Thermal, CA (March 22, 2016): As the sun set over the mountain ridge at HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California, an eager crowd gathered to witness thirty-nine riders and their elegant mounts compete for one of the most prestigious hunter victories, the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.
Kelley Farmer returned to HITS Thermal with several horses to compete in the Derby in Week VIII of the Desert Circuit, one of three $100,000 International Derby classes being offered by HITS this year. After garnering all top three spots in the Derby at the HITS Ocala Masters just a few short weeks ago, the Keswick, Virginia equestrian once again took claim to first, second and third in Thermal.
Farmer garnered the win with Baltimore, owned by Jane Gaston, who herself is an accomplished amateur hunter rider. Baltimore was Farmer’s second place mount of the Derby at the HITS Ocala Masters. At Thermal, Farmer also placed second with Publicized, owned by Amanda Hone, and third place with Kensel, LLC’s Mindful, the winner of the Derby at the HITS Ocala Masters.
Rian Beals of Saugerties, New York set a beautiful course in the HITS Grand Prix stadium with 13 all natural-type hunter jumps elegantly decorated. An extra-long natural tree jump across the middle of the ring, which horses jumped beautifully, was an eye-catcher and spectator and rider favorite. Larry Glefke, the trainer of all three winning mounts, said the course “was one of the best Derby courses we have seen” this year.
“When we came out for the Derby in Thermal in November, it was one of the nicest classes we’ve been to and the Ocala class was exceptional also,” said Glefke. “The footing is beautiful, the accommodations have been great, and we’re grateful to [HITS President and CEO] Tom Struzzieri for stepping up and doing these classes – it’s a wonderful thing for the industry.”
Farmer agreed saying she was “so proud of all of her horses; they all jumped great, and the course was lovely.” She also commented that as a follow-up to the $100,000 USHJA Hunter Derby in November in Thermal, HITS “definitely repeated themselves.”
Unique to the derby format, in addition to the base score, three judging panels awarded an Option Bonus Score consisting of one additional point for every higher height option fence jumped. As 12 returned for the second round, judges awarded a base score, Option Bonus Score and a Handy Bonus Score, assessing the handiness of the round.
The top twelve returned for the second round of the two round derby. First to return was Hugh Mutch of Redwood City, California riding Bunistar, owned by Naomi Rubin. Mutch, a top West Coast Grand Prix and hunter rider, laid down a beautifully executed handy round, taking a short, flowing track and all high fence options for the top second round score of 299. As one judge commented, “Bert gave riders and spectators a riding lesson tonight.” Mutch topped all other eleven riders in the handy round bringing himself from twelfth place after round one to fifth in the final standings.
Nick Haness of San Clemente, California and Spot On, owned by West Coast Equine Partners, LLC, challenged the top contenders. Haness opted for three of the height options to capture a second round score of 290. With a total score of 557.5 for both rounds, Haness took home fourth place for his efforts.
Farmer and Mindful followed Haness, opting for three height options and earning a second round overall score of 292, combined with a first round score of 268.5 for a total of 560.5, putting them in the temporary lead.
The last three rides belonged to Farmer, but which one of her mounts would be the victor was still in question. Farmer entered again with It’s Me, co-owned with Bibby Farmer-Hill and Susan Pinney. They earned a second round score of 258 and a first round score of 275 to total 533, ultimately earning seventh place.
Farmer followed her own round with Publicized, a new derby mount for the rider. They topped Farmer’s own score with Mindful to earn scores of 287 and 279, respectfully, for a total of 566, giving them the final second place prize.
Saving the best for last, Farmer stepped in the ring to compete aboard Baltimore. In true champion fashion, they stepped up to the plate to garner the gelding’s first ever Derby win. They earned the highest combined two round score of 578 for the night’s win.
Margie Engle and Abunola. Photos copyright Sportfot.
Kelley Farmer and So to Speak Are High Performance Hunter Champions
Wellington, FL – March 17, 2016 – Week ten of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued on Thursday with a win for Margie Engle (USA) and Elm Rock LLC’s Abunola in the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 10. Competing at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, Engle and Abunola bested a field of 83 horses and riders, with Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Houston finishing second, and Lorcan Gallagher (IRL) aboard Venturo 9 placing third.
Please note that the $130,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* has been moved to Saturday morning due to expected heavy rainfall in the evening. The grand prix will begin at 11 a.m. in the International Ring at PBIEC.
WEF 10, sponsored by Horseware Ireland, features CSI 3* jumper and ‘AA” rated hunter competition running March 16-20, 2016. The week features the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic on Friday, the $130,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* on Saturday, and the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday. The 12-week WEF circuit continues through April 3 offering more than $9 million in prize money.
Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) set the course for 83 starters in Thursday’s WEF Challenge Cup, with 14 entries going clear to advance to the jump-off. Vaillancourt’s tiebreaking short course then yielded six double clear rounds. Engle and Abunola clocked the winning time of 41.68 seconds, sixth to go in the jump-off order.
Eric Lamaze with Artisan Farms and Torrey Pines Stable’s Houston immediately followed in the second place time of 41.87 seconds. Lorcan Gallagher and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Venturo 9 completed their round in 43.78 seconds to finish third. Danielle Torano (USA) and Callas III earned fourth place honors in a time of 43.94. Ilan Bluman (COL) and Blue Star Investments’ Ladriano Z placed fifth in 43.98 seconds, and Chris Surbey (CAN) and Linda Southern Heathcott’s Doremi finished sixth in a time of 50.97.
Engle put together a partnership with Rich DeMartini and Lea Allen to purchase Abunola in September of 2015 and has been taking her time to get to know the horse over the last several months. She won her first class with the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Numero Uno x Voltaire) in November competing in a $50,000 HITS Welcome Stake in Thermal, CA. She has since had consistent results competing in Wellington throughout the winter.
“She is a lovely mare,” Engle detailed. “I watched her some last year and liked her. I was then fortunate enough to have Rich DeMartini help me put a partnership together to buy her, and they have been very patient as I have been getting to know her.
“She has a lot of blood,” Engle continued. “When I first went out to California she was great. I think here I maybe left her a little too fresh. Even though the heat is not great for everyone else, it is perfect for her. It just kind of settled her down, and it did not hurt her one bit. She has a lot of energy and nice blood. She is light on her feet and just lovely to ride.”
Speaking of the first round course, Engle stated, “I was thrilled with the way she went. She rode beautifully the first round. I thought the course was tough enough. It was very technical, and it was a tricky track. He actually got not that many clean for how many were in it. It is a hard class to build for, and I thought he did a fantastic job without making it crazy big.”
Engle also appreciated the short course, noting, “I liked the jump-off when I walked the course, which was nice. She is very easy to accelerate, so you just kind of think it, and she is ready to go. I ride her in smaller spurs than any horse I have ever ridden. She was really good in the rollbacks. Rolling back on the liverpool, I was very pleased with her there, and also the rollback on the Rolex jump, the second to last jump. I was very happy with her. She has been very consistent here; we just needed a little bit of luck to go our way.
“I was teasing Eric (Lamaze) that he was kind enough to share a class with me,” Engle laughed. “He has dominated, and when I knew he was going after me, I thought I would be happy with second place because he has been kind of unstoppable in these classes.”
Despite a case of mononucleosis, Engle battled through for a great win on Thursday. Always a fierce competitor, she was determined to compete and came out with a worthy result.
“This is good medicine,” Engle stated. “This win was very much needed.”
Engle will now prepare Abunola to jump in Saturday’s $130,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3*, which has been moved to the morning instead of being held at night under the lights due to expected rainfall.
Commenting on the change, Engle stated, “I hope it will suit her. I will have to see how much I undid her by going fast today because sometimes with a horse that is a little sensitive, if you go quick with them, sometimes they get a little buzzy. Those are things I will have to figure out with her, but if she goes even close to like she did today, I will be very happy.”
In addition to the winning prize money on Thursday, Engle picked up a $3,000 bonus for wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style riding gloves as part of the SSG Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion.
Also competing in the International Ring on Thursday, Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Main Road, owned by Sweet Oak Farm and Seabrook LLC, won the $8,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m jump-off class.
Kelley Farmer and So to Speak Are High Performance Hunter Champions
In the early morning fog, Kelley Farmer and So to Speak, owned by Glefke & Kensel LLC, won the High Performance Hunter championship. They placed first, third, and third over fences, won the stake jumping class, and were second in the under saddle.
The reserve championship went to Autumn Rhythm, ridden by Sloane Coles for Nilani Trent. They won two over fences classes and placed third and fourth in the remaining two. In the under saddle, they were third.
