Tag Archives: Ky. Spring Classic

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Show Jumping

Emanuel Andrade and Carboni 3 Capture High Junior Jumpers Win at Kentucky Spring Classic

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Emanuel Andrade and Carboni 3.

Lexington, KY – May 16, 2014 – Rising talent took center stage in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Spring Classic, with Emanuel Andrade and Carboni 3 taking home a victory in the High Junior Jumpers. Victoria Colvin took home the second place award with Chanel B2, but earlier in the day she bested some of the best professionals in the business during a 1.45m Open Jumpers aboard Ruby.

For the High Junior Jumper class, course designer Michel Vaillancourt tested riders with a course similar to Thursday night’s Hagyard Lexington Classic. Only seven riders advanced to the tiebreaker, and only three riders produced a second clear effort.

The first to do so were Colvin and Chanel B2, owned by Karen Long Dwight of New Vernon, NJ. The pair jumped all the fences with ease and set the time to beat at 32.415 seconds. Sophie Simpson of Royal Palm Beach, FL, tried to catch her aboard Why Not, but a slower time of 34.175 seconds would only be good enough for third place.

The only rider that was able to best Colvin was Andrade with Carboni 3, owned by Hollow Creek Farm of Aiken, SC. The pair was quick and careful through the rollbacks and the double combination, taking over the lead with a time of 31.575 seconds. Andrade and Carboni 3 took home the blue ribbon, while Colvin settled for second.

Before he went in the ring, fellow Venezuelan rider Pablo Barrios bet Andrade $100 that he could not go clear, and it proved to be the perfect motivation. “It’s not that easy to jump clear with him,” admitted Andrade.  “Sometimes he’s not very careful, but when he is he can really win. Today he was perfect, super careful and scopey.”

Andrade continued, “During the jump-off, I did a really short turn in the first rollback, and then to the combination I was very quick. The course was the same as the grand prix last night, so the lines were very technical.  Carboni 3 jumped great, and I am really happy with him.”

Victoria Colvin and Ruby
Victoria Colvin and Ruby

Earlier in the day it was Colvin’s time to shine. Eight competitors had double clear efforts, creating a race for the win. Aaron Vale set the time to beat at a speedy 34.534 seconds aboard Spirit of Alena, owned by Campos and Miranda Investments of Ocala, FL. He would not hold on to the lead for long though. Colvin and Ruby, owned by Rose Hill Farm of Bridgehampton, NY, picked up a quick gallop to the first fence and never held back, crossing the finish line in 33.761 seconds, almost a full second ahead of Vale.

Towards the end of the class, Hayley Barnhill attempted to catch the leaders with Zephire, owned by Cara Cheska of Waukesha, WI, but the young rider fell just short of the top times with a clear round in 34.838 seconds. Barnhill took home the third place award, while Vale picked up second, and Colvin topped the leader board.

“I didn’t really watch any. I wasn’t planning on going very fast, but from one to two I was really tight,” explained Colvin. “It was just neat. We weren’t running, but we had some tight turns.”

Colvin added, “Ruby might be the one I show at [the North American Junior & Young Rider Championships], so we had to get the certificate in the 1.45m. She’s really easy. This is only my third time riding her. She’s very big, so she covers the ground really well and doesn’t make you feel like you are jumping high. It’s nice to be able to compete in the bigger classes.”

The High Amateur-Owner Jumpers wrapped up the day in the Rolex Stadium.  Hayley Gassel of Lenoir City, TN, had all the answers with Quite Dark 2, taking a three second lead during the eight-horse jump-off with a clear time of 33.146 seconds for the victory. Jennifer O’Neil of Quebec, Canada, scored the second and third place ribbons with Zoltaire and Unex Valente, respectively, posting double clear efforts with both mounts.

Tomorrow morning, riders will return for the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic, and in the evening they will compete under the lights during $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. The jumper action at the Kentucky Spring Classic concludes on Sunday with the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior and Amateur-Owner Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classics sponsored by Sleepy P Ranch & Audi of Lexington in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park.

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Emilio and Bella Cramer Claim Back-to-Back Blues at Kentucky Spring Classic

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Bella Cramer and Emilio.

Lexington, KY – May 16, 2014 – Balancing school or a career with riding and showing is a feat familiar to many Amateur-Owner riders, and it is one that Bella Cramer is handling quite successfully. The High Point University upcoming sophomore and her own Emilio earned back-to-back blue ribbons in the Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’3″ Hunters today at the Kentucky Spring Classic.

Scores of 88 and 89 earned Cramer and Emilio the dual victories over today’s courses designed by Bobby Murphy in the Stonelea Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park. Their successful performances marked the pair’s first time back in the show ring together after several weeks away while Cramer, a Michigan native, was at school in North Carolina.

