Tag Archives: featured

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Laura Kraut and Cedric Finish CSIO 5* Rome in Top Form

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Photo © Marta Fusetti.

Kraut awarded Master fratelli d’Inzeo trophy as Leader Rider

Rome, Italy – May 27, 2015 – As the CSIO 5* Rome 2015 – fratelli d’Inzeo Masters at Piazza di Siena came to a close on Sunday, America’s Laura Kraut showed no signs of slowing down. The Olympian finished seventh in the Lord Piana Grand Prix City of Rome with long-time partner, the 17-year-old Cedric, owned by Cherry Knoll Farm, in their usual speedy fashion.

Kraut and Cedric were one of only four horse and rider combinations to master Uliano Vezzani’s first round course, a track that tested athletes with large obstacles, a technical design and a tight time allowed of only 74 seconds. Kraut and the grey Holsteiner gelding navigated the course in 73.07 seconds without incurring fault, guaranteeing their return at the top of the 25 percent to come back for the second round.

“I thought the course was fantastic,” Kraut said. “I thought the first round course was great. It was big, very difficult. The time allowed was right on-I was just under. I think he did a brilliant job, four clear out of 50 in that group, and with that caliber of athletes is exceptional.”

The second round proved to be equally as big. Thirteen horses took on the subsequent track, but none would go without penalty. Kraut and Cedric had an unlucky four faults, capturing the seventh place.

“It was such a pity; we would have won it easily,” Kraut explained. “It was one of those oxers with the big brush in the middle of it. He jumped it really high in the first round, as he does. When I came back for the jump off, I went a little quicker and he got up in the air and tried to bank off of it with his back legs. He was definitely not having a fence down; he was jumping so carefully, and he really just kicked back at it. The winner had one time fault and it was one of those opportunities that slipped away from you. He just did a funny, silly move.”

Had the top 25 percent of the class not been called back for the second round, Kraut and Cedric, on the strength of their first round clear, would have finished in third place with their time of 45.89 seconds.

“He deserved to win it,” Kraut said. “He felt fantastic. Honestly, he feels as good as ever. I am really thrilled with him, and I hope he keeps going like this. If he does, we could be doing this at this same time next year, which would be nice. He jumped such a beautiful round, and aside from the silly move in the second round, he was perfect.”

Cristina, daughter of the great Piero d’Inzeo, and Guido, son of Master fratelli d’Inzeo’s much-loved brother Raimondo, presented Kraut with the Master fratelli d’Inzeo trophy at the conclusion of the grand prix. Kraut placed third on Saturday with Deauville S, owned by Old Willow Farm, a ranking that when combined with her seventh place award on Sunday netted her the Leading Rider recognition.

“It is such an honor to be recognized with such a prestigious trophy,” Kraut elaborated. “The d’Inzeo brothers are two of the most famous riders in history. They unfortunately have passed away, but I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet them several years ago. They have created a legacy, and this show in particular is one of my favorites.”

Cedric’s owner, Margaret Duprey of Cherry Knoll Farm, was onsite in Rome to watch the action unfold. She was thrilled with the 17-year-old horse’s form and rounds. Kraut plans on showing Cherry Knoll Farm’s Constable next week during the Longines Athina Onassis Horse Show on the famous beach of Pampelonne in Ramatuelle, on the peninsula of Saint-Tropez. Combining glamour and top-level sport, the world’s best riders will meet in a fantastic setting from June 4-6, 2015.

“It has been great. I am really happy. If things keep going along the same lines, I would be a very happy girl,” Kraut concluded.

For more information on Laura Kraut please visit www.LauraKraut.com. To learn more about Cherry Knoll Farm, please visit www.CherryKnollFarmInc.com.

Media Contact: Kendall Bierer
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Michael Desiderio and Zero Tolerance Win Devoucoux

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(c) ESI Photography. Michael Desiderio and Zero Tolerance.

Meredith Combs and Honor Top Platinum Performance

SAUGERTIES, New York (May 23, 2015): Hunters had their moment in the sun this Memorial Day weekend, as competitors showed off the talents of their sleek mounts in beautiful spring weather. On Saturday, Michael Desiderio and Zero Tolerance rode fluidly through the Outside Ring at HITS-on-the-Hudson to earn the top score in the first $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix of the HITS Saugerties Series.

“My horse jumped a great first round,” said Desiderio, who added that it was his first time competing in a Devoucoux prix, and Zero Tolerance’s first time in that particular ring. Apparently, the judge thought they did well, too, as Desiderio and Zero Tolerance earned the highest score, an 87, in round one, and came back in Round 2 to once again dazzle the judge – earning a score of 90.

