2012 FEI Para-Equestrian Driving World Championships in Breda, the Netherlands. Driver is Diane Kastama, Horse is Ruby KWPN , Groom is Jody Cutler. Picture by Marie de Ronde.
Developing Driver Clinic Fast Facts:
When: October 9-13, 2013
Where: Shady Oaks CDE in Lodi, CA
Cost: Free to United States Driving for the Disabled Members
Clinicians:
Fritz Grupe, Represented USA in the FEI World Pairs, host and builder of California’s premier Combined Driving event Shady Oaks.
Drew Callahan, Advanced Driver, Driving and Dressage trainer and coach, based in Scottsdale, AZ.
Diane Kastama, World Champion in Para-Equestrian Driving Grade 1. Competes at Advanced Combined Driving Single and Pair.
*Clinic is open to Para-Equestrians competing at Shady Oaks CDE
limited spots for auditors – contact Diane Kastama*
Format of Clinic:
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 & Thursday, October 10, 2013:
Individual dressage session with Drew Callahan on day prior to competitors scheduled dressage time. Drive your test with Drew and get instant feedback on what you can do to improve your test the next day.
Friday, October 11, 2013:
Group walk with Fritz Grupe out in the hazards. Discuss your routes ask questions of Shady Oaks expert on these hazards.
Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning – Group walk of cones course with Drew Callahan, discuss options to cones, places to make up speed how to approach the tricky sets. Time will be decided based on when cones course is open for inspection.
Contact: Diane Kastama dkastama@verizon.net, 805-458-2428, to sign up for clinic. Clinic is free for USDFD members.
Don’t forget to visit www.USDFD.org
About the United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc.
United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, seeks to improve the lives of physically challenged individuals throughout the United States and Canada by providing the experience of driving horses in a safe and challenging environment. Our mission is to provide the extraordinary benefit of therapeutic driving to as many people as possible through sharing knowledge, experience, and serving as a resource for innovations in adaptive equipment for drivers, trainers, and programs offering carriage driving. The Sybil Dukehart Memorial Fund seeks to provide financial assistance to equip and train disabled drivers through providing scholarship funds to applicants. USDFD fosters opportunities for drivers to compete in national and international amateur competitions by training and providing financial support for Team USA.
United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc.
32450 S. Wright Rd.
Molalla, OR 97038
Ph: 503-550-9384
The USPEA is a network of riders, judges, national federation board members, and equestrian enthusiasts. The association gives athletes the ability to get involved and expand their knowledge and experience in the Para-Equestrian sport. The USPEA encourages para-athletes to participate in all disciplines under the para-equestrian umbrella.
The USPEA is a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) which serves as the National Governing Body for the equestrian sport. This relationship between the USPEA and USEF is to encourage para-equestrian competitors, leisure riders, coaches, fans and enthusiasts to network and get involved with the entire equestrian sport.
Ultimately the goal of the USPEA is to foster growth in the para-equestrian discipline. From growth in the number of participants to growth as a team, and growth in the experience and knowledge of all involved. From local horse shows to international Olympic Games, the USPEA will provide para-equestrians the knowledge of what they need to succeed. The USPEA connects with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), and USEF which provides Para-Equestrians the top equestrian resources.
In June 2010, the USPEA earned its 501 (c)(3) status which has encouraged supporters to help supply funding to the Para-Equestrian Team as a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).
For more information about the USPEA, please visit www.USPEA.org or contact USPEA President Hope Hand by e-mail: Wheeler966@aol.com or by phone: (610)356-6481.
Lexington, KY – October 8, 2013 – After dominating the 2013 Hagyard Challenge Series throughout the spring and summer, Venezuelan rider Pablo Barrios finally captured the $50,000 Hagyard Leading Rider Award. He and his talented mount Zara Leandra kicked off the Series by winning the first Hagyard Lexington Classic in May, and they then garnered wins in both the third and fourth events, as well as placing second in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show.
The Hagyard Challenge Series is a summer-long series of seven show jumping events at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Barrios’ consistent efforts helped him accumulate 1,130 points, enough to beat out second place finisher Richie Moloney at 660 points and Kent Farrington, who was third in the ranking with 650 points.
During the Kentucky National Horse Show, the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute presented Barrios with the $50,000 Leading Rider Award. Barrios had been aiming toward the award all year after winning it in 2010 as well. “I am very happy to have won the bonus this year,” he expressed. “It’s a great incentive for the riders to make some extra money. Everybody returns to keep competing for the bonus, so I think it is a great idea for the riders.”
“All of us at Hagyard are thrilled with the success of this series at the Kentucky Horse Park,” stated Dr. Stuart Brown. “We are thankful for all the wonderful horses and riders that participate in this series, making this one of the most exciting venues for quality grand prix jumping in the Lexington area. We are thankful for the sponsors that make the Leading Rider Award possible and are looking forward to an exciting 2014 series.”
Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry, and Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and wellbeing of the horse for more than 130 years.
The facility at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute offers 13 Digital Radiology systems, 1.5 Tesla Siemens MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy, a high speed treadmill, an on-site laboratory, an on-site pharmacy, full surgical services, 24-hour emergency services, and Hyperbaric Medicine. The institute has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 133 years and is currently composed of over 60 experienced veterinarians, with 12 board certifications in specialty areas of Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care, and Theriogenology.
Several generous sponsors have helped make this exciting series event happen. These gracious supporters include: title sponsor MWI Veterinary Supply, and presenting sponsor Zoetis, as well as Audi of Lexington, Dean Dorton Allen Ford, Hagyard Flex-tra HA, Johnson Horse Transport, Hallway Feeds, Kirk Horse Insurance LLC, Pike and Preston, and Stoll Keenon Ogden.
Audi’s Juancito Bollini (4) goes to help teammates Brandon Phillips (2) and his father Juan Bollini (3) against a swarming Newport defense of Gene Goldstein (1), Luis Escobar (3) and Guille Aguerro (2). Photos by Scott Fisher.
WELLINGTON, FL – Oct. 6, 2013 — Audi won its first tournament of the fall season with a hard-fought 12-11 victory over Newport Sunday in the championship final of the USPA Fall Classic presented by the Tackeria at Grand Champions Polo Club.
Led by a balanced scoring attack, Audi held off upset-minded Newport in the final chukker.
Audi’s Brandon Phillips’ goal with assists from Marc Ganzi and Juan Bollini turned out to be the winning goal after Newport chipped away at Audi’s 11-8 lead after five chukkers with three unanswered goals in the sixth chukker.