Kelley Farmer and So to Speak
Farmer and her veteran partner So to Speak, a past USEF Horse of the Year winner, have been consistently winning at the Winter Equestrian Festival this winter. With his experience, the eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Stakkato had no trouble with the foggy conditions.
“He’s pretty consistent,” Farmer said. “He’s shown enough everywhere that that kind of thing doesn’t bother him. He’s a pretty straightforward guy. It probably made him focus more.”
As one of Farmer’s favorites, So to Speak can get away with being “a little bit of a brat around the barn.” Farmer laughed, “He’s a little bit of his own character. He’s got an interesting personality, but I love that. I like my horses to have a little character. He wants to be careful and jumps in really good style. I love him. He’s one of my babies.”
Farmer and So to Speak will be back in action at WEF during week 12 for the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.
The tenth week of competition at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival continues on Friday with the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic featured in the International Ring in the morning.
The Ariat National Adult Medal will be the highlight class in the Rost Arena. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Rain or shine, the show must go on! Despite less than ideal weather conditions after four consecutive weeks of sunny skies, the $77,700 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Brook Ledge Horse Transportation, took place in the Main Hunter Ring and saw 29 entries compete for the second largest international Hunter Derby purse offered in the country this year. The rain delayed the start but riders were able to relax in the Legend Lounge and enjoy a breakfast sponsored by Loretta Patterson and Accolade Farms.
The cutoff score after the Classic Round was 160.5 set by Chances Are, owned by Artillery Lane, LLC and ridden by Gregory Prince of Sherborn, Massachusetts. Their Handy Score of 102 for a combined total of 262.5 would see them finish in twelfth place overall.
Rebecca Patterson’s Vecchia Murano, ridden by Amanda Forte of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania, followed Prince after earning a first round score of 161. An overall second round score of 115 for a combined total of 276 saw them finish in eleventh place overall.
Julia Curtis of Villa Rica, Georgia and her own Rocoso followed Forte in the Handy Round after earning a first round score of 166. Their second round score of 179 for a total of 345 saw the pair move into eighth place overall.
Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama in the irons of Barbar Risius’ Longstreet followed Curtis in the Handy Round order after earning a Classic Round score of 167.5. Their second round score of 177.5 for an overall score of 345 would have them finish in ninth place overall.
Kelley Farmer had eight horses in yesterday’s Derby and had four return for the Handy Round. Farmer’s first ride was in the irons of her own Need I Say. “I bought him to be a Derby horse. He won two in Pensacola and was sixth in $100,000 in Ocala,” commented Farmer. “He’s a great pinch horse and can jump no matter what the conditions,” she said. “If I ride him earlier in the class I can always try something different with him that I might be able to use on my later rides,” she continued. “He has a tremendous amount of ability and is so nice to ride,” she added. The pair earned a second round score of 194 and combined with their Classic Round score of 169, their combined total of 363 would find them moving up to finish in sixth place overall.
Farmer followed that round with Amanda Hone’s Publicized after earning a Classic Round score of 170.5. “Publicized is one of my greenest,” commented Farmer. “He’s a very fancy First Year horse and has only shown six times,” she said. “I was proud of him that he jumped the Derby and overcame the weather,” she added. Publicized and Farmer earned a Handy Round score of 132 for a total score of 302.5 and would finish in tenth place overall.
Fleur De Lis Farms’ Bowie, ridden by Courtney Calcagnini of Bartonville, Texas, followed Farmer and Publicized after a first round score of 173. Their Handy Round score of 179 for a total of 352 would see them finish in seventh place overall.
Tim Maddrix of Leeds, Alabama and Alina Dumitrescu’s Shutterbug earned a Classic Round score of 175. Their Handy Round score of 194 for a combined score of 369 saw the pair finish in fifth place overall.
Farmer returned to the ring, this time in the irons of Kensel, LLC’s Mindful. Farmer and Mindful received a first round score of 177 and a Handy Round score of 198 for a combined score of 375. “Mindful is a fantastic horse. He has won fifteen Derbies and he won Ocala a week ago,” said Farmer. “He’s been Horse of the Year twice and there is nothing Mindful cannot do,” commented Farmer. “He’s a great horse and overcomes all situations,” she said. Mindful finished in third place overall.
Jennifer Alfano of Buffalo, New York and her own Miramar followed Farmer and Mindful in the Handy Round after earning a Classic Round score of 178. Their second round score of 198 for a combined total of 376 would see them temporarily take the lead.
Shepherd and Loretta Patterson’s Triompf followed Alfano in the Handy Round after earning a first round score of 180. Their second round score of 190 for a total of 370 would see then finish in fourth place overall.
Farmer and Jane Gaston’s Baltimore were the final ride in the Handy Round. The pair earned a first round score of 182. Their Handy Round score of 205 for a combined total of 387 would earn them the win! “We are so excited about his win,” commented Farmer. “This is his first Derby win and only his second Derby ever. His first Derby had him finish second in Ocala,” she said. “Baltimore is one of my newest additions. I haven’t had him long but he is quickly fitting into our group,” she said.
“I have to give a lot of credit to Bob [Bell] and his show management team,” Farmer continued. “They did their absolute best to put on a lovely class,” she said. “The weather was wet, but no one was slipping in the ring and we had a lot of water here,” she said. “For them to offer this large amount of prize money and invest in the hunters is a trend I hope more horse show managers follow,” she said.
“I had a couple that handled the weather and footing better than others and that’s kind of a given and that’s why we have the amount and depth of horses we bring with us. There’s always one of them that is more suited to the conditions and ring than the others,” she said.
“We were all really excited to ride on the grass grand prix field, but the weather prevented that from happening – there was nothing anyone could do about that,” she said. “We had a lot of rain here and given the conditions, the footing was fine. No one slipped in it. It was more a matter of some horses getting bogged down in the water because some horses are just more comfortable and deal with the different conditions better than others,” she said. “We have shown many places where the weather we had would have prevented us from showing at all. That was not the case here,” she added.
“We haven’t shown on this circuit and are having a great time here,” Farmer continued. “Everyone here has been nothing but accommodating,” she said. “We appreciate the horse show putting up real prize money for the Hunter Derbies because these classes do a lot for the Hunter industry. We will continue to support these shows that invest in the hunters wherever they may be,” she said.
“The only downfall I can see to this circuit is the great food they have around here,” Farmer laughed. “It’s so good I’m going to gain weight here,” she said. “I’ve been to The Half Shell, a barbecue place around the corner and they served us breakfast and lunch here at the show yesterday and pizza today. I’m sure I’m putting on the pounds,” she laughed.
“We are proud to have produced the second largest International Hunter Derby purse in the country this year,” commented Bob Bell, President of the Gulf Coast Classic Company. “The weather was less than desired, but our team and the KCR footing we have in our rings allowed us to continue with the much anticipated $77,700 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Brook Ledge Horse Transportation,” he said. “We appreciate KCR and Brook Ledge’s sponsorship of our shows and the great response we have received from the Hunter riders,” he added. “We look forward to continuing to offer large prize money Derbies next year and make the Gulf Coast Winter Classic the choice of top hunter riders around the country,” he added.
For those who didn’t get to see the action live, click here to watch the livestream.
For those looking to reserve stalls for the final week of the Gulf Coast Winter Classic, email jonathan@classiccompany.com and then go online to horseshowsonline.com and enter for no additional fees. All sponsorship and media inquiries should be directed to lisa@classiccompany.com.
Ocala, FL (February 28, 2016): The second $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby of the HITS Hunter Derby Tour paid a visit to HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida on Saturday during Week VI of the Ocala Winter Circuit. As the sun set, and the lights of Ocala Horse Properties Stadium flickered to life, the crowd watched in anticipation to witness who could master the course with finesse and the highest caliber of precision.
Following the Furusiyya FEI Nation’s Cup week at HITS Ocala, was the biggest hunter week of winter and the stage was set – Tim Hott of Cumming, Iowa designed a beautiful course of 13 fences for the forty-one who gathered from the East Coast and beyond to contest the two-round derby. It would be Keswick, Virginia equestrian Kelley Farmer who would walk away from the ring with the top three titles and four additional ribbons in the top 12.
“All of the horses were great through the course, and the course was beautiful too; [the event] was just all around quality in addition to having the opportunity to compete for this kind of money here,” said Farmer.
Farmer claimed first place with seasoned derby winner, Mindful, owned by Kensel, LLC, as well as second with Baltimore, owned by Jane Gaston, and third with It’s Me, co-owned with Bibby Hill and Sue Pinney.
