Coyne and Cascada Top First Leg of $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix Series
Mill Spring, NC – May 15, 2015 – Today served as a day of firsts at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) as the venue hosted their inaugural $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and the first $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix of the series. Kelley Farmer and Kensel, LLC’s Mindful took the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby in fashionable form, which is Mindful’s fourth consecutive derby win. Jordan Coyne and her own Cascada topped the $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix. Tryon Spring 5 continues with competition tomorrow highlighting the “Saturday Night Lights” $50,000 Tryon Grand Prix beginning at 6:30pm and the $50,000 WCHR Open Hunter Classic starting 1pm on Sunday, May 17. The Tryon Spring Series continues through June 7.
Kelley Farmer and Mindful led from start to finish in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby with an overall score of 380.5 to best the class of 20 entries. Farmer and Mindful laid down their usual smooth and crisp rides to earn a 181 in the first round and a 199.5 in the second handy round.
“He absolutely tries his heart out. He wants to win that ribbon as much as you do when you go into the ring,” commented Farmer about her successful relationship with longtime partner, Mindful. “He knows his job and he’s just a total class act.”
The duo took each of the high options during their handy round, greatly improving their final score with the additional points awarded for their decision to do so. Mindful, a true competitor in the ring, made the difficult rollback turns and large options look simple and easy.
“We’re trying to save him for Derby Finals in Lexington, KY later this year. This weekend will help to prep for Devon next week. We learned in Florida this past season that he just loves to work. We tried to give him time off, and he wasn’t happy. He wants to be ridden and wants to win as much as anyone out there,” said Larry Glefke, Farmer’s trainer.
Farmer had an extremely successful night piloting three other horses in the class to top ten finishes. She placed third aboard Derby Hill’s Point Being, fifth aboard Avatar Real Estate LLC’s Dalliance and seventh aboard Glefke, Hill & Kensel LLC’s In Private. Farmer currently has six mounts entered in Sunday’s $50,000 WCHR Open Hunter Classic, which was the reason her team made the trip to TIEC this week.
“We always feel like when there is a support of our sport, it’s our job to be here competing,” she explained. “We don’t see that kind of money and support for our sport very often and when it is there, we are big believers in whether you have to travel or not, when someone finds a way to support the sport like that, whether it be a derby or a classic, you need to be there.”
Jordan Coyne and Cascada Win First $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix of the Season at TIEC
Jordan Coyne, 23, of New Port Richie, FL, had two excellent trips aboard Cascada in the inaugural $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix at TIEC to take home a well-deserved win. Coyne and the 2007 Rhinelander mare (Christiano x Carmina) are new to the 1.45m level and Coyne was pleased with her mare, as she entered the class looking to gain experience and came out with an unexpected win.
“We just got her in November so I’m still figuring her out. She’s coming along really nicely. We showed in Ocala [FL] over the winter, starting in the Mediums and then moved to the Highs and we finished in the High Amateurs there,” explained Coyne. “This was her first real 1.45m track, and I am just really happy with her.”
Jordan Coyne and Cascada
The class of 13 entries saw six clear rounds, moving riders towards a competitive jump-off where Coyne ultimately put in the fastest clear round, finishing in 39.965 seconds. The Guilherme Jorge course tested riders in all of the right places, and Coyne believes the series will continue to be a growing success at TIEC.
“This was a perfect track for this class. I thought it wasn’t too big but it was technical and you really had to pay attention the whole time to what was coming next. I thought for the class, it was perfect,” she commented. “I’m so glad they’re offering this class. It’s a great to have it here, and we’ll keep doing the Under 25 Grand Prix throughout the rest of our stay. She obviously likes it and maybe some of the High Amateur Classics too.”
Cascada’s impressive performance today has given Coyne confidence that the mare is ready to tackle some of the bigger tracks the duo will face as their season continues this year. As the relationship between the two is still budding, their win today felt like an extraordinary accomplishment for Coyne.
“I went in knowing that I wouldn’t be disappointed if we dropped a few rails because like I said, this is her first real class at this level and I was going more for miles than anything and when I finished the last jump and realized I was clean I was just ecstatic. Completely above all of my expectations.”
Bryn Sadler took both second and third place in the class aboard Bon Giorno in 41.378 seconds and Mullentine Imperial in 42.104 seconds, respectively.
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.
Wellington, FL – February 6, 2015 – An underdog rose to the top of the ranks today at The Ridge at Wellington’s second annual Hunter Derby Days. Mindset is the rising superstar of Rose Hill Farm, bought for Lilli Hymowitz to show in the Small Junior Hunter division, but today professional hunter rider Kelley Farmer captured the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby victory with consistent rounds and finesse on the turf derby field. Farmer and Mindset bested a field of top competitors, while David Oliynyk and Generous captured the second place and Brady Mitchell and Answer Me This finished third.
Kenneth Krome and Nick Granat of the United States captured the essence of a traditional hunt field as he transformed the turf Hunter Derby Field at the Ridge at Wellington into a challenging and beautifully set course. He utilized natural objects such as logs, brush and birch to set the scene, while challenging riders with a serpentine of obstacles. Set amidst the surrounding water and an array of palm trees, the top 12 riders had to traverse the technical second round course track while still earning valuable handy and high option points, adding crucial tallies to their already impressive score.
Out of a field of 22 horse and rider combinations, 12 would find their way into the challenging handy course, with Farmer and Mindful leading the way with a base score of 188 points. Returning in reverse order, each round showed handiness and accuracy with riders choosing inside turns, angles and strong hand gallops to impress judges Linda Andrisani, R. Scott Fitton, Mindy Minetto and Dee Thomas. It was Oliynyk who shined with veteran partner Generous, owned by Lori Gaudet. They earned seven points for their handiness through the course, and chose all four high options for a combined handy score of 194 points, jumping from seventh with the high scoring handy round to the second place position.
“It’s a wonderful venue. Being able to show out on the grass is so different than being at the show grounds,” Oliynyk said. “It is different to come and do and give the horses a different experience. We can to the second hunter derby last year, and we loved it so much we returned for this year. He has always been really good on the grass. He really hasn’t shown that much this year, this is his first show back.”
Oliynyk continued, “The first round he was a little spirited, but he settled down for the second round. He came back in beautifully and really felt like he was jumping well; it was fun to go out there. I thought the courses were very fair and considering the amount of rain we had yesterday, the turf was great, they maintain it so well.”
Although Farmer led the standings coming back for the handy round, a mishap at the birch trot jump ultimately lost her one-two finish she was hoping for with Mindful.
“I am dumbfounded as to what happened at that trot jump,” Farmer laughed. “My bravest horse! He has jumped every course in North America. I don’t know if it was the birch or the background, but it was a good experience for us. We will practice with more birch logs at home and more distractions in the background. He has given so much though, that he owes nothing.”
It was Mindset who would stand in the limelight today for his two consistent rounds in the International Hunter Derby. The young gelding has only been in the United States for a little over two months, but he is already earning a name in the hunter ring, and now in the hunter derby competitions.
“What an amazing animal — they all are!” eventual winner Farmer exclaimed. “We bought him and then we sold him to Rose Hill Farm. Lilli Hymowitz has been showing him in the Younger Small Juniors and it looks like it is going to be a beautiful match. Ideally, he is for her, but since yesterday got scrapped with all of the rain, we thought it would be best to bring him out and show him here where he can have a good experience.”
Taking a more conservative approach to the first round, Farmer chose to only jump the low options, earning the first round score of 86 and 86.5 for a cumulative base score of 172.5 points. They returned for the handy round with a little more gusto, choosing two high options and adding seven handy points to their score for an 85 and an 81.
“I jumped all low in the first round since he is such a good jumper,” Farmer said. “I had to think about what he has to do tomorrow; I may have taken a different option, but I didn’t want to overdo him. I used my better judgment.”
Farmer continued, “He is brave, scopey and athletic. I thought he might do well out here; I thought he had a chance; it is great that he won. This field is tough with the water and how open the field is; the horses sometimes get lost out here. He is a fantastic horse, and I am lucky enough that I still have the opportunity to ride him.”
Oliynyk would finish second with a combined score of 349 points, 12 points off of Farmer’s winning total. Brady Mitchell and Answer Me This, owned by Phoebe Weseley, took home the third place finish with a final score of 330 points.
Farmer described the courses, saying, “It was enough course for a young horse. This field is great! They take great care of it, and it rides nicely. I thought they built beautifully; it looks nice, and it was hard enough but still allowed riders to have the option.”
Chad Keenum and High Five captured the fourth place with a score of 329 points, while Evan Coluccio and Rarity finished fifth, just a point behind. Peter Wylde and Candor rounded out the top six with a cumulative score of 328 points.
Earlier in the day, riders from across the country traveled to compete in the first of two USHJA National Hunter Derbies, offered as part of The Ridge at Wellington’s Turf Tour Series: Hunter Derby Days. The day kicked off with perfect conditions under sunny skies at The Ridge at Wellington, where the picturesque facility provided an incredible backdrop. The conclusion of the National Derby saw Dexter at the top of the ribbons, ridden by Peter Pletcher for Hollis Hughes Grace. Pletcher finished the day with a score of 356. Bringing home the second place prize was Coltrane, ridden by Dotti Barnwell Areson for Karle Rudy with a score of 324.5.