“I’ve been away at school and haven’t been able to ride him, but he went out there today and was perfect,” Cramer said. “Emilio’s 11 now and I’ve had since he was a First Year horse.”

Cramer continued, “He has a big step, so I have to go a little bit slower with him so that we’re not leaving out strides in the lines. I just have to sit back and slow him down. He’s pretty straightforward.”

While today was the pair’s first time back in the show ring together this spring, Cramer has been able to stay in the show ring herself on High Point University’s Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) team. Competing in the open division, the highest division of the IHSA, she was the only freshman on the High Point team to qualify for their Zone 5 Region 4 Finals.

“I like the whole feeling of a team,” Cramer said. “You don’t get that when you’re regularly riding and showing.”

While Cramer enjoys the team aspect, she is also extremely happy to be back riding and showing Emilio here at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Also glad to be showing at the Kentucky Horse Park this week is one of the nation’s top Amateur-Owner Over 35 riders, Dawn Fogel. She dominated the Amateur-Owner Over 35 3’3″ Hunters this afternoon with her newly acquired mount Summer Catch.

Dawn Fogel and Summer Catch
Dawn Fogel and Summer Catch

“I actually leased him from Ashley Hotz for two weeks to show during [the Winter Equestrian Festival] Week V and Week VI, and we ended up purchasing him around Week X,” Fogel said. “He has a great personality. He’s very sweet, which is always nice to be around.”

Fogel continued, “He’s got a really big jump which is fun to ride. He’s got a great canter to go to the jumps on. He has a long stride, and he’s just generally a really, really neat ride.”

Fogel and Summer Catch earned scores of 88 and 92 to take both of the top calls over fences in their debut together at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“I love it here,” Fogel, a Louisville, KY resident said, “The footing is incredible, and to be able to go out and ride in the fields is fantastic. My other horse loves to go hack out on the grass, so I take him out there a lot. I think it’s the best facility to show at.”

Fogel will head to the Devon Horse Show next week before returning to the Kentucky Horse Shows this summer.

Hunter competition continues tomorrow with this week’s hunter highlight class: the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby at 5 p.m. in the Stonelea Ring.

For more information on the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Wellington, FL 33414
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Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Scott Stewart Sweeps the Day at Kentucky Spring Classic

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Scott Stewart and Golden Rule.

Lexington, KY – May 15, 2014 – Five championship tricolors were presented in the Stonelea Ring today at the Kentucky Horse Park, and three of them went home with Scott Stewart and his string of talented mounts.

Not only did Stewart ride away with numerous championships from the Kentucky Spring Classic, he and Dr. Betsee Parker’s Lucador delivered a clean sweep of the Green Conformation Hunter division.

The 6-year-old Oldenburg gelding came in to the day with two wins over fences and a win in the Green Conformation Model. Today, he earned two scores of 89 over the Bobby Murphy designed courses to secure victories in both of the over fences classes as well as a win in the under saddle.

This week marked only Lucador’s sixth time competing over 3’6,” but he has already proven quite successful. He was named Green Conformation division champion each of the five times that he showed during the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sweeping all of the classes in the division multiple times throughout the winter and ultimately earning him the Green Conformation Hunter circuit championship.

“This is his first show since Florida, and next week he’ll head to Devon,” Stewart said. “He’s been really easy so far. We don’t really jump him at home. He’s generally quiet, but he likes to buck. So the first day you have to make sure he is definitely quiet because he’ll land from the first jump and throw in a buck. Other than that, he’s pretty straightforward; he’s a good mover and brave, the packaged deal.”

Finishing in reserve position in the Green Conformation Hunters were Havens Schatt and High Time, owned by Deborah Perkins.

Stewart’s next championship of the day came aboard Stephanie Danhakl’s Golden Rule in the Second Year Green Hunters.

The Oldenburg gelding has only been competing in the hunters since WEF Week IV, but he has seen success right from the start with both Stewart and Danhakl, earning multiple tricolors throughout WEF.  He continued his winning ways today, taking the top call in both of the over fences classes before being named champion.

The reserve championship in the Second Year Green Hunters was presented to Jennifer Hannan aboard Jennifer Smith’s As Always.

Stewart’s final championship, earned in the High Performance Hunters, came down to the wire between him and Kelley Farmer with Everly and Mindful, respectively. Each mount earned two wins over fences, but Everly, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, clinched the top title with the win in the under saddle. Mindful, owned by Larry Glefke and Kensel, LLC, would finish just behind Everly for the reserve championship.

Farmer also made her own sweep of the day, winning both the championship and the reserve championship in the Regular Conformation Hunters. The championship went to Point Being, while reserve went to Quotable, both owned by Larry Glefke and Kensel, LLC.

