Tag Archives: hunter/jumper

Atlanta Spring Classic 2012

Our Spring Shows, The Atlanta Spring Classics, starts on March 21 and runs until April 1st.  Our spring shows are USEF AA rated and we host a $25,000 Grand Prix each week. For the past few years these shows has been light and our grand prix has had less than 20 entries.  Being a light show, this is a great opportunity for barns seeking AA points and easier jumper money to join us and reap the rewards of a smaller AA show.

I want to remind you that the closing date for Atlanta Spring is February 25th.  Although many have learned to ignore the closing date of our shows, Classic Company does offer a $25 per stall savings if paid by closing date.  We know that with a two week show $50 is a savings on each stall price so we do encourage exhibitors to enter early. One of the Classic Company’s sponsors does make making your entries easy.  Equestrian Connect allows you to do your entries online and makes the process so easy and accurate.  I would suggest a visit to www.equestrianconnect.com and see what they have to offer.

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Competitive Hunters Emerge Victorious during World Champion Hunter Rider Week

Elizabeth Boyd with Brunello. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 16, 2012 – The sixth week of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued this week with the hunters in the International Arena. World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition is fierce as hunters try to qualify for Saturday night’s USHJA WCHR Hunter Spectacular of Palm Beach.

Week six of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Equine Couture/Tuff Rider, will run February 15-19. The week is full of exciting events, including Friday night’s FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments, Saturday night’s USHJA WCHR Hunter Spectacular of Palm Beach, and Sunday’s $50,000 G&C Farm Jumper Derby held at The Stadium. The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.

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The Ocala Winter Classic Wraps Up Another Week of Non-Stop Hunter/Jumper Action as the 2012 Winter Circuit Rolls On

©ESI Photography. Andre Thieme and his own Cesar on their way to a victory in last week’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

OCALA, FL (February 16, 2012) – Last week’s HITS Ocala Winter Classic was another exciting serving of show jumping competition at Post Time Farm as hunter and Grand Prix riders alike made big strides towards the 2012 HITS Championship Weekend.

Grand Prix action paves the way on the road to the Pfizer Million

Germany’s own Andre Thieme returned to HITS Ocala in style during week II, riding to victory aboard his own Cesar in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. The reigning Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix Champion is now well on his way to banking the necessary qualifying classes and is $7,500 closer to earning a spot on the Pfizer Million Rider Rankings to find himself at HITS-on-the-Hudson this fall.

Continue reading The Ocala Winter Classic Wraps Up Another Week of Non-Stop Hunter/Jumper Action as the 2012 Winter Circuit Rolls On

Gulf Coast Winter Classics – Amateur & Adult Jumper Riders Win a Trip to Argentina

February 15, 2012 – Gulfport, MS – Beginning this week at the Gulf Coast Winter Classics, Amateur and Adult Jumpers will have a dream prize up for grabs! Running from this second week of competition through the end of the fifth week – February 15th through March 4th – competitors in the Amateur and Adult Jumper sections will be awarded points toward a fabulous South American adventure.

Henry Jota Sporthorse Auction, Accolade Farm, and Eduardo Braun are the sponsors who will be awarding two free trips to beautiful Buenos Aires, Argentina for December 2013 to attend the Henry Jota Sporthorse Auction.  “I was completely surprised and thrilled when Eduardo suggested this wonderful prize. And I’ve no doubt the jumper competition is going to really heat up with this announcement!” said Bob Bell, President of the Classic Company and co-chair of the Gulf Coast Classics.

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Kelley Farmer Rides into the Winner’s Circle in Hunter Classes Sponsored by The Sanctuary during Third Week of FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

Kelley Farmer won the Championship in the First Year Green Hunters with Cinema, pictured with Larry Glefke, and the Championship in the Regular Conformation Hunters with Nanook during the third week of the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival. (Photo courtesy of Sportfot.com)

Wellington, FL (February 16, 2012) – Hunter trainer Kelley Farmer has been in the hunter spotlight for many years, and the Virginia based rider rode into the winner’s circle during the third week of the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival capturing the Championship in the First Year Green Hunters and the Regular Conformation Hunters. The Sanctuary at PBIEC, a world-class rehab and conditioning facility located on the grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, sponsors the hunter divisions.

Farmer, who rides and trains out of Larry Glefke’s Lane Change Farm in Keswick, Virginia, piloted Cinema to the Championship in the First Year Greens and Nanook to the Regular Conformation Hunter Championship. “Kelley is a phenomenal rider and we are always thrilled when she wins classes that we sponsor,” said Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center in Ocala. “The Sanctuary is dedicated to supporting the equestrian community, which is why we enjoy sponsoring classes and divisions at the Winter Equestrian Festival.”

Continue reading Kelley Farmer Rides into the Winner’s Circle in Hunter Classes Sponsored by The Sanctuary during Third Week of FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

Jacksonville Winter Series – Hunter Derby Jan. 14, 2012

Jennifer Alfano on Jersey Boy © Teri Rehkopf, HorsesintheSouth.com

I finally got to see an indoor hunter derby under the lights at the huge covered arena at the Clay County Agricultural Center in Green Cove Springs, FL (just south of Jacksonville) at the annual Jacksonville Winter Series.  I missed it last year due to other commitments I had, but made it to the USHJA $25,000 International Hunter Derby this year. Read more about the derby and the Jax Winter Series here.

Every year I get to see the  hunter classes and the grand prix jumping, but I haven’t seen a hunter derby other than what I can see online. I was really cool and not what I expected – a lot faster! Hard to shoot pictures and figure out a good spot to be in, but I got a few good shots anyway.