A total of 24 entries traveled back to the era of the traditional hunt courses and tried their hand at the National Hunter course, also designed by Krome and Granat. The Ridge’s beautiful all-weather sand arena was filled with exquisite jumps complete with all the finery one would expect from a top-tier competition.
Krome and Granat’s course required accuracy and finesse in order to garner top scores. Riders began over a single vertical on the diagonal, then continued to the options of either the outside line as low fences, or a bending line on the inside track for high options. The course continued to a one stride. Next the riders were presented with the same high or low questions mirrored on the other side of the ring. They continued through the turn to the other combination on the course and concluded over a single oxer on the way home.
Dexter earned an 87 and 88 for a combined score of 175 in the first round to lead the class going into the handy. Dotti Barnwell Areson and Coltrane presented a beautiful picture, garnering a 152.5 from the judges to finish second. Santinero, with Marissa Damone in the irons, floated around the ring and completed the first round with scores that totaled 152. Olivia Notman scripted a lovely course with Signature to finish with a combined score of 159 in the first round.
Twelve entries continued on to the Handy Round. The shortened course challenged the riders, with several questions being asked, including with a trot fence across the ring to an oxer option. In the handy, Pletcher took all of the high options to add 4 to each of his scores of 87 and 86, to conclude with an overall score of 356. Coltrane added an impressive 172 to his original tally to total at 324.5. Santinero’s handy round also wowed the judges with a score of 168.5 to wrap up with a cumulative score of 320.5 points. Signature added his own flourish to the course to add 161 to the first round and finish on 320 points, only half a point behind third place.
In the world of hunter derbies, The Ridge at Wellington provides an exhilarating opportunity for riders of all levels. As a stand-alone derby day, the national and international classes are fully dedicated to showcasing and perfecting the derby classes with ideal turf that rivals the traditional fox hunting fields, reveling in the sport and athleticism of the horse.
The Ridge at Wellington is a premiere state-of-the-art facility that offers the best of the equestrian sports with varying competition levels. Their shows offer a wide array of classes, as well as generous prize money and sponsorship opportunities. Located only two miles from the prestigious Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the Ridge at Wellington offers one of the most centrally located horse shows in Wellington. The Hunter Derby days provided unparalleled hospitality for exhibitors and owners, with a breakfast and lunch spread that impressed. Dover Saddlery generously sponsors all coolers and banners for the 2015 Wellington Turf Tour.
If you missed your chance to ride for the first Hunter Derby Days of the Wellington Turf Tour, there is no need to worry. The USHJA National and International Hunter Derbies will return to The Ridge at Wellington on Friday, March 20, 2015.
The Ridge at Wellington Horse Show Series Fast Facts
Events:
The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour offers their popular 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix for its third year, with an open in gate format taking place once a week at beautiful venues throughout Wellington. The Ridge at Wellington Grand Prix Finale will take place March 27, 2015.
The Turf Tour also will host 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers every Wednesday beginning January 7, 2015 and running until March 18, 2015.
Young Jumper Classes and both Children’s/Senior Jumper Classics will find their home intermittently throughout the Wellington Turf Tour, running concurrently with the 1.30-1.35m and 1.40m Jumpers.
The Ridge at Wellington offers Equitation Shows every Tuesday of the month from January 6 – March 23, 2015. There will also be a series of schooling shows at the Ridge at Wellington for all experience levels.
Two USHJA International Hunter Derbies will take place February 6, 2015 and March 20, 2015.
What:
The Ridge at Wellington series includes several weeks of competition throughout the Winter Season with USEF Rated Equitation Shows. This winter will also feature five two-day schooling shows. The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour will offer 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers, 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix, Young Jumpers, Children’s/Adult Classics, Masters Jumpers, Junior/Amateur Classics, two hunter derbies and the Pre-Green Incentive Stake.
Information:
Before Show – (561) 791-1471, Email: RidgeShows@aol.com
During Show – Telephone: (561) 791-1471, Fax: (561) 791-1543
Text: (908) 500-0996
Lindsey Ayres pilots Samba Sensation to the win in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby yesterday. Flashpoint Photography.
Some of the best in the hunters took to the Olympic arena at the Georgia International Horse Park yesterday. A very talented, seasoned field took some of the top ribbons as well as the up and coming hunter riders.
The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby started the Friday festivities. Kat Chyrsostom’s Samba Sensation won the class, ridden by up and coming, talented fifteen-year-old Lindsey Ayres of Lenoir City, Tennessee with an overall score of 172. In second position was Auto Correct, owned by Julie Curtin and Harbor Hill Farm. Curtin, of Roswell, Georgia, rode Auto Correct to an overall score of 171. Pommegranate, owned by Heather Geller and ridden by Natalie Geller of Canton, Georgia, secured the third position with an overall score of 169.
Fourth place was awarded to Cooper, owned by Ellie Kimmell and ridden by Matt Martin of Petersburg, Tennessee. The pair earned an overall score of 164. Spatz, owned by Christopher Ford and ridden by Richard Mathews of Odessa, Florida, placed fifth with an overall score of 161. Martin returned to the winner’s circle for his sixth place ribbon, this time in the irons of Alliah Kassem’s C Wonder; the pair earned an overall score of 144.5.
The ‘Who’s Who’ in the Hunter World were all on site for the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby which took center stage last night to wrap up the hunter festivities for the day. Joe Carnicom of Toledo, Ohio designed a beautiful course which consisted of long flowing lines and high options at the first fence for both the first and handy rounds. The first round also offered high options at fences three, four and ten and the handy round had high options at fences three, five and seven.
Kelley Farmer pilots Why over an oxer en route to the win in the USHJA International Hunter Derby. Flashpoint Photography.
Well-known hunter rider Kelley Farmer of Keswick, Virginia, in the irons of DL Glefke and Kensey, LLC’s Point Being, kicked off the competition as the first to go and earned a score of 176 in their classic round, which held the lead until Farmer returned to the ring on Why, also owned by DL Glefke and Kensey LLC; the pair earned a score of 180 in their classic round. Daniel Geitner of Aiken, South Carolina went fourth in the line-up in the irons of DSJ Stables, LLC’s Checklist and sat in third place after the classic round with a score of 174.
The handy round started off with Unspoken, owned by DL Glefke and Kensey, LLC and ridden by Farmer, earning a second round score of 86. Their combined score of 237 would see them finish in twelfth place overall.
Haley Gassel of Lenoir City, Tennessee aboard Westwind Equine Training Center’s Werner 61 was next to go and the pair earned a second round score of 149; their overall score of 304 would see them finish in eight place overall.
I’LI Say Jsf, owned by Glefke, Pinney and Schafer, ridden by Farmer, received an overall score of 154 in the handy round and their combined score of 309 would see them finish in seventh place overall.
Jaime Steinhaus of Milton, Georgia was next to go riding her own North C and earned a score of 101 in their handy round which gave them an overall score of 258 and a tenth place overall.
Farmer was back in the ring, this time riding LPF Woodford, owned by LPF, LLC of Ocala, Florida, and was awarded a second round score of 181. Their overall score of 336 would see them finish in fourth place overall.
Signal Hill, owned by Thomas Visconsi and ridden by Daniel Geitner of Aiken, South Carolina, earned 99 points in their handy round and a total score of 266.5 which would place them in ninth place overall.
Ava, owned and ridden by Kathryn Jarriel of Collins, Georgia, was next to go under the lights and the pair earned a score of 167; their overall score of 324 would see them finish in fifth place overall.
Phoebe Weseley’s Answer Me This, ridden by Brady Mitchell of Bedminster, New Jersey, earned a handy round score of 145 and an overall score of 310 which would see the pair finish in sixth place overall.
Caramo, owned by Caroline Russell Howe and ridden by Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, North Carolina, earned a handy score of 188. Their total score of 360 would see them finish in fourth place overall.
Point Being and Farmer were next up and earned a second round score of 79. Their combined score of 255 would have them finish in second.
Checklist and Geitner earned a handy score of 191 and a total score of 365 which place them in third position overall.
Why and Farmer were last to go and earned the highest handy score of 200; their combined score of 380 locked in the win.
When asked ‘Which was her favorite ride of the evening?’ she answered, “I enjoyed all of them, but I liked this one [Why] best – because we won!” she said.
Kastel Denmark Hunter Style of Riding Award
With the “Who’s Who” in the hunter world ringside, the Kastel Denmark Style of Riding Award was presented after the $15,000 USHA International Hunter Derby. The Classic Company staff chose Haley Gassel of Lenoir City, Tennessee as this week’s recipient of the Kastel Style of Riding Award for Hunter Riders. “Haley is a great horseman and consistently displays excellent sportsmanship,” commented Allen Rheinheimer, Classic Company Technical Coordinator. “We’re happy to award Haley the Kastel Denmark Style of Riding Award for Hunters this week,” said Bob Bell, President of Classic Company. “Her good sportsmanship should be recognized,” he added.
It’s Pizza Time!