Quotable has seen the winners circle countless times in the division, but at 7 years old and as a First Year Green horse, Point Being is the new comer in the division. Today though, it was his turn to take the top calls in both of the over fences classes and bring home the division’s highest honors.

“One brother has to give the other brother a chance sometimes,” joked Farmer. “It’s only fair that the barnmates take turns at the top.”

Taking their turn at the top in the First Year Green Hunters were Tim Goguen and Ransom, owned by Saddle Ridge LLC.

“He’s a scopey, scopey horse,” Goguen said. “I think he’s going to go on and do the High Performance and do that quite well. He’s a fun horse to ride. He’s got a great personality. He’s like a little kid actually, when you ride him and you’re around him.”

Goguen and Ransom will head to Devon next week and then back to Kentucky for the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows.

Hunter competition continues tomorrow through Sunday, May 18 at the Kentucky Spring Class and includes this week’s hunter highlight class: the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 17.

For more information on the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Phelps Media Group, Inc.
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Wellington, FL 33414
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Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Show Jumping

Pablo Barrios & Romeo Race to Victory in $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at Kentucky Spring Classic

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Pablo Barrios and Romeo.

Lexington, KY – May 15, 2014 – It has become a Thursday tradition to see Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios in the winner’s circle at the Kentucky Horse Shows, and today was no exception. The speedy rider once again topped the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, this time aboard the Romeo Group’s Romeo, while the ZL Group’s Zara Leandra settled for third. Todd Minikus slipped into the second place position with a quick and clear jump-off riding the Quality Group’s Quality Girl.

Fifty-three competitors turned out for the second event in the Hagyard Challenge Series, but Michel Vaillancourt’s challenging track only yielded 11 clear rounds. The jump-off included three new fences, as well as double combination with a triple bar to vertical, followed by a short turn to a wide oxer.

Emanuel Andrade set the original time to beat with a clear round on Hollow Creek’s ZZ-Top VH Schaarbroek Z in 41.830 seconds, which held up for sixth place. Callan Solem bested him with Horseshoe Trail Farm’s VDL Wizard in 40.752 seconds; Andrade’s second mount Hardrock Z was even better in a clear 40.106 seconds to have them finishing fifth and fourth, respectively.

Pablo Barrios was the next rider to enter the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park. His top mare Zara Leandra is no stranger to laying down a blazing pace. They were right on the money despite a wide turn after the combination, and they went straight to the top of the leader board in 39.389 seconds.

Todd Minikus and Quality Girl
Todd Minikus and Quality Girl

Todd Minikus did not let Barrios hold on to the lead for long though, making a smoother rollback after the combination with Quality Girl and dashing through the timers in 38.128 seconds to take over the top spot.

Barrios was the last to return, this time with the ride on Romeo, and with nothing to lose he put the pedal to the metal. The pair galloped full speed at each obstacle, and they were able to turn even tighter inside after the combination. The risk paid off when they left each rail intact and zipped through the time timers in 37.525 seconds. Romeo led the victory gallop, while Quality Girl and Zara Leandra took home second and third, respectively.

“It’s never over until the last horse goes,” admitted Minikus. “Pablo had the benefit of going last. He obviously did a good job with that horse and just nipped me. Nevertheless, my mare was awesome. My team did a great job.”

Barrios admitted that he had the advantage going after Minikus with Romeo. “I was the last to go, and I was sitting second, so I had nothing to lose,” he explained. “I really tried to go for it, and he’s a very fast horse. I turned very tight to the oxer, and Romeo moves very quickly across the ground.”

Romeo is normally ridden by Hollow Creek’s Victor Segovia, but after injuring his knee he asked Barrios to take over the ride for the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. “He’s a very nice horse for this class,” said Barrios. “Our first show was last week. We did the Bluegrass Classic, and he was fourth. Then I did another 1.40m class with him.”

Barrios added, “Romeo is fun to ride. He reminds me a little bit of my old mare Quick Star. He’s very hot, brave and careful, but he wants to go quick and wants to leave all of the rails up.”

Tonight marked the second event in the seven-part Hagyard Challenge Series, featuring a $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus. Barrios was the winner in 2013, and he is aiming to defend his title. “During the jump-off with Zara Leandra, I was thinking a little bit about getting points for the Hagyard,” he commented. “With a clear round I knew would be in the top five, and I still have another horse coming. I knew it was good enough for top three.”

Barrios concluded, “Of course I am aiming for the bonus; that’s why I rode five horses tonight! I am going to bring all of them this summer. If Zara Leandra goes to the World Equestrian Games, she is going straight from here. I am not going to do any shows in Europe.”

On Saturday night, riders will return to compete under the lights during $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. Saturday will also feature the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic in the morning. The jumper action at the Kentucky Spring Classic concludes on Sunday with the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior and Amateur-Owner Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classics sponsored by Sleepy P Ranch & Audi of Lexington in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park.