Phillips was joined by father-and-son Juan and Juancito Bollini and Marc Ganzi on the winning team. Newport featured Gene Goldstein, Guille (Gigi) Aguerro, Luis Escobar and Kaisser Maakar.
“At one point it was 11-6 in the fifth chukker,” Bollini said. “It was hot and we didn’t push that hard saving the horses and saving ourselves. I think our team played pretty well. Every goal that we scored was passing the ball and boom, boom, boom. We played as a team; everyone knew their position.
Audi’s big hitter Juan Bollini (3) goes for the big neck shot against Newport’s Kaisser Maakar (4)
“The win was good and I am always happy to win a tournament especially with my son,” Bollini said. “That was a tough team; they played very well. Gigi was very good.”
Aguerro, 36, of Wellington was named Most Valuable Player after sparking two Newport comebacks including the game-winner in overtime in Friday’s 9-8 semifinal win against Casablanca and near-upset on Sunday, scoring two goals in the sixth chukker.
Aguerro finished with 10 goals in two games including a game-high six goals in the championship.
“I am very happy with my game and with everything,” said Aguerro, who started playing polo when he was 12 in Argentina. “It’s been quite a while since I won MVP.
“This is my first time playing at Grand Champions; the competition is very good. I love the caliber of polo here. I will be playing here for the next two months.
“This was a good game – a fast, open game and not many fouls,” Aguerro said. “It was close and that’s what made it exciting. Our team played very well. The horses are getting better and we are getting used to each other.”
It was Newport’s second appearance in a championship final in two weeks. Last weekend Newport lost in the final, 11-8, to Paladin.
“It was our defense,” said Goldstein. “When we tightened up the defense things broke for Luis and Gigi and we didn’t let them get free runs at the ball. When Kaisser and I got out of position, our defense broke down and they were able to score.
“Gigi played great; it was fun playing with him. I have never played with him before,” Goldstein said. “I am very happy he got MVP. It was a great tournament. The team played well and we made a lot of improvement. That was a very tough team.”
Newport’s Kaisser Maakar (4) attempts to bump Audi’s Juancito Bollini (4) out of the play
At 17, Juancito Bollini felt like he was playing with three coaches on the field.
“It’s a great learning experience for me,” said the Florida Atlantic University freshman. “I am learning from everyone and that’s what’s important. I love this team. I love playing with them; they all teach me.”
Said his father, “Juan is young and has so much potential. He is playing very well.”
In the consolation game, Beluga bounced back from its 11-4 loss to Audi in Friday’s semifinal, to defeat Casablanca, 10-7.
Beluga featured Misha Rodzianko, Carlitos Gracida, Leo Mandelbaum and Joey Casey. Casablanca’s lineup was Grant Ganzi, Matt Coppola, Kris Kampsen and Wes Finlayson.
Mandelbaum, last weekend’s MVP for Paladin, led scoring with four goals. Gracida and Rodzianko each scored three goals. For Casablanca which picked up one goal by handicap, Kampsen had three goals, Matt Coppola scored two and Grant Ganzi had one.
“I think everyone just played well today; that was the difference between today and the semifinal,” said Joey Casey, recovering from a week-long virus. “The other team played good, too; they just had some bad breaks.”
The USPA Fall Classic, presented by the Tackeria, was the second of nine tournaments scheduled for the fall at Grand Champions, including two 20-goal tournaments in November for the club’s sixth season.
Grand Champions Polo Club’s expanded boutique, supervised by Jennifer Guinan, made its home debut and was open for business during the games. A variety of Grand Champions merchandise and clothing will be sold throughout the season. Several players will model merchandise and sign autographs in the boutique during tournaments.
Presenting tournament sponsor Tackeria, located at 13501 South Shore Boulevard in Wellington, is a complete equestrian shop catering to all horse sports including polo. The store carries a full range of polo gear, saddles and apparel.
The remaining Grand Champions fall tournaments are the Oct. 13-15 USPA Kay Colee Memorial Tournament; Oct. 18-20 US Trust Cup, Oct. 25-27 USPA Fall Plates; Nov.1-3 Pedro Morrison Memorial and Nov. 8-10 Palm Restaurant Invitational.
The two 20-goal tournaments are the prestigious Oct. 30 – Nov. 9 USPA North America Cup and Nov. 13-24 The National 20-Goal Championship.
During the 2012 fall season, Audi dominated the season winning back-to-back USPA North America Cup and USPA National 20-Goal Tournament titles with Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan and Carlos Gracida. In the national 20-goal final, Audi edged Piaget, 10-9.
The fall season, great preparation for the upcoming 20- and 26-goal seasons in Wellington, is fun and competitive. Rosters and lineups change from tournament to tournament. Evenly-matched teams are put together to help build players skills and performance.
All tournaments are USPA-sanctioned and have grown in stature since their start in the mid-1990s.
GRAND CHAMPIONS FALL SCHEDULE
Oct. 13-15, USPA Kay Colee Memorial
Oct. 18-20, US Trust Cup
Oct. 25-27, USPA Fall Plates
Oct. 30 – Nov. 9, USPA North America Cup
Nov. 1-3, Pedro Morrison Memorial
Nov. 8-10, Palm Restaurant Invitational
Nov. 13-24, The National 20-Goal Championship
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 561-644-5050.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch high and medium goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.
Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Chester Weber, 10 Time USEF National Four-in-Hand Driving Champion (Pics of You)
Berndl Wins First National Singles Championship
Lexington, KY – Rain fell for most of Sunday morning at the Kentucky Classic CDE; it fell so hard that Competition would eventually be stopped, but not before two individual drivers hit career milestones. Leslie Berndl earned her first USEF National Single Horse Driving Championship, and Chester Weber made it an official decade of dominance with his impressive and unprecedented tenth USEF National Four-in-Hand Driving Championship.
National Four in Hand Driving Championship
Weber (Ocala, Florida) held a sixteen penalty lead heading into Sunday’s cones phase. By guiding his and Jane Clark’s team of Dutch Warmbloods deftly through the obstacles he emerged from the ring with 9.06 penalties, and his tenth USEF Four-in-Hand National Championship. For Weber it’s another feather in the cap of an already very successful season. With his success in Europe over the summer, a 2014 WEG test event win at CAI-Caen, a win at CAIO Saumur, and top three finishes at Beekbergen and Aachen, this landmark national championship makes Weber’s 2013 campaign one of the best in recent memory.
Weber finished on a total score of 141.20. Finishing second was Jimmy Fairclough (Newtown, New Jersey) on a score of 173.95.
