Lexington, Kentucky – Advanced dressage tests at the Kentucky Classic CDE, which is hosting the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Singles and Four-in-Hand Driving National Championships, were held Thursday afternoon at the Kentucky Horse Park. When they were over, Kate Shields was atop the single horse leaderboard and Chester Weber set himself up for a tenth four-in-hand national championship.
USEF National Single Horse Championship
Kate Shields (Middleburg, Virginia) was the first competitor in the single horse division Thursday and set the bar high enough that it proved unreachable. With Hastings Winslow she earned a 45.87 penalty score and will hold the lead entering Saturday’s marathon. Leslie Berndl (Newcastle, California) gave Shields a challenge and put herself in good position with a 46.29. Finishing third were Donna Crookston (Saltsburg, Pennsylvania) and RG Cowboy’s Black Cadillac on a score of 58.03.
Before competition Thursday, the ring announcer joked that Chester Weber (Ocala, Florida) was going to interpret “four-in-hand” as literally as possible and drive his team with only one hand. He didn’t do that, but he did his best to put the competition out of reach by earning a stellar 33.74. He’ll be the first four-in-hand driver on the marathon course Saturday where he’ll look to further his lead. In second after dressage is James Fairclough (Newtown, New Jersey); he earned a 50.06. Sitting third is Casey Zubek (Manhattan, Illinois) with a score of 57.34.
Sambalino and Becky Gochman. Shawn McMillen Photography.
Kirby and Winter White Win $10,000 Children’s/Adult Jumper Challenge
Upper Marlboro, MD – October 3, 2013 – The 2013 Capital Challenge Horse Show continued today with competition for the amateur and adult hunter riders, along with an evening session final for Children’s/Adult Jumpers. Grand Championship ribbons were pinned on the bridles of Sambalino and Becky Gochman, Q and Susan Baker, and Sutton Place and Katie Robinson in the Amateur-Owner and Adult Hunter divisions. In the evening session, the fastest jump-off round came from Elizabeth Kirby and Winter White for the win in the $10,000 Children’s/Adult Jumper Challenge.
The remaining highlight class of the week for the professional hunter riders is the $5,000 WCHR Professional Finals, presented by the John R. Ingram Fund, for the top six hunter riders in the country on Friday, October 4. The Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center, will run through Sunday, October 6.
The Amateur-Owner 3’6” Hunter 36 & Over champion, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare, was Sambalino, ridden and owned by Becky Gochman of New York, NY. They won two classes and were second over fences, and they placed third under saddle. The reserve champion was Lyn Pedersen, who rode Silhouette to second, third, and fourth places over fences and the victory under saddle.
For their top finish, Gochman and Sambalino, an 11-year-old Brandenburg gelding by Samba Hit, won the Grand Amateur-Owner 3’6” Hunter Championship, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Will Roberts. They were presented with the Dr. Harold M.S. Smith Trophy, donated by Dr. Suzanne Smith and Dr. Peter Craig. Gochman was named the Best Amateur-Owner Rider, which was sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare. She was presented with The So Many Ways Challenge Trophy, donated by Karen Kramer. They also won the Amateur-Owner 3’6” EMO High Point Trip of the Show with an 89.37.
After a small injury in April, Sambalino was brought back into work slowly, but Gochman made the decision not to ride him. This week was her first time back on him, and she explained, “Samba’s the kind of horse that you can have total faith in him to get the job done, even if you haven’t practiced. I feel like we’re such good friends now.”
It took a short time for them to get to know each other, but Gochman said it’s a great partnership after four years. “I was a little scared of him when I first got him because his jump feels so different,” she recalled. “He just has such a long, beautiful stride, but that stride can shorten in an instant. All you have to say is the littlest whoa and he’ll shorten that stride up and make any distance look good and jump the heck out of it. With his kind of adjustable stride, he can make anything happen. He gets plenty of opportunity with me to use his athletic ability to cover things up. I think he enjoys the challenge of that.”
Gochman, who trains with Peter Pletcher and Steve Weiss, had never been champion at Capital Challenge before today. “This is a really special show for us. He is by far the best horse I’ve ever sat on. There is no way that any horse in my mind will ever compare to him,” she expressed.
In the Amateur-Owner 3’6” Hunter 18-35 division, sponsored by The Hallman Family and MerryLegs South LLC, the championship went to Kingston, ridden by Jazz Johnson Merton of Oldwick, NJ, and owned by Jamie Johnson. They placed first, second, and second over fences. Lexi Selldorff and Stone Horse Farm LLC’s Soulja Boy were the reserve champions after they won a jumping class and the under saddle.
Johnson Merton and Kingston, a 16-year-old Warmblood gelding, were previous Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champions at Capital Challenge, and to return again and win was exciting for her. “It’s a wonderful horse show and it’s obviously very competitive, so I’m thrilled to be getting champion again. I’m so fortunate to have my horse. At the end of the day, he does all the real hard work!” she said.
She has been paired with Kingston for eight years. “He’s just amazing and he takes great care of me. My trainer, Sandy Lobel, with whom I’ve been riding since I was four years old, has an amazing ability to match a rider and a horse,” she said.
Calling Kingston “extremely opinionated” about the distances she finds to jumps and his sugar treat routine before going into the show ring, Johnson Merton is happy to do what it takes for him, which includes lots of cross-country riding between shows. “He has a whole system that we try to follow as a team,” she explained. “He really does step up to the plate and perform like a real showman when we’re at the big shows.”
The WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’6” Challenge, sponsored by Serenity Farm and Tangarae Farm, victory went to Laura Wasserman on Back in the Game. Nancy Hooker place second, while Krista Weisman rode Reality to third.
Q Keeps On Winning
The Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunter 45 & Over division, sponsored by Wood Run Farm/The Tredennick Family and Woodland Way, Inc., had its championship ribbon pinned on the bridle of Q, ridden by and owned by Susan Baker of Argyle, TX. They placed first, third, and third over fences. Daryl Portela and Winner were reserve champions with first and second-place jumping ribbons.
Q and Susan Baker. Shawn McMillen Photography
Q and Baker were also named the Grand Amateur-Owner 3’3” Champions, sponsored by Augusta Pines, and Baker was honored with the Best Amateur-Owner 3’3” Rider Award, sponsored by Team Rakowsky. Their EMO Trip of the Show for the 3’3” division was a score of 91.
After watching her seven-year-old Warmblood gelding by Quite Easy win a Future Hunter division championship and triumph in the $20,000 North American Future Hunter Championship, Baker felt a little pressure walking into the ring yesterday. “You feel like everybody is watching and expecting the same thing from you. But I’m an amateur and I do silly things!” she said. “I was glad yesterday when that first class couldn’t have gone any better. I think it was the best trip I’ve ever had in my entire life.”
It has been a big turnaround for Baker since this winter, when her mare passed away and her jumper tore a suspensory. When friends told her about a jumper she needed to see in Florida, Baker wasn’t sure until she saw him standing on the cross-ties. “He had this look and presence,” she said. Since then, she noted, “It’s just been an incredible year with him. He’s exceeded any expectations we could have possible have. He’s one of those horses where you’re very, very lucky they come into your life. I feel very fortunate.”
She added, “It’s been an unbelievable show and an absolute dream week. I just kept thinking I’m going to wake up at some point.”
In the Amateur-Owner 3’3” 18-44 Hunters, sponsored by Doug and Missy Smith, Kathryn Haefner of Buffalo, NY, rode Kathryn Haefner LLC’s Columbus to the championship. They won an over fences class and placed second in the under saddle. The reserve champion was Crusader, ridden and owned by Jaime Auletto. They placed second, second, and third over fences and was sixth under saddle.
Haefner has been riding Columbus, a seven-year-old Westphalian gelding, for two years. They moved up to the 3’3” this year. Columbus was originally purchased to be a sale horse, but his sweet personality has made him a possible “permanent fixture” in the barn.
“He’s a little bit like a pony,” Haefner described. “You just loop the reins and he’ll just go around. If you ride him a little bit more, he gives you a really nice jump. That’s what taken me a little while to get used to, is making him go a little bit, and then he always gives you a nice jump. He’s super smooth. His canter is really comfortable, and he has a perfect lead change. To hack him around at the barn, he’s one of the best to ride.”