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
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Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Show Jumping

Back-to-Back Blue Ribbons for Bacardi and Havens Schatt at Kentucky Spring Classic

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Havens Schatt and Bacardi.

Jumpers on Hold Due to Weather

Lexington, KY – May 14, 2014 – Today marked the beginning of the Kentucky Spring Classic and an impressive start to the spring show season for Caroline Moran’s Bacardi. With Havens Schatt in the irons, the gray gelding earned consecutive scores of 92 for back-to-back wins in the Second Year Green Hunters at the Kentucky Horse Park.

While one would never guess it after watching his rounds today, the Kentucky Spring Classic marked Bacardi’s first return to the show ring after more than a month off and an unusual winter in Florida.

“While we were in Florida, he developed allergies to Melaleuca trees,” Schatt explained. “That was really a pain. During Week IV [of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF)], I was riding him to the ring for the warm-up and some leaves hit him in the face. He just started sneezing and shaking and trying to get to the fence to rub his nose.”

Schatt continued, “He just wasn’t himself. We had him tested for allergies, and we found out that that’s what it was. He was a little bit better by the end of WEF; he’d started on allergy shots, but I’ve just tried to keep his workload kind of light so that he could get through the round of shots. It’s a pretty long process.”

While it has been particularly light as of recent, a limited workload is the general approach that Schatt takes with Bacardi, and given their continuous successes it is an approach that is working out well. “When we go in the ring, I kind of feel like I’m winging it, but so far it’s working,” Schatt said. “To ride a horse like him is truly an honor. I don’t know that I’ve ever had a horse that goes in the ring trying to do his best every time and can act like that at home.”

With their two first place finishes, Schatt and Bacardi sit as the clear front runners heading in to day two of professional hunter competition in the Stonelea Ring. Christopher Payne and Channing and Jennifer Smith and As Always follow them closely, as both pairs turned in impressive performances over the Bobby Murphy designed courses to each earn a second place finish in today’s two over fences classes.

Scott Stewart and Everly
Scott Stewart and Everly

In the High Performance Hunter division, it is Scott Stewart and Everly and Kelley Farmer and Mindful who sit tied at the top heading in to tomorrow. Both horses received identical scores of 93 and 90, with Stewart and Everly taking the 93 and the top call in the first class and Farmer and Mindful topping the field with the 93 in the second class.

Similarly to Bacardi, Everly has enjoyed several months off after last showing during Week VI of WEF, and the mare, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, returned to the ring today at the top of her game.

“She’s such a great jumper and such a great horse that we’re really able to just pick and choose what shows we do,” Stewart said. “I think today was the best she’s ever gone for me really. She was just very relaxed. I was really thrilled.”

Everly’s performances today bodes well leading up to week when she and Stewart will head to the Devon Horse Show.  “We like to come here before Devon,” Stewart said. “There’s so much space here to ride, and I think the horses are relaxed. It’s a new, change of venue for them after being in Florida. There’s good footing, and the courses were great today.”

Jumpers on Hold Due to Weather

This afternoon in the Rolex Stadium, the 1.40m Open Jumper speed class was the highlight event. Twenty-eight riders showed over Michel Vaillancourt’s track, before the class had to be stopped due to strong storms in the area. The leader before the class was put on hold was Emanuel Andrade and AD Vangelys, owned by Hollow Creek Farm of Aiken, SC.

Emanuel Andrade and AD Vangelys, before the storm
Emanuel Andrade and AD Vangelys, before the storm

The pace to beat was set early by Pablo Barrios and Hollow Creek Farm’s Crossfire 10 at a clear 60.834 seconds, but Andrade followed two rounds later. Andrade and AD Vangelys sliced the turns, and the pair was able to cross the finish line in a speedy 58.871 seconds to take over the lead. The only other rider to come close to Andrade’s time was Juan Ortiz and Korkade, who finished in 60.519 seconds.

There were still 13 riders set to return, and they will have the chance to try and catch Andrade’s time tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. The 1.45m Open Jumper class was moved to Thursday afternoon. For an updated schedule, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Tomorrow afternoon’s main event will be the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. Riders will also have the opportunity to showcase their mounts during Saturday evening’s $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. The hunter riders will return to the Stonelea Arena tomorrow for the conclusion of the professional hunter divisions, and on Saturday evening they will vie for the winning honors in the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby.

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
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Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Show Jumping

Emanuel Andrade Accelerates at Kentucky Spring Classic

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Emanuel Andrade guided ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek Z to an eighth place finish in the $75,000 Mary Rena Grand Prix. Photos by Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group.

Lexington, Kentucky – It was another week of show jumping success for Emanuel Andrade of Venezuela as the 16-year-old continued to test his skills against the top professionals at the 2013 Kentucky Spring Classic held May 15 to 19 in Lexington, KY.