Leslie Berndl, USEF National Single Horse Driving Champion (Pics of You)
National Single Horse Driving Championship
Leslie Berndl also held a double digit lead entering the cones. She and Uminco held onto that advantage and emerged from the rain as USEF National Single Horse Driving Champions. Berndl (Newcastle, California) earned an 11.00, good for third place in the phase, and finished with a 141.53 total score. She was second in the dressage phase, second on the marathon, and the most consistently good single horse competitor over the entire weekend. This is Leslie Berndl’s first National Championship. Umnico was driven to a National Single Horse Championship in 2009, also at the Kentucky Classic CDE, by his owner Fritz Grupe.
Finishing first in the cones phases were Donna Crookston (Saltsburg, Pennsylvania) and Cowboy’s Black Cadillac. They scored a 3.00 and moved up from third place after the marathon to second place in the end with a final score of 155.29. Second on the cones and third overall were Sara Schmitt (Flemington, New Jersey) and Savannah. Their final score was 160.80.
Ovation and Victoria Colvin. Shawn McMillen Photography.
Upper Marlboro, MD – October 6, 2013 – The Capital Challenge Horse Show concluded today with Grand Championships for junior and children’s hunters. The show welcomed more than 1,000 horses to Prince George’s Equestrian Center over the past nine days and hosted the best hunter competition in the country. The Grand Junior Hunter Championship was tie between Victoria Colvin on Dr. Betsee Parker’s Ovation and Ashley Foster with Sin City. The Grand Children’s Hunter Championship went to Bases Loaded and Ava Free.
Winning is nothing new for Victoria Colvin at Capital Challenge. This is the third year in a row that she has taken home Grand Junior Hunter Champion and Best Junior Rider honors, and she swept the tricolors in the 15 & Under divisions.
“We always aspire to do great at all of the shows, but we don’t really have any set goals. Just to go around nicely and not fall off!” she said with a smile. “I think the fall shows, everyone wants them to go well since they’re the biggest shows of the year for the hunters.”
In the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division, sponsored by New England Farm, the championship went to Ovation, ridden by Colvin for Dr. Betsee Parker. They placed first, first, and second over fences and won the under saddle. The reserve championship went to Dr. Parker’s Canadian Blue, who was first and second over fences and fourth under saddle.
Ovation, a 13-year-old Warmblood gelding, was named the High Point Junior Hunter 15 & Under, sponsored by Geddaway Farm. He tied for the Grand Junior Hunter Championship sponsored by Lochmoor Stables/Mindy and Greg Darst, with Annie Friedman’s Sin City and Ashley Foster, who were yesterday’s Small Junior 16-17 Hunter champions. They were presented with The Spontaneous Perpetual Trophy donated by the Listrani Family. Colvin and Foster shared Best Junior Rider honors, an award sponsored by Karen Healey and Karen Healey Stables.
Colvin and Canadian Blue won the $2,500 WCHR Junior Challenge, sponsored by Elena and David Graves. Canadian Blue, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding by Converter, is a new ride for Colvin, who is from Loxahatchee, FL. Colvin enjoys riding him and figuring out how to get the best from a younger, greener horse.
“He’s never been indoors,” she said. “He’s funny. He sort of just lopes around all wobbly and wiggling. He jumps amazing, and I think he just needs to keep going and getting experience. It’s fun to have a horse that is automatic, but it keeps it interesting if you have a horse who you really have to ride. It’s fun to see him getting better and better.”
The Large Junior 15 & Under championship went to Way Cool, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Embassy, and Colvin, riding again for Dr. Betsee Parker. They won two over fences classes. Inclusive, a 10-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Dr. Parker, was the reserve champion with a first and fourth over fences and fifth under saddle. The EMO Junior Trip of the Show and Overall Trip of the Show went to Colvin on Inclusive, who scored a 93.
Although she has had plenty of experience jumping from one horse to another, Colvin still has to think about her adjustments in riding their different styles. She said that it usually just means singing a song in her head. “With Way Cool, I need to be softer and nicer, and Ovation I have to go forward. With Inclusive, you have to slow down. They’re all so different, but when I get in the ring I just sing the last thing I’ve heard and make the song go to their rhythm. I don’t really like counting (strides),” she explained.
With such incredible success so far and two years left as a junior rider, Colvin recognized the contributions that Dr. Parker and her trainers, Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley, have made to her career. Of riding Dr. Parker’s great hunters, she expressed, “It’s unbelievable. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have all these horses to ride. And she loves her horses and is the nicest owner. She’s perfect.”
She continued, “Since I was really little, like six (years old), Scott Stewart was always my idol. It was an amazing opportunity to be able to ride with him and to still be riding with him. He’s supplied jumpers and horses like VIP to ride. If they weren’t there (for me), I’d still be showing my small pony Balou!”
Colvin said she emulates the way that Stewart rides in the hunters. “I think he’s really soft with his horses and really nice to them. He never touches the reins,” she pointed out. Her future goals include doing well at the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals and bigger dreams down the road. “At some point I want to go to the Olympics, but that’s a little far away,” she said.
The Leading Hunter Trainer Award, sponsored by Meridian Riding Club and Tracye Ferguson, went to Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley.
Ashley Foster was awarded the Stewart Warner Cup for junior riders, given in memory of Laurie Gilbert Stewart & Mary Warner Brown by Donald E. Stewart, Jr. and Louise W. Serio. It is awarded to up-and-coming junior riders, who, in the opinion of the panel of judges, exhibit the best hunter style and show potential as a young hunter rider. Foster and Sin City won the $1,000 Junior World Champion Hunter Under Saddle sponsored by Limelight Farm and Suave Pony LLC.
Children’s Hunter Champions Wrap Up the Week
The championship in the Children’s Hunter 14 & Under Section B, sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Gary Duffy and Little Brook Farms, Inc., as well as the Grand Children’s Hunter Championship, sponsored by Mary Jane King, went to Bases Loaded, ridden by Ava Free of St. Petersburg, FL, for AM Free, Inc. They were presented with the Laura Pickett Memorial Trophy, donated by Julie Karpan. Free won the Best Children’s Hunter Rider Award, sponsored by Wild Sky Farm and The Nelson Family. In their division, they won both over fences classes and were third under saddle. The reserve champion was Lifeline, ridden and owned by Jane Brooks. They were second over fences and fifth under saddle.
Free, 14, and Bases Loaded competed at Capital Challenge last year in much different weather – pouring rain – but she said she still had to concentrate on pace in today’s unseasonably warm weather. “I usually don’t get him going enough,” she explained, “but he was really good and listened really well. He didn’t go too slow and I kept him going to the first line. It felt awesome going around. The courses were really fun.”