It’s Saturday so be sure to look for the complimentary pizza lunches brought to you ringside by Classic Company staff! Enjoy!
Flashpoint Photography News
As a note to all, this will be the last weekend Flashpoint Photography will be photographing the Classic Company shows. Be sure to place your orders now.
Dinner Call!
Did you reserve your table for tonight’s $45,000 Cedar Street Advisors Grand Prix, presented by EMO? The heaters are warm, the tables are ringside and the food is out of this world, with complimentary bottles of wine! The dinner menu tonight is: Grand Prix Surf and Turf Kabobs Grilled on Site * Montreal Seasoned Beef Tips, Sweet Onions, Bell Pepper, Sweet Onion * Teriyaki Chicken, Red Onions, Pineapple, Red Pepper Grilled Citrus Shrimp, Lemons, Limes, Oranges * Vegetable Kabobs, Assorted Vegetables Wild Rice Pilaf Grilled Fall Vegetables Desserts: Assortment of Proof’s Posh Puddings, Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, Banana, Key Lime
Order your table now in the show office. Individual seats are only $50 each – last call!
Final Weekend for the 2014 Classic Experience!
This is the last weekend to enjoy the Classic Company’s 2014 show season at the Georgia International Horse Park! Tonight, the $ $45,000 Cedar Street Grand Prix, presented by EMO, takes place in the Olympic Arena and tomorrow the celebrated EMO Circuit Champions are crowned.
Home to the 1996 Olympics, riders have the opportunity to compete in the Olympic arena and ride for some of the top prize money offered this fall. With more than 300,000 in prize money offered, world-class stabling and arenas, top show management staff and a division for everyone in your barn, there is no better place to be in November. From the jumper ring to the short stirrup arena, each competition ring is highly decorated and staffed with top-notch, friendly professional show staff.
Pssst… Pensacola is on deck! What are you doing this winter? The Classic Company is going to the beach! Join them on the Gulf of Mexico for the best in show jumping action! This circuit has received rave reviews and equestrians travel from around the country to get their “leg up” on the competition.
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.
Stay up to date: Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter!
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
Scott Stewart Named Leading Hunter Rider; Last Call and Becky Gochman, Voila and Kyle Owens Top Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Championships
Washington, D.C. – October 22, 2014 – Day two of the 2014 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) featured the presentation of championship honors in the professional and amateur-owner hunter divisions at Verizon Center in downtown Washington D.C. on Wednesday.
Kelley Farmer guided Mindful to the overall Grand Hunter Championship after sweeping two divisions. Scott Stewart earned the Leading Hunter Rider Award following championship wins aboard Lucador, Quest, and A Million Reasons. A Million Reasons also earned the Grand Green Working Hunter Championship. Concluding the day session, Becky Gochman and Last Call and Kyle Owens and Voila each earned Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Championships. The show will continue through Sunday, October 26.
Kelley Farmer and Mindful were in a league of their own this week to win the 2014 WIHS Grand Hunter Championship and receive the Rave Review Challenge Trophy, donated by Stoney Hill. The ten-year-old Hanoverian gelding swept every class in both the High Performance Working Hunter and Regular Conformation Hunter divisions to earn each championship tricolor.
In the High Performance Working Hunters, sponsored by The Wasserman Foundation, Mindful and Farmer accepted The “NOT ALWAYS” Challenge Trophy donated by Miss Peggy Steinman along with championship prizes for winning all four classes in the division. Todd Minikus and LPF LLC’s LPF Woodford finished in reserve after placing second, third and fourth over fences and third in the under saddle.
In the Regular Conformation Hunters, sponsored by Lynn Ellen Rice, Farmer and Mindful once again topped every class and were presented with The Mary Farren Perpetual Trophy. Glefke and Kensell LLC’s Why earned reserve honors ridden by Elizabeth Sanden-Mulvey. The pair placed second, second, and third over fences as well as fourth under saddle.
“He is an unreal horse. He is unbelievable,” Farmer said of Mindful. “I can’t say enough about him. I am very lucky. He tries to win all the time, he wants to win, and he doesn’t let me down. He has so much ability. When he doesn’t win, it’s my fault. It’s just because I have gotten in his way. He is an awesome animal, and he has been unreal.”
In addition to the grand championship, Mindful’s owners, Glefke and Kensell LLC, were presented with the Leading Hunter Owner Award sponsored by The Reid Family. Mindful and Farmer were also presented with the special Protocol Trophy, sponsored by Platinum Performance, as the overall High Point High Performance Working Hunter from the Devon Horse Show, Pennsylvania National Horse Show, and Washington International Horse Show.
“Mythical won the Protocol last year, and Rosalynn won it three years ago. It is a very hard trophy to win, and I think it is very special,” Farmer stated. “For those three different venues that are so different, I think that is really a testament to a really good horse. It takes a hell of a horse to do it, and I am very proud that I have had three horses do it. All three of them were unbelievable animals and all three of them were capable of winning no matter the circumstances. It is really a true sign of a great horse.”
Showing in the city did not faze Mindful this week, who has proven himself in many different environments and even had a very successful jumper career before turning to the hunters. “He is out of a Thoroughbred mare, so he has enough blood to make him careful and aware, but he is a quiet horse,” Farmer mused. “He has so much ability that this is really easy for him. There is nothing that I have asked him to do that he thought was hard or that he hasn’t given us 100%.”
Farmer has been showing at WIHS since she was a child on ponies, but noted that you never lose that special feeling of nerves and excitement showing in the nation’s capital. “It always gives you a special feeling,” she said. “If you don’t get that feeling, then you should stop. It’s the best feeling in the world when you walk to the ring. It’s do or die. It’s excitement.”
While Farmer earned the overall grand championship, Scott Stewart guided Dr. Betsee Parker’s A Million Reasons to the Grand Green Working Hunter Championship to receive The Claire Lang Miller Challenge Trophy. The pair topped the Second Year Green Working Hunter championship, earning three first place ribbons over fences, and a second place under saddle. The Windy Acres Challenge Trophy was also presented to A Million Reasons earlier in the morning for the best Green Working Hunter stake round with a score of 87. The reserve championship went to Amy Guth’s Inspired ridden by Louise Serio, placing second, second and third over fences and sixth under saddle.
A Million Reasons, a nine-year-old Holsteiner mare by Coriano, is a brand new ride for Stewart as of just this week. She is owned by Maura Thatcher’s Pony Lane Farm and was leased to show.
“We tried her last week at Harrisburg. I jumped three jumps with her, and they were nice enough to let Betsee lease her,” Stewart explained. “Originally, the horse came from Larry (Glefke) and Kelley. I never jumped a line until yesterday, and she was amazing. She was so easy, but I was obviously nervous having never done anything with her before.”
A Million Reasons showed in Harrisburg with Maggie Jayne and was ready to go for Stewart this week. Although he does not know her well, the mare was unfazed by the impressive venue and change of rider.
“So far I think she is the easiest horse I have ever ridden,” Stewart acknowledged. “I think she goes exactly the way you want her to go. She is beautiful; she moves great; she is scopey. I have watched her go for a couple of years and I didn’t realize she would be available, so it is great.”
Continuing the day, Stewart went on to win the Green Conformation Hunter championship, sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. John R. Ingram. He guided Dr. Betsee Parker’s Lucador to top honors after placing first, second and second over fences and winning the under saddle. The pair also won Tuesday’s model. For the championship honors, they were presented with The Valiant Hark Memorial Challenge Trophy, donated by Mrs. Stephen J. Clark. California’s John French rode Montana Coady’s Ranger to the reserve championship with two wins and a second place finish over fences as well as second place under saddle.
Lucador, a six-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Lord Pezi, has been a solid mount for Stewart all year and handles the excitement of WIHS like an experienced veteran at such a young age. “He has been great, and he is so young,” Stewart said. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to show him this year at 3’6”, but he does it so easy. This is the most consistent he has been. He was first or second in every jump class. I think it came down to the hack. We had to win that to be champion, so it was a tight race.”
“He is really great in the ring,” Stewart added. “He’s a little quirky in the schooling area and he doesn’t like the crowd, so it’s a little hard to get ready, but once he is in the ring he is easy. I literally don’t have to jump a jump with him. I can jump one little jump and go in the ring or not even jump, so I knew he could just go in there and be fine.”
Securing his third championship of the day, Stewart continued on to win the First Year Green Working Hunter division sponsored by Montana Coady. He guided Stephanie Danhakl’s Quest to the win after placing first, second and third over fences. Nilani Trent’s Autumn Rhythm and Sloane Coles finished in reserve with first and second place ribbons.
Seven-year-old Quest, a Warmblood gelding by Verdi, shows in the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunters with his owner and also had success in Harrisburg. “He just started back showing; he had a little time off, so he was out of the groove, but he was right on track here today,” Stewart noted. “It took him a show to get ready, but he was awesome. He is brave and not spooky. He is basically quiet, so he’s perfect for this situation.”
With three championships under his belt, Stewart was named the 2014 WIHS Leading Hunter Rider, receiving a special $5,000 bonus for the award sponsored by Dr. Betsee Parker. He was also presented with The Robert Coluccio Leading Hunter Rider Perpetual Trophy. This marks Stewart’s eighth time earning the title at WIHS in a long-standing and illustrious professional career. It was a close race with Farmer, who won the award last year, but Stewart got the winning edge.