Having dominated the Junior Jumper divisions for the past two seasons, Andrade is quickly proving he has what it takes to compete against the sport’s top professionals.  During the Kentucky Spring Classic, Andrade qualified two mounts for the 13-horse jump-off in the week’s featured event, Saturday night’s $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix.  His jump-off time with Walter 61 would have been fast enough for the win, but a rail down left the pair in seventh place in the final standings.  Another four-fault jump-off effort earned Andrade eighth place with ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek Z.

One week earlier during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show held May 8 to 12, Andrade had placed third from a competitive field of 42 entries in the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic riding Walter 61, a 12-year-old Sachsen-Anhaltiner gelding owned by Hollow Creek Farm.

Andrade also competed in the Open Jumper divisions at heights of 1.30m, 1.40m, and 1.45m, scoring several wins against the professionals.  Carboni picked up two wins in the 1.30m division, while Boccaccio also scored victory at the same level.  In the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Young Jumper division, Andrade guided Black Pearl to victory.

In the Low Junior Jumper division, open to riders aged 14 to 18, Andrade scored a hat trick in Friday’s competition, sweeping the top three spots.  He won with Carboni, placed second with Casanova Junior, and rounded out the top three with Luky des Rocquelines.  Having also won the $2,500 Low Junior Jumper Classic with Quebec Star and placed second with Luky des Rocquelines, it was no surprise that Andrade took home both the Championship and Reserve Championship titles in the Low Junior Jumper division.  In fact, it was the second week in a row that Andrade and Quebec Star were crowned the Low Junior Jumper Champions.

In Friday’s High Junior/Amateur-Owner competition, Andrade topped a 31-horse starting field to win with Wilkina Lithya, a 10-year-old mare that he began riding during the winter season in Wellington, Florida.  He also placed third with Tiny Tim and seventh with La Fe Forli, and rode away with the Reserve Championship division title.

Angel Karolyi placed fourth with Indiana 127 in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
Angel Karolyi placed fourth with Indiana 127 in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic

Andrade, who commutes between his native Venezuela where he is a student and the United States, trains with Angel Karolyi and Andrea King of Hollow Creek Farm in Aiken, SC.  Already a veteran of the Venezuelan Show Jumping Team, Karolyi, 26, also enjoyed a top 10 finish in the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic riding Amigo, a nine-year-old bay Zangersheide gelding, on the final day of competition.  During the first week of competition, Karolyi guided Indiana 127 to a fourth place finish in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic.

With their combined success at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, Hollow Creek Farm certainly made its mark during the two weeks of competition.

“I am super happy and grateful to have this opportunity with Hollow Creek,” said Andrade.  “I am trying to stay focused so I can continue winning.  Kentucky is one of my favorite shows here in the United States.  The whole team likes it here, and the horses love it.”

Andrade and the Hollow Creek team will return to Lexington in June for their next competition.  Held at the Kentucky Horse Park, site of the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games, the show jumping competition provides a unique opportunity for both horses and riders to gain experience competing at a major games venue.

Hollow Creek Farm has the unique distinction of winning three prestigious titles at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.  At only 16 years of age, Andrade was named the Leading Jumper Rider, Andrea King was named the Leading Jumper Trainer, and Hollow Creek Farm was named the Leading Jumper Owner.

For more information on Hollow Creek Farm, a large training business focusing on both horses and riders, please visit www.hollowcreekfarms.com.

Contact:  Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439
www.startinggate.ca

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows

Jenna Selati Seals Kentucky Spring Classic Victory with Greytful

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Jenna Selati and Greytful.

Lexington, KY – May 19, 2013 – Today marked the end of the 2013 Kentucky Spring Classic and the finale of a winning weekend for Jenna Selati and Greytful. Selati, a Chicago, IL native, will return home from the Kentucky Horse Park with the championship tricolor in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter division.

Selati navigated Greytful, or “Empire”, to two blue ribbons yesterday over the Bobby Murphy designed courses in the Murphy Ring. She returned today to turn in equally impressive rounds in the Stonelea Ring with the seven-year-old gelding, finishing second in the both first class and over the handy course.

“We got him in November, and he’s just so easy going and laid back. He’s like a big puppy,” Selati shared. “I thought the courses were challenging and fun, and he was great over them.”

Selati is unsure what the future will hold for herself and Empire, but she hopes to aim him at hunter derbies down the road. The young rider also hopes to be back in Kentucky.

“It’s beautiful here; the courses are great, and the weather’s been beautiful this weekend,” Selati concluded.

Finishing in reserve in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters were Piper Benjamin and Corvine. Benjamin and Corvine bested the field in the handy class to claim the blue ribbon, and they immediately returned to win a second blue ribbon in the under saddle class.