I was really great to see some of the hunter riders here that we put articles online about. It’s amazing that some of these riders can do so many different horses all in one class, too! Kelly Farmer rode 6 horses; Jennifer Alfano, who won the class on Jersey Boy, rode 4 horses; Liza Boyd rode 2 horses. Talk about being in shape – what athletes these women are. They are all winners in my eyes, including the 15 year old young lady that rode!

As usual, the North Florida Hunter Jumper Association put on a great dinner before the show with viewing access to the whole ring. I will definitely be making it to the next hunter derby that we have in close proximity.

Kelly Farmer on Bases Loaded © Teri Rehkopf, HorsesintheSouth.com

We are overwhelmed with shows in our area and I wish I could go see them all. On my list next is to go to a combined driving show. Here’s hoping we have good weather since these aren’t in a nice covered arena. I have been shooting pictures in the covered arena during a rain with the wind blowing hard and gotten slightly wet and cold. That’s no fun, lol. We Floridians aren’t used to the cold. It went from 21 degrees in the morning 2 days ago back up to 78 degrees today!

This weekend is my dressage club’s schooling show and it’s supposed to rain. We desperately need the rain here as we are so dry and my pastures need it, but can’t it be when it’s not the day of a show?

Daniel Geitner and Living Color Top the Field of the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala

©ESI Photography. Daniel Geitner and Living Color on their way to winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala.

OCALA, FL (February 14, 2012) – Not only did Daniel Geitner enter the hunter ring at HITS Ocala this weekend with the biggest horse, he left with the biggest prize. He and Robin Hughes’ Living Color took one giant stride towards September’s Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final with a win in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Post Time Farm.

Living Color – standing at 18 hands tall – carried Geitner to a high-score of 87 in the first round and duplicated that score in the second round for an overall score of 174. Aside from beating out 57 competitors on Sunday, Geitner also piloted Living Color to a High-Performance Hunter Championship this week at HITS Ocala.

“This course was really nice. Sometimes it’s hard for him [Living Color] to navigate the smaller rings, but he handled it well,” said Geitner, who hails from Aiken, South Carolina. “He is handy for a big horse, has a great temperament and Robin [Hughes] takes it slow with him, so he is ready for just about anything.”

Continue reading Daniel Geitner and Living Color Top the Field of the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala

John Bragg and Stephanie Ray’s Castle Hill Are Two-For-Two at HITS Thermal

©Flying Horse Photography. John Bragg and Stephanie Ray’s Castle Hill banked another Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final qualifier on Sunday as they cruised to victory in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

THERMAL, CA (February 14, 2012) – John Bragg of Laguna Beach, California continued his roll at HITS Thermal when he posted the top score in both rounds of the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix aboard Stephanie Ray’s Castle Hill to capture the feature class for hunters on Sunday at Desert Circuit III.

Bragg was impressive in the popular hunter prix that featured 40 horse-and-rider combinations in the first round on a course set by Rian Beals. The seasoned hunter rider brought home an 88 in the first round and set the stage for some tight competition. In the second round, Bragg and Castle Hill nailed down their second consecutive victory in the Devoucoux class when they scored an 85 for a total score of 173 and the blue ribbon. More importantly, Bragg earned valuable leverage in an effort to qualify for the Diamond Mills 500,000 Hunter Prix Final that will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York this fall.

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Charlotte Jacobs Claims WIHS Equitation Victory during WEF V

Charlotte Jacobs and Stallone VDL won the WIHS Equitation Overall during Week V of the Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo By: James Parker/Kathy Russell

Wellington, FL and East Aurora, NY – February 14, 2012 – Week V of the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival proved to be very successful for junior rider Charlotte Jacobs of North Star Ventures, who earned top finishes in the jumpers and equitation divisions. Jacobs dominated the WIHS Equitation, winning both the hunter and jumper phases to take home the overall blue ribbon aboard Stallone VDL.

“I feel great about the WIHS win, especially because I’m relieved to earn Washington points so early in the year,” expressed Jacobs. “It was pretty gross out on Friday and we weren’t certain that we would show, so being a bit last minute, he handled it really well. I thought my jumper phase was great, and I assumed that our hunter phase would be a bit easier because he is naturally more of a hunter. I was pleased to do so well in both phases.”

Jacobs winning ways began on Thursday, when she produced the fastest clear effort in the $1,500 High Junior Jumper speed class with Karonda V. Schl’Hof CH. The pair tripped the timers at 61.00 seconds, almost three seconds faster than the runner up.

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Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum Tops $32,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic

Jordan MacPherson and Piccobello Du Val De Geer Top $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Riders Grand Prix, Erica Felder Guides Thumbs Up to Pine Hollow Short Stirrup Hunter Championship

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Checkmate 4. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 12, 2012 – A large field came to compete on Sunday in the $32,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, and it was Olympian Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) on Octavia Farms LLC’s Checkmate 4 who came away with the win. Cian O’Connor (IRL) and Everything, owned by Abdulla Humaid Al Muhairi, were second, while Kirsten Coe (USA) rode Ilan Ferder’s Baronez to third.

In the morning, Canada’s Jordan MacPherson rode to the top of the standings in the Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series (presented by Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte), when she and Piccobello Du Val De Geer won the first $15,000 class. Little competitors also took to the ring, and Erica Felder rode Thumbs Up to the tricolor in the Pine Hollow Short Stirrup Hunters.

Continue reading Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum Tops $32,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic