Tag Archives: Kelley Farmer

Kelley Farmer and Act of Valor Validate Victory in $5,000 Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show

Kelley Farmer and Act of Valor won the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show of Kentucky Summer Series. Photo By: Ashley N. Williams/PMG

Lexington, KY – August 19, 2012 – Along the fence line of the Stonelea Arena, people watched as the first competitor entered the ring for the $5,000 Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby. In the fourth week of the Kentucky Summer Series, the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show welcomed riders of all experience to a challenging course, and a chance to earn qualifying points to win the Hallway Feeds Leading Rider Bonus. At the end of two rounds, Kelley Farmer and Act of Valor rose to the occasion seizing the win, and the blue ribbon. Kelli Cruciotti and Promo put forth a determined effort to earn high scores and the red ribbon. Shawn Casady and Bolero rightfully claimed a score among the great, placing in the top three.

Participants definitely had their work cut out for them as they took on this week’s hunter derby course. Designed by Patrick Rodes, the top 12 horse and rider combinations qualified from the first round, returned to the ring to ride the skillful handy course and compete for the chance at the top honors. The course contained four option fences where the rider could navigate their horse to the higher option and receive additional points. The short course options where presented at the first, second, sixth and ninth fences while the trot jump presented itself later.

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Kelley Farmer and Taken Sweep Two Rounds to Win USHJA International Hunter Derby

Kelley Farmer and Taken win both rounds to take the USHJA International Hunter Derby

Zionsville, IN – Aug. 11, 2012 – Kelley Farmer and Taken stole the show on the Grand Prix Field at the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show held on the grounds of Wild Air Farms. Not only is Taken a pro when it comes to the Derby, he took his owner, Jessica Stitt of Elburn, IL, to the championship win in the Amateur 3’3″ class in Traverse City, MI, just one week ago.

“He’s the coolest thing I’ve ever owned,” Stitt said with a big grin. “He loves his job and he loves his life. He’s the sweetest horse in the barn, but he knows when it’s time to work. He is the most self-assured and wonderful horse.”

Farmer piloted the 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood imported from Holland to a win in the first round while taking two higher options to earn points. The course, designed by Phil DeVita, started with a birch bark oxer with a right turn over a wagon wheel vertical, then up a ramp to a vertical at the top of the course with a high/low option to earn more points. After a left turn and a cross on the diagonal was an oxer to oxer stone wall combination with two strides in between. After a right turn, a solid wood snake fence with a high/low option was followed by a trek up a small bank with a pillar vertical. After a dogleg, a sawn-log oxer offered another high/low option and then a cross on the diagonal to a gray stone pillar oxer was followed by a gallop to an oxer with plank walls and birch standards for another high/low option.

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Kelley Farmer Brings Home Bundles of Ribbons in Day One of the Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show

Kelley Farmer and On Q

Zionsville, IN – August 7, 2012 – Kelley Farmer showed a strong start aboard On Q opening day of the Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show Tuesday, Aug. 7. She placed in the blue ribbons riding the 6-year-old stallion owned by CH Farm in Delano, MN, in the First Year Green Working Hunter, First Year Green Handy Hunter and won a red in the Green Working Hunter Under Saddle Class.

“The stallion was great. We think he is going to be very special,” she bubbled. “We’re very excited about him.”

The day was warm and cloud-free as the riders mounted up surrounded by the green, rolling hills of Wild Air Farm owned by Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Johnson. Striped tents dotted the landscape and spectators and riders alike enjoyed the gleaming horses and blue skies.

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Engle, Fellers, and Kessler Share the Lead after Three Rounds in USEF Selection Trials

Skelton Continues Winning Streak in $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 11 with Big Star, Farmer and Taken Win High Performance Working Hunters

Reed Kessler and Cylana. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 22, 2012 – Margie Engle and Indigo, Rich Fellers and Flexible, and Reed Kessler and Cylana are all tied at the top of the standings after round #3 of the USEF Selection Trials, which are being held to determine the riders that will represent the United States Show Jumping Team in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Riders showed in round #1 on Wednesday afternoon and round #2 earlier in the day on Thursday. The scores from all three rounds will carry over to Saturday evening when competitors will compete in a fourth and final round. This event also serves as the USEF National Show Jumping Championships, a return to the event that was last held in 2008.