Winning the championship in the Large Junior 15 and Under Hunter division was Vivian Yowan aboard Roc A Bye, owned by Marigot Bay Farm LLC of Dover, MA. Yowan picked up the catch ride aboard Roc A Bye, consistently turning in solid rounds. Today, Yowan finished second in both of the division’s over fences classes before being named champion of the division.

“He was a little tired today, because he showed a lot yesterday, but he was still really, really good,” Yowan explained. “I liked the handy course today. I thought it was pretty tricky and there were different options that you could take. I did some inside turns in the Small Junior class that I didn’t do her.”

The blue ribbon in both of today’s over fences classes went to Meredith Darst and Vida Blue, owned by Elm Rock LLC of Bronxville, NY, earning them the division’s reserve championship.

Meredith Darst and Val D'Isere
Meredith Darst and Val D’Isere

Darst also earned a second tricolor today with Val D’Isere, owned by Natalie Allen-Barinsky of Mendota Heights, MN. Like Yowan and Roc A Bye, Val D’Isere is a new catch ride for Darst, but the pair connected quickly, finishing first and second over fences today and earning the division championship.

“Val D’Isere’s been great, and I’ve really enjoyed having the ride,” Darst said.

While the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows have come to an end, the ‘AA’ rated hunter and jumper competition will resume when the Kentucky Summer Horse Show comes to the Kentucky Horse Park on July 24-28, 2013.

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Show Jumping

Meagan Nusz and Vesuvius Victorious in $20,000 Bluegrass Classic at Kentucky Spring Classic

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Meagan Nusz and Vesuvius.

Lexington, KY – May 18, 2013 – The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows came to a close today with amateur rider Meagan Nusz claiming her second major victory.  During the 16-horse jump-off in the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic, Nusz piloted Vesuvius to the winning clear time to lead the victory gallop during the Kentucky Spring Classic. Ramiro Quintana of Argentina was hot on her heels, qualifying three mounts for the tiebreaker and scoring second and third with Ollywood Des Horts and Ziedento, respectively.

Thirty-nine entries showed over Conrad Homfeld’s first round course, which mimicked portions of last night’s grand prix with multiple bending lines and sharp bending line. There was also a challenging triple combination and technical vertical-vertical double combination. Sixteen of the original starters managed to master the 1.45m track and advance to the jump-off. The short course began with an oxer-vertical line before riders had to roll back to a skinny vertical to an oxer. After galloping across the ring over two more obstacles the qualifiers had to speed toward the final fence with precision.

Ramiro Quintana was the pathfinder over the first course aboard Ziedento, owned by St. Bride’s Farm of Upperville, VA, and he managed to match the effort as the first in the jump-off. The duo easily maneuvered over all of the fences, setting the time to beat at 42.258 seconds, which would be good enough for third.

Fernando Cardenas had the next clear round with Quincy Car, but they ended up with the most conservative faultless time in 43.729 seconds for fifth place. Canada’s Ian Millar came very close to taking Quintana’s early lead with Baranns, but fell just 2/10ths of a second short. The clear effort would pick up the fourth place award.

Meagan Nusz and Vesuvius, owned by Amalaya Investments of Houston, TX, would produce the next double clear effort, and they had their eye on the winning pace. Easily making the rollback to the skinny vertical, they were able to handily gallop across the middle of the ring before leaving a stride out to the last obstacle. The pair dashed through the timers in 41.462 seconds to claim the victory.

Ramiro Quintana and Ollywood Des Horts
Ramiro Quintana and Ollywood Des Horts

The only other rider to come close to catching them was Quintana with his other mount, Ollywood Des Horts, owned by Remarkable Farms of New York, NY. The duo added to the final fence to leave it intact, but the careful approach proved costly with a time of 41.718, which was just 3/10ths of a second shy of the leader for second place.

“With my first horse Ziedento, I was trying to lay down a trip where it was as fast as I could go without knocking down a rail, and put pressure on the other riders coming behind me,” explained Quintana. “I knew I could go faster with Ollywood. I watched Meagan’s round, and I was neat to one and two and did a good turn back to skinny. I was pretty right on it until the last jump. I did an extra stride there because I felt the horse hadn’t really sighted on the jump, and I wanted to gather him a bit. I didn’t feel like I could leave the stride out, and that’s where I think I lost the class.”

One other competitor managed to leave all the jumps up, but clocked in over the time allowed. Marcelo Barros chose a conservative route with Lordes to trip the timers at 50.558 seconds, for two time faults and sixth place. Nusz also went home with the seventh place award after having just four faults in the jump-off with her second mount Dynamo to claim the seventh place honors, as well as the win.