“We figured it out this morning. Larry and I added up the points and I think Kelley was one point ahead coming into today,” he noted. “It all came down to today.”
Gochman and Owens Win Amateur-Owner Titles
The Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions concluded their second day of competition on Wednesday and awarded championship honors as well. The Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” championship, sponsored by Kim Davis, was awarded to David Gochman’s Last Call ridden by Becky Gochman. The pair earned the Frank Counselman Memorial Perpetual Trophy after topping the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” Over 35 division, sponsored by Cembell Industries. They placed first, second and fifth over fences and won the under saddle. The reserve champion was Walk the Line, owned and ridden by Lynn Seithel, who placed first and second over fences.
Becky Gochman and Last Call
Gochman was also presented with the Leading Amateur-Owner Hunter Rider Award for the 3’6” level, sponsored by Kessler Show Stables. This was her third time receiving the honor.
“It has been a lucky show,” Gochman remarked. “I love Washington, D.C. and the diversity here. I absolutely love that the show is next to Chinatown, and I am really excited that it is the Year of the Horse and there is a special jump made to represent Chinatown. I love the city show because you get to see all the people on the street admiring the horses and it is all different kinds of people. That is pretty cool just to break up somebody’s day. They watch the horses being braided, and they ask people questions. I just get a real kick out of that. My husband and I also get to come without our kids, and there are so many great restaurants. It has been a special place for me and maybe I feel that too; I feel the love of it.”
Gochman bought her winning mount, Last Call, this spring and has been working with trainers Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley to get to know the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding and solidify their partnership.
“I haven’t had him for very long and it has just been a matter of making small adjustments to get him right,” she explained. “To be honest, I didn’t come in to indoors with the greatest amount of confidence on him. I wasn’t sure how he was going to be, especially without doing a professional division, and he really proved himself to be a true amateur horse. He went right in and he knew his business, and he made it completely easy on me. He gives 100%.”
Last Call is also a much bigger horse than the rider is used to, but Gochman enjoys the challenge. “I like how big he is,” she smiled. “It is extra hard to get on, and I have to get a super high leg up. It is just a different experience than I have ever had. It is that much more important that I have to stretch up and sit up tall. It is fun because the straighter you get and the calmer you are, the more he is really going to power off the ground. It has been a lot of fun getting to know him in that way.”
Gochman received several other awards for her high score stake round of 87 aboard Empire on Wednesday. She earned The Shari Hollis Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by the Late Col. J.B. Hollis and Ms. Jeannie Hollis, which is presented to the overall winner in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” stake rounds. She also received an award for the EQUUS Foundation Best Performance of the Day.
In the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” 18-35 division, the championship was awarded to Stephanie Danhakl and Golden Rule. The pair placed second, second and third over fences and won under saddle. There was a tie for the reserve championship between Danhakl and her second mount, Humor Me, as well as Krista Weisman and Reality. After a coin toss, the prize was awarded to Weisman and Reality, who placed first and fourth over fences.
Continuing the day, the Amateur-Owner Working Hunter 3’3” 18-35 division concluded its championship with a win for Kyle Owens and Voila. They won two classes over fences and finished third under saddle. Taylor Willever and Whisper finished in reserve, placing first, second, and fourth over fences. Willever was also presented with the award for Best Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Stake Round for her high score of 85.
At the conclusion of the afternoon, Voila was named Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Champion, sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Earnest M. Oare. Owens was named the Leading Amateur-Owner Hunter Rider for the 3’3” division overall. The 23-year-old rider from Columbus, OH, trains with Peter Pletcher and although he has ridden for many years, he only began showing competitively this year. This was the first trip to WIHS for both horse and rider and far exceeded expectations.
“This was his first time inside and mine too, so I was thinking it wasn’t going to go as well, but he was perfect,” the rider smiled. “This is my first time at Washington. I have never done any of the indoors (before this year), so I was thrilled. I am shocked, and I am so thankful that it happened.”
Owens bought Voila, a six-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Verdi, this past winter and has been impressed with the horse’s quick progress. Although Voila is young and inexperienced, the horse took little preparation for this week’s competition.
“We just rode him in the ring the first day, and that is all I had to do,” Owens stated. “We did Capital Challenge and we did Harrisburg and got some ribbons, but second was as good as it got, so I am thrilled with what happened here. I couldn’t believe it. I have never gotten a leading rider title or any of this. I have not even gotten it at a smaller horse show, so for that to happen here is just really cool.”
Owens began riding when he was ten and only competed locally until he was an amateur. He decided to step up to the next level this year and purchased Voila and several other horses that he showed in Florida throughout the winter with great results.
“He is so sweet, and he is really smart,” the rider described of Voila. “He is actually one of the smartest horses I have ever ridden. I didn’t expect him to come along so fast. We started him in the 3′ Pre-Greens thinking he was going to be super green and we would just do him for a year at 3′, but after several weeks we moved him right up to the 3’3” because he was just learning so fast. He is really smart to learn, he is super brave, and he has a lot of step. He has all the right parts.”
The final hunter division of the day was the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Over 35, which saw a win for Glen Senk aboard Fashion Farm’s Beholden. The pair won two classes over fences and was fourth in another. The reserve championship went to Becky Gochman aboard David Gochman’s Touchdown with first, second and sixth place ribbons over fences.
The Washington International Horse Show continues on Thursday with the beginning of Junior Hunter competition in the morning and Low and High Junior/Amateur-Owner competition followed by a $34,000 International Jumper Welcome Stake in the afternoon. The evening session will welcome local horse lovers, riders, trainers, and their families for Barn Night, presented by Dover Saddlery, beginning at 6 p.m. The $20,000 International Jumper Gambler’s Choice costume class will be the highlight event of the evening.
For those who cannot make it to the show, it will be live streamed in its entirety, sponsored in part by The Nutro Company, at www.wihs.org, and is also available on USEF Network at www.usefnetwork.com.
About the Washington International Horse Show An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the country’s premier metropolitan indoor horse show. Each October, more than 500 world-class horses and riders, including Olympic medalists, arrive in Washington for six days of exciting show jumping and hunter competition. Highlights include the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix (a World Cup qualifier), the Puissance (high jump) and the WIHS Equitation Finals, an important goal for top American junior riders. Exciting equestrian exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities, such as Kids’ Day and Breakfast with the Mounted Police, round out this family-friendly event. WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition and recognized as a Top 25 Horse Show by the North American Riders Group.
Since its debut, the Washington International has been a Washington, DC, institution attended by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Rachel Boggus Achieves Goal in Winning ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals
Upper Marlboro, MD – October 3, 2014 – Two major finals were held today at The Capital Challenge Horse Show, presented by The Gochman Family. In the WCHR Professional Finals, sponsored by the John R. Ingram Fund, the top six hunter riders in the country went head to head over three rounds, and Kelley Farmer took the top spot. Rachel Boggus achieved her goal of six years by winning the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals, sponsored by ARIAT International. The Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, runs through Sunday, October 5.
The WCHR Pro Finals used the same three-round format as last year. Riders switched on two donated horses for the first two rounds, then brought a horse of their own for the third and final handy round. In the first round, the high score went to Sandy Ferrell on All The Right Moves, with an 88.16. In round two, Hunt Tosh and Askaro jumped to a high score of 91.33.
But it was still Ferrell in the lead after round two, with a total of 177.16 after a solid second round of 89 on Game On. Tosh sat in second place with 174.66, just in front of Kelley Farmer and Scott Stewart who had equal scores of 173.66. John French had 168.33, and Tara Metzner was on 148.33.
It all came down to the handy round to determine the night’s winner. While Kelley Farmer came into the round in fourth place, a spectacular round with her Regular Conformation horse Mindful sealed the win for her. The judges gave her scores of 92, 92, and 95 for an average of 93 and a three round total of 266.66.
“Fortunately, since my horse is an ex-grand prix horse and so light on his feet and light to ride, he’s an amazing handy horse,” Farmer explained. “He’s used to doing that at four-foot, so at 3’6” he thought it was really simple. Whatever I ask him, he’s willing and tries hard. When I walked the course I knew I could go inside smoothly to the hand gallop, and he’ll pretty much follow you wherever you want. There’s nothing you can’t ask him to do.”
Farmer, of Keswick, VA, also thanked the owners of her first two horses and the trainers that brought them to the Finals. “They were lovely, and thank you to Karen Healey and Jim Hagman. Those were really nice horses. I think they were all a really good group of horses. Thank you to everyone who loaned us horses,” she said.
Three more riders went after her, and while Ferrell had a solid lead, a mistake cross-cantering after the first jump landed her in fifth place with a total of 254.16.
Ferrell praised course designer Kenny Krome’s courses for the night. She talked about her strategy for the handy round, and what happened to take her from first to fifth. “I didn’t get to see the first few riders go, but you know we had a little different strategy. We tried the first jump off the left lead. My horse is much more of a left-leaded horse, so that was the approach I took,” she recalled. “I didn’t get in trouble with the jump, but upon landing, he landed hard and spooked from the flowers. What are you going to do? He’s been amazing this week, and I’m certainly not going to be upset with my horse. We had a little bit of bad luck, but that’s okay.”