As a full-time student at the University of Miami, Haefner isn’t able to ride very often, so she thanked the group that takes care of her horses, including trainer Stewart Moran. This is the third time that Haefner has competed at Capital Challenge. Although she has won a class each previous year, she related, “This was definitely our biggest moment so far at Capital Challenge. I really love coming to this horse show. There are always so many nice horses. There were almost 40 horses in our division, and I knew it was going to be tough. Being champion here is quite an accomplishment.”
In the $2,500 WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’3” Challenge sponsored by Milestone, LLC and Havens Schatt, Jane Gaston rode Amarillo to the win. Didi Mackenzie and MTM Inside Scoop was second, and Elizabeth de Golian placed third on Quite Simply.
Another Future Hunter Steps Up in the Adult Divisions
Sutton Place and Katie Robinson. Photo copyright Parker/The Book LLC
At only five years old, Sutton Place has certainly proven that he has what it takes to be a top hunter. The Hanoverian gelding by Valentino was the champion of the Adult Amateur 36-50 Hunters after a championship performance earlier in the week in the Future Hunter 5 & Under division. Sutton Place and Katie Robinson of Bronxville, NY, won both over fences classes and were fifth in the under saddle. The reserve championship went to Brad Wolf’s Winterplace, ridden by Laura Karet. They received two third places over fences and won the under saddle.
Robinson and Sutton Place also won the Grand Adult Hunter Championship, which is sponsored by Steve Martines. They were presented with the Equus Entries Challenge Trophy, donated by Equus Entries and Sue and Ralph Caggiano. Robinson won the Best Adult Amateur Rider Award, sponsored by Phoebe Weseley and River Run Farm, LLC. Robinson’s trainer, Brady Mitchell, was presented with the Gail Knieriem Memorial Trophy, donated by Lynley Reilly and Randy Johnson.
“I’m glad I didn’t let the team down. That would have been a real bummer,” Robinson said with a smile. “He was just a dream. He’s a real team player and I think that’s what it’s all about. He makes it fun for everyone. He’s not a bummer for the groom or anyone. He’s just an all-around good horse. And the fact that he’s so young only means he’s going to get better. I’m excited.”
Looking into the future was important for Robinson. “I figured I should take the time and find a young one and have some fun with it,” she remarked, “and grow together. Hopefully we’ll have lots of days like today.”
Polly Sweeney of Pasadena, CA, rode Karen Long Dwight’s Pimm’s Cup to the championship in the Adult Amateur 51 & Over Hunters sponsored by R. Bruce Duchossois and H n’ D Stables Inc. They place first and fourth over fences. Patricia Raynes and Rockford, owned by John and Stephanie Ingram, LLC picked up the reserve championship after they were first and fourth over fences.
Sweeney, who is 71 years old, has been riding since the age of three. She laughed, “I feel like I’m 30 years older than everyone else here and I’m in the 51 and Older section! But I wear it as a badge of honor.” Although she has had a “few hiatuses” from riding for her career and children, she has been riding regularly since 1990 and now trains with Archie Cox. She debated coming to Capital Challenge, but was assured that she could get the ride on Pimm’s Cup, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding by Silverstar, from Long Dwight. In the end, she also brought her mare Duet, who she also rode in the division.
Of her catch ride, she said, “He was just a machine. I’m a violinist by profession, and I told Karen it was like playing chamber music with people you really understand. You just look at each other and you get it. I could read where I was coming to a fence, and he knew that I knew and I knew that he knew.”
Sweeney’s daughter, Alison, is the host of “The Biggest Loser” on television, and she is aware of the fitness it takes to ride. “Riding is a very good, vigorous sport. If you do it right you don’t just lounge around. It’s very good for your body and keeping fit. It’s so much more fun than running!” she exclaimed.
The championship in the Adult Amateur 18-35 Hunters, sponsored by Lainie Wimberly and Brigadoon Show Stables, Inc., went to Willow, ridden by Andrea Huber of West Chester, PA, and owned by Bryan Baldwin. They placed first and second over fences and were fourth under saddle. The reserve champion was Scott Stewart’s Content, ridden by Alexa Weisman. They placed first over fences.
This was only the third show for Huber and Willow, a seven-year-old Oldenburg mare by Last Man Standing. Huber, who is 19 years old and studies at Centenary College, rides with Louise Serio. This was her first time at Capital Challenge. “Louise gave me the opportunity to show Willow. She asked me if I wanted to show her at Middleburg and Capital Challenge and I was ecstatic about that,” Huber said. “The fact that it was my first time here and Willow is a relatively new ride for me, it’s really incredible. I haven’t had the opportunity to show at many big shows across the country, so this is probably my biggest win.”
She described the mare as “really easy-going, quiet, (with a) sweet personality.” She continued, “She’s very straight forward and easy to get along with. You’d never know she was a mare. I couldn’t have asked for better trips. She was very consistent.”
The WCHR Adult Hunter Under Saddle victory went to Manhatten, ridden by Katie Cook.
Winter White and Elizabeth Kirby Are Fastest
Out of 54 entries in the $10,000 Children’s/Adult Jumper Challenge, six of them were clear over Steve Stephens’ course to advance to the jump-off, and three of those were double clear. It was Elizabeth Kirby of Mendham, NJ, who was able to speed through the timers on Winter White for a 2.7 second margin of victory. They finished the jump-off in 32.106 seconds.
Kirby was presented with the Best Adult Amateur Jumper Rider Award, sponsored by Mead Grove Farm and The Belfield Trophy, donated by Julie Karpan. The Best Children’s Jumper Rider Award, sponsored by Memorial Park Hunters, went to John Darst.
Second place went to Hope Batchelor on Orlando, who turned in a time of 34.890 seconds. Charlene Graham and Capricette were third in 36.021 seconds with a clear round. With four faults and a quick time of 33.884 seconds, Abigail Walker and James T. Kirk finished fourth. John Darst and Underberg placed fifth with four faults in 38.210 seconds.
Kirby has had Winter White, or ‘Patches’ as she’s known due to her distinct coloring, since May of 2012. Today’s win was somewhat bittersweet for Kirby as she recalled how she found the 10-year-old Selle Francais mare by Modesto (NL). “My trainer Gary Zook found her for me the day before he passed away,” she said. “He went to McLain Ward’s with me to pick her up and we went back home. I was supposed to have a lesson with him the next day, and he just never showed up.”
Although Zook has never been there to see Kirby and Patches compete, it’s clear he chose the right horse for her. “She’s been wonderful ever since day one. I never thought I’d get this far, especially with her. It’s been a blessing because I wouldn’t have been able to do this without Gary,” she expressed. “He picked her out for me, and I tried her and he said, ‘You need to get this horse now.’ The next day I bought her.”
Kirby also gives credit to her trainer Kelly Wilson for figuring out the horse for her. Patches as a “great work ethic,” Kirby said. “’No’ is not in her vocabulary. She is very indifferent. She does her work and doesn’t like to be pet. She likes her treats and that’s it. She goes in, does her job, and goes out. It’s another day for her. I’m blessed, and I love her so much,” she added.
Kirby last competed at Capital Challenge in 2010. Since she graduated college in May, she was able to make time to come this year. She remarked, “I was just happy to even go clear. There are so many great people here. Just being in the top six to make the jump-off, I was so happy. To win, I was shocked.”
The Capital Challenge continues tomorrow with the start of the junior and pony hunters and will host the WCHR Adult Amateur Finals, the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals, and the North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup Round 1. The evening session includes one of the highlight classes of the week, the WCHR Professional Finals.
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.
CULPEPER, VA (October 3, 2013) – With a prize money tag of $10,000, the Pre-Green Hunter Classic at HTS Culpeper attracted an impressive start list, but it was Winn Alden who captured top honors. Alden piloted Alexis Hale’s Esco to the blue after they posted the third highest score in the first round with an 85.5, and returned to dominate the second with an 88.
“He’s a show-off,” said Alden of the five-year-old gelding they purchased from Emil Spadone. “He looks to see if people are watching him, and the more people watching the better he is. It’s nice to ride one that wants to win.”
Alden was one of nearly 30 competitors to compete over courses set by Course Designer Rian Beals of Saugerties, New York. “He [Esco] jumped great,” she added. “His lead changes are sometimes challenging, but they were perfect.”