“I saw a couple of people get caught on the number of strides; I just rode what I had,” said Desiderio, who rode Zero Tolerance for owner Dru Cederberg, who stables the 12-year-old mare at Desiderio’s Tranquillity Farm in Chester, New Jersey.

During the class, other riders and spectators watched from a grassy berm near the Outside Course as the field of competitors each took a turn about the course, which included a bank with two obstacles.

Second-place finisher Gabriella Fournier, on Cinderella Man, owned by GDF Equine, LLC, earned an 84 in Round 1 and an 85 in Round 2 to take second place. Hannah Isop, on Tracy Freels, Red Ryder, was not far behind with a total score of 168, after an 83 in the first round and an 85 in Round 2.

Devoucoux Hunter Prix is held weekly at HITS-on-the-Hudson. During weeks three through six, the prize increases to a $10,000. The Devoucoux Hunter Prix is a qualifier for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final held here on September 4-6 during the HITS Championship.

Meredith Combs and Honor Win $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

On Sunday, hunters once again took to the Outside Course for the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix, in beautiful summer-like weather. Leading the pack was 20-year-old Meredith Combs of Harvard, Massachusetts, on Honor, owned by her mother, Jennifer Combs.

“He’s just a really fun horse,” Meredith Combs said, of the 7-year-old first-year-green horse. “He takes really good care of me. He’s very calm and collected, and he wasn’t fazed by any of the challenges, like the bank, which was new to him.”

Combs, who will be a junior this fall at Brandeis University, studying Art History and Anthropology, said she was happy after the first round, both with her ride, and with her score. “It was a great way to finish the day because we were champions of the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunter Division earlier that day, so it was exciting to be able to continue the great ride.”

Second-place finisher Lena Rae Reeb riding Private Ryan, owned by Jamie Ringel, had the fourth-highest score in round one, an 83, and with a 78 in round two – the highest score that time – she and Private Ryan earned the red ribbon. Rounding out third was Lindsey Mohr on Redfield Farm’s Paddington. The pair had the third highest score in Round 1, an 84, coupled that with a 69 in Round 2.

The $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix is held weekly at HITS-on-the-Hudson and is a qualifier for the Platinum Performance $250,000 Hunter Prix Final on September 4-5 at the HITS Championship.

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

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

David Blake and Binkie Start Off Tryon Spring 7 with Win in $34,000 Suncast FEI Tryon Welcome

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David Blake and Binkie. Photo ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – May 27, 2015 – David Blake (IRL) and Pine Hollow Farm’s Binkie kicked off Tryon Spring 7 with a win in the $34,000 Suncast® FEI Tryon Welcome at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), the first FEI class to ever be offered at the venue. FEI CSI 3* classes, alongside national level hunter and jumper competition, continue at TIEC throughout the week with the highlight, the $127,000 Kingsland Equestrian Grand Prix CSI3* on Saturday, May 30, beginning at 7pm. TIEC will continue to host the Tryon Spring Series through its conclusion on June 7.

Blake and Binkie were the second to last pair to test the course in the jump-off order, following the fastest round laid down by Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Sky Group’s Casper, which put the pressure on Blake for a quicker clear round.

“I didn’t get to see the rides, but I knew Jonathan (McCrea) had done five (strides) up the middle and that Sharn had gone in and beaten that. I knew that I wanted to stick to my plan and needed to ride everything correctly,” said Blake. “I knew I could get just under that without feeling like I was running him around too quickly.”

The duo also rode one of the fastest first rounds of the class, finishing the track in 72.37 seconds to move to the jump-off. The competition was stiff as 37 combinations vied for the top prize in the leadoff FEI class of the week. The course, designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA), saw 12 pairs move forward to the jump-off.

“I knew when I looked at the course that it would suit my guy because there were three places that I could leave out a stride, so I knew I could be quick using the length of his stride without going really fast,” explained Blake as he talked about his plan going into the jump-off. “I just wanted to be smooth and leave out those strides where I could and maybe it would get me close enough to win it.”

The duo has had an incredibly successful run so far during their time at TIEC, Pine Hollow Farm’s summer home base for competition. Binkie, a 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Larino x Whisper B), haven’t placed outside of the top ten under Blake’s guidance at TIEC so far this season.

“We’ve only had him for about four months and he’s placed in every class so far since we’ve had him here and then he won today. This is also the first show we’ve really stepped him up at,” he said. “He’s just nine years old so I think he’s really a great horse and we’re very excited about him and his future.”