Second place went to Hunt Tosh, who had a good handy round score of 88.33 on Libretto, and he finished with 262.99.
Tosh rode Libretto for the first time on Monday, and was offered the ride by trainer Tammy Provost two weeks ago in Kentucky. Tosh explained that his First Year horse wasn’t ready, and his other horse at Capital Challenge is “a little funny with crowds and at night.” He added, “When Tammy told me I could use him in Kentucky, I kind of just stuck with him. I’ve seen him a couple times, and I knew he would go in and be simple and do everything I asked him.”
Tosh enjoyed the ride on Libretto. “He was super and fun to ride,” he said. “That was the first time I jumped around a course, tonight. He went great. It was a fun class tonight. We all have a good time together; during the week, and on a night like tonight. We had a blast.”
Scott Stewart rode Reality in the handy round and scored 88 for a total of 261.66, finishing in third place. Stewart has the most experience in the WCHR Pro Finals, and spoke about the three-round format saying, “I like the format for the most part. It’s good for the crowd. It’s a fun class and moves quickly because we did just three rounds.”
Fourth place went to John French, who finished on 255.33. French rode his handy hunter horse, Y Wonder Y, for the first time today. “I’ve seen him in California because Jenny Karazissis rides him. Gail, the owner, was nice enough to let me borrow him. It’s hard to find a horse that’s not already been showing in the professionals, juniors, amateurs, for this class. Like Hunt said, I didn’t have too many options,” he explained. “But he was really good tonight. I’m really happy that they loaned him to me.”
Tara Metzner, riding in her first ever WCHR Pro Finals, had a great handy round on Illusion with an 89.33 and a total of 237.66 for sixth place. “He’s a super horse,” she said of Illusion. “I’ve ridden him for about a year on and off, for Destry Spielberg. I can’t thank her enough for allowing me to ride him. He’s brave and handy, and he’ll do all the tricks, anything I ask. I had a great time.”
Talking about her first experience in the WCHR Pro Finals, she said, “I had a fantastic time tonight. For me, qualifying for this class was a complete shock and just an extra bonus. I had a super time. The horses I had were a little bit spooky, but you know what, I found the jumps, and I was excited that I did that. It was amazing, and these guys all gave me a riding lesson. I was honored to be in the bunch.”
Ferrell praised the USHJA and Capital Challenge teams for making this night special for the riders and fans of the hunter sport. “We as riders and trainers who participate need to remember that the people behind the scenes are working very, very hard to make this a nice night for all of us. I just wanted to say thank you to Geoff (Teall), Louise Serio, and everyone else on the team out there who does this for us and for making this happen.”
Farmer broke her collarbone in a fall on August 3 and had surgery on August 11, and she came back to the show ring two weeks ago in Kentucky. She wanted to make sure she had a show in hand before coming to Capital Challenge. “I was a little bit ahead of schedule coming back to riding,” she admitted. “I was going a little stir crazy being on the ground. But I’m happy to be back.”
Farmer called her win tonight “a relief,” since she made winning the class a goal for the past six times she has competed in the class. “My horse won tonight. He’s an amazing animal, and I could not have done it without that horse. (He) belongs to Ken and Selma Garber of Kensel LLC. We got him shortly before Devon at Kentucky Spring. He’s as amazing as you saw this evening. He has never let me down, (and) no matter what you ask him to do, he’s capable. I’m very fortunate to have him.”
For her win tonight in the WCHR Professional Finals, Farmer was presented with the “All the Way” Perpetual Trophy, donated by Elizabeth Busch Burke and Lysa Burke Horkan. The Far West Farms Perpetual Trophy donated by the Karazissis Family was given to Askaro, owned by Emily Hilton, as the Best Horse.
Boggus Tops ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals
After working for six years to qualify for and achieve her ultimate goal of winning the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals, Rachel Boggus of Indianapolis, IN, succeeded today. She rode Papillon 136 through two rounds of equitation competition and came away with the win over 30 competitors.
Since its inception in 1994, the ARIAT National Adult Medal has given adult riders the opportunity to compete in a competitive equitation class over fences 3′ in height. The classes are held at select shows across the country and riders collect points to qualify for the Finals.
The top 10 from the first round returned for the second round, and Boggus stood on top with an average score of 89. She and Papillon extended their 2.1 point lead after a stellar second round, where they received judges’ scores of 91, 89, 90, 90, and 90 for an average of 90 and a total of 179. They won by a margin of 10.05 points.
When she saw scores of 90s, Boggus was thrilled. “It was great, and gratifying that my hard work is paying off, and that I’m accomplishing my goals. I think maybe once in my life I’ve gotten a 90, when I was 14 in a hunter classic at a local show! Never at a big show, so to do it here in this class has been a goal and that horse, who I love so much, and my trainer, who tries so hard, and my groom, I didn’t want to disappoint my groom [Jose Castillo] — he’s so into it. When I came out of the first round, he was more happy than anyone, hugging me. He gets really excited and really tries hard and wants everybody to do well. And so I like to represent the team.”
Amy Cooper rode last year’s winner Acovibu to second place with scores of 85.90 and 83.05 for a total of 168.95. Third place went to Carly Corbacho and Blue Highway. They scored 82.55 and 85 for a total of 167.55.
Regarding achieving her goal, Boggus said, “It’s just never come together for me. I’ve always had to lease a horse, or my horse was hurt, or I’m using a horse that’s just coming back from an injury. So I was talking with (trainer) Abby (Blankenship) last year, and this was my main riding goal.”
To achieve that goal, Boggus needed a dedicated equitation horse. When Papillon 136, a 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Guidam de Dartay, stepped to the three-foot level, Boggus and Blankenship knew he would be perfect. “Pappy” had a stellar career in the big equitation finals with junior riders like Jessica Springsteen, Sloane Coles, Mahala Rummell, and Kristen Mohr. Boggus jumped at the chance to ride him, and has since purchased him. Following this win, he will do select classes next year and then live a life of leisure at Treesdale Farm in retirement.
With one piece of the puzzle solved in Papillon, Boggus turned to fine-tuning her riding. “This year has just been really about concentrating on tweaking things and perfecting things because it’s so hard to go in that ring on a horse you don’t know. I felt more prepared this year because I’ve been riding him all year, not just for a month, or only at finals,” she explained. “I’ve been watching a lot of videos of myself riding and videos of some of the top equitation riders. And I think, the best way Abby and I described it, is last year I was almost too workmanlike. You could see all my adjustments very obviously. So this year we tried to make everything very smooth. When I see the distance, don’t attack it, just let it happen. And then same thing when he’s settling: don’t sit straight up and pull and make him obvious, just kind of sink down and be more subtle about it. So this year we really tried to perfect the more subtle aspects of my riding. And Papillion is perfect.”
With more than 60-hour work weeks as an anesthesiologist, Boggus has to manage her time well in order to stay riding fit and ready to show. For the past five years, she has used her one week of vacation to come to Capital Challenge. With a win and her goal achieved, she laughed, “I might take maybe a real vacation now!”
Round 1 of the North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup kicked off this afternoon with a $5,000 speed class. Kelli Cruciotti and Zidante sped to the win with a clear round in 55.767 seconds. Alliy Moyer and Etoile Van’t Lambroeck were second in 56.927 seconds. Samantha Kasowitz and The Man To See were third with a time of 58.125 seconds.
The Capital Challenge Horse Show continues tomorrow with championships for the 16-17 sections of the junior hunters, the pony hunters, the Children’s Pony Hunters, the WCHR Handy Hunter Challenge, and the final round for the junior/amateur-owner jumpers.
In its 21st year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year’s show will take place on September 27 – October 5.
Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country’s best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes.
Lexington, KY – June 24, 2014 – Kelley Farmer will forever have numerous fond memories of Bill Cooney, and she will always treasure the renowned trainer’s beautifully handwritten notes. Those carefully penned notes are what inspired the name Handwritten for the mount she rode to back-to-back blue ribbons in the First Year Green Hunters this morning at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show.
“Bill meant a lot to me,” Farmer said. “I have Scripted, and I said that when I have another one that’s that pretty and a good mover and a real horse, after Scripted, I said that should be the name.”
Farmer continued, “I said to Larry it has to be Bill’s type. It has to be that fancy. So when we got him it just seemed appropriate. He never got to see him, but if he could pick out a type, that horse was the epitome of the type that he would love. It all fit together.”
Cooney would likely have been proud of the green, 6-year-old Oldbenburg gelding who really stepped up to the plate this week to take the First Year Green Hunter division reserve championship in one of his first times out competing at that height.
“What a good baby. He was great. We’re excited about him for next year,” Farmer said. “He’s a ham. He’s like a puppy dog. If he could get in your lap he would. There’s nothing harsh or rough or anything about him.”
Christopher Payne and Truman
Finishing ahead of Handwritten in the point standings and claiming the First Year Green Hunter championship was Truman, owned by Maypine Farm and shown by Christopher Payne.