While Esco is bursting with potential, according to Alden, she was still surprised at how well he fared against stiff competition. With the start list including horses piloted by the likes of Laura Linback and Tracy Fenney, Alden couldn’t have been happier with how her young horse performed.
Jason Berry of Verona, Virginia finished second behind Alden after riding to an 85 in the first round and returning to post an 86 in the second aboard Frances Porter’s Limited Edition. In third, Jennifer Jones of Ocala, Florida rode Redfield Farm’s Clear Sailing to the second highest score in the first round with an 85.75 and returned to collect an 85.
Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas posted the top score in the first round with and 86. She returned to pilot Michael McCormick’s MTM Inquisitive to an 84 for fourth place. Jones returned in the fifth spot in the irons of her own Clouseau. They combined scores of 84.5 and 85.
With major improvements planned for HITS Culpeper over the winter, Alden who lives 45 minutes form the show grounds, admits that she won’t miss a minute of the action in 2014. “What HITS has planned is really exciting and we are looking forward to Culpeper in 2014 – it is sure to attract bigger numbers and more competition.”
Harold Chopping Wins $10,000 USHJA Hunter Derby Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, North Carolina ended the HITS Culpeper season on a high note with Caroline Russell Howe’s Caramo. The pair jumped their way to a win in the $10,000 USHJA Hunter Derby during the celebrated final week of competition at Commonwealth Park.
Chopping and Howe’s 16.3, Danish-bred bay gelding Caramo led both rounds with an initial score of 177 to establish a commanding lead prior to the handy round. They returned to again dominate the second round with a score of 196. Their total of 373 firmly sat them at the top of the class and sent them home with the win.
“He is one of the most consistent, reliable horses I have ridden,” said Chopping, who has been riding Caramo for two years. “He’s just a great guy to ride. He can walk in any ring for the first time and jump well.”
Callan Solem of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania piloted Horseshoe Trail Farm, LLC’s Balladeer to second after a final score of 343, while Morgan Ward of Milford, New Jersey rode Redfield Farm’s Comissario to third after posting a 337. Paul Mathews of Somerset, Virginia was fourth aboard Terry Morrison’s Carino with a score of 332, while Even O’Donnell of Ringoes, New Jersey capped the top five on Finale Partners, LLC’s Loxley with a score of 326.
The final week at HITS Culpeper offered impressive prize money to both hunters and jumpers of varying levels and closed the 2013 circuit with an impressive bang. “We are really proud of this week. It stands alone as our biggest offering of prize money and special classes in Culpeper,” said HITS President and CEO Tom Struzzieri. “It’s a perfect stepping stone to the all-new Culpeper 2014.”
CULPEPER, VA (October 2, 2013) – Tracy Fenney gave new meaning to the phrase ‘on a roll’ this weekend at HITS Culpeper. With her string of horses from MTM Farm, she claimed impressive honors, including the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis – the first qualifier for the 2014 Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix as part of the HITS Championship in Saugerties, New York. Just a few weeks after riding in the coveted 2013 event, Fenney and MTM Farm’s MTM Timon kicked off qualifying for next year’s edition, as well as jump started the excitement surrounding the 2014 HITS Triple Crown of Show jumping.
“It’s great to be back on the road to the Zoetis Million,” said Fenney. “We work so hard at qualifying for the class all year long and it’s nice to have this beginning to an exciting year.”
Fenney and Timon were one of five pairs who rode clear to advance to a jump-off over course designed by Wendy Chapot-Nunn of Florham Park, New Jersey. Thirteen obstacles and 17 jumping efforts contained most of the faults to the middle of the track, which included three combinations – two doubles and one triple.
With three mounts crossing the start flags throughout the class, Fenney was first to conquer the course with MTM Farm’s MTM Centano, staging a familiar duel between her two geldings. She was later joined by Callan Solem of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania and Horseshow Trail Farm, LLC’s VDL Wizard, Leann Kelly of Valatie, New York aboard Honorway Farm, LLC’s Leander and Kama Godek of Fairfax Station, Virginia in the irons of her own Air Force One. Fenney was kept from the jump-off with her third mount, Leviticus, by one time fault in the first round.
After Fenney picked up four faults in the jump-off at the return of the triple’s b element with MTM Centano, Solem set the Great American Time to Beat with a clear round in 39.46 seconds. One trip later, Fenney answered with MTM Timon and shaved two seconds off her time, crossing the timers in 37.35 seconds. Godek was the final ride and had the speed, but clipped a heartbreak rail at the final fence of the course to collect four faults in a time of 36.54 seconds.
Solem finished second, Godek third, Fenney fourth with MTM Centano and Kelly settled for capping the top five after eight faults in the jump-off.
Just two days before riding to her grand prix win, Fenney and MTM Timon kicked off the circuit by riding to the blue in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix. She was also second with MTM Farm’s Leviticus. Culpeper local Brooke Kemper was third on her own Classified and Solem was fourth with VDL Wizard. Fenney and MTM Centano made it a book-end performance capping the top five and hinting at a big weekend ahead.
Clean Junior Amateur-Owner Sweep HITS offered two of its biggest money classes for Junior and Amateur-Owner jumpers to end the season in Culpeper with a $15,000 Low Classic and a $25,000 High Classic highlighting the schedule.
Laura Linback of Mundelin, Illinois cashed in, winning both classes to join Fenney in dominating the jumper ring on Sunday. Linback piloted Woodrun’s 11-year-old Dutch-bred gelding HH Dauphin to the top in the High Classic. Travel woes kept Linback from arriving at HITS Culpeper until Thursday and she admitted that HH Dauphin was “fresh” in the ring on both Friday and Saturday. “By Sunday, he had settled into himself and he was brilliant,” she said. “He is the loveliest horse I have ever ridden.”
Joining Linback and HH Dauphin in the jump-off was Melissa Rudershausen of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania aboard her own Gunner and Taylor Burns of Blairstown, New Jersey on her own Cordero Zaffiro.
“My plan going into the jump-off was to do the inside turns that no one else was doing,” said Linback who returned last over the shorter course. “He is not as fast as some horses in the ring, but his stride is huge and his scope is impressive, so I knew that I could lose seconds by riding him smart.”
Linback piloted HH Dauphin to a clear jump-off ride in 37.42 seconds with Burns hot on her heels with Cordero Zaffiro. They finished clear in 39.3 seconds for second, while Rudershausen and Gunner were third. Linback was fourth on Woodrun’s Whittaker MVNZ and Barbara Ruziska of Ijamsville, Maryland capped the top five aboard Centennial Farm, Inc.’s FYI.
Linback only rode one mount into the money in the $15,000 Low Classic, but made that one ride count. She and Woodrun’s gelding Clooney, who she affectionately calls George, topped the 20-horse field and were one of only two double-clear efforts.
“The low was built big, so it suited my horse well – he is used to size,” said Linback of the nine-year-old Argentinean-bred gelding. “He did so well – he jumped out of his skin.”
Linback returned first in the jump-off with the clock on her mind. She and Clooney stopped the timers at 37.25 seconds with three to ride behind them.
Alexa Lowe-Wiseman of Upperville, Virginia followed Linback and was clear aboard Windsor Farm Sales’ Ami du Houssoit, but two seconds shy of the lead with a final time of 39.39 seconds she finished in second place. Andrea Smith of Ellicot City, Maryland rode her own Carivel to a four-fault effort for third and Sherri Jamison of Citra, Florida piloted her own Caliente Z to four jumping faults and two time faults to finish fourth. Sandra Zimmerli of Fairfax Station, Virginia and her own Apollo Mission capped the top five after one time fault in the first round.
Between competition in the Grand Prix Ring, a $10,000 USHJA Derby and a $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic coupled with a full slate of hunter and jumper classes for every level, HITS Culpeper boasted a record-breaking day, giving away more than $100,000 in prize money. The big-money competition put an exclamation point on the 2013 HITS Culpeper season as all attention will soon turn to winter competition at HITS Ocala in Florida and HITS Thermal in California. While qualifying for the HITS Championship shifts into high gear during the winter months, HITS Culpeper will be well underway with a complete renovation project and HITS management looks forward to welcoming riders and horses alike back to a new and improved Commonwealth Park in 2014.
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Small Affair and John French. Photos copyright Shawn McMillen Photography.