Free took over the ride on Bases Loaded, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, from her sister Madison, who was also champion at Capital Challenge in 2011. “I thought it would be awesome to win it after my sister did it two years ago,” she said. “We still have her champion ribbon hanging up. We’ve had a really good year, but this is definitely my biggest win this year.”
Crystal Clear and Coco Fath. Parker/The Book LLC.
The champion in the Children’s Hunter 14 & Under Section A, sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Gary Duffy and Little Brook Farms, Inc., was Crystal Clear, a 10-year-old Polish Warmblood mare ridden and owned by Coco Fath of Fairfield, CT. Fath, who is 13 years old, rode Crystal Clear to wins in both over fences classes and sixth in the under saddle. The reserve champion was Bella K, ridden and owned by Samantha Camp. They were second over fences and third under saddle.
Fath and Crystal Clear just started in the hunters since the mare was imported. She was a jumper in France, but Fath said she has quickly made the adjustment to her new job. “She’s come a long way,” she remarked. “She’s really stepped up her game.”
Fath said that her “big stride” helps in the hunters, as does her attitude. “She (isn’t spooky) about the jumps. She jumps very high over them,” she said.
This is Fath’s second time at Capital Challenge, and she has made the step up from the pony hunters. “I like it much better than the ponies. It’s much different,” she compared. “It depends upon the horse show if it’s more competitive, but it’s definitely a step up. I like Capital Challenge a lot. It means a lot to me being champion. I’m really excited.”
Local rider Alexandra McReady of Annapolis, MD, was thrilled to take home the Children’s Hunter 15-17, sponsored by The Rizvi Family, championship today with her horse Czech, a 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. They placed first and second over fences. The reserve champions, Redeemed and Katherine Mistick, won the other jumping class.
McReady and Czech won the EMO Children’s Trip of the Show with an 85.5.
“This is my home show,” the 16-year-old rider said. “This is my last year with Czech, so it was nice really nice to be champion. It’s so cool to be here. It’s such an amazing place to show.”
She said of Czech, “He just takes you to the jumps. He’s the best. He has a giant stride, so you have to think about walking the lines and letting it be there and letting him do his pace. He’s so sweet but he likes to have his own time. You know when to leave him alone and when to give him some love. He has totally built up my confidence. He’s the first one to really take me through this experience.”
The winner of the $1,500 WCHR Children’s Challenge, sponsored by Stephanie Riggio and MeadowView, was Verona, ridden by Louisa Soohoo for Red Oak Farm LLC. The winner of the $2,500 WCHR Pony Challenge, sponsored by The Wujek Family, was Further Lane Farm’s Rolling Stone and Madeline Schaefer. Taylor St. Jacques was awarded the Stewart Warner Cup for children’s riders, given in memory of Laurie Gilbert Stewart & Mary Warner Brown by Donald E. Stewart, Jr. and Louise W. Serio. It is awarded to up-and-coming junior riders, who, in the opinion of the panel of judges, exhibit the best hunter style and show potential as a young hunter rider.
The Capital Challenge Horse Show would like to thank all of its exhibitors, sponsors, and staff for a wonderful and successful show, and they look forward to another in 2014. For full results and more information, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org.
About Capital Challenge In its 20th year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year’s show will take place on September 28 – October 6.
Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country’s best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes.
Leslie Berndl guiding Uminco through the Head of the Lake hazard (Pics of You)
Weber Stays on Top of Four-in-Hand Championship Chase
Lexington, KY – A good crowd turned out at the Kentucky Horse Park Saturday to watch the marathon phase of the Kentucky Classic CDE. When the driving was done and the spectators had left Leslie Berndl had taken a big step into the lead in the single horse division. In the four-in-hand division, Chester Weber’s path toward a tenth Four-in-Hand National Championship has become a little clearer.
USEF Single Horse National Championship
Berndl (Newcastle, California) started off hot Saturday morning behind Dutch Warmblood gelding Uminco and her consistent driving over the entire course helped her take the lead in the division. Berndl was in second place coming into the day, having been bested by less than one point in the dressage phase on Thursday, and right away she looked to make up that difference. Of the eight hazards, Berndl was fastest through the first two and second best through another four. She finished the marathon in second place with an 84.24 score and now sits in first place with a total score of 130.53. 1999 National Champion Kimberly Stover (Smyrna, Delaware) is the closest to Berndl. She sits in second with 148.80.
Sara Schmitt (Flemington, New Jersey) won the marathon driving Savannah and is now in fourth place overall.
Chester Weber in the Bowl hazard at the Kentucky Classic CDE (Pics of You)
USEF Four-in-Hand National Championship
After a narrow victory in the marathon, Chester Weber is poised to earn a record setting tenth National Championship. Weber (Ocala, Florida) was first four-in-hand driver on the marathon course with the team of his own and Jane Clark’s Boris, Splash, Boy W, and Ultra. To the delight of a flock of fans following him from hazard to hazard, he proved to be the day’s best. Weber’s 98.40 gave him a slight edge over Jimmy Fairclough (Newtown, New Jersey), who finished with a 98.89 behind the team of Charlie Brown, Kavango V. Falkenstein, Valentino, and Zenden.
Thanks to a great score in the dressage on Thursday, Weber carries a significant overall lead into Sunday’s final cones phase. His 132.14 score after two phases is more than 16 points ahead of Fairclough’s 148.95 total score.
Casey Zubek (Manhattan Illinois) is in third with a 261.80 score.
Armani and Madeline Schaefer. Photos copyright Shawn McMillen Photography.
Patton and Twisther Clear for Victory in North American Junior/Amateur Jumper Challenge; Foster, Sommers, Farish, and Pilla Win Tricolors
Upper Marlboro, MD – October 5, 2013 – Saturday of Capital Challenge Horse Show highlights the country’s young rider talent with championships for pony, junior and children’s pony hunters. The Grand Pony Hunter Championship was awarded to Madeline Schaefer on Armani. Ashley Foster on Sin City and Samantha Sommers riding Small Affair picked up the top tricolors in the Small and Large 16-17 Hunters, respectively, while Sienna Pilla was the Children’s Hunter Pony division champion. In the evening session, Reid Patton took the top prize in the $10,000 North American Junior/Amateur Jumper Challenge Final Round sponsored by ARIAT on Twisther. The Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center, concludes on Sunday, October 6.
“I’ve always had terrible luck at this show. I couldn’t get myself together here,” said Madeline Schaefer of Westminster, MD. At the young age of 12 she has been able to change her bad luck at Capital Challenge in a big way. The talented rider rode Armani to the lion’s share of awards today on two ponies.