Payne also rode to a division reserve championship with Second Year Green Hunter Channing, owned by Susan Moriconi. Claiming the championship in the division was Character, owned by Belhaven Stables, LLC and ridden by Tim Goguen.
“He went really well here today; he rode beautifully,” Goguen said. “He was looking for the fences, and he jumped them well. He’s had four weeks off, and he came back really well this week. It’s nice to bring him back here along with the other ones. I’ve had a couple other ones who’ve had some time off who will start showing here next year.”
Goguen continued, “He’s pretty easy, and he’s pretty uncomplicated. I have a feeling I may start doing him in the derbies. We’ll see what happens.”
Hunter competition at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show continues tomorrow beginning at 8 a.m. and includes the start of the Amateur-Owner Hunters, the Children’s Hunters and the Junior Hunters. In addition to offering a full range of competitive hunter divisions, this week’s hunter highlight classes include the highlight $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby on Sunday, July 27.
Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2014 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.
What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC’s 2014 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 15-20, 2014
KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 23-27, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 29 – August 3, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
2014 USEF PONY FINALS – August 5-10, 2014
BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW – August 12-17, 2014
USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event
KHJA HORSE SHOW – August 20-24, 2014
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Audi of Lexington, GGT Footing, Equestrian Services International, Johnson Horse Transportation, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program, Sleepy P Ranch, 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) 254-3343, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling – Email Tom Blankenship at tomblank@bellsouth.net
Stable office – Before Show: (843) 269-4737, 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
The Stonelea Ring, Murphy Ring, Walnut Ring, Stonelea/Murphy Schooling Ring, the Alltech Arena and the Rolex Stadium have Otto Sport footing consisting of fine sand and synthetic fiber on pvc mats. The Claiborne, Annex, and Covered Arena (old) rings’ footing consists of a sand cushion on limestone base. The dimensions of the competition areas are as follows:
Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring.
Hotels:
CLARION HOTEL (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 Sherry Logan at sherryd.logan@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 check-out 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.
Lexington, KY – June 23, 2014 – Revival and Enticement have not seen the show ring since the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, but today they picked up right where they left off at the Kentucky Horse Park. With Kelley Farmer in the irons, the two talented young mounts earned multiple blue ribbons on the first day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, which continues through July 27, 2014.
“I was really happy with them coming back out for the first time since Kentucky Spring,” Farmer said of Revival and Enticement. “They were great here today.”
Enticement, a 6-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Larry Glefke, kicked off Lane Change Farm’s winning day with the top call in the second class of the First Year Green Hunters and kept right on rolling from there, with top three finishes in the Green Conformation Hunters.
Enticement was just edged out of a blue ribbon in the Green Conformation Hunters by Revival. The 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, also owned by Glefke, dominated the division with two blue ribbons over fences. Rounding out the Farmer ridden contingent in Green Conformation Hunters was the greenest of the group, Handwritten. The Oldenburg gelding claimed a second over fences as well as second in the Green Conformation Hunter Under Saddle.
“Handwritten is a baby. He’s really still pre-green,” Farmer said. “I was happy with him for his basically his debut at doing anything real. I’m excited about him. He tries hard, and I think he’s going to be super.”
Farmer and Glefke have had Handwritten since late 2013 but have been taking their time bringing him along since then.
“I did him at Capital Challenge. He was second in a class; he was still very green,” Farmer said. “We decided we’d take it easy and just let him go to some horse shows and school. I think in the Green Conformation, next year he’s really going to step up in be in Scripted’s place.”
With a growing string of successes, not only today but also throughout the year, Farmer has her sights set firmly on the final week of the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows – namely the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, now less than a month away.
From her talented string, Farmer is gearing up Mindful, So To Speak, Point Being, Taken, Unspoken, Scripted – and following her success today, potentially Enticement, for the Finals, and for many of them, the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows provide the perfect opportunity to do so.
“The plan leading up to Derby Finals is different for each of them,” Farmer said. “Some of them will show here next week. Some of them will show the week of Derby Finals.”
Leading up to the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, the hunter competition continues tomorrow with the conclusion of the professional hunter divisions beginning at 8 a.m. In addition to offering a full range of competitive hunter divisions, this week’s hunter highlight classes include the highlight $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby on Sunday, July 27.
Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2014 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.
What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC’s 2014 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 15-20, 2014
KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 23-27, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 29 – August 3, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
2014 USEF PONY FINALS – August 5-10, 2014
BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW – August 12-17, 2014
USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event
KHJA HORSE SHOW – August 20-24, 2014
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Audi of Lexington, GGT Footing, Equestrian Services International, Johnson Horse Transportation, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program, Sleepy P Ranch, 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) 254-3343, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling – Email Tom Blankenship at tomblank@bellsouth.net
Stable office – Before Show: (843) 269-4737, 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
The Stonelea Ring, Murphy Ring, Walnut Ring, Stonelea/Murphy Schooling Ring, the Alltech Arena and the Rolex Stadium have Otto Sport footing consisting of fine sand and synthetic fiber on pvc mats. The Claiborne, Annex, and Covered Arena (old) rings’ footing consists of a sand cushion on limestone base. The dimensions of the competition areas are as follows:
Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring.
Hotels:
CLARION HOTEL (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 Sherry Logan at sherryd.logan@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 check-out 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 and Unspoken. Photos by AnLi Kelly-Durham.
Parker, CO – July 8, 2014 – Colorado Horse Park got underway with Week V of Summer in the Rockies, their biggest ever with a Derby Day. Spectators crowded around the Derby Field to watch the feature events of the day, the $40,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby sponsored by Serenity Farm and the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Derby horses from far and wide travelled to Colorado to compete. Some of the country’s finest derby horses showed off their beauty, impeccable jumping form and flowing style in today’s events.
Jasen Shelley of Wellington, FL designed the beautiful courses in the Derby Field.
“I think both the National and the International Derbies rode really well,” said Shelley. “Everyone seemed to have fun and that’s what it’s all about. Juan Diaz is the person to take all the credit for the decorating. He did an amazing job. Pat (Boyle) helped me with the track and we came up with what we thought was a really good track for the competitors.”
The Derby Field at the Colorado Horse Park is an immense arena with footing and interesting banks, ramps and hills. Riders had the option of going down a ramp to a trot jump or go down a two-step bank to the trot jump. Shelley said he didn’t want the riders to be forced to take the bank option if they finished the birch oxer on the hill strongly.
“The hills shaped the way the course rode; we wanted to give them five to six strides at the bottom of the hill before they even had to think about jumping. It was really fun with the hills.”
Farmer and Unspoken down the bank to the trot jump
Twenty-eight derby horses competed in the first classic hunter round then the top 12 scoring horse and rider teams returned for the handy round. Kelley Farmer of Lane Change Farm in Keswick, VA had three mounts that made the cut: Mindful, Point Being, and Unspoken, all owned by Glefke and Kensel, LLC. In addition, Farmer piloted Unspoken who to the top placing and the blue ribbon by earning 185 from the judges in the first round and 192 in the handy. The two judges’ panels awarded extra points for the higher options and one panel awarded a handy score of 9 for a total of 377 points for both rounds.
“She was wonderful last week in Chicago and she was amazing here,” Glefke said. “I got her from McLain Ward and she was jumping 1.25m-1.30m all last year in Florida and she’s just starting to become a real derby contender now. I’m thrilled with the way she is coming up to the derby finals, which is real cool. They got a lot of experience today for the finals.”
“We are thrilled to be here,” he continued. “This is a beautiful facility and Pat (Boyle) runs amazing horse shows. I follow Pat around to a lot of horse shows because he always makes it very believable.”
Farmer expressed her thoughts on Derby Field ring and the course.
“What a nice change to have hills with footing so beautifully built,” said Farmer who also placed third with Point Being. “It’s great; the ring – it is huge and you get to jump the bank and go up and down the hills – I think it is great!
Leslie Steele from Calabasas, CA and her Acres West Farm returned with Apandanto, owned by 4232 Enterprises. The pair was brilliant, earning option bonus points and a total of 373.5.
“He was imported into the United States by Ali Nilforushan and he’s been a jumper,” said Steele about Apandanto. “Ali asked me to press on with him so I brought him here and I showed him in the high performance. I said, ‘Okay, you’re going to be a derby horse!’ I’m lucky. He’s a great horse.”
Steele was also complimentary of the courses.
Leslie Steele and Apandanto
“I thought the courses were fantastic,” she said. They were beautiful, fun galloping flowing. I really love it here it has really been a lot of fun. The handy – you could be as handy as you want to be all the options were big and I like that.”
Steele planned to move up with Apandanto and she said that because he has some jumper experience, he can jump really big jumps.
“He knows how to turn inside and go,” she said. “So I chose all the hardest options I possibly could and he handled them really well.”
Two top junior riders impressed the judges in the first round, earning them a spot in the handy round. Hunter Holloway and Hays Investment Corporation’s Lyons Creek Bellini earned the fourth place prize and Kirklen Peterson and Pen Name, also owned by Glefke and Kensel, LLC, were eighth.
The $40,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby was sponsored by Serenity Farm, recognized as one of the top hunter and equitation centers in the country and is nationally recognized for its reputation of producing champions consistently on the local, regional and national circuits.