Crolick Named Winner of Developing Pro Challenge, Pletcher and Q Win North American Future Hunter Championship, Stewart and Farmer Share Top Hunter Honors
Upper Marlboro, MD – October 2, 2013 – The Capital Challenge Horse Show, presented by The Gochman Family, featured the best hunters in the country as well as up-and-coming talent in both horses and riders. The day was full of competition, but the highlight class was the $25,000 WCHR Professional Challenge. John French took home the win for the third time in class history on Small Affair.
The $5,000 WCHR Developing Pro Challenge victory went to Greg Crolick riding Grey Street. Peter Pletcher rode Susan Baker’s Q to the win in the $20,000 Added North American Future Hunter Championship. After the final four professional hunter divisions finished competition today, the Grand Hunter Champion and Leading Hunter Rider honors were awarded as well. Don’t forget, you can watch all of the winning jumping rounds by clicking on the “Individual Rounds” button at www.capitalchallenge.org.
The remaining highlight class of the week for the professional hunter riders is the $5,000 WCHR Professional Finals, presented by the John R. Ingram Fund, for the top six hunter riders in the country on Friday, October 4. The Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center, will run through Sunday, October 6.
The $25,000 WCHR Professional Challenge, sponsored by Pony Lane Farm, had 23 entries, and 12 of those returned for a second round in the evening session. Coming back on top for the second round was John French on Iwasaki & Reilly’s Small Affair, the winner of this class in 2010 and 2011. In the first round, they scored 90.33, and they returned to score 88.08 for a total of 178.41 for victory. Second place went to Kelley Farmer on Mythical. They scored 88.50 and 89.33 for a total of 177.83. Hayley Barnhill and Fonteyn were third with a total score of 175.66. Jennifer Bauersachs and Avignon placed fourth with a score of 173.91, while Havens Schatt and Bacardi scored 171.66 for fifth place.
French said of his rounds, “His first round was exceptionally great. He just jumped high and it was super smooth. I think I had enough of a lead coming into the second round. I’m not sure where I ended up in the second round, not the top, maybe third or fourth. But when you add the two scores together, it was enough to win. That was good having that cushion coming in. He had a rub in the second round, but otherwise he was great.”
“Third time’s a charm,” French said with a smile. “He loves this class. It’s pretty hard to win it three times on the same horse. Those are the best horses. Most professionals bring in their heavy hitters, their top horses.”
It was a redeeming class for French, who has had a tough year of injuries. In a fall in January, he broke his foot and had major tendon and ligament damage. It has not healed as well as he hoped, and in June, he underwent shoulder surgery as well. “It was kind of an off year, but I got well enough to come to indoors,” he acknowledged. “At first, it was nice to take a little bit of a break. Then when these kinds of shows come, you want to be better and back riding again. I love this horse show and what they do for the World Hunter rider awards.”
French said that his five-year relationship with Small Affair, a 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Elf d’Or, is what leads to their success, even if French doesn’t compete with him very often. “I think there are some horses that you just have a partnership with,” he expressed. “I know what upsets him, what he likes, how much work he needs. I wouldn’t have wanted to ride any other horse in the class tonight because I know him so well. He always gives and tries to jump a beautiful jump every time.”
French and Small Affair were presented with the “Little Brook” Perpetual Trophy donated by Gary Duffy.
Greg Crolick and Grey Street Rise to Top of Developing Pro Challenge
Twenty-eight entries lined up to compete in the $5,000 WCHR Developing Pro Challenge. With equal scores of 88 in both rounds, Greg Crolick and Adrienne Marciano’s Grey Street jumped to victory with a total 176. Close behind in second place was Jamie Taylor on Cipriani. They received scores of 87 and 88.66 for a total of 175.66. Taylor Adams and Taken were third with a score of 174.99, while Jennifer Bliss rode Poker Face to 171.83 and fourth place. Fifth place went to Trentino and Megan Young, who scored 170.50.
Grey Street and Greg Crolick
Crolick hails from Bloomfield Hills, MI, and admitted that he doesn’t fit the typical expectation of a “Developing” professional. “This year it was weird to be qualified as a Developing Professional because I’m 41 and have been doing this a while,” he said with a laugh, “but I met all of the qualifications. Hopefully, next year I’ll be in the Professional Challenge.”
Staying relaxed was on the game plan for this class, since it was more of a hunter classic-style course. Crolick explained, “I have a tendency to get aggressive when I’m in there, like a handy derby. So in this type of classical hunter round, you need to be a little quieter and be a little more subdued.”
He has been riding Grey Street, a 10-year-old Brandenburg gelding, since January. The horse was originally imported from Europe to be a jumper by Seth Vallhonrat. When he knew he was qualified for tonight’s class, Crolick chose Grey Street immediately.
“He’s a wonderful horse,” Crolick said. “Just the way he canters across the ground, he’s so pretty between the jumps. The whole picture looks so consistent and nice. And I know his mind-frame walking in there will be dependable. I know him the best.”
Crolick was happy to be a part of the class. “I think this class really highlights the rider and how the rider goes in the ring. It’s nice to have your peers at the gate whooping for you and congratulating you and you’re in competition with them,” he related. “Outside of that, this helps for your profile as a professional moving forward.”
He continued, “Even though I’ve been teased this whole week about why I’m in the Developing Professionals, it’s all fun banter. It means a lot (to win). Last year I was here watching it and this year I’m doing it. I’m glad I was here and had a great outcome. It worked out really well.”
Q Is Letter Perfect in North American Future Hunter Championship
Q and Peter Pletcher
The country’s best Pre-Green horses gathered for the $20,000 Added North American Future Hunter Championship, sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Wheeler, Kocher Tack, Corrine Bevis/San Marcos Training, and Makoto Farm, Inc., in the Show Place Arena this morning. The top Future Hunters from six divisions went head-to-head in the indoor arena, and it was Peter Pletcher on Susan Baker’s Q who took the title. They scored 89.80 in the first round and improved to 90.80 in the second round for a total of 180.60.
Havens Schatt and Kaepernick, owned by Deborah Perkins, were second with scores of 85.40 and 87.40 for a total of 172.80. Third place went to Louise Serio on Lulu, owned by Merrylegs South, who had a total score of 170.90. Hunt Tosh rode Kenneth and Douglas Wheeler’s Crisp to a score of 170.10 for fourth place. Fifth place went to Truman, ridden by Chris Payne and owned by Maypine Farm. They scored a total of 166.05.
Pletcher and Q, a seven-year-old Warmblood gelding by Quite Easy, were the Future Hunter 3’3” champions yesterday and while he mentioned that usually it takes Q a round to get used to a new environment, he easily adapted in today’s class. “It was unbelievable. He was game on, ready. The jumps were little, and that helped me a lot. If he had to walk in there and do a true 3’3” (course), I think he might have been a little more impressed,” Pletcher pointed out. “This is the third day he’s shown. Taking all that into consideration, he was a superstar.”
Pletcher said the second round was even better, “He’d been in there once and he was all business. He was like, ‘I got it.’”
For their win, Q and Pletcher were presented with the Beverly Brooks Solter Memorial Trophy donated by Hilary Scheer Gerhardt and Zan Martin Dillon. The EMO Trip of the Show for Future Hunters went to Scott Stewart and Classical, who scored a 90.5.
Professional Hunter Divisions Wrap Up Competition
The First Year Green Working Hunter Section A championship, sponsored by Peter Pletcher/PJP Farm, went to Bacardi, a seven-year-old KWPN gelding by Casco, ridden by Havens Schatt for Caroline Moran. Bacardi placed first in two classes and second in two classes over fences. The reserve champion was Avignon, ridden by Jennifer Bauersachs and owned by Francesca Migliore. They placed first, second, and fourth.
Bacardi is no stranger to Capital Challenge, having been Grand Future Hunter Champion in 2011 and victorious in the North American Future Hunter Championship in 2012. This year, going from the indoor arena to the outside ring was a benefit, Schatt thought. “Today woke him up a little bit. I think he jumped the best today of the three days because it was something new. He was fresh and it was a new place,” she added.
Having two years of solid competition under his belt has made Bacardi a solid campaigner. “He’s always been a show horse. He loves it here. He was a bit of a quirky horse when he was younger, and now you can count on him when you need him,” Schatt said. “He’s just such an amazing horse. When they win at Pre-Green as much as he did, you hope that they can go on and do it in their First Year because the competition is just so much stronger. He was consistent in every class here. I’m very proud that he’s maintained his top level of competition through three years of showing.”