“It’s just incredible, but I could not have done it without everyone you see out here, the owners and all who support us. It takes a village. I also owe it to all of these talented, four-legged animals – they’re amazing,” Farmer said, nearly speechless at the plethora of victories. “I was lucky enough to have plenty of shots [at the win].”
Two panels of judges including Scott Williamson, Kim Dorfman, Mike Rosser and Steve Wall, critiqued each rider’s craft.
“The course was beautiful and very well done,” said “R” Judge for the United States Equestrian Federation of 25 years, Mike Rosser. “The fences were unique, and it was a different track than you normally see. The riders had not just one or two options, but three or four options – it was one of the better quality courses that I have seen.”
Unique to the derby format, in addition to the base score, each judging panel awarded an Option Bonus Score consisting of one additional point for every higher height option fence jumped. As 12 returned for the second round, judges awarded a base score, Option Bonus Score and a Handy Bonus Score, assessing the handiness of the round.
Farmer finished the first round with the highest score aboard Point Being, owned by David Glefke. Six of the 12 returning rounds were piloted by Farmer, but a talented list of contenders ready to rally for blue still filled the second-round Order.
After four trips, two including Farmer and her eventual seventh place mount Need I Say and eighth place Courville Paola, owned by Melissa Rudershausen, no score had come close to Farmer until Cassandra Kahle of Langley, British Columbia stepped in.
Kahle and Cornetto Royal, owned by Yvetta Rechler-Newman, meticulous in their pursuit of a win, opted for all four height options and received a combined total of 15 Handy Bonus Points. It was quite the comeback, but not enough to garner the lead. A first-round score of 172.5 combined with a second-round score of 196 totaled 368.5 for fourth place, just half of a point away from what would be Farmer’s third place score of 369.
Eighth in the order was Elizabeth Boyd of Camden, South Carolina and Brunello. The graceful chestnut Hanoverian and Boyd, a three-time winner of the USJHA International Derby Championships, opted for all four height options and received a combined total of 15 Handy Bonus Points from the two judging panels. They earned a second-round score of 188, which combined with their first-round score of 176, gave them a total of 364 for the eventual fifth place.
The last four trips of the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby belonged to Farmer. The victory was hers to win, with the horse she would share the winner’s circle yet to be determined.
Farmer returned with Baltimore. Opting for all four height options, and earning a combined total of 14 Handy Bonus Points from the two judging panels, they received a total second-round score of 197.5. Combined with their first-round score of 177, that gave them a total of 374.5 for second place – not a bad turn-out for the Oldenburg’s first-ever derby.
“Baltimore is a first-time derby horse, and to be second with him is just wonderful. It’s an awesome result,” said Farmer.
Farmer followed her own round with It’s Me. The judging panels awarded a combined 14 Handy Bonus Points and a total second-round score of 192. Combined with their first-round score of 177, they came out just ahead of Cassandra Kahle with an overall total of 369 for third place.
Mindful and Farmer entered to put in the winning round, and the stunning black Hanoverian gelding silenced the crowd as they gracefully conquered the course, earning a total second-round score of 211. Combined with their first-round score 185, their overall score of 396 sky-rocketed above the rest to top the leaderboard.
“Mindful is a seasoned derby horse,” said Farmer. “He makes it easy, he knows what he is doing and is just a true winner.”
The $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby will make two more visits to HITS this year, stopping at HITS Desert Circuit VIII in Thermal, California, March 15-20 and again at HITS-on-the-Hudson VI in Saugerties, New York, August 3-6.
Reed Kessler and Cylana. Photos copyright Sportfot.
Kelley Farmer and Tara Metzner Crowned Champions of the CWD Saddlery 3’6″ Performance Working Hunter
Wellington, FL – February 11, 2016 – USA’s Reed Kessler and Cylana were the winners of the $130,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 5 on Thursday afternoon at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL. Competing in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), Kessler and Cylana topped the week five class over Elizabeth Gingras (CAN) and Coup de Chance in second, and Yann Candele (CAN) aboard First Choice 15 in third.
WEF 5, sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, runs February 10-14, 2016. The week will feature the $380,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, February 13, for which Thursday’s Challenge Cup competition was a qualifier. Other highlights include the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic on Friday and the $86,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday. The 12-week WEF circuit runs through April 3 offering more than $9 million in prize money.
Bob Ellis (GBR) is the course designer for international CSI 5* competition throughout week five. For Thursday’s $130,000 Ruby et Violette Challenge Cup, Ellis saw 55 competitors, with a 13-horse jump-off to follow. Seven were then double clear over the short course.
Katie Dinan (USA) was first to return with Grand Road Partners’ Nougat du Vallet and set the pace at 45.82 seconds, eventually placing seventh. Margie Engle (USA) and Elm Rock Partners’ Royce were next to clear the short track in 41.58 seconds, finishing fifth. Gingras and B Gingras Equestrian Ltd.’s Coup de Chance followed with a time of 38.64 seconds, soon settling for second place. Kessler and Cylana were next to clear the short course and took the lead in a time of 38.03 seconds that would hold on for the win.
Candele and the Watermark Group’s First Choice 15 clocked in at 39.23 seconds to secure third place honors. Cian O’Connor (IRL) and Adena Springs and Ronnoco Jump Ltd.’s Good Luck followed with a double clear in 40.97 seconds to place fourth, and Eduardo Menezes (BRA) locked up the top six with his time of 43.27 seconds aboard Quintol.
Kessler did not compete at WEF in 2014, opting to remain in Europe for the winter, but in an Olympic year the young rider chose to show on home turf early in the season. Kessler was the youngest rider ever to compete on the U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team at the age of 18 four years ago, and now has her sights set on once again securing a coveted spot on the team. She hopes to make that dream come true once more with Cylana, her now 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Skippy II x Darco), owned by Kessler Show Stables.
“My horse has been jumping so well. She is really feeling well,” Kessler said after her victory Thursday. “She had a great fall in Stuttgart and Geneva, and she jumped beautifully last week, so I could not be happier with her.”
“It is an Olympic year, and it is my number one goal to try to make the team again,” Kessler declared. “The first step is to make the short list, and I had a long talk with my Chef d’Equipe and he suggested that for the selectors to see everybody, it would be good to do a few weeks here. I did last week and this week. Now I go back to Holland for two weeks to jump some other horses, and then I come back and [compete] another two weeks here.”
Since competing in the 2012 Olympic Games, Kessler has had made a lot of changes in her program and her riding. One big difference is her flat work, as the rider explained that she has been working with Spanish dressage rider Morgan Barbançon Mestre, a close friend.
“I was only just turning 18 this last cycle of Olympics, so a lot has changed for me,” Kessler noted. “I am a young rider. I went out on my own this year. One of my best friends rode at the Games for the Spanish dressage team and she started helping me at the end of the summer and that has made the biggest difference for sure in my riding. I think my flat work is night and day and my horses are much better for it. They have all put on muscle in places that they have never had muscle. I can easily leave out one, maybe two strides in every jump-off I do now because I have such a better connection with all of them turning.”
The extra work combined with her longtime partnership with Cylana was an advantage for Kessler in Thursday’s jump-off.
“She is an amazing horse. I have had her so long, and I know her like the back of my hand,” Kessler stated. “I am really blessed because she is a horse that is really easy on herself physically, knock on wood. She is very sensible, she is brave, and she is experienced now. She goes her best with a lot of blood, so I can save her. I did not jump a class this week. I just put her straight in the qualifier, so I think in that way I am really lucky because she is easy on herself and it is easier for her to stay sound.”
Kessler will now jump Cylana in Saturday night’s $380,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix CSI 5* and hopes for a good result.
“I would love to win the grand prix with her. That’s why I am here, is to show her off,” Kessler said. “She is in great form. She is in great condition, and she is jumping beautifully, so as long as I ride her well she is going to keep jumping well.”
In addition to the winning prize money, Kessler picked up a $3,000 bonus for wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style riding gloves as part of the SSG Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion.
Also competing in the International Ring on Thursday, Laura Chapot and Mary Chapot’s Thornhill Kate won the $8,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m jump-off class. Kelsey Thatcher and Pony Lane Farm’s Everything topped the $2,500 MAYBACH – ICONS OF LUXURY High Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class later in the afternoon.
Kelley Farmer and Tara Metzner Crowned Champions of the CWD Saddlery 3’6″ Performance Working Hunter
The very competitive CWD Saddlery 3’6″ Performance Working Hunter concluded in the Rost Arena on Thursday morning. Thirty-five horses vied for the championship honors, resulting in a California split of the division. Kelley Farmer and Dalliance were crowned Section A champions, and Tara Metzner piloted Celebrity to the Section B championship title.