“Vesuvius is naturally a super fast horse, so I didn’t have to push him out of his element too much in the jump-off,” stated Nusz. “Usually, if I can just get a good distance at the first fence and stay on that pace, I can pretty much match any round and then shave off a little bit here and there. Luckily for me I have a super careful horse that I can push a little for the speed, and he’s always going to try and stay clean. Other horses can get a little frantic when they are going that quickly, but I just to get cruise around. He loves it; he loves going fast.”

Nusz has been partnered with Vesuvius for two years and won the Amateur-Owner Jumper National Championship in 2012. “I get along with him really well; he’s so much fun to ride,” she expressed. “Every time you go in the ring you can’t help but smile when you come out because he’s such a trier and he’s always looking to be a winner for himself and for me, which is a really nice feeling. This year I’ve kind of moved out of the amateurs and have been trying to do more of these types of classes and some speed classes. I am trying to do more with him now and push myself too. I’m learning and it’s exciting when I win because it’s my first time to do all of this. I’m thrilled, I am really happy.”

Although Nusz won the $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix last week, they were not as lucky last night and today’s victory came at just the right moment. “Yesterday I had a terrible day with Dynamo, and we were so frantic when we went in the ring that I had a number of rails,” she admitted. “It’s so funny in this sport how you go from hero to zero, so that was a little bit hard on me. I had to move on to today and I am really happy that I was able to go in with Vesuvius and Dynamo and have really, really good rounds. I needed to end the show this way and not the way I ended last night, so I am really excited.”

Nusz has used the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows to help prepare for Spruce Meadows, and it very happy to have classes like the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic available. “It’s nice to have a class that’s worth a lot of money that you can show your second and third string horses in and still have a chance to go in and win and get a little bit of money,” she commented. “Vesuvius can’t go in and do those bigger grand prix classes, but this is perfect for him. They’ve done an excellent job with all the big classes at this show.”

The High Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumper Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classics were held later in the day. The Amateur-Owner Jumpers saw four double clear efforts, with Wilton Porter piloting Neolistio Van Het Mierenhof to the win for Sleepy P Ranch of Bartonville, TX. Canada’s Jordan MacPherson and Aanwinst claimed second, Kenzie Donovan of River Hills, WI, placed third with Boomerang, and Leah DeMartini rounded out the faultless efforts in the jump-off with True Love for Elm Rock LLC of Bronxville, NY.  In the High Junior Jumper Classic, there were no double clear rounds, but Sophie Simpson had the fastest four fault round in the jump-off aboard Chico’s Girl, owned by Katherine Gallagher of Medfield, MA. Kady Abrahamson of Loveland, OH, followed in second with Irish Hunt.

Today marked the conclusion of the Kentucky Spring Classic, but in July competition will continue at the Kentucky Horse Park during the Kentucky Summer Series. Throughout July and August, riders will have the opportunity to compete in top-notch hunter/jumper events, and also try to earn valuable points toward the $50,000 Hagyard Challenge Series’ Leading Rider Bonus, and the $15,000 Leading Rider Bonuses available during the Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby Series.

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows

Havens Schatt Wins Kentucky Spring Classic Highlight $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

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Havens Schatt and Just Fred.

Lexington, KY – May 18, 2013 – Havens Schatt and Just Fred were just about flawless in tonight’s $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby. Schatt and Just Fred, owned by R. Bruce Duchossois of Aiken, SC, claimed the victory in what is one of the Kentucky Spring Classic’s most highlighted hunter events. The class, held today in the Stonelea Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park, is the second in the seven-part Hallway Feeds Series in which top riders from across the country vie for their share of the $15,000 Leading Rider Awards.

Tonight’s ten obstacle first round course set by Bobby Murphy featured a number of bending lines and rollbacks all set at 3′ with four 3’6″ option fences. If cleared successfully, the higher options were each worth an additional point added to each of the judges’ scores. From the opening field of 32 horse and rider pairs, the top 12 scoring combinations made the cutoff to come back for the handy round course, also designed by Murphy. The handy course featured nine obstacles, many of which were built to imitate the fences a rider would face on the hunt field. It presented riders with even more tight turns and rollbacks and different options to showcase their horses’ handiness.

“I thought the courses were great. The handy course really made you think, and it really made you go to all angles of the ring to see what was possible and what wasn’t,” Schatt commented. “There were so many different ways to ride it.”

Kelley Farmer returned to the handy round in the third place position with a first round score of 90 aboard Red Sky, owned by Dr. Kenneth and Selma Garber and Larry Glefke of Keswick, VA. Farmer and Red Sky took all of the higher options over the second course to earn a handy round score of 87, for a grand total of 177 over both courses, which would end up cementing their spot in third place for the night.