Bacardi was also presented with the Grand First Year Green Hunter Championship, sponsored by Summer Hill Farms, Jordan Gilchrist, & Laura Hightower and was presented with the Magda and George Z. Lefton Memorial Trophy donated by Stacey Lefton Glick. In addition, they won the Tribute Perpetual Trophy donated by Scott Stewart for the highest cumulative numerical point total in a single professional division. They tied with Victoria Colvin and Way Cool for the EMO Trip of the Show with a score of 90.5
Kelley Farmer picked up two championship ribbons today. The first came in the First Year Green Working Hunters Section B, sponsored by the Sadrian and Kellogg Families, with Mythical, owned by Larry Glefke and Dr. Kenneth Garber. They placed first in three over fences classes. Fashion Farm’s Loyalty, ridden by Scott Stewart, was the reserve champion with first, second, third, and third place ribbons.
Farmer has been riding Mythical, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding by Cornet Obolensky, just over a year and he immediately stepped up to the winner’s circle. They are on track to win the USEF Horse of the Year award, they won four USHJA International Hunter Derbies, and finished second at the derby finals. “He’s done nothing but be a great horse for me. When it goes wrong, it’s because of me,” she said with a smile. “He’s the smartest horse I’ve ever had. He really believes there’s nothing he can’t do, and he’s probably right.”
She and Quotable were the Green Conformation Hunter champions, sponsored by Lisa A.H. Cudahy, as well as the Regular Conformation Hunter reserve champions. In the Green division, they won the model and three over fences classes, and they finished third in the remaining jumping class. They were also second in the under saddle. In the Regular division, they won the model, were second, second, and fifth over fences, and were second under saddle. Farmer also rode the Green Conformation reserve champion, Backstory, who is owned by Tia Schurecht. They were second in the model, first, fifth, and sixth over fences, and they won the under saddle.
Quotable is an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Larry Glefke and Dr. Kenneth Garber. Although he was ridden by Holly Orlando this winter, a change of rider was no problem for the young horse. He has been champion or reserve every time out in 2013. “He’s unbelievable to ride; there are no tricks to him. He’s not a hard horse,” Farmer said.
Quotable also won the Grand Conformation Hunter Championship and was presented with the Kenneth M. Wheeler Perpetual Trophy donated by BJ Meeks and Pablo Perez.
Having two such great horses in their first year of major competition is fun for Farmer. “They’re like a little and big version of each other. But we don’t do Quotable in the derbies. Mythical is the derby horse. Quotable is the pretty boy and Mythical is the tough boy,” she laughed.
She continued about her young stars, “We’re lucky enough to have one of them, let alone a barn full of them. You always have to look for the next one. If you’re just looking for ‘the one’ or just waiting for one, then that’s all you’ll have.”
The Regular Conformation Hunter champion for the second year in a row was Showman, ridden by Scott Stewart and owned by Alexa and Krista Weisman. They won three over fences classes along with the under saddle, and they placed second in the model. The division was sponsored by Hidden Hollow LLC & Ginny Edwards and Joie Gatlin/Morley Abey Show Jumping Inc.
Thanks to a light showing schedule, Showman, an 11-year-old Westphalian gelding by Showstar, always arrives at Capital Challenge fresh. He is a successful product of the Future Hunter division, having won a Grand Future Hunter championship here in 2009, the First Year Green championship in 2010, the Second Year Green championship in 2011, and last year’s Regular Conformation win.
As a veteran competitor, Showman makes Stewart’s job easy. “It’s nice to have him and Everly. They’re easy horses. They try to do their best, and there are no tricks to them. He’s really simple and he never tries to do anything wrong. It’s nice to fall back on them.”
Showman was one of three horses that finished with 40 points in a division and tied for the Grand Hunter Championship, which is sponsored by RSB Farms, Inc. and Rob Bielefeld. Scott Stewart had two mounts in the presentation in Dr. Betsee Parker’s Everly and Showman, owned by Alexa and Krista Weisman. Kelley Farmer and Quotable joined them in the presentation, and all three were presented with the Janet Polk Read and Margaret Hough Sabbatini Memorial Trophy, donated by the Goguen Family. Stewart and Farmer also shared Leading Hunter Rider honors, which were sponsored by the Gibson Family and Shadyside Farm and Hobby Family Foundation. They were presented with the BJ’s Hunt Room Trophy, donated by BJ Meeks and Pablo Perez.
There was also a tie for the Grand Future Hunter Championship between Knob Creek, ridden by Jocelyn Martin and owned by Dana Nifosi, and Crisp, ridden by Hunt Tosh for Kenneth and Douglas Wheeler. The championship was sponsored by David Belford and Christopher Payne/New Hope LLC & Susan Moriconi. They were presented with “A Rare Diamond” Perpetual Trophy donated by “The Friends of Mickey.”
The Grand Green Hunter Championship is sponsored by Balmoral Farm Inc. and Traci & Carleton Brooks. This year the award went to Queen Lattifa, ridden by Hunt Tosh for Kenneth and Douglas Wheeler.
The Grey Slipper Award and Perpetual Trophy, donated by Bridget Hallman, was awarded to Stephanie Riggio’s Indian Summer and Fiddler’s Bridge for excellence in the professional and amateur hunter divisions.
The $1,000 Senior WCHR Under Saddle victory, sponsored by Arcadia Farm, went to Andover, ridden by Alicia Saxton and owned by Savannah Stuart. They were presented with the Hollywood Challenge Trophy donated by Paula Polk Lillard.
Correction: Yesterday’s release included the incorrect reserve champion for the Performance 3’6” Hunters. The reserve champion was Small Affair, ridden by John French for Iwasaki & Reilly.
The Capital Challenge Horse Show continues tomorrow with championships for the Amateur-Owner 3’3” and 3’6” Hunters and three sections of Adult Amateur Hunters. The WCHR Amateur-Owner Challenge 3’3” and 3’6” will be held in the afternoon, and the $10,000 Children’s/Adult Jumper Challenge will wrap up the evening festivities.
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.
Oriana Ricca (URU) with Amarillo HLM scored Senior Individual gold and Senior Team gold on home soil. (Photo: Contraluz Producciones Visuales/FEI).
It was a clean sweep for Uruguay for the second year running at the FEI Pan-American Endurance Championships for Seniors, Young Riders & Juniors last weekend, when they took Team and Individual gold on home soil at the hippodrome in Trinidad, the capital city of Flores in southern Uruguay.
Chile claimed bronze in the Senior category and team silver in the Junior/Young Rider category, with Brazil completing the team medal line out with silver in the Senior Championship.
Uruguay, following their success last year, were aiming high from the very outset in order to retain their titles. The Senior and Junior/Young Rider Championships had a starting field of 21 horse and rider combinations apiece with representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, the USA and of course, last year’s Champions Uruguay.
Following a recent conversion to a top-of-the-range Endurance facility, the hippodrome provided a great base for teams and horses alike. The President of the Ground Jury, Atilio Costa (ARG) officially opened the Championships on 27 September in a special ceremony attended by local dignitaries and spectators.
The Pan-American Championships is run over a distance of 120km and this year’s course was made up of 4 loops, the last of which was repeated resulting in a 5 loop competition – always an advantage to those athletes with horses that present quickly in a vet gate. The course was fairly flat and covered predominantly country dirt roads with the occasional controlled highway crossing. The track took on the now familiar clover leaf structure with all loops arriving and departing on the original race track of the hippodrome.
The competition was certainly very tight in both categories, but as the day progressed, Uruguay ensured that victory would be theirs once again. The Senior Individual Championship, with a minimum riding weight of 75kg, was won by the young Uruguayan athlete Oriana Ricca aboard the eye-catching Amarillo HLM. Despite being only 17 years old, this talented rider is no stranger to Championship-level competition – she recently finished 4th in the Junior/Young Rider World Championships in Tarbes (FRA) and also won bronze in the 2011 World Championships. Whilst remaining within sight of the leaders all day, she waited until the latter stages of the race to move to the front. In doing so, she ensured that her 11-year-old stallion remained in 1st position on the final loop crossing the line 27 seconds in front of Argentine Gabriel Morgui and his 10-year-old mare HLP Astica. Bronze went to Uruguay as 10 minutes later the 9-year-old gelding JG Safi Zafra ridden by Nicolas Rodriguez Villamil crossed the line. Villamill scooped gold in the Junior/Young Rider Pan-American Championships last year, and must be very pleased with his seamless transition into the Senior Category.