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

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

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

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

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Kelley Farmer and Taken Win $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Holiday and Horses

Kelley Farmer and Taken won the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Photo © ManciniPhotos

Wellington, FL – December 4, 2011 – The 2011 edition of Equestrian Sport Productions’ Holiday and Horses show concluded today with the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby as the highlight class in the International Arena. Kelley Farmer of Keswick, VA, rode Nancy Amling’s Taken to the win.

There were 18 entries in the derby, and the top 12 returned for a second handy round. Farmer and Taken held the lead through the first round, which they set by scoring a 180. They returned as last to go in the handy round and with handy bonus points of 8 and 9, they bettered their score with a 188. Their total of 368 gave them the win by three points.

Second place went to Kristy McCormack and Sundance, who received scores of 175 and 189.5 from the judges – they had a spectacular handy round – for a total of 365. Elizabeth Kenny and Bravo van de Kwaakelhoek finished on a total of 363 for third place, while Farmer placed fourth with AM Free’s Bases Loaded at 350 points. Generous and David Olinyk also had 350 points for fifth place.

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$20,000 USHJA Hunter Derby Brings Tradition, Excitement to Grand Prix Ring at Horse Shows by the Bay

Kelley Farmer and Clearly. Photo Credit: Katie Anich/PMG

Traverse City, MI – July 22, 2011 – With few clouds in the sky and a light breeze, it was a lovely afternoon for the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Horse Shows by the Bay Series III. The Flintfields Horse Park grounds were buzzing all day with excitement for the evening’s event, which challenged 21 entries with a traditional course in the Grand Prix ring. Kelley Farmer made a clean sweep of the top four spots on Clearly, Praise, Red Sky, and Bases Loaded. Amazingly, Farmer and her first three rides produced a three-way tie involving an overall high score of 387. Peter Pletcher smoothly jumped into the next three places on Copperfield, Primero, and Tell All, accumulating several highly impressive scores of his own. An enthusiastic crowd turned out for tonight’s derby, making the class a definite favorite among spectators and riders alike.

The event kicked off with an exhibitor party, generously sponsored by Outback Steakhouse of Traverse City, which featured great food, drinks, and conversation. The first horse took the course at 5:30pm, with high scores dominating the scene from the very start. Kelley Farmer and Bases Loaded hit a home run with a combined score of 180 in their first round. Bases Loaded is owned by Am Free, Inc. Peter Pletcher and Copperfield, who is owned by Jennifer Noski, also turned in a great early combined score of 171 in the first round. Carson Gibson and Caden, owned by Shadyside Farm, had a flowing first round that resulted in a solid 163 combined score. Farmer returned on Clearly, owned by Jane Gaston, to add a 185 combined score to her growing list of first round feats. Farmer’s highest first round score came on Red Sky, owned by Larry Glefke. A whopping 196 put Farmer in contention for a second derby win, but Pletcher was also a competitive presence in the Grand Prix ring tonight. On Tell All, owned by Susan Baker, Pletcher earned a 173.5, adding to the slew of stunning scores in the much-anticipated derby. Near the end of round one Farmer returned on Praise, owned by Selma Garber, and received plenty of praise for another high score of 191.

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Performance and Conformation Hunters Have Red-Hot Day at Horse Shows by the Bay

Kelley Farmer and Clearly. Photo Credit: Katie Anich/PMG

Traverse City, MI – July 21, 2011 – With the weather hot and steamy today at Horse Shows by the Bay Series III, riders were literally rolling up their sleeves and getting down to business. Hunt coats were waived as the day progressed, adding visible intensity to the competition in the hunter rings. By day’s end, Peter Pletcher had earned the impressive Grand Performance Hunter title, blazing past the host of skilled equestrians entered in this week’s classes. Kelley Farmer continued to impress as well, sweeping the Conformation Hunter division with a scorching set of wins. Both the Performance Hunter and Conformation Hunter classes took place in the R. L. Polk Family main hunter ring at Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, MI.

With nine entries, the 3’6″ Performance Hunter division was bound to be both competitive and fun. Peter Pletcher and Sleepy P Ranch’s Primero earned the top honors with 31 points throughout the division. Primero and Pletcher have had a very successful time so far at Horse Shows by the Bay in the High Performance division. There was a tie for reserve champion this week in the 3’6″ Performance Hunters between Kara Roposa on Carentino, owned by Alexander Cooper, and Caroline Weeden on Condanas, owned by Lacey Gilbertson. Both horse and rider pairs earned a total of 16 points and with neither riding in the under saddle portion, they both had the same number of points over fences and were able to share the title.

Elizabeth Scoville and Bianca Buschor’s The New Yorker also had impressive rounds in 3’3″ Performance Hunters, taking home second place in both over fences classes today. When talking about her rides today, she said, “I think practice makes perfect, but perfect practices makes perfect. The New Yorker is a young, very inexperienced horse that actually has a little bit of mileage in the jumpers. We’ve been doing these types of hunter courses to give him the mileage that he needs, and what’s been really exciting here has been to see him understand his new job. Like now, for instance, to see him standing so calmly here at the ring, waiting for the jog and practically falling asleep, is so great because previously, he would start to get anxious when it was jump-off time. He’s been very excited here so far, we’ve been doing the greens and the performance hunters, and we just keep going back in until we get it right, and we got it right this afternoon.”

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Hunters Shine in the Sun on the First Day of Horse Shows by the Bay

Kelley Farmer and Straight Talk. Credit: Katie Anich/PMG

Traverse City, MI – July 6, 2011 – Perfect summer weather greeted the first day of the first week of Horse Shows by the Bay in Traverse City, MI. The professional hunters took full advantage of the perfect weather and perfect footing in the R. L. Polk Family Main Hunter Ring. Kelley Farmer of Keswick, Va., and Straight Talk, owned by CH Farm, LLC, won big today in the $2,500 First Year Green Working Hunter, sponsored by Equisport Insurance Agency-Dan and Beth Graves. Cookie Beck and Erynn Ballard split the winnings in the Second Year Green Working Hunters.

Kelley Farmer had a fantastic day on all three of her rides in the First Year Green Hunter division today, topping each class on Straight Talk. She and Straight Talk had strong, smooth, confident rides in both classes and went straight to the top of the under saddle class. Coin Toss, owned by Am Free, Inc., jumped into second in both over fences classes and the under saddle with Farmer aboard.

“My horses were great! I’m so happy with all of them, actually. It’s a beautiful place and they try to do everything, you know, last year the footing needed a little fixing and they did it and it’s beautiful now. That’s why I come back, my horses love it here, and everything you ask Alex [Rheinheimer] to do it will be done. She goes out of her way to go above and beyond to make a beautiful horse show,” Farmer exclaimed.

Peter Pletcher of Magnolia, TX, also made quite an impression today in the Equisport Insurance Agency First Year Green Hunter division on both of his mounts. Peter and Valobra, owned by Eva Bisso, earned both a fourth and fifth place ribbon over fences and a third under saddle. Sue Copeland’s Isaiah and Pletcher won a fourth and a fifth over fences and a sixth in the under saddle class.

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The $25,000 HITS Grand Prix and $2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix Highlight Competition for Opening Week at HITS Ocala

© ESI Photography. Andres Rodriguez and Davinci in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

OCALA, FL (January 24, 2011) – The Ocala January Classic came to an end on Sunday and was highlighted by the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, and the $2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, the first qualifiers of 2011 for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix and the Diamond Mills $500,000 3’3″ Hunter Prix Final, respectively.

Andres Rodriguez of Boca Raton, Florida, and Andres Olivares’ Davinci took home the victory in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. The class saw 33 starters take the field on a course designed by Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Florida, that produced six clear rounds for the jump-off.

The first clear round of the class came early, when Paul Halpern of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Amanda Weaver’s Sevastian K, second in the order, jumped clean. Two trips later, eventual winner Rodriguez and Davinci forced a jump-off with a clear effort of their own. The next 20 trips saw team after team fail to overcome the course with rails down across the field.

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