Dalliance and Kelley Farmer
Kelley Farmer, of Keswick, VA, piloted well-known mount Dalliance to 24 points on their way to the champion honors this week. The pair earned two second place ribbons, as well as a first and fourth over fences.
Farmer has been competing Dalliance, who is a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by Avatar Real Estate, for a little over a year. The pair has stacked up quite a few blue ribbons, including a USHJA International Hunter Derby win.
“He’s just a good horse,” Farmer said about the gelding’s character and temperament. “He’s always careful, always jumps good, always quiet; he walks from the stall to the ring.”
“He’s a little bit like a pony. You kind of have to rev him up, but he’s got tons of jump. He’s a winner,” she remarked. Farmer will continue to compete the gelding in the 3’6″ Performance Hunter Division as well as the High Performance Hunter division throughout the rest of the WEF circuit. She also plans to show him in the USHJA International Hunter Derby during Week 12.
Tara Metzner, of Rancho Santa Fe, CA, was pleased with Celebrity’s performance this week. The pair placed first, seventh, second and third over fences and fourth in the under saddle. “The courses were nice. I found the lines a little more open today than yesterday so we got to show off a little and gallop,” Metzner said about her jumping rounds on Thursday.
Celebrity is a nine-year-old gelding owned by Davlyn Farms, who was originally meant to be an equitation horse. Purchased and imported from Europe as an eight-year-old, the gelding suffered an unfortunate bone bruise upon his arrival in the United States, which sidelined him from competition for six months.
Once Metzner began showing Celebrity last summer, it became apparent to the team at Davlyn Farms that he should be a hunter. “The more we ride him, the fancier he gets, so we decided to make him a hunter instead of an equitation horse,” Metzner explained. “He’s just such a good egg. He gets better each time in the ring.”
Celebrity also competes in the Low Adult Hunter division with rider Tammy Williams. While Metzner generally shows the gelding in the Performance Hunter divisions as a warm-up for Williams, the more she shows him, the more she believes he will make an excellent derby horse. “For sure I think he’s going to end up being a derby horse. He’s super brave. We’ll probably start doing those at the end of the season here and see how it goes,” she said.
The Section A reserve championship was awarded to Louise Serio and eight-year-old gelding As Promised, owned by Meralex Farm, Inc. Section B reserve honors went to Holly Orlando and Tidal Wave, who is owned by Elizabeth Monaco.
The fifth week of competition at WEF will continue on Friday with the Camping World Adult Amateur 50 and Over Section A, which will be held in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. Jumper action will also continue in the International Arena with the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Eric Lamaze and Check Picobello Z. Photos copyright Sportfot.
Kelley Farmer Clinches the Equine Tack and Nutritionals First Year Green Hunter Championship aboard Like I Said
Wellington, FL – February 4, 2016 – Week four of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued on Thursday with a win for Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Check Picobello Z in the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4. The win marks three in a row for Lamaze in this year’s Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, with victories in weeks two and three aboard Rosana du Park.
WEF 4, sponsored by Ariat®, runs February 3-7, 2016, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The week will feature the Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments® on Saturday, February 6. Other highlights include the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic in the WEF International Ring and the $25,000 Artisan Farms U25 Grand Prix Team Event, presented by the McNerney Family, at The Stadium at PBIEC on Friday; the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Saturday; and the $216,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 4* at The Stadium at PBIEC on Sunday. Also held on Friday and Saturday at The Stadium at PBIEC is the Asheville Regional Airport Wellington Eventing Showcase, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty. All of these events will be live streamed at www.COTH.com. The 12-week WEF circuit runs through April 3, offering more than $9 million in prize money.
Guilherme Jorge (BRA) is the international course designer for WEF 4 and set the track for 56 entries in Thursday’s Challenge Cup. Fourteen jumped clear in round one, and 12 continued on to the jump-off, where six double clear rounds were completed.
Kevin Babington (IRL) and Mark Q set the pace in 42.02 seconds, which eventually placed third. Daniel Bluman (COL) and Conconcreto Believe were next to clear the short course in 42.57 seconds to finish fourth. Lillie Keenan (USA) and Chansonette Farm LLC’s Super Sox were next to go, clear in 41.86 seconds to take over the lead, but eventually finish second. Audrey Coulter (USA) also cleared the jump-off with Copernicus Stables LLC’s Alex, placing sixth overall, with a time of 43.46. Lamaze and Check Picobello Z followed with the winning round in 41.43 seconds, and last to go, Pedro Muylaert (BRA) jumped into fifth with a time of 42.90 seconds riding Rubens Takaneo’s Colorado.
Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Brighton, and Todd Minikus (USA) and Babalou 41 were each faster than Lamaze, but incurred faults.
Check Picobello Z is a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Cardento x Orlando) that Lamaze purchased from Ilan Ferder when the horse was seven years old. Check Picobello Z is owned by Artisan Farms, LLC & Torrey Pines. The gelding had an injury that kept him from competing at the end of the 2015 season, but he came back to place second in the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic during week one and now picked up a win.
“I am really excited, especially today,” Lamaze stated following his round of honor. “I believed in this horse from the beginning, but it was a long time in the making. He was not the easiest horse to ride, and he was always really careful. He is still a little hard to maneuver at times, but I always believed that he could be a really good horse. He started to show us that by the middle of Spruce Meadows in the summer tour, and then he got hurt, so he missed the rest of the summer. I was not sure what I was going to have at the beginning of this circuit with him, but he came right back where he left off, so I could not be happier.”
Lamaze watched some of the early jump-off rounds and made his plan to do nine strides in one line where everyone else paced ten, but once in the ring, he did not need to leave out the stride.
“I did not count between jumps one, two, or three, to be honest,” Lamaze detailed. “After fence one, we landed a little right, so I just got back on track and then I stayed on ten strides. I got a good slice at the Liverpool and then I knew I could trust him at the double. He has a big stride, so coming home was good. I was not sure if I was on it. It did not feel like the fastest jump-off to me, but today it was good enough.”
The rider spoke further about Check Picobello Z and the transformation that the gelding has made in the last couple of years, specifically coming back for jump-off rounds.
“His ride is a bit different,” Lamaze said. “He does not really appreciate help. He likes to go his own way, and you have to just leave it up to him and he really does amazing things. At the beginning of last year in Florida, he jumped a lot of clear rounds, but I had trouble coming back in the jump-offs. I always had a rail or two, either from conditioning or from him trying so hard in the first round and being tired for the jump-off, or me trying too hard in the warm-up. It just did not work in the jump-offs. Now a year later, things have changed. This is his first big win.”
“As an eight-year-old, I never went fast in any classes because he was not so easy to ride, and I did not believe it was a good thing for him to learn,” Lamaze continued. “When he was nine I tried, and by then I was a little bit confused about how to come back with him in a second round, but by the summer he started getting things.”
With another win under his belt, Lamaze plans to bring out his big guns next week with another horse, Fine Lady 5. ‘Fine Lady’ was the rider’s mount for three out of his five Challenge Cup wins in the 2015 circuit and will contest the class in next week’s CSI 5* competition.
“That is my most ready, competitive horse,” Lamaze stated. “She is so dependable, and I know her so well. She is so quick. She will do two 1.40m classes this week and come out in the WEF (Challenge Cup) next week, so we will see what comes of it. I am starting every horse very easily. I do some easy classes and then I come into these classes with horses that are fresh and capable, but you need a certain amount of luck as well, which I seem to be having on Thursdays.”
In addition to the winning prize money, Lamaze picked up a $3,000 bonus for the third week in a row for wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style riding gloves as part of the SSG Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion. That brings his tally up to $9,000 in bonus money for the circuit so far.
Also showing in the International Ring on Thursday, Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Kerry Anne LLC’s Glamour van de Kakebeek won the $8,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m jump-off class. Emanuel Andrade was victorious in the $2,500 MAYBACH – ICONS OF LUXURY High Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class with Belita.
Kelley Farmer Clinches the Equine Tack and Nutritionals First Year Green Hunter Championship Aboard Like I Said
The First Year Green Hunter division, which was presented by Equine Tack and Nutritionals, awarded Kelley Farmer and Like I Said championship honors on Thursday morning in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Field. Kelley Farmer and Tara Metzner had to stand out in a competitive field of 23 entries in an intense battle for the championship win. Having earned only a second-place finish over fences on Wednesday, Farmer needed wins in both jumping classes on Thursday to beat out Tara Metzner and Davlyn Farm’s Cy Young. Farmer succeeded, winning both over fences classes on Thursday.