Piloting Armani, her nine-year-old Welsh Pony gelding by Bronheulog Roya, she won the Small Pony Hunter Championship, sponsored by Spring Mill Farm/Jenny Yandell. They placed first, first, and second over fences and were sixth under saddle. The reserve champion was Love Me Tender, ridden by Mimi Gochman for David Gochman. They won an over fences class and were second under saddle.
The Harper Taskier Wright Memorial Trophy, given in memory of Harper by her loving parents Michael and Alexandra Borissoff Wright, friends, and family whose lives she touched, was given to Schaefer for winning the Small Pony Hunter championship.
Armani and Schaefer won the Grand Pony Hunter Championship, sponsored by Lochmoor Stables/Mindy and Greg Darst, and were awarded the VanderMoore Designs Trophy, donated by VanderMoore Designs. Schaefer was named the Best Pony Rider, an award sponsored by Archibald Cox and Brookway Stables. They were presented with the Kitty Borisoff Memorial Trophy donated by her many friends.
The EMO Trip of the Show for Pony Hunters went to Mimi Gochman on Love Me Tender for their score of 90.
Schaefer believes that her luck changed this year due to the hard work she has put in here. “I had a lot of rides this year – four rides – so I got a lot of practice. I got the miles in the saddle in the ring,” she remarked.
Her partner Armani, she said, has “an amazing rhythm.” She added, “He likes to play a little, but we’ll put up with it if he goes like that every day. I showed him here last year when he was a green, and he’s improved a lot. The way you ride him now is a lot easier. He’s a lot more adjustable.”
In addition to the Small championship, Schaefer won the Medium Pony Hunter championship, sponsored by Flagship & Jeff & Kelley Gogul, with Sports Cast, an eight-year-old German Riding Pony gelding by Munser II owned by Gary Schaefer. They won two over fences classes. Mimi Gochman picked up her second reserve championship with True Love. They were first and second over fences.
Schaefer started riding Sports Cast just over a year ago and said that his ride was more like a bigger horse than a pony. “He has a big stride and his canter is similar to some of my sister’s horses,” she explained.
The Large Pony Hunter championship went to 12-year-old Daisy Farish of Versailles, KY, on Beau Rivage, a 17-year-old Holsteiner/Welsh gelding by Magical. They won two over fences classes and placed second and third in the remaining jumping classes. Barbara Ann Merryman rode Storyteller for Samantha Kasowitz to the reserve championship after they placed first, first, and second over fences.
Farish has been paired with Beau Rivage for two years, and they competed at Capital Challenge last year. “He’s really fun because he has a great rhythm and when you get to the jump in the right spot, he just fires over it,” she said.
Farish is a Capital Challenge veteran already. “I was either six or seven when I showed in the children’s ponies. It is one of my favorite shows because it isn’t all spread out. You can see everyone go and everyone comes here. It’s really competitive because at indoors there are only a certain amount who can be there. Here there are a lot more, so there is a lot more competition.”
Farish was awarded the Stewart Warner Cup for pony riders, given in memory of Laurie Gilbert Stewart & Mary Warner Brown by Donald E. Stewart, Jr. and Louise W. Serio. It is awarded to up-and-coming junior riders, who, in the opinion of the panel of judges, exhibit the best hunter style and show potential as a young hunter rider.
The Children’s Hunter Pony championship went to Beaucatcher, ridden by eight-year-old Sienna Pilla of Ridgefield, CT. Pilla and Beaucatcher, a 17-year-old Welsh Pony Cross gelding owned by Abigail Blankenship, won an over fences class and the under saddle. Alyx Goldstein and Summerland were the reserve champions after they placed first and fourth over fences and were fifth under saddle.
Pilla has ridden Beaucatcher since January and started out in the Short Stirrup division, but when a show they attended didn’t have the division, they moved up to the Children’s Hunter Pony classes. With a Grand Champion Hunter title secured there, they never looked back. Advice from her trainer, Lainie Wimberly, has helped get her to this point. She recalled, “I try to keep my hands up and go forward. It helps me get a good distance at the jump – not too tight and not too big.”
Pilla said that she has attended Capital Challenge before to watch her older sister Sophia compete, but this was her first time showing. When she returns to school on Monday, she said, “I’ll tell everyone that I got champion, and I’m really excited about it.”
Wimberly noted, “I think she’s really talented and once she got past the fear of going forward her natural talent and abilities have come out. She has a natural eye and good feel. I was really impressed with the way she rode. I have high hopes for her. She comes from a really great riding family. She’s following in her sister’s footsteps.”
Twisther and Reid Patton
Patton’s Only Clear Round Wins
The course itself was the biggest obstacle in the $10,000 North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Challenge Cup Final Round. There were 30 entries in tonight’s final round, which was held in jump-off format. There was only one clear round over the course designed by Steve Stephens. It featured wide oxers and challenging distances; 18-year-old Reid Patton was the only rider to find the key to a clear on Twisther, a 13-year-old KWPN stallion by Farmer. Vivian Yowan and Stone Hill Farm’s Vornado van den Hoendrik were just over the time allowed to finish with one time fault for second place. Madeline Thatcher’s fast four-fault round on Pony Lane Farm’s Licapo put her in third place.
Patton, of Nashville, TN, started riding Twisther this summer, but she had never ridden him indoors before yesterday. “I was a little nervous because he’s so big and has a giant stride. I was a little nervous for this course, but sometimes I rise to the occasion. I knew I had to be aggressive.”
Thinking the course was “set for a very scopey horse,” Patton felt that it suited Twisther, who previously jumped at the grand prix level with Jonathan McCrea. “He’s a little over-qualified. He’s just really good at scoping over oxers, so I can really leg him over and he won’t run into the front rail. I think that’s what set him apart – his ability to cross these oxers.”
Despite being a stallion, Patton said that Twisther is very calm. “I’ve never ridden a horse like him. When you’re riding him, it feels like he thinks he’s on a trail ride. He just lopes around. He has a really good eye himself, so I never really get nervous if I’m a little off. I try and do my part, but I can’t be perfect all the time.”
About her win, she said, “I’m still kind of shocked. It hasn’t really sunk in. It feels amazing. I’m so thankful to Cara and Donald (Cheska). (They) couldn’t be here since Cara’s grandmother died right before the show. Tom Wright and Hayley Barnhill kind of came in (they are my hunter and equitation trainers) and trained me. I have a great team.”