“The courses were wonderful and the USHJA would be very pleased with the high standard that Pat (Boyle) accomplished here today,” said Cindy Cruciotti, head trainer at Serenity Farm.
A huge field of 44 negotiated Shelley’s $10,000 USHJA course in the Derby Field. Twelve of the best performers returned for a handy round. Leoncito, owned by Lucy Hunsaker and ridden by Meredith Houx Remiger from Sandia Farm in Albuquerque, NM, won the blue ribbon and the victory gallop. Remiger accurately negotiated the course earning a 93 in the first round and an 86 in the second with 4 bonus high option points for a total of 183. In close second was Paul Rohrbach and Nancy Moore’s Morocco with a total score of 181.
“It was a great course,” said Remiger. “I just rode the best that would show off my horse the way he jumps. He went around and had a blast doing it.”
“Toby” has been with Remiger for the last three or four years. She started him in 3’3″ and moved him up to the 3’6′. Remiger thanks Hunsaker, who has had him since he was an unbroken 3-year-old, for letting her ride him.
“I am very lucky,” said Remiger “He loves the derby. He is a wonderful, happy, laid back horse.”
Earlier in the day the $2500 Pony Hunter Derby (Small, Medium and Large) and the $2500 Children’s/Adult Hunter Derby were held in the Olson Family Main Hunter Ring.
Cinderella, owned and ridden by Sarah Bigbee, was awarded the top prize in the $2500 Children’s/Adult Hunter Derby. Brooke Brombach and her own Nantucket earned first place honors in the $2500 Pony Hunter Derby.
“We were a little bit better; we didn’t have as many big chips,” said Brombach about her improvements over her first round. “He loves doing the rollbacks, all the bendings – everything about it was fun. His barn name is Tucker; he is a spoiled little boy. He is 18 years old. He is always begging for cookies. He is a really good pony. I love doing the pony derbies; they are awesome.”
The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts
What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series
Event Dates:
June 4-8 Summer in the Rockies I
June 11-15 Summer in the Rockies II
June 18-22 Summer in the Rockies III*
July 2-6 Summer in the Rockies IV
July 9-13 Summer in the Rockies V*
July 16-20 Summer in the Rockies VI
*WCHR Member Events
Hunter Highlights:
$5,000 National Hunter Derby – Week III
$15,000 International Hunter Derby sponsored by Winsome Farm – Week III
$10,000 National Hunter Derby – Week V
$40,000 International Hunter Derby sponsored by Serenity Farm – Week V
Jumper Highlights:
$25,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix sponsored by Holiday Inn of Parker Grand Prix – Week I
$25,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix sponsored by Littleton Equine Medical and Platinum Performance – Week II
$30,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix sponsored by McElvain Energy – Week III
$30,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix sponsored by Griffis Residential – Week IV
$50,000 Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix – Week V
$50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix – Week VI
$10,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic sponsored by The Kathy and Brad Coors Family
$20,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic sponsored by The Kathy and Brad Coors Family
Plus:
$10,000 July Grand Prix Rider Bonus for the Leading Grand Prix Rider sponsored by The Kathy and Brad Coors Family – Weeks IV-VI
Prize List:
For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).
Entries:
Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Entries close 30 days before each show.
Contact Information:
Pat Boyle, Show Manager (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager (303) 918-2908
Show Office (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax (303) 841-7879
Directions:
Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134
From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway. Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx. 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road. Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx. 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.
From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway. Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx. 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.
AnLi Kelly-Durham for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Devon, PA – May 29, 2014 – The Devon Horse Show’s famous Dixon Oval hosted an exciting evening of grand prix show jumping Thursday night as fans watched Ireland’s Paul O’Shea and Primo de Revel jump to victory in the $100,000 Grand Prix of Devon, sponsored by Main Line Dental, Land Rover, and Horseshoe Trail Farm, LLC. In his first time ever competing at Devon, O’Shea took the victory gallop in front of thousands of cheering spectators in the highlight event of the week.
Olaf Petersen, Jr. set the course for thirty-one entries in Thursday’s $100,000 Grand Prix of Devon with nine clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. Four riders qualified two horses each, including USA’s McLain Ward and Laura Chapot, and Ireland’s Paul O’Shea and Kevin Babington. The short course saw five entries jump clear in the second round.
O’Shea set the pace with the first double clear round aboard Gotham Enterprizes’ River Dance Semilly in 43.63 seconds, which eventually finished fifth. Last year’s winners, McLain Ward and Sagamore Farms’ Rothchild, upped the ante in the next round, stopping the clock in a blazing 40.79 seconds to place third. Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince, who she owns in partnership with Ward, put in the fourth place round in 41.95 seconds.
O’Shea went next with his second mount, Primo de Revel, and raced to the winning time of 38.95 seconds. The final clear jump-off round belonged to Todd Minikus and the Quality Group’s Quality Girl, who jumped into second place in 39.63 seconds despite breaking a rein on the third to last jump.
Todd Minikus and Quality Girl
Primo de Revel, owned by Michael Hayden, is a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Quinault x Lys de Darmen. O’Shea has had the horse for seven years and has had a great partnership with him, including 11 grand prix victories. Although they have had many wins, this was one of the biggest, and it was a great moment in the rider’s career.
“What can I say? I loved it,” O’Shea said of his first Devon experience. “The atmosphere is obviously very special here. The crowd really gets into it, and it is just an incredible atmosphere and feeling here. I originally came to America through Harry Gill and Sherry Robertson, so I actually lived 20 minutes from here when I first came to America. I wasn’t at the show, but I know the area, so it is nice to be back here again.”
Commenting on the trust that he had in Primo de Revel to really go for the win in the jump-off, O’Shea detailed, “I have had him seven years now, so we know each other very well, and he is an extremely competitive horse. He is very rideable. He has a very good canter, so you can go quite fast on him and he doesn’t get long and flat. He is experienced against the clock. I watched McLain go, and I thought I just had to go as fast as I could. Everything worked out tonight.”
“He has been great since the start,” the rider further described. “He has a fantastic mind; that is his best trait I think. From one show to the next I never jump him because he is so easy, which is very unusual. He is just so balanced, and he just knows what to do. Obviously I don’t want to do too much with him, so I keep him fit on the flat and maybe jump once or twice for the first show of the year, but after that he just competes. I think that atmosphere here tonight helped him a little bit too. Some horses might get worse, but it actually raised him up.”
Last year’s winner McLain Ward did his best to defend his title with Rothchild this year, but ended up third. “He’s been here a few years. He won here last year when it was a little bit of a slower jump-off,” Ward noted of Rothchild. “Where I went in the order, it was the right round. It was just an amazing jump-off. Todd is one of the fastest riders in the world and Paul kicked his butt. I don’t think it was going to be very easy to beat him tonight. I don’t think there was much room.”
Thursday’s Grand Prix kicked off the 2014 Taylor Harris Insurance Services Triple Crown Challenge. As the night’s winner, O’Shea will have the opportunity to claim a $200,000 rider bonus if he and Primo de Revel can go on to win at the Hampton Classic Grand Prix and then again at the National Horse Show Grand Prix in Kentucky. O’Shea accepted a special award as the winner of the first leg of the challenge. For his grand prix victory, O’Shea was awarded with The Celeste McNeal Harper Perpetual Trophy. He was also presented with the Richard E. McDevitt Style Award, earning The Richard E. McDevitt Style Trophy donated by Mr. Wade L. McDevitt.
Mindful and Kelley Farmer Top $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
A $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby was held on Thursday afternoon, presented in honor of Kenneth and Sally Wheeler, with a win for Kelley Farmer of Keswick, VA, riding Glefke & Kensel LLC’s Mindful. Mindful, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Graf Grannus x Bold Indian), won his first derby with Farmer just a few weeks ago in Kentucky after transitioning out of the jumpers this winter. He was also presented with the High Performance Hunter division championship on Wednesday.
Kelley Farmer and Mindful
“He is an amazing animal,” Farmer stated after their win. “Everything I have asked of him he has not only given it to me, but far beyond. He has a ton of ability. He is so rideable, and the harder you ask him, the harder he tries.”
Thirty-three entries showed in the first round of Thursday’s hunter derby competition over a natural course set by Allen Rheinheimer of Zionsville, IN. The exhibitors were scored by two panels of judges, including Jack Towell and Chris Wynne on panel one and William Ellis and Brian Lenehan on panel two. The top twelve scoring entries from round one returned in reverse order over a second-round handy course to determine top honors.
Hayley Barnhill and John and Stephanie Ingram’s Airport 48 earned the high score of 184.5 to finish first in round one and added 204 points in round two to place second overall with a 388.5-point total.
Jennifer Alfano and Billie Steffee’s Maggie May earned the second highest score in round one of 176.5 and scored a 193 in round two to finish third overall with 369.5 points.
Farmer had the third, fourth and fifth place scores in round one and finished first, fourth and ninth overall with her top three mounts. Farmer showed five horses in the class, all owned by Glefke & Kensel LLC. Mindful took the win, earning the third best score of 176 in round one and moving up to earn the top score of 217 in round two for a 393-point total. Scripted finished fourth with 360 points after scores of 176 and 184 in the two rounds of competition.