Kelley Farmer and Like I Said
Farmer shined in the second over fences class, earning an impressive score of 98 and securing her championship victory by one point. Metzner and Cy Young settled for the reserve honors, after winning both over fences classes on Wednesday, placing fourth in an over fences class on Thursday, and earning a third in the under saddle.
Like I Said is an eight-year-old Mecklenburg mare owned by David Glefke and Kent Farrington. The mare is a recent import from Europe, and this was Farmer’s inaugural show with her. The cancellation of professional hunter divisions due to rain prevented them from competing last week.
“Wow,” was Farmer’s excited response to her impressive score of 98 today over fences. It was an unexpected honor that left Larry and Kelley visibly overjoyed. “This was her maiden voyage. She was great!” Farmer remarked.
“She just does it so easily, and she jumps so careful and high. You never have to pick up the reins on her,” Farmer explained about what she believes makes this horse and her round today so special. “She goes so smooth and then gets high and crisp,” she added.
“She is easy, brave, simple… she just wants to do it,” Farmer said. Like I Said also competed in the High Performance Hunter division on Wednesday, earning a second and a sixth over fences.
“I think she can do a little bit of everything. I think she has it all,” Farmer noted about her future plans with the mare that she will continue to show throughout circuit in the First Years and the High Performance Hunters.
The fourth week of competition at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival continues on Friday with a busy schedule on two sides of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic will be featured in the International Ring, and the Asheville Regional Airport Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Section A will award championship honors in the Rost Arena in the morning. The $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Team Event, presented by the McNerney Family, will be held at The Stadium at PBIEC in the evening. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Lexington, KY – August 14, 2015 – For David Beisel, the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show holds incredible memories, yet there is one in particular that stands out for him. It was three years ago exactly that David Beisel and Ammeretto, owned by Equine Holdings, LLC, entered into only the second grand prix of their show jumping partnership during the week of the USHJA Hunter Derby Finals, and they won. Friday night, under the lights of the Rolex Stadium, it was déjà vu for Beisel as he entered into a 12-horse jump-off with the small but mighty warmblood stallion, winning the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, presented by Zoetis.
“Before the jump-off, as I was getting ready to go over the course, I was thinking to myself that it was three years ago that he competed his second grand prix, and now, here were are,” Beisel smiled. “I knew that if I had a little faith in him, and with the good partnership we have now, that it all would work, and it did.”
Out of a field of 47 horse and rider combinations, Beisel and Ammeretto rose to the top of the leader board, besting 11 fellow contenders during an exceptionally fast jump-off. Shane Sweetnam and Easy Contact Humlan, owned by Sweet Oak Farm, were the first to tackle the shortened course, designed by Allen Rheinheimer. Although they posted the quick time of 40.487 seconds, he left the door open just enough to let Beisel take his shot.
Beisel sat ringside during the course change, observing Rheinheimer’s changes to the track. He noted that deeper cups were added to the skinny, warranting a tight turn back, and the black oxer originally the 11th obstacle of the opening track was narrowed, allowing for a tight rollback. It was the race to the final oxer with Ammeretto that would have spectators on the edge of their seats.
“I knew I really had to take a shot to the last one,” Beisel explained. “Allen had made the black oxer quite narrow, and I hoped to turn back as tight as I could and trust that he would hop over it. It didn’t come up exactly how I would imagine, but he gave a huge effort. I tried to be smooth to the in-and-out and then trusted him to fly to the Hagyard. He did just that.”
Ammeretto and Beisel have a special partnership, rooted in time and trust. Ammeretto originally found a home with Beisel as a 3-year-old, and now, seven years later, the pair has an unspoken understanding.
Beisel continued, “He is such a smart horse; he really truly enjoys competing and jumping. I think he totally understands to adjust his speed out there and slow up for the jumps. If I have an error in the jump-off it is usually because I am pulling on the reins and mess up his rhythm. I think staying out of his way is the best way to go.”
Beisel and Ammeretto stopped the clock in an astonishing 38.229 seconds.
Sweetnam did not want to take no for an answer tonight. Having already lost the lead to Beisel, as well as to the 18-year-old Emanuel Andrade who posted a clean and speedy effort in 39.962 seconds, he returned on his second qualified mount, Eregast Van’t Kiezelhof.
Although Sweetnam gave it a gamble on the course, his time would still fall 1/10th of a second shy of Beisel’s winning time, landing from the oxer in 38.332 seconds for the second place, pushing Andrade into third.
“This horse was also second in the most recent Hagyard Challenge I did two weeks ago. He was close then and close again tonight. David is a very fast rider,” Sweetnam said. “Eregast Van’t Kiezelhof is not the fastest horse in the world, but he’s learning to be faster, as you saw tonight. He makes my job quite easy. I just have to find the jumps, and I think we’ll have a chance.”
All three top finishers plan to return to the Rolex Arena on Sunday afternoon for the $40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. For Beisel, he is aiming for even bigger purses and dreams.
“We plan to jump the HITS Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix and the [American] Gold Cup and to keep trying to climb up the ranking list,” Beisel concluded. “It is a dream of mine to get on the short list for Team USA, so I want to keep chipping away at getting more points and prove that [Ammeretto] is a competitor. I cannot thank Equine Holdings enough for their support; you cannot do this without owners; I am blessed to have them and for them to back our goals.”
Fourth place was awarded to Sweetnam for his earlier round aboard Easy Contact Humlan as the first of the class, while fifth place was won by Victoria Colvin and Echo Von T Spieveld with a clear effort in 42.645 seconds. Amanda Derbyshire and Lady Maria BH rounded out the top six as the last of the clear efforts in a conservative 48.232 seconds.
Liza Boyd, Kelley Farmer, and Sandy Ferrell Lead the Way in Day One of the USHJA International Hunter Derby Final
The question of impending retirement has been in the air recently for 17-year-old chestnut Brunello, famously ridden by Liza Boyd to two USHJA International Derby Championships in the last two years, but the elder horse put those rumors to rest in the Rolex Stadium Friday as he earned three top marks above 90 for a cumulative score of 287 to secure the lead after the Classic Round. Kelley Farmer and Mindful, one of Farmer’s numerous mounts of the day, closely trail the current frontrunners headed into the second day of competition, featuring the handy round. Sandy Ferrell, having just come off a reserve showing in the Pre-Green Incentive Finals Thursday, kept her momentum going by clinching the third position with El Primero ahead of the 76 other entries.
Liza Boyd and Brunello
“I think we can say that he is not retired. That is a question I have gotten a lot this year and I don’t think he wants to be retired. He just felt like he was six years old again,” Boyd gushed. “The horse is amazing. I will never have a horse like this again. I get a little emotional about him. He tries so hard; he loves what he does and he makes my life so easy. He is just really, really special; I can’t thank him enough.”
Although Brunello, co-owned by Boyd and Janet Peterson, has a few more notches in his belt than his younger counterparts, Boyd feels that the Hanoverian horse is still in great shape, which can be attributed to the training and fitness regimen she keep him on at home in Landrum, South Carolina. She credited lots of trail riding, treadmill workouts, turnout, and double rides on some days as their secret weapons to keeping him looking and feeling his best, a recipe that has shown successful.
“We do really focus on fitness, and this horse doesn’t have to show super often. The week before I locked him up in the stall and barely did anything with him. He had a massage, and I had a facial,” Boyd laughed. “I wanted him to be as fresh as possible.”
The winning pair laid down a stellar trip, proving that the best was saved for last as the final in the order to go over designer Steve Stephens’ classic round track, which presented riders with 13 efforts to show off their talents. Four fences offered high and low height options, giving competitors a chance to earn up to 12 additional points, four from each of the three judges, to their score. Boyd and Brunello opted for all the high options, contributing to their seamless round.
“I think it [the course] is typical Steve [Stephens]. You walk it and it seems pretty straightforward, but you get out there and they get a little wiggly; the horses don’t know where they are. It isn’t so much the height or that he didn’t test us with a lot of numbers. We only had one line. It was really where he placed the jumps,” Boyd said. “Even starting out with fence one, they didn’t expect the jump to be there; it was away from the in gate. He definitely placed them in tricky spots, but it was very rideable for a young horse and kept an old horse enthusiastic and sharp. Once again, he did an unbelievable job.”
As the two-time defending champions, Boyd and Brunello felt the pressure headed into the ring, but did not exude any of that anxiety to the crowd or, more importantly, the judges. The duo’s 287 score was pieced together of 90.5, 91.5, and 93.0 scores from the judges, plus the bonus 12 earned due to the high fence options.