With 3 combinations finishing in the top 5, Uruguay took team gold with ease in a total time of 17:13:01, well over one hour ahead of second-placed Brazil. Finally Chile, the only other nation to have three successful finishers, took bronze with a finishing time of 19:19:25.
The Junior/Young Rider Individual Championship was certainly closely fought with all three medal winners finishing within three and a half minutes of one another – all with a faster overall speed than their Senior counterparts. Uruguay reigned supreme once again taking the top two places with Maria Pereira and her bay mare SM Lady Adela crossing the line first just over 2 minutes ahead of compatriot Frederik Maidana aboard the 8-year-old JQ Zarial, despite them putting in the fastest last loop of the day at 29.53kph.
Pereira was also part of the Uruguayan contingent competing in Tarbes this summer. As an elite rider, Pereira is able to compete in Championships on horses with which she has not completed the qualification criteria as a combination. Her performance in Tarbes saw her finish 14th aboard British-based horse Lara Lark. Chile rounded up the podium with Paula Llorens and the 11-year-old gelding Sandek. This combination poses a formidable force having now finished every one of the international races they have started. This was the pair’s 7th event together, and the first time they have not finished in 1st position.
Unfortunately, only two nations were able to successfully finish three combinations. Once again, Uruguay came out on top with an incredible overall time of just 15:56:55. Chile won their 2nd team medal of the Championships when winning silver in a very respectable total time of 17:33:56.
Queen Lattifa and Hunt Tosh. Photo copyright Shawn McMillen Photography.
Upper Marlboro, MD – October 1, 2013 – Nine championships were awarded today at the Capital Challenge Horse Show presented by The Gochman Family, honoring the best hunters in the country. Along with the Second Year Green Working and High Performance Hunter divisions, championships were given in six Future Hunter divisions and the Performance Hunters 3’6”. The Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, runs through Sunday, October 6. Don’t forget, you can watch all of the champions’ jumping rounds by clicking on the “Individual Rounds” button at www.capitalchallenge.org.
The professional hunters will wrap up their divisions tomorrow. The highlight classes of the week for the professional hunter riders are the $25,000 WCHR Professional Challenge, sponsored by Pony Lane Farm, on Wednesday, October 2, and the $5,000 WCHR Professional Finals, presented by the John R. Ingram Fund, for the top six hunter riders in the country on Friday, October 4.
In the Show Place Arena, the first championship awarded went to Queen Lattifa, ridden by Hunt Tosh for Kenneth and Douglas Wheeler. The pair received two firsts and two seconds over fences and were sixth in the under saddle. John French and Oscany, Inc.’s Small Celebration picked up the reserve championships after a first, third, and fourth over fences and a win under saddle.
Tosh, of Milton, GA, has a new ride in Queen Lattifa, an 11-year-old Westphalian mare, and this was their fourth show together. After winning a championship at the Devon Horse Show, Kenneth Wheeler “fell in love with her,” Tosh said. He added with a smile, “(He) spontaneously bought her without me ever riding her. He came to me and said, ‘We have a new horse!’ He saw her and had to have her.”
Tosh described, “She’s a great horse. She’s careful and super brave. You can walk in any ring and she’ll go out and put in a great effort. She’s really fun to ride (and) is a beautiful jumper. She’s good about turning back and jumping. She’s really scopey, which gives you a little extra room to make an error. She’s been really good.”
The High Performance Hunter championship went to Everly, ridden by Scott Stewart of Wellington, FL, for Dr. Betsee Parker. They won three over fences classes as well as the under saddle class. Another Dr. Betsee Parker-owned horse, Lonestar, won the reserve championship with Hunt Tosh. They received three second places as well as a fourth over fences and were fourth under saddle.
Everly was previously owned by Spy Coast Farm, and she competed in the 1.50m jumpers with grand prix rider Shane Sweetnam. The nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Malito de Reves has settled perfectly into her new hunter role, Stewart said. “The first week in Kentucky she maybe jumped too high in the in and outs, but at the Hampton Classic she had 92s in every round. She’s the easiest horse,” he said.
The pair was Grand Hunter Champions at the Hampton Classic, and this is only her third show as a hunter. “She’s unbelievable. The scope is easy. She’s quite quiet and she took to it so easy. It was amazing,” Stewart expressed.
The Performance Hunter 3’6” division, sponsored by Nicole Kane/South Shore Farms, was swept by Victoria Colvin, who rode Dr. Betsee Parker’s Way Cool to the championship (they won both over fences classes) and Dr. Parker’s Ovation to reserve champion honors after two fourths over fences and the win under saddle.
Future Hunters Show Their Potential
The Future Hunter Thoroughbred division, sponsored by Take 2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program, was added to this year’s schedule and saw a solid group of competitors. The champion was Knob Creek, a seven-year-old gelding by Run Softly, ridden by Jocelyn Martin and owned by Dana Nifosi of Alexandria, VA.
The path to their victory was marked by injury and accidents in the three years that Nifosi has owned him, so being able to come home with a champion ribbon at Capital Challenge was something very special. For Nifosi, who has a full-time job as a federal attorney, even the opportunity to see her horse in the show ring brought tears to her eyes. “I was literally in tears when he went around yesterday. Yesterday he just sparkled. I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s my horse?’”
Nifosi is on furlough from her government job, and not only did she get to see her horse show, she got to ride him in the under saddle class. Calling him “the most accident-prone horse” and “usually kick-along quiet,” Nifosi was proud of her project horse. She asked Martin to ride him after her trainer, Katie Huber, suffered a broken hip in the spring. “Fingers crossed we’re on our way to good health. That’s why we’re even more delighted that he could step up and be mature. Jocelyn did a fantastic job,” she said. While he was not sure of the jumbotron in the Show Place Arena during his championship presentation, Nifosi commented, “I think he’s going to be an ideal amateur horse, jumbotron notwithstanding!”
Willow CBF and Phillip Cillis. Photo copyright Parker/The Book LLC
The Future Hunter Mares division, sponsored by Penelope Ayres and Ravenswood Farm, pinned the championship ribbon on the bridle of Willow CBF. Willow and rider Phillip Cillis, who took the reins for owner Julie Hancock, placed first, fourth, and fifth over fences and was second under saddle. Kelley Farmer and Connotation, owned by Larry Glefke and Dr. Kenneth Garber, were the reserve champions. They placed first over fences and third under saddle.
Cillis and Hancock found Willow CBF, a five-year-old Hanoverian mare by ES Widmark, in November at a dressage barn and started in the Pre-Green Hunters in April. “She just moved really well. We had seen her free jump, and she jumped really well and soft and nice,” Cillis remembered. “She had such a great temperament and we were hoping she’d make up to an amateur horse, but already as a Pre-Green horse she’s also doing the low Amateurs with Julie. She’s got the best brain.”
While Cillis worked for Hap Hansen for 20 years and had brought equitation riders to Capital Challenge before, it had been “years and years” since he showed here last. “We had a fun one and we thought, ‘Let’s do it!’” he said.
Coming all the way from San Diego, CA, Cillis remarked, “We just didn’t have any expectations, so it couldn’t be more fun. It was so worth it!” Hancock added, “It’s such a thrill to be in this level of competition and to see the quality of horses that were here. I would have been happy to have had a ribbon. To end up like this is a fairy tale.”
The Future Hunter 5 & Under division, sponsored by Randy Johnson and Greener Pastures Equine, had a championship performance from the talented Sutton Place, ridden by Brady Mitchell for KJ Robinson LLC. They won two over fences classes for the tricolor. Hunt Tosh rode Crimson Tide for Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Wheeler for the reserve championship after they were first, third, and fourth over fences and sixth in the under saddle.
