impressive record in the sport: he has won championships at the Royal Winter Fair, the National Horse Show, Walnut Hill, the Kentucky State Fair and the Wisconsin State Fair. He is a master evaluator for the Carriage Association of America’s Driving Proficiency Program and a board member and past vice president of the Carriage Association of America.

For Holm, the Devon Horse Show has played a significant part in his life. Teams trained by Holm have won the coaching championship at Devon a record 11 times. Those teams have also retired every trophy in the Devon coaching division, several of them twice. Additionally, Holm has trained the Carriage Pleasure Drive marathon champions seven times.

“I have shown here and participated at the Devon Horse Show for the past 42 years,” Holm said. “I also met my wife here 30 years ago so there are a lot of things in my life that have happened at Devon.”

Like Holm, countless Devon Horse Show exhibitors have held the show near and dear as a part of their lives for decades. Among them are Lore Homer and Mary Stokes Waller.

Homer
Lore Homer

Homer was Sunday afternoon’s winner of the Single Harness Four-Wheeled Vehicles class for horses, and this year marks her 50th year competing at the Devon Horse Show.

“This is the greatest show there is as far as I’m concerned. I just adore this show,” said Homer, age 85, who drove the Brewster Lady’s Phaeten alongside her husband, Bernard Homer, age 86.

Waller first began competing at Devon in the junior hunters more than four decades ago and now returns each year to compete in carriage driving.

“There is no other place on earth like Devon. It has always been the most special of horse shows,” Waller said. “The fudge is still good. The teacakes or tea sandwiches are still good. The ice cream is great, and the line is always way too long, and Devon is Devon. I think you come here because it is Memorial Day and there is no other place you want to or should be.”

This year, Waller earned the victory in the Double Harness-Pairs-Tandem class for ponies and her husband, Harvey Waller, won that class in the horse division. Mary Stokes Waller was then presented with the Susie S. Buchanan Perpetual Trophy, the carriage marathon amateur whip award presented to the amateur whip who most exemplifies the traditions of carriage driving at the highest level.

In the Single Harness Two Wheeled Vehicles class for horses, the win went to Rachel Shoemaker, driving the Willisbrook Rally Cart.

“I have to say that this is one of the most exciting moments of my life. I bred this mare, and I raised her. I trained her. We’ve been doing this for a few years now. It is just the most exciting moment. I can’t even tell you,” said Shoemaker, whose family has been showing at Devon for five generations. “Ever since I was little we would come here and watch the marathon. I just always thought it was the coolest thing.”

Other class winners on Sunday afternoon in the pony division included Nicole Cable in the Single Harness Two-Wheeled Vehicles, Tara Miliziano-Crowley in the Single Harness Four-Wheeled Vehicles, Lisa Knox in the Unicorns and Four-In-Hand. Roberta Odell won the Light Commercial and Farmers class driving the Odell Popcorn Wagon.

Driving at the Devon Horse Show continues Monday evening with the Horse Pairs Pleasure Turnout beginning at 4:40 p.m.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Hayley Waters and Qurint Shine in $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix at Tryon Spring 6

Hayley Waters and Qurint. Photos ©Sportfot.

Megan McCann and First Look Receive Champion Honors in Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Division

Mill Spring, NC — May 24, 2015 – Hayley Waters of Sparr, FL and the feisty bay mare Qurint, owned by the Waters family, took home top honors in the $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix on the last day of competition of Tryon Spring 6 at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). The duo bested the class of 15 entries to cap an impressive run at the 2015 Tryon Spring Series. Tryon Spring 7 begins on Wednesday, May 27, and the entire series will conclude on June 7.

Waters and Qurint dashed around the jump-off round, completing the track over three seconds faster than Bryn Sadler and Mullentine Imperial, who finished in second. Waters and Qurint also placed second in the $1,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner class earlier in the week.

“She’s an incredible mare. She’s just so easy. I know I don’t need to be worried when I’m out there with her because she stays with me throughout the entire course,” said Waters. “It feels really exciting to win this class. It’s an incredible opportunity, and I’m so thankful that they’re offering this class to us at this show.”

The duo has a great relationship and Waters says that Qurint is a barn favorite, mostly due to her sweet personality and laid back demeanor.

“She’s not mare-ish at all. She loves people and always wants to please. We get along really well, and we have a great sense of trust between us,” explained Waters. “She’s been a great ride for me this far, and she’s been so easy. I’m looking forward to our future together.”

Waters has had a busy few weeks at TIEC, riding several different horses to top place finishes. A top rider in the making, Waters continues to prove she has what it takes to excel in the major arenas of the sport.

“The courses this week were similar in a lot of ways, which made it easy to translate things from course to course. I was worried about the last line when I walked it before the class and knew that I needed to focus on it when I was riding,” she said. “I was able to ride a few of the lines in earlier classes, which was a big help but mostly I was just concerned with how they would ride with her.”

Aside from the duo’s great finish today, Waters also piloted two horses around last night’s course in the $75,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix. The big classes provided Waters with valuable experience that she will continue to use throughout her career. Waters finished in 13th aboard Fine Fleur and 25th aboard Coralina.

“Last night was nerve-wracking for me. There were a lot of people here and under the lights can be really tough. It had very straight lines and was very cornered which is almost always a difficult ride,” she said. “I was really worried about the skinny when I walked it, but it ended up riding well. I was really happy to be a part of a class like that.”

Waters will take her talents to Devon Horse Show and Upperville next before a hopeful return to TIEC for the Summer Series this July. Attending North American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Lexington, KY later in the summer has been a longtime goal for Waters and she will have a full show schedule in the coming weeks as she prepares for a competitive summer season.

“I really would like to make sure this is a show we add to our schedule every year. We’ve had a great time here, and I love it. My horses have performed great, and it’s been a highlight so far for us this season,” commented Waters. “I am aiming for Young Riders with Qurint in July and our fall schedule is somewhat up in the air so we’ll end up playing it by ear. I like this horse show a lot though, so it’s something I’m looking forward to coming back to.”

Megan McCann and First Look Top Competitive Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Division

Megan McCann of Wrightsville, PA and First Look, lovingly known as “Arthur” around the barn, collected championship honors in the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 division at Tryon Spring 6.

The duo had a spectacular week, placing no lower than fourth throughout their competition in the hunter ring. McCann has been riding Arthur, owned by her sister Laura Flanagan, for the past year, and has really hit her stride with the big bay gelding.

Megan McCann and First Look
Megan McCann and First Look

“It was our first time showing so far this season at TIEC, and it was a really great show for us. The grounds were absolutely stunning, the footing was perfect and everything was immaculate. Arthur was just awesome too. He felt very relaxed all week and very much in his element,” said McCann. “I took over the ride on him a year and a half ago after my sister had her baby, and it’s been great for both of us. I train with Kitty and Johnny Barker, which is who we bought him from a few years ago when they imported him. He’s become a member of the family now.”

The duo collected several wins during their week, but will slow down their competition schedule this summer as McCann prepares to tie the knot in the beginning of August.

“I’m getting married in August, so we decided to aim for a little bit of a quieter summer show schedule this year,” she explained. “We’ve had a great year so far, and he has continued to step up to the plate. At our last show in Florida he was the circuit reserve champion, and I couldn’t be happier with how he went for me this week. It was a just overall a great show for us.”

For more information on TIEC and for a full list of 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.