“Last year was a thousand times less stress. I think I should have another baby before next year because last year I was just hoping to hold on and have fun. This year was a lot more stress; my palms are still sweating. I was super nervous,” Boyd reflected.
Currently in the reserve position, hometown rider Kelley Farmer aboard veteran mount Mindful, owned by Larry Glefke and Kensel, LLC, are hot on the heels of Boyd and Brunello, only a singular point behind the current leaders. She and the black gelding Mindful have an impressive résumé together, having accrued lifetime prize money topping $97,000, of which $65,000 was won this year alone.
“I can’t say enough about that horse. He is a fantastic horse, and he went beautifully today. I hope it goes the same tomorrow. I made some mistakes on some of the others, but the course was nice and the horses went well,” Farmer said.
Farmer also earned a stop amongst the frontrunners in the saddle aboard Dalliance, who is owned by Avatar Real Estate, LLC out of Coral Gables, Florida. The pair rode to a 276.600 score to claim the sixth position headed into the handy round.
On the opposite side of the age spectrum from Brunello sits El Primero, the 6-year-old bay stallion navigated to third in the standings by Sandy Ferrell of Bernville, Pennsylvania. The talkative horse whinnied all the way around the ring, but that did not detract from the strong performance as he proved to not only talk the talk, but also walked the walk to the tune of a 280.250 score in his first Derby Finals.
“He is a newcomer to the derby world. He just turned six this year, and he is a baby, and must be the youngest out there. I think that we are just seeing the beginning of his career. He was a little bit talkative out there today; I think he was wondering where his friends went because he couldn’t see anybody. He was talking all the way around the ring,” Ferrell said.
El Primero, owned by Bryan Baldwin and Meralex Farm of Brandon, Florida, is known as ‘Sexy’ outside the ring and was imported from Europe as a jumper, but smoothly transitioned into the hunter ring, where he has shined under the tutelage of Louise Serio.
“As a horseman, you are going to fall in love with that horse. Whether it is his look, his athletic ability is endless; his desire to perform is endless. He is an amazing horse, and I think great things are only yet to come,” Farrell commented. “It is rare that a horse comes out of the jumper ring in Europe and plops into the hunter ring and off we go. He is just an incredible animal. He has such a wise soul. He is so in control of everything.”
The top six horse and rider partners are separated by 11 points headed into Saturday’s handy phase. Trying to surpass the top three will be Cassanto, ridden by Brady Hamilton and owned by Emily Perez of Pittsford, New York, the current fourth place contenders, as well as Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy, owned by Helen Lenahan of Buffalo, New York, who rank fifth. Alfano also claimed the seventh and eighth position with Maggie May, owned by Billie Steffee of Noelty, Ohio, and Jersey Boy, owned by SBS Farms Inc. of Buffalo, New York. Farmer and Dalliance round out the top six.
Tomorrow the hunters will return to the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park for the Handy Round, which serves as the USHJA International Hunter Derby Final during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show.
Derek Braun and Lacarolus. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography.
Lexington, KY – July 22, 2015 – On the first day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, it was the first horses in the ring that dominated the competition. Both Derek Braun and David Blake led their classes at the Kentucky Horse Park wire-to-wire to win the 1.40m Open Jumpers and the 7-Year-Old Jumpers, respectively.
As the first pair to go in the one round 1.40m Open Jumpers in the Rolex Stadium, Braun and MRN Family Corp’s Lacarolus laid down a quick and clear round to set the early pace-to-beat at 64.028 seconds.
A few of the 28 additional competitors came close, including Sharn Wordley on Ashland Stables’ Popstar Lozonais and Alfonso Diaz and his own Virginia, but their times of 65.082 seconds and 65.290 seconds would only be good enough for second and third.
“I went first, so I just thought I’d kind of go for it a little bit. It was fun,” Braun said. “I thought it was a great first day for us. He has the Grand Prix tomorrow, so I just wanted him to look for the next jump. I didn’t want him to run too fast. He was great; he was really on.”
Lacarolus has been one of Braun’s top horses for years, and after coming back from an injury, he is on form and better than ever, as he exhibited on Wednesday afternoon.
“He started showing again this winter, and he’s come back stronger than ever,” Braun said. “He’s amazing. I always can trust him. I always feel like he can win every class that he goes in. He’s been close the past few weeks in some grand prix. It’s nice for him to go a little bit faster in the 1.40m class.”
Braun and Lacarolus will return to Rolex Stadium on Thursday evening for the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic and again on Saturday evening for the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix.
Immediately preceding the 1.40m Open Jumpers, the 7-Year-Old Jumpers had their go in the Rolex Stadium, where David Blake and Pine Hollow Farm’s Dinozo demonstrated another commanding wire-to-wire victory.
Blake and Dinozo went clear over the Alan Wade-designed course and advanced to the jump-phase where they turned in a second clear effort, with a quick time of 35.261 seconds.
Benjamin Meredith and Thalys Z, Jordan Gilchrist and Happyboy Van De Doornakkers, Martin Mallo and Tao and Blake and his second mount, Freeman, all also produced double clear efforts, but Blake and Dinozo’s time would hold out as the best all the way through to the end.
“I came to the show yesterday, and he felt really relaxed here,” Blake said of Dinozo. “I think he really likes Kentucky. I knew the horse was going to jump well. In the first round, he was really relaxed. He never felt like he was going to make any mistake at all. So I said to myself in the jump-off, ‘just be nice and neat.’ He’s naturally a quick horse. I think in the future he’s going to win a lot of classes without trying too hard at all.”
Blake continued, “He’s got a really, really good mind for the job, and he always wants to jump clear. Even if he is a little bit spooky or nervous, he always wants to jump clear. He likes this ring a lot because there’s a lot of space in there. He doesn’t feel too confined. He’s more relaxed in this big ring then in a normal, smaller ring. I like bringing him here because I feel like he learns a lot with these courses.”
Finishing in second were Benjamin Meredith and Thalys Z, owned by The Thalys Group, on a jump-off time of 35.332 seconds, and third went to Blake and Freeman, owned by Pine Hollow Farm.
Jumper competition at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show continues on Thursday beginning in the Rolex Stadium at 8 a.m. with the 1.30m Open Jumpers. Jumper highlights throughout the week include Thursday night’s $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic and Saturday night’s $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix.
Strong Start for Kelley Farmer on Day One of Kentucky Summer Horse Show
Veteran hunter rider Kelley Farmer is back in Kentucky preparing for the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals and showcasing her winning ways atop her elite fleet of hunters to kick off day one at the 2015 Kentucky Summer Horse Show.
As partial owner Larry Glefke watched from the sidelines, Farmer piloted Point Being to double blue ribbons and a third during the Second Year Green Hunters.
Kelley Farmer and Point Being
“I love Point Being; he’s such a good horse,” Farmer said. “He’s the horse that won the $50,000 Hunter Classic in Tryon. He tries super, super hard. He’s super careful, which I love. I think he’s right on track for Derby Finals; I’m really excited.”
In the irons on Glefke’s So To Speak, Farmer claimed the blue on the flat, also taking a second place ribbon over fences. Tim Goguen and Saddle Ridge LLC’s Ransom were hot on her heels, finishing second and third over fences and third on the flat.
“Literally today was So To Speak’s first day back showing,” Farmer said. “He actually had a minor injury, so he hasn’t shown since the tenth week in Florida. I was hoping to have him back in time to be ready for Derby Finals, so I think I took the right amount of time. I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Earlier in the day, it was Goguen who claimed the top spots in the First Year Green Hunters. With Rookie, Goguen earned a blue on the flat and over fences, finishing second to himself in the third class. Goguen’s other mount, Capella, took home that blue ribbon and a third in the flat class, marking a successful first day for the Lexington-based rider.
“Rookie went really well,” Goguen commented of his earlier ride. “Capella made a mistake in the first class; he had the rail. He went well the second time, and he won. Rookie can move well, so he won the hack. They’ve been very, very good coming out of Florida. They’re two lovely, lovely horses.”
During the Green Conformation Hunters, Winn Alden and her own Covert swept the field, taking home all three blue ribbons. Sarah Rice and Before Anything Else followed closely behind with two seconds and a third.
As the day came to a close with the High Performance Hunters, it was once again Farmer’s name that topped the leaderboard. So To Speak’s smooth rounds claimed him two out of three blue ribbons, with the talented Dalliance, owned by Avatar Real Estate LLC, taking two seconds and a third. Point Being earned a first and third, and Symbolic rounded out the lineup with two fourths.