For their win in the final round, Patton was presented with the Remy Martin Perpetual Trophy, donated by Rolling Acres and Melanie Wright. With her win in yesterday’s first round and seventh place finish in today’s round, Victoria Colvin was the overall winner of the North American Junior/Amateur Jumper Challenge on Monsieur du Reverdy and was awarded the Ariat Congressional Cup. The Best Junior Jumper Rider Award, sponsored by Back Country Farm, was given to Victoria Colvin, while Kelsey Thatcher won the Best Amateur Jumper Rider Award sponsored by Lyman T. Whitehead and Eight Fences, LLC.
Older Junior Hunters Awarded
Small Affair and Samantha Sommers
Traveling from California is never an easy proposition with horses, but Samantha Sommers of Malibu made the trip worth it when she won the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter championship, sponsored by Beacon Hill Show Stables, with Iwasaki & Reilly’s Small Affair. The 18-year-old rode the 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Elf d’Or to two firsts and a second over fences. Erin McGuire and Casallo were reserve champions after they won and placed third in two classes and were sixth under saddle.
Sommers started riding Small Affair in January and felt “a lot of pressure” initially due to her horse’s great success with previous rider Olivia Esse and with professional John French. She needn’t have worried since she was the Overall Champion at the U.S. Junior Hunter National Championships – West among other success. “I ended on the West Coast with a bang, and now I got to do it here too. It’s so hard to compete against the East Coast people with jet lag and the horses have to ship out here across the country. It’s nice when you can represent the West Coast well!” she mentioned.
Sommers said that it take some getting used to Small Affair’s great style. “He has a spectacular jump and an amazing canter. Finding the jumps is nice and easy,” she said. “If you just take your time it’ll just work out.”
In her last junior year, winning at Capital Challenge was a goal. “I’ve never been champion at Capital Challenge before so I was so excited. It’s a really good feeling. It’s fun to be champion anywhere, but to do it at one of the top shows in the country is great. I’d like to thank Elizabeth Reilly, Chris Iwasaki, John French and my parents for all they’ve done for me,” she said.
Ashley Foster of Brookeville, MD, won a junior hunter championship last year, and this year she repeated that feat. This time it was in the Small Junior 16-17 Hunters, sponsored by Heritage Farm, on Sin City, an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Annie Friedman. The pair won two over fences class, were second in the remaining jumping class, and won the under saddle. The reserve champion was Illusion, ridden by Destry Spielberg and owned by Oscany, Inc. They placed first, second and fifth over fences and were second in the under saddle. In addition to Foster’s division championship, Sin City was named the High Point Junior Hunter 16-17, sponsored by The Clothes Horse.
Foster, who is in her final junior year, started riding Sin City this past winter and picked up the ride again at the Maryland Horse and Pony Show. She described, “He’s a blast to ride. He’s so smooth you don’t even know you’re cantering. He’s got the biggest stride possible. You can definitely feel his jump. He’s really fun,” she said.
Capital Challenge is like a hometown show for Foster, and winning here is “so exciting.” She said, “I just love riding and winning is great but riding other people’s horses is really great.”
The winner of the $5,000 WCHR Handy Hunter Challenge, sponsored by Johnson Horse Transportation Inc., was Nick Haness on Winfield, owned by Lexie Looker. In yesterday’s $2,500 WCHR Adult Amateur Challenge, Polly Sweeney rode to victory on Karen Long Dwight’s Pimm’s Cup.
The Capital Challenge Horse Show concludes tomorrow with championships for the 15 & Under sections of the junior hunters, both sections of the Children’s Hunter Horses, the WCHR Pony Challenge, WCHR Junior Challenge, WCHR Children’s Hunter Finals, and the World Champion Hunter Under Saddle Junior class.
For full results, more information, or to watch the SmartPak live webcast, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org.
About Capital Challenge In its 20th year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year’s show will take place on September 28 – October 6.
Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country’s best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes.
Greg Crolick and Grey Street. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography.
Upper Marlboro, MD – October 5, 2013 – The World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Developing Professional Challenge saw 28 talented entries, but there was one pair that stood out from beginning to end. Greg Crolick and Grey Street finished both rounds of the two-round class with average scores of 88 for a total of 176 points, earning them a well-deserved victory gallop around the indoor ring at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.
Crolick and the 10-year-old Brandenburg gelding’s impressive first round ride shot them straight to the top of the leaderboard going in to round two. One by one the top twelve riders returned in reverse order of their rankings to compete over the second round course. That put Crolick and Grey Street, owned by Adrienne Marciano, as the last to return and made for a climatic finish to the class.
Just two trips before Crolick, Jamie Taylor and Cipraiani turned in a seamless round, earning them an overall score of 175.66 and setting the bar to beat. In order to earn the championship cooler and ribbon, Crolick and Grey Street had to earn at least an average score of 87.66 from the three judging panels. Thanks to a meticulous second round ride, the pair did just that, earning an 88 average and clinching the win.
“Grey Street is a wonderful horse, and he really rose to the occasion,” Crolick said. “This class really catered to him. He has that beautiful lope across the ground that is consistent and organized, and he was really able to showcase that.”
Crolick may fit the developing professional class criteria, but the Bloomfield Hills, MI native has in fact been moving his way up the professional ranks quite successfully over the past years, earning a number of top honors along the way.
“There was some banter among my friends because it used to be called the emerging professional challenge, and they all said ‘haven’t you emerged by now?'” joked Crolick.
Crolick has definitely emerged, and he continues to develop a top string of horses. Grey Street is among that top lineup that will be heading with Crolick to the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA before he heads back home for another exciting development – the birth of his and wife Jessica’s second child.
Greg and Jessica Crolick own and operate Top Call Farm, a full service riding and training program located at the beautiful Bloomfield Open Hunt Club. Top Call Farm offers training of the show horse and rider, as well as riding instruction for those just starting out. Top Call can also aid in the purchase or sales of your show horse. For more information, please visit Top Call Farm on Facebook.
Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Casablanca’s Wes Finlayson (4) and Matt Coppola (2) sandwich Newport’s Guille Aguerro (2). Photos by Scott Fisher.
WELLINGTON, FL – Oct. 4, 2013 — After two hotly-contested semifinal games, Audi and Newport advanced into Sunday’s championship final of the USPA Fall Classic presented by the Tackeria at Grand Champions Polo Club.
Newport will be making its second consecutive championship appearance in two weeks after a thrilling 9-8 overtime victory over Casablanca in the second semifinal game. Last weekend Newport lost in the final, 11-8, to Paladin.
Audi advanced with an 11-4 victory over Beluga in the opening semifinal.