Sutton Place, a five-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Valentino, was “very, very green” when Mitchell started riding him in March, with no real show career. He now does double duty with Mitchell and in the Adult Hunters with Katie Robinson. “Katie rides just as good as some of the professionals. We’re able to buy special horses like this and she rides him beautifully,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said that Sutton Place’s best attribute is his stunning jump. “He tries to jump a ’10’ every time he leaves the ground. He’s very, very careful, but the interesting thing about him is not only is he careful, he’s dead brave. You could aim him at a ring of fire. He would jump it very high, but he would always jump it,” he laughed. “We like everything about him. He’s fun in the barn, he’s brave, he’s easy to ride. He’s one of our favorites.”
Coming from Canada, Mitchell had not had the chance to ride at Capital Challenge before this year. He has worked for Heritage Farm for two years. “(Andre Dignelli has) provided me a lot of opportunity to show at nice places like this, which I’m very, very grateful for. I’ve always wanted to show here, so this is special for me to be champion in my first time showing here,” he related.
The Future Hunter Colts & Geldings division, sponsored by Boggs Hill, was the first to finish today, and it was Havens Schatt on Debbie Perkins’ Kaepernick who brought home the top tricolor. The pair was first, third, and third over fences and fifth under saddle. The reserve championship went to Cracker Jack, ridden by Morgan Thomas for Norgan, Inc. They placed first and second over fences.
Schatt brought Kaepernick into the barn from Europe in November, but he did not show until this past March. They had early success in Florida, and then he took time to get used to other show rings. They placed sixth in the USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program Championship. The handsome bay gelding just turned six in September, and he wasn’t broke until he was four years old. “He’s come really far, quick,” Schatt said. “I’m really proud of him because he really is just like a baby. He’s still green; he’s either too up[hill] or down[hill]. At Blowing Rock it all clicked and I was able to get him to take the bit and take me to the jump. Before it was like riding a boat. Here, he’s decided he can man up!”
Schatt, who now resides in Lexington, KY, has been very successful in the Future Hunters in the past few years with such horses as Bacardi and Sons Souci. “The Future Hunters are where it all begins,” she pointed out. “If there’s not anybody to train those horses, get them broke, and bring them along, there are no horses for the amateurs or juniors. For me, it’s really, really important. I try to put my focus on this show. I use a lot of the other shows for training. It’s really special to me to have one that always wins here.”
The championship in the Future Hunter 6 Year Old & Over division, sponsored by David Belford, Chris Payne, and Susan Moriconi, went to Crisp, ridden by Hunt Tosh for Kenneth Wheeler and Douglas Wheeler. They placed first in two over fences classes and second under saddle. The reserve championship was awarded to Classical and Scott Stewart who received first, fifth, and sixth place ribbons.
Crisp, a seven-year-old Warmblood gelding by Carinjo, gained nationwide recognition after he won the USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program Championship. Tosh has only been riding Crisp since August, and the horse showed very lightly before that with Terry Brown. Tosh and the Wheelers had been interested in him all year. Tosh remarked, “We kept asking about him. When she said I could have him, I snagged him as fast I could. He doesn’t have a lot of mileage, but he’s been quite good when we’ve asked him to go in big venues. I love him. He’s a beautiful picture and a fantastic jumper. He’s very elegant going around, a really pretty horse. He tries to win. He’s got good range and he studies the jumps. I’m really excited about him.”
For Tosh, the opportunity to work with owners like the Wheelers is special. “It really means a lot that they want to develop horses and bring along young horses,” he agreed. “I think it’s a bit of tradition with their family; their father and mother always did that. They really enjoy it I think, especially to have a young one like that and to kind of see what they can do. They’re very excited about him. They are very supportive of me and I’m very appreciative of what they both do for me.”
The Future Hunter 3’3” championship, sponsored by Hunt & Mandy Tosh and Christa & Michael Endicott, went to Q, ridden by Peter Pletcher of Magnolia, TX, for Susan Baker. They won two over fences classes and were fourth in the under saddle. Truman and Chris Payne, who rode for Maypine Farm, were the reserve champions with a win over fences and the under saddle victory.
Q, a seven-year-old Warmblood gelding by Quite Easy, changed careers from the jumper ring in March when Baker and Pletcher saw him. He has learned his job, but Pletcher said it does still take a class to get in the groove. “The first day he jumped the first jump and was so happy that he did about 30 lead changes after it. I stayed in and then he got a pair of 89s (in the second class). He doesn’t want to be bad; he’s just happy with himself. You can’t really get mad at him for that,” Pletcher said.
Pletcher praised his “amazing gallop” as well. He added, “He acts much older than he is. He doesn’t spook. He’s really straightforward. It might take him one round to get used to the place, but he’s pretty fun and right on.”
Competition for the professional hunters continues tomorrow with championships for two sections of the First Year Green Working Hunters, Green Conformation, and Regular Conformation. The Amateur-Owner Hunters begin their competition as well.
During the day, the Future Hunters will return for head-to-head competition in the $20,000 Added Future Hunter North American Championship, and the Grand Future Hunter Champion will be crowned. The best under saddle horses will compete in the World Champion Senior Hunter Under Saddle class. In the late afternoon, the first rounds of the WCHR Professional Challenge and WCHR Emerging Pro Challenge will be held. An awards ceremony will start at 6:30 p.m., which leads into the final rounds for the two Challenge classes in the evening session.
Highlights of the Capital Challenge Horse Show will include the World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Developing Pro Challenge (Oct. 2), Future Hunter North American Championship (Oct. 2), the North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup (two rounds held on Oct. 4-5), the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals (Oct. 4), and the WCHR Professional Finals (Oct. 4).
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.
1 October 2013 – For the first time in forty years the UK will get the chance to witness one of the most outstanding displays of horsemanship in the world. The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art is one of only four* ‘High Schools’ of its kind and its show has become so prestigious that it attracts visitors from all over the world to its home in Jerez De La Frontera, south-west Spain. This December they are coming to London to perform at Olympia, The London International Horse Show, to bring a touch of Spanish magic to one of the oldest shows on the international circuit.
The school’s famous equestrian ballet show is titled ‘How the Andalusian Horses Dance’ and combines classic dressage with Doma vaquero, the traditional working riding discipline of Spain. The display is brought to life by vibrant Spanish music and authentic eighteenth-century style costumes.
The stunning white and bay stallions used by the school are all pure Spanish-bred Andalusian horses. The breed has been native to the Iberian Peninsula for 3,000 years and their poise and nobility made them a tool of diplomacy by the Spanish government and used by Kings across Europe for centuries. Today, they are renowned for their agility and striking beauty, with their strong but elegant build and long, thick manes and tails. Each horse at the Andalusian school must complete at least four years of training before they are fully capable of mastering the complicated techniques and ready to perform in front of an audience.
The Royal Andalusian School will be thrilling the crowd twice a day throughout the Olympia week, the 16th to 22nd December, in a shortened version of their famous show. However, on Monday 16th December Olympia is presenting ‘The High School Gala Evening’ which will give visitors the opportunity to see the school’s full exhibition. The complete repertoire shall include technical and intricate equestrian moves in advanced dressage, traditional Spanish country skills, driving and work in-hand. A show-stopping group display of horses and riders finally come together in unison to complete the magnificent performance.
More details of the choreographies included in the full repertoire:
– Doma vaquera: The rider drives the horse around the arena using only one hand, from trotting to galloping, changing rhythm and performing pirouettes and arreones. These are movements needed in the country when handling cattle herds.
– Classical dressage: Horses carry out advanced equestrian exercises, always in time with pieces of classical music which accompany them.
– Driving: A demonstration of the exciting skills of carriage driving. These horse-drawn carriages, originally used for transport but these days relegated to sport and exhibitions, are driven by coachmen using classical harnesses.
– Work in hand: Classical high school dressage exercises such as levades, caprioles, courbettes, piaffe (between pillars), the Spanish walk and long rein, all completed by the horse with the rider on foot.
– Carrousel: A group of horses and riders, in unison, perform advanced equestrian exercises in the arena to provide a most fitting end to the performance.
Tickets for Olympia, the International Horse Show, start at £35 each and discounts for groups, children and concessions apply for certain performances. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit the website at www.olympiahorseshow.com or telephone the box office on 0871 230 5580.
* The other three schools are The Spanish Riding School in Vienna, The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art and The Cadre Noir in Saumur, France.