Blake and Binkie will look towards the $127,000 Kingsland Equestrian Grand Prix on Saturday night, attempting to capitalize on the gelding’s consistency in the George H. Morris Stadium so far this season. As the first real test of the week, Blake is confident that Binkie will add another strong performance to their already impressive list of finishes in 2015.

“We’ll shift the focus to the main Grand Prix class on Saturday. We’ll take it easy now in preparation for that. He jumped last week also, so I want to make sure that he’s fresh for Saturday and feeling rested,” commented Blake. “Hopefully we’ll get another good result there too. He’s jumping well and the courses have really suited him.”

Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Sky Group’s Casper finished in second, just behind Blake, crossing the timers in 36.58 seconds. Jonathan McCrea (USA) aboard Candy Tribble’s Aristoteles V placed in a close third, in just 36.67 seconds.

Tryon Spring 7 will highlight several FEI CSI 3* classes including the $34,000 FEI Tryon Speed Stake tomorrow beginning at 12pm and the $127,000 Kingsland Grand Prix to be held on Saturday, May 30, with competition starting at 7pm. The $25,000 Grand Prix, a national level class, will conclude competition on Sunday, May 31, at 2:15pm. All FEI classes will be held in the George H. Morris Stadium on TIEC grounds.

For more information on TIEC and a schedule of current events, 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.

Championships, Competitions, Driving

Rachel Shoemaker Drives Homebred Mare to Single Horse Driving Championship

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Rachel Shoemaker and Our New Dawn.

Rachel Shoemaker of Malvern, Pennsylvania represents the fifth generation of her family to compete at the Devon Horse Show, and she earned her first blue ribbon and her first championship Tuesday night in the Dixon Oval. Driving Willisbrook Farm’s Rally Cart, she claimed the Single Horse Driving Championship and earned the Championship Apron, presented by Misdee Wrigley Miller.

Shoemaker recalls being at Devon about 15 years ago to compete in Three-Gaited Show Pleasure classes and catching a glimpse of a stunning mare competing in a Park Horse class. Her family bought the mare, named Carrigan’s Magic, and Shoemaker competed her for years before deciding she wanted to try breeding show horses. The result of Shoemaker’s first breeding from Carrigan’s Magic was Our New Dawn, Shoemaker’s partner for her Devon championship.

“I’m very new to carriage driving, but I’ve always loved it,” Shoemaker said. “It’s so pretty, and the attention to detail appeals to me. Over the last few years, we’ve learned a lot more about it. This is such an accomplishment for [Our New Dawn]. I’m not a trainer; this is not my job. She’s been my passion and my hobby for the last several years, and she’s such a fantastic horse.”

The championship win came as a surprise to Shoemaker, who was more focused on making it through her very first Scurry Driving class with the 6-year-old American Saddlebred mare. Scurry classes require precision and quick thinking from the driver, who must navigate a series of cones at speed without knocking the balls from atop the cones.

“It was so nerve wracking!” she said. “I walked the course and immediately determined all the turns were too tight. But all the other competitors were fantastic. They were giving me tips; they were telling me I’m going to be amazing. Next year we’re going to go faster!”

Shoemaker said the win was “the greatest feeling,” thinking back to the days she would watch the Devon Horse Show as a child with her great-grandmother.

Misdee Wrigley Miller
Misdee Wrigley Miller

“My great-grandmother has always been an inspiration to me,” she said. “I learned an awful lot from her and from coming to Devon and being in this environment. It makes you better at what you do because you’ve got something to aspire to. You’ve got a lot of motivation to do well here.”

Tied for the reserve championship in the Single Horse division were the Mackeand Back to Back Dog Cart, owned and driven by Tanya Mackeand, and the Gentlemen’s Phaeton, owned by James & Kathleen Leo and driven by PJ Crowley. Coaching competitors also returned to the Dixon Oval Tuesday evening to take another step closer to their championship, which will be awarded Friday. Misdee Wrigley Miller drove her own Miller Park Drag to her second victory in the division.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Steege and Stewart Secure Devon Hunter Championships

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Amanda Steege and Mirror Image.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scott Stewart and Ashcroft
Scott Stewart and Ashcroft

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

McLain Ward Kicks Off Devon with Open Jumper Domination

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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

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Art/Photography, Community/Charity

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

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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

Championships, Competitions, Driving

Harvey Waller Wraps Up Horse Pairs Championship

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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

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Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

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

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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

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Championships, Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Sydney Crenshaw and Camera Ready Score Adult Amateur Jumper Championship

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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

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