Both games were played Friday at Palm City Polo Club in Boca Raton.
Action moves to Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington on Sunday with the final at 10 a.m. followed by the consolation between Casablanca and Beluga at noon.
In the second semifinal, Newport (Gene Goldstein, Guille Aguerro, Luis Escobar, Kaisser Maakar) broke an 8-8 tie in overtime when Aguerro took a loose ball and scored the winning goal 28 seconds into the chukker.
“I think Gigi just capitalized when Kris hit the ball a little further than he wanted to,” Goldstein said. “Gigi jumped on it and took a gamble and scored. If he had missed it, it probably would have been a goal the other way. I think we have our work cut out for us on Sunday.”
The game was a seesaw battle from the opening chukker and could have gone either way. Both teams played extremely well in the fast-paced game.
Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Matt Coppola, Kris Kampsen, Wes Finlayson) led 7-6 going into the sixth chukker. Back-to-back Newport goals from Maakar and Escobar gave them an 8-7 lead in the final minutes of the game.
Casablanca’s Kris Kampsen (3) and Newport’s Luis Escobar (3) in hot pursuit of the ball
Kampsen’s penalty shot with less than 20 seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime.
Aguerro led Newport scoring with four goals and Escobar had three. Goldstein and Maakar each scored one goal.
For Casablanca, 15-year-old Grant Ganzi, a sophomore at St. Andrew’s School, led scoring with four goals and played well defensively. Matt Coppola added two and Kampsen had one.
“That was a very tough team, those guys run all the time,” Goldstein said. “Gigi was getting used to his horses and played very well today. Luis is very clever, you can always get yourself in the final with Luis. He finds a way to work it out there.
“Grant Ganzi is terrific; he is getting to be a big pain in the butt,” Goldstein said. “He was making a mess out of it for us out there. He is playing so well. You can’t leave him alone for one second. He killed us. He stays in position, puts up the passes and finishes the plays.”
In the opening game, father-and-son Juan and Juancito Bollini teamed with familiar teammates Marc Ganzi and Brandon Phillips. The chemistry was apparent from the opening chukker.
Beluga (Misha Rodzianko, Leo Mandelbaum, Joey Casey, Carlitos Gracida) kept it close for the first two chukkers (Audi led 3-2) but missed several scoring opportunities.
Audi pulled away in the third chukker with three unanswered goals for a 6-2 halftime lead. The closest Beluga came was early in the fourth chukker (6-3) on Carlitos Gracida’s goal at the 4:20 mark. After that, Audi was in the driver’s seat, scoring at will.
Casablanca’s Grant Ganzi (1) goes to back the ball in a crowd
Audi had balanced scoring from its lineup. Ganzi and the Bollinis each scored three goals and Phillips added two. Carlitos Gracida, son of former 10-goaler and Hall of Famer Carlos Gracida, who was among the crowd, scored three goals for Beluga, which picked up one goal on handicap.
“It was a beautiful game,” said Juan Bollini Sr. “The other team was a strong team; their four guys were running very hard but I think we played very smart as a team. Everyone was in position and the four of us knew what to do on the field. The difference of the game is we have played together before and we played smart. Our strategy was to control the ball, keep passing the ball and running like crazy.”
For Juan Sr., it’s always a thrill to play alongside his son, Juancito, 18, a freshman at Florida Atlantic University.
“It’s always a pleasure and I thank Marc and Melissa to give me the chance to play with my son,” Bollini said. “You can’t ask for anything better than playing with your son in something you love to do. It’s the same feeling that Marc has playing with Grant. Polo is my job but it is my passion and to share that with my son I am in heaven.”
The USPA Fall Classic, presented by the Tackeria, is the second of nine tournaments scheduled for the fall at Grand Champions, including two 20-goal tournaments in November for the club’s sixth season.
The Tackeria, located at 13501 South Shore Boulevard in Wellington, is a complete equestrian shop catering to all horse sports including polo.
The store carries a full range of polo gear, saddles and apparel. Store hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The remaining Grand Champions fall tournaments are the Oct. 13-15 USPA Kay Colee Memorial Tournament; Oct. 18-20 US Trust Cup, Oct. 25-27 USPA Fall Plates; Nov.1-3 Pedro Morrison Memorial and Nov. 8-10 Palm Restaurant Invitational.
The two 20-goal tournaments are the prestigious Oct. 30 – Nov. 9 USPA North America Cup and Nov. 13-24 The National 20-Goal Championship.
During the 2012 fall season, Audi dominated the season winning back-to-back USPA North America Cup and USPA National 20-Goal Tournament titles with Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan and Carlos Gracida. In the national 20-goal final, Audi edged Piaget, 10-9.
The fall season, great preparation for the upcoming 20- and 26-goal seasons in Wellington, is fun and competitive. Rosters and lineups change from tournament to tournament. Evenly-matched teams are put together to help build players skills and performance.
All tournaments are USPA-sanctioned and have grown in stature since their start in the mid-1990s.
GRAND CHAMPIONS FALL SCHEDULE
Oct. 4-6, USPA Fall Classic
Oct. 13-15, USPA Kay Colee Memorial
Oct. 18-20, US Trust Cup
Oct. 25-27, USPA Fall Plates
Oct. 30 – Nov. 9, USPA North America Cup
Nov. 1-3, Pedro Morrison Memorial
Nov. 8-10, Palm Restaurant Invitational
Nov. 13-24, The National 20-Goal Championship
PALM CITY POLO CLUB
WHERE: 18000 Jog Road, Boca Raton, 561-289-9099 (Club entrance is the first flashing light north of Clint Moore Road).
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 561-644-5050.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch high and medium goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.
Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Liza Boyd and Crack On. Photos copyright Shawn McMillen Photography.
Haleigh Landrigan Tops the ARIAT Adult Medal Finals
Upper Marlboro, MD – October 4, 2013 – Professional riders gain points all year in order to be the top six in the country and qualify for the WCHR Professional Finals, sponsored by the John R. Ingram Fund, at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. This year, the top six were Liza Boyd, Kelley Farmer, John French, Peter Pletcher, Amanda Steege, and Scott Stewart, and it was Liza Boyd who finished the competition with top honors. In the afternoon session, Haleigh Landrigan was awarded as the winner of the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals sponsored by ARIAT International. The Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center, will run through Sunday, October 6.
This year’s WCHR Professional Finals had a change in format. It was shortened to three rounds, with riders switching on two donated horses for the first two rounds, then bringing a horse of their own for the third and final handy round.
In the first round, Boyd rode Crack On to a score of 88.33 and was sitting in third place. She had the high score in round two of 91.33 on Corduroy, but still sat in third place behind Scott Stewart and John French.