For more information, please contact Tim Welland/Rod Kohler, Revolution Sports + Entertainment
Email: tim@revolutionsports.co.uk
Tel: 0207 592 1207
Schuyler Riley and Waterloo sail over a fence in the Olympic Arena during the 2012 Atlanta Fall Classic. Flashpoint Photography.
The Atlanta Fall Classic is set to kick off November 6 through the 17, and the Classic Company is pleased to announce that the prize list is on line at classiccompany.com!
Held at the Georgia International Horse Park, home to the 1996 Olympics, riders have the opportunity to compete in the Olympic arena and ride for some of the top prize money offered this fall. With more than 300,000 in prize money offered, world-class stabling and arenas, top show management staff and a division for everyone in your barn, there is no better place to be in November. From the jumper ring to the short stirrup arena, each competition ring is highly decorated and staffed with top-notch, friendly professional show staff. “We are looking forward to seeing familiar faces and welcoming new ones!” said Bob Bell, President of Classic Company.
New this year!
Classic Company is proud to announce that Bohicket Marina and Yacht Club is sponsoring the $1,500 Celebration of Small Hunters at this year’s Atlanta Fall Classic set to debut during Week 1. Open to horses larger than 14.2 hands and not exceeding 15.2 ½ hands, the division is looking to be a new favorite at the horse show. “What this is, it’s a new USEF C rated division,” said Bob Bell, President of Classic Company. “This is a great opportunity for our competitors to showcase their small hunters on an equal playing field and we’re delighted to be able to offer it,” he added.
Bohicket Marina and Yacht Club is located just a few short miles from Mullet Hall Equestrian Center, home to the Charleston Summer Classics each July. Riders, their families, and friends enjoy chartering, renting and docking their own boats at Bohicket Marina each year. For those traveling south this winter, the Marina is open! A full service marina with a competitively priced fuel dock, Bohicket Marina and Yacht Club provides discounts to Boat US members. Bohicket Marina offers a 200 slip marina and can accommodate boats up to 150′. As a matter of fact, Tiger Woods’ private boat Privacy was recently docked there.
Favorites Are Back!
Equitation Excellence!
The action is non-stop at the Atlanta Fall Classic and will feature the well-loved National Classic Equitation Championship Finals week II. The top ribbon winners in the Classic Company Equitation classes are invited to compete in this prestigious Finals competition that highlights the up and coming talent in the sport of show jumping. Besides winning top honors in the National Classic Equitation Championship Finals, the winning rider and his or her trainer will receive the coveted letterman jackets. As November approaches riders will be notified if they have qualified.
Elizabeth Boyd and Chestnut Avenue won the 2012 Adequan Pre-Green Hunter Championship. Flashpoint Photography.
Adequan Pre-Green Hunter Championship Finals!
Week I will be the last opportunity for the Adequan Pre-Green Hunter Classic competitors to qualify for the Adequan Pre-Green Hunter Championship Finals which take place Week II. Throughout the year, the entry fees for the Adequan Pre-Green Hunter Classic have been collected and the total purse collected over the shows will now be awarded to the top 20 horses, based on Championship points, for the total sweepstakes. The purse is estimated to be approximately $19,000.00!
Show me the money!
How do you top the $15,000 Welcome Class, the $25,000 Barry Lane Children Adult Jumper Classic, the $10,000 Children Adult Jumper, and a $10,000 Jr.-AO Classic? Offer the $65,000 EMO Grand Prix Week I and the $45,000 EMO Grand Prix Week II!
The Most Chic VIP!
The Classic Company considers everyone a VIP, but in order to get the best food, drink and ringside seating, make sure to reserve your table when you place your entries. Tables have sold out at every event, so don’t wait! Tables seat 8 and are only $300 per week! See Jennifer in the show office or email jonathan@classiccompany.com.
What are you doing this winter?
Stay tuned for some very BIG NEWS on the Gulf!
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or novice looking for a positive show experience, look to the Classic Company shows and join them at the Atlanta Fall Classic starting November 7th. Anyone who has shown with the classiccompany.com knows what sets them apart from the rest: Classic Shows are FUN! Complimentary exhibitor parties, luncheons, Saturday pizzas and the friendliest show management team anywhere work hard to make your showing experience the best. Classic Company never charges an add or scratch fee for those last minute changes and there is no office surcharge added for credit card payments. For those who have not yet entered, go to the prize list or simply click on Equestrian Connect to fill out your entry form and stabling requests.
For more information on Classic Company and its exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at classiccompany.com or call them at 843-768-5503. All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director at lisa@classiccompany.com. All program advertising should be directed to Drew Costa at drew@classiccompany.com or Alexis Newman at alexis@classiccompany.com.
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See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd. www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island SC 29457
(left to right): Sarah Bullimore (Reve du Rouet), Izzy Taylor (Orlando), Lucy Wiegersma (Simon Porloe) and Laura Collett (Allora 3). (www.eventingphoto.com/FEI)
Lausanne (SUI), 30 September 2013 – Great Britain made it two in a row in the FEI Nations Cup Eventing 2013 when they achieved an emphatic victory at Waregem (BEL). Britain is now ahead of Germany by just one point in the series, thus guaranteeing a thrilling finale at Boekelo (NED) on 9-12 October.
A week after Britain’s triumph at Montelibretti (ITA), a new all-female quartet of riders led from the start, beating the home side, Belgium, by more than 50 penalties. Germany was a close third, ahead of France and the Netherlands.
Izzy Taylor (GBR) took the individual honours on Orlando, with Lucy Wiegersma (GBR), who had three horses in the top six, fourth on Simon Porloe. Laura Collett (GBR), riding at her first major competition since being injured in a fall in July, was ninth on Allora 3 and Sarah Bullimore (GBR) was 16th on Reve de Rouet.
“They worked hard and all four produced solid performances. Izzy’s win was a great bonus; Lucy was in cracking form with her three horses and it will have been a great boost for Laura,” commented British team manager Philip Surl. “It was a completely different sort of competition to the rest of the series in that the Cross Country is seven kilometres away from the main site. That means you have to be organised about your course-walking, which is a useful challenge, and they all knuckled down,” he added.
The Belgian team, under new trainer Mark Phillips, was making a first appearance in the FEI Nations Cup Eventing 2013 series. They retained second place throughout, boosted by an excellent leading Dressage score of 39.8 from their most experienced rider, Karin Donckers. She eventually finished fourth on Fletcha van’t Verahof, having picked up 11.2 Cross Country time penalties on the undulating track.
No-one achieved the optimum time, but Izzy Taylor’s smooth round on new ride Orlando for 3.2 penalties gave her a one-point winning margin over Donckers in the final shake-up.
The Germans had an expensive Jumping round. Pia Münker, who was well placed after Dressage on Louis M, incurred 16 faults, but Kai-Steffen Meier and his CCI4* ride TSF Karascanda M finished fifth individually to keep his team right on the heels of Belgium. In the end there was only 0.8 of a penalty between second and third place in the team standings.
The most influential fence on event director Tom Ryckewaert’s Cross Country course was the skinny brush on a related downhill distance of either four or five strides to another skinny at 18ab. This proved the downfall of the Dutch team, with two riders, Remco Bouwens (Wotan) and Vera Grevelink (Udiana), retiring there.
Despite this, the team has still moved up to fourth place on the FEI Nations Cup Eventing leaderboard behind France in third and will have the advantage of home ground at Boekelo.
New Zealand, currently fifth, is expected to field a strong team for Boekelo, and the Germans, who dominated at Fontainebleau (FRA) and Aachen (GER) with leading riders such as Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke and Dirk Schrade, are sure to release their ‘big guns’ again in a bid to retain their 2012 title.
But Britain, who have now won three out of six legs, including their home CCIO3* at Houghton, will not be giving up without a fight. “We will be sticking to our plan of using our special FEI Nations Cup Eventing squad and have around six riders to choose from,” said Surl. “I hoped all year that the team title would come down to the last event and it has.” A brilliant competition seems assured to close the 2013 season.
FEI Nations Cup Eventing Leaderboard (after 6 of 7 events) online here.
The FEI’s first team Eventing series, the FEI Nations Cup Eventing, has seven events and is open to all nations fielding one team composed of three or four riders at each leg. The series runs under FEI Eventing rules at CICO and CCIO 3* level and riders accumulate points under a dedicated system.
Visit the FEI Nations Cup Eventing series hub here for rules, results and Organiser details.