Barnhill was also aboard a new mount who has transitioned from the jumpers with Airport 48 and competing in his second derby. The pair finished second behind Farmer and Mindful in their Kentucky win as well.
Barnhill noted, “He was so great. I could not have expected him to be better. We got him as an equitation horse for Martha Ingram, but he is seeming to be very ‘huntery.’ He is amazing at this job.”
With Barnhill ahead in round one, Farmer knew she needed an impressive handy round to pull off the win, and Mindful put in a fantastic performance.
“The only way I was going to beat her is if I did what I did,” Farmer detailed. “I didn’t know if it was possible to catch her, but I figured I would try. He is light on his feet, and he is so athletic. Anything I have asked of him that I thought was on the verge of not possible he has done, and he has done easily. Every time I have walked in the ring and there was something hard, he has delivered completely.”
Jennifer Alfano was also very happy with her top finish aboard Maggie May, a young mare that she has brought along since the Pre-Green division. “I could not be happier with her. She just started doing the derbies this year, and she has actually been quite consistent. She really stepped up today, and I was thrilled with her,” Alfano stated. “She’s getting the hang of the derby thing, so I am excited about the future for her. I think she likes it, and it is great to see her progress. She was really quite green when we got her and she was a little slow coming along, but it has been worth it.”
Thursday Results
Coaching – Timed Obstacles – Tucker Johnson and Johnson Brewster Road Coach
Sponsored by Main Line Dental – Awarded the Vicmead Coaching and Driving Club Perpetual Trophy donated by George A. Weymouth
Three-Gaited Park Horse Open – Jan Lukens and Completely Caveat
Sponsored by Elisabeth Goth
Single Hackney Horse Open – Jeromy S. Smith and Brickell Robert
Sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Glenn A. Werry, Jr. – Awarded The Devon Victory Perpetual Trophy donated by Jane McElree
Five-Gaited Saddle Horse Amateur – Allyson Ehle and Nancy Ehle’s Ava Gardner
Sponsored by Willisbrook Farm
Five-Year-Old Young Jumper – Clear Rounds:
Devin Ryan and Lori Larrabee’s Eddie Blue
Maggie Jayne and Alex Jayne’s Jolita
Colin Savaria and The Coverboy Group’s VDL Electra
Colin Savaria and Amanda Flint’s VDL White Chocolate
Six-Year-Old Young Jumper – Melissa Ruderhausen and Undelie de Roset
Seven-Year-Old Young Jumper – Devin Ryan and Eagle Valley Partners’ Cooper
Eight-Year-Old Young Jumper – Laura Chapot and Mary Chapot’s Castellana
The 2014 Devon Horse Show will continue on Friday with the start of Amateur-Owner Hunter and Jumper competition. For full results, please visit www.devonhorseshow.org.
For those unable to attend the Devon Horse Show in person, the Dixon Oval is being live streamed live streamed at www.usefnetwork.com.
Shownet will be shooting individual video clips for purchase through the website www.shownet.biz of both the Dixon Oval and Gold Ring. If you have any questions, please contact info@shownet.biz or ask for Tony in the exhibitor lounge at the side gate.
Devon, PA – May 28, 2014 – The 2014 Devon Horse Show & Country Fair hosted its final day of professional hunter divisions on Wednesday and awarded Grand Hunter and Leading Rider awards for its 2014 competition. For the second year in a row, Kelley Farmer of Keswick, VA was Devon’s Leading Hunter Rider as well as the Leading Lady Rider in the High Performance division. She guided Glefke & Kensel LLC’s Scripted to the Devon Grand Hunter Championship after taking top honors in the Green Conformation Hunter division.
Scripted, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding by Sandro Hit, earned the most points out of all of the divisions with first, second, second, and third place ribbons in the four classes of Green Conformation Hunters over fences as well as a win under saddle. He was also the division’s model winner. For the Grand Hunter Championship, Scripted was presented The Fourth Sally Deaver Murray Memorial Challenge Trophy donated by Mrs. Ernest Scott and Mr. & Mrs. Stillman F. Kelley II.
Along with Scripted’s division championship, Farmer topped three divisions this week to earn the Leading Hunter Rider title. She also guided Glefke & Kensel LLC’s So To Speak to the First Year Green Hunter championship and won the High Performance Working Hunter championship with Glefke and Kensel LLC’s Mindful.
Scott Stewart won the other two divisions, taking the Regular Conformation Hunter Championship with Krista and Alexa Weisman’s Showman and the Second Year Green Hunter Championship with David Gochman’s Mythical. He dominated Devon’s Leading Hunter Rider title from 2009-2012, but Farmer has edged him out the last two years.
As Leading Hunter Rider, Farmer was awarded The Hope Montgomery Scott Perpetual Trophy presented in her honor by the 1985 Devon Horse Show Committee. For the Leading Lady Rider award in the High Performance division, she was presented The Tarad Hill Perpetual Trophy presented by Mr. & Mrs. Leonard A. King in memory of Betty Jane Baldwin Meister.
“Last year was the first year I dethroned Scott,” Farmer said of taking over the title. “It has been close for the last few years. The rivalry definitely makes me sharper; any good competition does when you show against the best.”
Farmer was Best Child Rider at Devon when she was young and has continued to excel. The Devon Leading Hunter Rider title was always something she hoped to achieve. “It has been a goal since I started,” she stated. “I have always thought about it, but until you are here and have the horses, until you find that it is within your grasp, it doesn’t matter what we know and what we learn unless you have the animals to do it. I am very fortunate that I have great horses and very fortunate that the people around me have supported that.”
Farmer’s top mount Scripted is a special horse for Larry Glefke. He was originally intended to do dressage, but found his way to Lane Change Farm instead and is what Glefke describes as the perfect picture of conformation.
“I have never had a horse with as beautiful a hind leg,” Glefke noted. “If you were to write a book on how a conformation horse is supposed to be built that would be it. He is beautiful. He came with an immense attitude, but he is a quiet, kind horse. He is a great horse, one of my favorite horses. You can do anything in the world with him and once you turn to the jump, I would very seldom say this, but that horse has as good a timing as Kelley Farmer does.”
Farmer commented on Scripted, explaining, “The ride is to do nothing. He wants you to leave him alone. He is a very quiet horse, and he has so much ability, but he wants it to be his opinion. He wants you not to get in his way. He is so talented. He is an amazing horse to ride and you feel like you could jump this building; he has so much ability.”
Regular Conformation Hunter Champion – Krista and Alexa Weisman’s Showman and Scott Stewart
Awarded The Charlotte I. Montgomery Perpetual Trophy
Reserve Champion – Glefke and Kensel LLC’s Quotable and Kelley Farmer
High Performance Working Hunter Champion – Glefke and Kensel LLC’s Mindful and Kelley Farmer
Awarded The Second Pin Oak Farm Challenge Trophy donated by Mr. & Mrs. Albert D. Williams, Jr.
Reserve Champion – Stephanie Danhakl’s Golden Rule and Scott Stewart
Five-Gaited Saddle Horse Special – Jennifer Alfano and Ceil & Kenny Wheeler’s CH Callaway’s Born For This
Sponsored by Willisbrook Farm
Five-Gaited Saddle Horse Open – Jason Molback and Geraldine Meanor’s CH Five O’Clock
Sponsored by Willisbrook Farm – Awarded The Callaway’s Mr. Republican Challenge Trophy donated by Walter and Jackie Stred
Leading Mare in the High Performance Hunter Division – Douglas and Kenneth Wheeler’s Queen Lattifa with Hunt Tosh
Awarded The “Bunty” Sellers Perpetual Trophy donated by Joannah Hall Glass and the Trophy committee in loving memory of Mrs. “Bunty” Sellers
Devon Leading Groom Award – Pancho Gomez (Groom of Scripted)
Awarded The Gerald Johnson Perpetual Memorial Trophy
Ladies Side Saddle Champion – Susan Sisco and Lauren Shock’s Capezio
Sponsored by Holly H. Griffin – Gowrie Group & Great American Insurance Co.
Awarded The True Blue Challenge Trophy donated by Mrs. Robert E. Rogers & Mrs. John B. Denegre
$1,500 Seven-Year-Old Young Jumper Winner – Candice King and Louisburg Farm’s Diamond of Picobello Z
$1,500 Eight-Year-Old Young Jumper Winner– Laura Chapot and The Edge’s Out of Ireland
The 2014 Devon Horse Show will continue on Thursday with an exciting line-up of competition, including the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented in honor of Kenneth and Sally Wheeler, and the $100,000 Grand Prix of Devon sponsored by Main Line Dental/Land Rover/Horseshoe Trail Farm, LLC. For full results, please visit www.devonhorseshow.org.
For those unable to attend the Devon Horse Show in person, the Dixon Oval is being live streamed live streamed at www.usefnetwork.com.
Shownet will be shooting individual video clips for purchase through the website www.shownet.biz of both the Dixon Oval and Gold Ring. If you have any questions, please contact info@shownet.biz or ask for Tony in the exhibitor lounge at the side gate.