The third handy round, which included a trot jump, bounce, and hand gallop, was what made such a huge difference for her. Riding Quatrain, a horse her family’s Finally Farm owns with Janet Peterson, she laid down a fantastic round. She was rewarded by the judges with equal scores of 95 across the board from the three judges’ positions, giving her a total of 274.66. However, she would have to wait and see what French and Stewart would do.
As it turned out, both French and Stewart had bobbles that landed them into the bottom two positions at the end of the class.
Stewart explained, “I chose Declaration (for the handy), who I’ve had for a really long time. He’s usually really, really good in the handies… until tonight. I don’t know what set him off. He’s usually perfect. He’s done really well in a lot of derbies so far. I’ll have to try again.”
French wasn’t worried about the handy part of the course with Sander, who has had experience at major equitation finals as well as in the hunter ring. “I brought him knowing that if there were any tricky things, bounces or whatever, in Missy Clark’s barn he’s seen all that before,” he said with a smile. But a slip off of his lead brought the scores down.
Amanda Steege and Crack On
Moving up in the final round as well from fourth to second place was WCHR Pro Finals rookie Amanda Steege of Far Hills, NJ. Steege rode Susan Darragh’s Zidane in the final round and scored 88.33 for a total of 265.49.
Third place went to Peter Pletcher of Magnolia, TX. He finished with a total of 262.49, while Kelley Farmer of Wellington, FL, was fourth with 261.16. John French of Woodside, CA, was fifth with 257.83. Stewart, of Wellington, NJ, placed sixth with a total of 257.66.
Boyd, who is from Camden, SC, spoke about the format and how it helped her. “I obviously am a really big fan of the new format. I was from the very beginning,” she said. “I think that bringing your own horse in the end was very much in my benefit. If you picked a horse you knew really well you could really shine, and it definitely was in my favor.”
Boyd said that it was a “no brainer” for her to bring Quatrain to this class after his handy hunter victory this week in the High Performance Hunters. “He goes smooth through the turns and is easy to stay with like an equitation horse. But he jumped in beautiful hunter style. He was definitely the right pick for sure,” she confirmed.
While the riders enjoyed riding a familiar horse, they also remarked about the true hunters that were donated. “I loved my donated horses. They were perfect and perfectly prepared and fun to ride,” said Steege. Boyd added, “It’s great for sales horses; it’s great for promoting horses. Hopefully in the future there will be more and more of those.”
Pletcher had to make a last minute change to his horse for tonight’s class. “I chose a different horse, but he wasn’t right today so I had to quickly grab the sane, safe adult hunter from Eva Bisso, which was very nice of her to let me all of a sudden at the last minute use that horse. She marched right in there and couldn’t have given a better try. I was really happy with her.”
Farmer said that a decision to make a tricky inside turn in the handy course was a make-it-or-break-it moment. “I was in a position where if I tried it and it worked, great. I was low enough that in order to move up, I was going to have to do something. We have to try something,” she pointed out.
Farmer was also very appreciative of those owners that brought horses to the class. “That’s very generous of all of them,” she remarked.
This was the fourth time that Boyd has competed in the WCHR Pro Finals and, she said, the first time she was relaxed going into it with a “good mindset.” Steege, in her first year, was “shockingly relaxed.” She continued, “The thing I didn’t expect about this class was how much camaraderie there is between the riders and show management. So many people have pulled me aside to say ‘Make sure you have plenty of help. If you need help, we can help you,’ and all of these guys really helped show me the way. I had a great time.”
Geoff Teall, WCHR Task Force Chairman, noted that the new format “kept everyone in the playing field.” He continued, “The new format really allows for top hunters and allows for strategy.”
For her win tonight in the WCHR Professional Finals, Boyd was presented with the “All the Way” trophy. The Far West Farms Perpetual Trophy donated by the Karazissis Family was given to Contelido as the Best Horse.
ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals
The ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals welcomed 29 competitors in today’s competition. Since its inception in 1994, the ARIAT National Adult Medal has given adult riders the opportunity to compete in a competitive equitation class over fences 3′ in height. The classes are held at select shows across the country and riders collect points to qualify for the Finals.
Haleigh Landrigan and Acovibu
The top 10 from the first round returned for the second round. From there, the top four tested since all were within two points of the lead. With a .15 point margin of victory, Haleigh Landrigan of Marshfield, MA, rode Acobibu, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Acorado I—Siena) owned by Nancy Vinal.
Landrigan sat in seventh place after round one and moved up to third place for the test, eventually putting in a solid test with a bold hand gallop to move up to the win. “I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be for the first round. Once I got past the first round, it was a huge relief and really, my goal was to make the second round. I went in there knowing I had a ribbon regardless. I knew if I moved up, great. It was the same with the test. I just wanted to give it my all; surprisingly didn’t have that much stress!”
Landrigan got the ride on “Abu” through her friend Vinal. She started riding him in Florida this winter, and while Vinal rode him in the summer while out of college, Landrigan got back the ride when school went back into session a month ago. During the summer, Landrigan qualified on the generosity of borrowed horses from Annie Dotoli. She trains with Greg Prince and Cookie DeSimone and had help preparing for the Finals with Alex Schwartz.
This was Landrigan’s third time competing in the ARIAT Finals. “I did the equitation as a junior, and it never went that well, so that’s why I love being an adult. I feel like I can go around and be happy,” she related.
Round 1 of the North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup sponsored by Kate Considine/Willow Brook Stables kicked off this afternoon with a speed class. For the second year in a row, Victoria Colvin and Monsieur du Reverdy were the fastest to win. There were 29 entries in the class and 12 were clear, but Colvin’s time of 48.952 seconds took the top spot. One second behind was Cloe Hymowitz on VDL Wardorette in 49.970 seconds. Third place went to Colvin on Don Juan in a time of 50.476 seconds, while Kelsey Thatcher recorded a time of 50.828 seconds for fourth place on Everything. Kalvin Dobbs and Winde’s time of 51.139 seconds slotted them in fifth place. The jumpers will return tomorrow night for their final round, the $10,000 North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup.
The Capital Challenge Horse Show continues tomorrow with championships for the 16-17 sections of the junior hunters, the pony hunters, the Children’s Pony Hunters, the WCHR Handy Hunter Challenge, and the final round for the junior/amateur-owner jumpers.
For full results, more information, or to watch the SmartPak live webcast, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org.
About Capital Challenge In its 20th year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year’s show will take place on September 28 – October 6.
Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country’s best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes.