Farmer was extremely pleased with the day’s results, as all of her horses are preparing for the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals in August. Farmer also plans to compete in the Finals with Mindful, who is happily resting until then.
“The others don’t quite have the knowledge that he does yet,” Farmer laughed.
In addition to offering a full range of competitive hunter divisions, the Kentucky Summer Horse Show features the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby on Sunday, July 26.
Kentucky Horse Shows 2015 Horse Show Series Fast Facts
Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2015 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals and the Pre Green Incentive Championship.
What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC’s 2015 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions host the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award, as well as the Hallway Feeds National Derby Series.
Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™, home to the United States Equestrian Federation.
When:
NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS – July 14-19, 2015
KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 22-26, 2015
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 28 – August 2, 2015
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
2015 USEF PONY FINALS – August 4-9, 2015
BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW – August 11-16, 2015
USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix sponsored by Audi of Lexington
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event
KHJA HORSE SHOW – August 19-23, 2015
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Summer Series: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Hollow Creek Farm, GGT Footing, Rood and Riddle, Audi of Lexington, Sleepy P Ranch, CWD, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program, and the Official Hotel The Clarion
Hours:
8am – 5pm daily
Parking:
Horse Show Exhibitors may purchase a weekly parking pass at the main Horse Park entrance for $15.00. Dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash.
Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located 8 miles northeast of Lexington, Kentucky at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.
Information:
Before Show – (859) 233-0492, Email: hakshows@earthlink.net
During Show – Telephone: (859) 281-7979, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling – Pat Duncan (503) 510-8797
Stable office – Before Show: (503) 510-8797, During Show: (859) 255-0605
Prize List Advertising – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Vendors – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Shownet – www.shownet.biz
Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry, and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring.
Hotels:
CLARION HOTEL (http://www.clarionhotellex.com) (Formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859-233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles (OFFICIAL HOTEL)
Discover the place where elegant comfort in an ideal location meets excellent service and affordability. At the Clarion Hotel Lexington, you’ll find well-appointed accommodations with options of double/doubles, double queens, king rooms or suites, exceptional amenities such as our free hot breakfast buffet, and Southern hospitality at its finest. The best hotel for Keeneland – Located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region – home of the Kentucky Horse Park, the Lexington Convention Center, University of Kentucky, and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – our Lexington hotel is on Newtown Pike at Exit 115 on I-75, close to all the big attractions, and is the perfect place to stay whether you’re here to get down to business or have some fun. Best of all, bring your furry friends for any trip because the Clarion Hotel in Lexington is also pet-friendly.
CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS:
Reservations may not be made through the Horse Show office. To reserve a campsite at the Kentucky Horse Park for any of the horse shows, please call the Campground store at (800) 370-6416 or 859-259-4157 or email Ryan McGaughey at Ryan.mcgaughey@ky.gov. Be specific as to the show name and the dates you wish to stay. Check-in time is 2:00 p.m. and checkout is 12:00 noon. You must make arrangements with the Campground store if you plan to arrive earlier than 2:00 p.m. or stay later than 12:00 noon. Vehicles that are not removed from a campsite by check-out time will be towed.
Kelley Farmer pilots Mindful to the win in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Week II of the Atlanta Summer Classic.
The $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby saw the best in the sport tackle the course in the Olympic Arena designed by none other than Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida. Besides a resume that includes his role as the Official Course Designer for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Stephens also designed the 2012 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.
Thirty-one horse and rider teams had their eyes on the win. The sold out VIP tent and ringside spectators were treated to a first round competition that saw Dalliance, owned by Avatar Real Estate, LLC, Mindful, owned by Kensel, LLC, and Taken, owned by Jessica Stitt, all piloted by Kelley Farmer of Keswick, Virginia in the lead with scores of and 183, 182 and 180 respectively.
Caramo, owned by Caroline Russell Howe, ridden by Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, North Carolina, finished their first round with a score of 179 and David Glefke’s Point Being, also ridden by Farmer, stood in fifth place with a total first round score of 174. Standing in sixth after the first round was North C, owned and ridden by Jaime Steinhaus of Milton, Georgia, with a score of 167. Quinta Bella, owned by Signe Ostby and ridden by Ashton Alexander, followed with a first round score of 166. Lee Cesery’s Comanche, ridden by Megan Young of Jacksonville, Florida, earned a first round score of 160.5 and Fitz, owned by Fairfield Farms, LLC and ridden by Megan Wexler of Reddick, Florida, followed with a first round score of 160. Grace Albritton of Westlake, Texas, piloted her own Inxs to a first round score of 159 and Donald Stewart’s Lilly Wood, piloted by Alexander, turned in a first round score of 156. Cherche, owned by Palm Ponies, LLC and ridden by Hayley Iannotti, wrapped up the top twelve with a first round score of 154.
The Handy round offered options at fences 1, 2, 8 and 9 with a trot option at fence 7. Iannotti and Cherche were the first to go and took the options, receiving a combined total of 8 option bonus points plus a total of 7 handy points and a second round total score of 100. Combined with their first round score of 154, they would finish eleventh overall with 254 points.
Alexander and Lilly Wood were next to go and earned a second round score of 84. Combined with their first round, their total score of 240 would see the pair finish in twelfth place.
Inxs and Acosta received a total of two option bonus points and five handy bonus points and a second round score of 135. Their total overall score of 294 would see them finish in ninth overall.
Wexler and Fix received a total of eight option and eleven handy bonus points and a second round score of 109. Their overall total score of 269 would see the pair finish in tenth overall.
Comanche and Young received a total second score of 166 which included eight bonus option points and eight handy points. Their overall total was 326.5 which would have them finish in eighth place overall.
Alexander and Quinta Bella followed with a second round score of 174 which included two bonus option points and seven handy points. Their overall score of 340 earned them seventh overall.
North C and Steinhaus were next to tackle the course and earned a second round score of 179.5 which included eight bonus option points and five handy points. Their combined overall score of 346.5 placed them in sixth place overall.
Point Being and Farmer followed North C and received a second round score of 178, which included eight bonus option and eight handy bonus points. Their overall score of 352 would see the pair finish in fifth place overall.
Caramo and Chopping followed Farmer and North C and with a second round score of 197 which included eight option bonus points and eighteen handy points. Their overall score of 376 would place them in third place overall.
Farmer was back again, this time in the irons of Taken and earned a second round score of 193 which included eight bonus option points and fifteen handy points. Their overall score of 373 would see them finish in fourth place overall.
Farmer had the final two rides in the Derby. She and Mindful earned a second round score of 206 which included eight bonus option points and seventeen handy points. Their overall score of 388 would take the lead over Chopping and she still had one ride to go.
Dalliance, ridden by Farmer, was the last to go and earned a second round score of 204.5 which included eight option bonus points and sixteen handy points. Their total score of 387.5 would give them the second place finish while Mindful and Farmer took championship honors.
“It was such a great class, beautifully designed course and great horses,” commented Bell. “Steve [Stephens] did a wonderful job designing the derby course. We couldn’t be happier with how it all went,” he said.
Zone 4 USHJA Pony and Junior/Amateur Handy Hunter Classic Results
Friday the Zone 4 USHJA $1,000 Pony and $1,000 Junior/Amateur Handy Hunter Classic saw 15 and 22 entries, respectively, compete for the honors of winning a ribbon and qualifying for the Finals. Ribbon winners have the opportunity to compete in the Finals either at the Atlanta Fall Classic this November or in Tampa.
The $1,000 Pony Handy Hunter Classic awarded Pride Rock, owned by KMW Ponies, LLC and ridden by Devin Seck, the blue ribbon while Flyer Miles, owned and ridden by Hagen Blackwell, received second place. Devin returned for the third place ribbon, this time in the irons of Ashley Vail Aycox’s Peterpotamus. Fourth place was awarded to Just My Style owned and ridden by Whitney McKinley and fifth went to Jet Blue, owned by Amber Hill Farm and ridden by Sydney Monckton. Abigail Dubose piloted her own Northwind Marin to sixth place honors and Margaret Wolfe rode her own Crowd Pleaser to seventh place. For full details on this class, click here.
Bellwether, owned and ridden by Amber Dunn, won the $1,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur Handy Hunter Classic and Patowmack, owned by Stone Lane Farm and ridden by Alyssa Mansfield, was awarded second place. Third was awarded to Rose Gold, owned and ridden by Abigail Dubose, and fourth place went to Lead Story, owned by Fit to Print Farm and ridden by Charley Durgin. Fit to Print Farm’s Page Turner, ridden by Sydney Crenshaw won fifth place. Sixth was awarded to Lyons Creek Ciroc, owned by Maggie Lewis and ridden by Ashley Scott Armstrong, and Simple, owned and ridden by Gianna Cobb, placed seventh.
To participate, the rider and owner of the horse or pony must have the USHJA Zone 4 as their home zone of record and be eligible to compete under Zone 4 Specifications, be in good standing with USEF and USHJA, and horses must be registered with the USHJA.
The USHJA Zone 4 Hunter Committee created the Handy Hunter Classic program to test skills that riders and their horses might use during an enjoyable day of foxhunting, combining elements of flat and over-fences classes. A “handy hunter” is a horse or pony that is very easy to maneuver around a course in a ring or in the hunt field. Elements that may be seen in a handy hunter class include fences at the gallop, rollbacks, trot fences, and a gate to open and/or close while mounted.
“As a committee we thought that offering free classes all over the zone with prize money was a great way for our zone to spend some of the allocated money from the $2 USHJA Zone Support fee we all pay to compete. This idea for a Handy Hunter as a simple class will help the lower heights prepare for the Handy classes that are required in many A-rated divisions. So far the classes have been a big success,” said Bob Bell, President of Classic Company and USHJA Hunter Zone 4 Chairman.
Sunday wrapped up the Atlanta Summer Classics so stand by for the Great Magnolia Show Jumping Tour Circuit Standings! Brownland Farms is the next stop on the Tour with MORE and the Charleston Summer Classic on Johns Island, South Carolina will be the home of the grand finale of the show jumping tour, awarding beautiful silver loving cup trophies to Circuit Champions!
The Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. 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.
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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
Hayley Waters Bests $3,500 NAL Low Jr./AO Jumper Classic on Final Day of Tryon Spring 5
Mill Spring, NC – May 17, 2015 – Kelley Farmer of Keswick, VA continued her incredibly successful week at Tryon International Equestrian Center’s (TIEC) World Championship Hunter Rider Week (WCHR), taking top honors aboard Point Being in the final $50,000 WCHR Open Hunter Classic. The class marked the conclusion of WCHR Week at the Tryon Spring 5 competition. The Tryon Spring Series will continue on Wednesday, May 20, with the start of Tryon Spring 6 and the Tryon Spring Series will continue through June 7.
Farmer, who took home the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby this past Friday aboard longtime mount, Mindful, finished her week at TIEC with a win on another rising talent in her ever-growing string, Point Being. The duo bested the class of 16 to take top honors, scoring an 87.5 in the first round and a 91 in the second. An ecstatic Farmer feels more prepared than ever heading to The Devon Horse Show next week, the next stop on their 2015 show schedule.
“This was a great week! I had him as a First Year horse last year and then he spent the winter in California so we just got him back shortly before the Lexington Spring Shows started. We went to Texas, where he ribboned, and then came here where he was third in the Derby,” said Farmer. “When we came back for the Handy round on Friday, I messed up. We’re still getting familiar with each other again.”
Point Being is a true star according to Farmer and just needs a little bit of refinement before truly coming into his own in the hunter ring. She continues to have high hopes for the gelding heading into the competitive part of the summer season.
“He’s always tries his hardest. It’s a benefit, but it can also be a detriment sometimes too because he tries so hard and sometimes it’s almost too hard,” she explained. “That is nothing you would ever want to fault him for though, because that’s what we love about him so much.”
Farmer’s trainer Larry Glefke agreed. “He can be a little bit difficult because of the fact that when he goes in the ring he doesn’t ever try and not jump over the top of the standards.” The beautiful bay gelding has the talent to excel in a both the hunters and the jumpers, but Glefke believes the experience in the hunter ring will do nothing but benefit the gelding moving forward in his career, whether that be in the hunter ring or possibly jumping around a Grand Prix.
“We’ve had some big time jumper riders and trainers tell us that we really need to take him over to the jumper ring. He’s only seven years of age, but we’ve always said, even if he makes it over in the other ring, this is incredible experience for him too,” said Glefke and Farmer agreed.
Competing the gelding has been a highlight for Farmer, who has always thought he would be excel under her tutelage. The duo has already been extremely successful upon his return and ultimately, Farmer will look towards USHJA Derby Finals with Point Being later in the summer in Lexington, KY.
“I’m so excited to have him back. I’ve always absolutely loved him, and I have a special place in my heart for horses that give you that much try and he brings that much intensity every time,” commented Farmer. “He’s always been one of my favorites.”
Farmer had four other rides in the class, finishing in second aboard Avatar Real Estate, LLC’s Dalliance, fourth on Jessica Stitt’s Taken, sixth piloting Kensel, LLC’s Mindful, and twelfth aboard Glefke & Kensel, LLC’s So to Speak, all of whom have the talent to win on any given day.
“Today’s class was lovely and the ring was beautiful. They built a great course, and the horses jumped really well. It’s so nice for this venue to give that kind of money for a hunter classic and the footing is beautiful and the facility is just tremendous,” said Farmer. “This was such a pleasant experience for us and the horses and J. P. Godard put on just a lovely show. We really couldn’t be happier with how this week went for us.”
Glefke agreed and continued with the sentiment. “This facility is just top-notch and with the grass rings they’re going to build, I truly love this place. We normally don’t come to shows that we haven’t been to before because we don’t know about the footing, but the footing here is absolutely sensational and the stabling is just world-class, plus I love the Roger’s Diner and the chocolate milkshakes,” he laughed.
Hayley Waters and Carthesino Z Win $3,500 NAL Low Jr./AO Jumper Classic
Hayley Waters of Sparr, FL took the top prize in the $3,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic besting the class of 23 entries. Waters and Carthesino Z finished the first track in 78.314 seconds and completed the jump-off nearly three seconds faster than the second place finishers, Madeline Thatcher aboard Skilliane De Varnel, crossing the timers in 30.628 seconds.
Hayley Waters and Carthesino Z
“He’s a really quick horse, and he turns really well in the ring. I know I can ask him for the tight turns, and he’s super careful all the way around,” commented Waters. “I trust him at the jumps, and he’s confident in the ring, so I felt like he did a really great job for me today.”
The course had several tight inside turns that made riders work hard to finish clear and within the time allowed. Waters looked to take the risky turns, but knew that Carthesino Z would stay with her throughout the course.
“I definitely thought the inside turn to the last fence was going to be hard. I didn’t know if it was going to be faster to go inside or right around, but when I was riding and saw it, it was right there so I just took a chance and went for it and he handled it brilliantly,” she said.
Carthesino Z packs a lot of punch for his smaller and more compact frame. He can turn on a dime and made the 1.20m course look easy. Waters, who has been riding the gelding for a little bit over a year, has been impressed with his ability to step up to the plate and is looking to move him towards the High Amateur classes over the summer.
“He’s just the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. We started him mostly in the Lows and then we moved him to the Mediums when we were in Ocala this winter, so this is his first week back from his vacation after the winter season,” commented Waters. “I’m hoping to move him up to the Highs pretty soon at some point this summer.”
Waters competed two horses in the $50,000 Tryon Grand Prix held last night, May 16, under the lights in the George H. Morris Stadium. She piloted both mounts around the large Guilherme Jorge (BRA) with no jumping faults, adding only time penalties to both rounds. The numerous opportunities TIEC offers have made it a successful stop in her seasonal schedule this year.
“We came to TIEC last fall, and we decided that it was a place we wanted to continue competing at. The atmosphere is perfect and everything is so beautiful. The footing is also just top notch. Overall it’s a great show,” she said. “I’ve been able to gain valuable experience here, and we’re hoping to come back in July after we do Devon and Upperville later in the month.”
Madeline Thatcher of West Bluffdale, UT finished the class in second and third place. She rode to second aboard Skilliane De Varnel in 33.352 seconds and Dolce Vita to third in 33.943 seconds.
For more information on TIEC and a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com. Please “Like” the TIEC Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tryonresort to be eligible for various contests and promotions.
About Tryon International Equestrian Center
The Tryon International Equestrian Center is destined to become one of the premier centers in the equestrian world. This new facility opened in June 2014 with sanctioned horse shows and initial supporting amenities including 10 riding arenas, 850 permanent stalls, a covered riding facility and fitness center. Future expansion includes a sports complex, two hotels, sporting clay course, and an 18-hole golf course plus a full calendar of equestrian competitions and activities. It is a spring, summer and fall haven for eastern and northeastern American equestrian competitors and enthusiasts. For more information, call 828-863-1000 or visit www.tryon.com.