Farmer’s high score in the first was overtaken by Schatt and Just Fred, who returned as the second to last to go with a first round score of 91. The pair skillfully maneuvered the handy course to earn a base score of 84, plus four additional points for taking each of the higher options for a total second round score of 88. That score combined with their first round score of 91 moved them into the first place position with an overall point tally of 179.

Kelley Farmer and Skorekeeper
Kelley Farmer and Skorekeeper

Farmer was back again as the final rider to return, this time with Skorekeeper, owned by Larry Glefke and Quail Run Partnership of Keswick, VA. The seven-year-old horse earned a total first round score of 94 to shoot him to the top of the leader board going back in to the final round, but a slight chip to the third fence of the handy course would leave him with a second round score of 84. That 84 left Farmer and Skorekeeper with a final point total of 178, just one point behind Schatt and Just Fred for the second place award.

“The camaraderie in these classes is really nice. It’s competitive, but it doesn’t seem so high stress,” Schatt said following the class. “The classes are great to get young horses in the ring and get them going and get them used to the people watching, the crowds and the banners. I think it’s an awesome series.”

Both Skorekeeper and Just Fred are brand new to the hunter derby field and are already making their mark in winning style. Both made their derby debuts just last weekend, at the Memphis in May USHJA International Hunter Derby for Skorekeeper and at the first $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby for Just Fred.

“We bought him last year in Florida, and he was actually doing the jumpers,” Schatt said of Just Fred. “We thought that the derby would be really fun out there in the big ring [the Rolex Stadium] last weekend, and he was awesome. We were fourth going back into the handy round, but I walked the trot jump. It wasn’t Fred’s fault. So we planned to do it again this week and see how he’s coming along.”

Schatt continued, “Fred can really jump, so we’ll see how he comes along, but I would hope come June I could do the bigger derbies. I think he’d be really fun to do in those.”

The Hallway Feeds Hunter Derby Series returns at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, with the third class in the series being held July 27.

Hallway Feeds’ close proximity to the Kentucky Horse Park provides the opportunity to utilize the freshest feed, manufactured with time-honored commitments to high standards of quality and the latest scientific advances. Combining a premium nutrition package with a professional level of dedication in horsemen and women provides equine athletes with the Formula for Success.

For more information on Hallway Feeds, please visit www.hallwayfeeds.com.

The Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series would not be possible without many generous sponsors including Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Central Equipment, Alfagreen Supreme, Sweet PDZ Horse Stall Refresher, Caddel Equine Therapy Center, KER Sport Horse Nutrition, The Tack Shop of Lexington, Turf Town Properties, Trouw Nutrition and PNC Bank.

Hunter competition continues tomorrow at the Kentucky Horse Park as the Kentucky Spring Classic comes to a close with the awarding of the Small Junior Hunter and Children’s Hunter championships.

For more information about Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, please go to www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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*Featured/Spotlights, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Show Jumping

Margie Engle and Royce Race to Win $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix at Kentucky Spring Classic

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Margie Engle and Royce.

Lexington, KY – May 18, 2013 – Scope and stride proved to be the key to the win for Margie Engle and Royce during the $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, presented by Audi of Lexington, during the Kentucky Spring Classic. The pair out jumped 12 other horse and rider combinations during the tiebreaker to claim the winning prize with a double clear effort. Charlie Jayne captured the second place award with Chill R Z, while Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios galloped into third aboard Zara Leandra.

Forty-four entries showed over Conrad Homfeld’s opening course, which featured multiple bending lines, an open water with a scored pole, a steady vertical-oxer double combination, and an oxer-vertical-oxer triple combination that proved to be the bogey. It yielded 13 clear rounds, which eventual winner Margie Engle attributed to the footing. “He built a good course,” she commented. “The jumps were a good height and he had some tricky lines and some technical lines, but the horses give you a little extra on this footing.”

For the jump-off, riders had to begin with a rollback from a new vertical to a new oxer, before then slicing across the ring to the double combination. Then they galloped to a single vertical before making another rollback over a skinny vertical to a wide oxer, and then galloping home over a single oxer in the middle of the Rolex Stadium.

Captain Canada showed the way over the short course with his top mount Star Power, owned by Team Works of Perth, Ontario. The duo left all the rails intact, but had a conservative gallop going early in the field to finish sixth with a time of 44.786 seconds. The next to go was Pablo Barrios and Zara Leanrda, owned by ZL Group of Wellington, FL. The speedy duo was clear over the course and broke the beam at 41.834 second, which was good enough for third.

Katie Prudent raced to catch Barrios’ time with her winner from yesterday, V, owned by Michael Smith of Winchester, VA. They came just 1/10th of a second with their fault-free effort for fourth.

The next to tackle the short course was Margie Engle aboard Royce, owned by Elm Rock Partners LLC of Bronxville, NY. They had their eye on the prize and picked up a quick gallop to the first fence. The duo sliced through the double combinations and made a short turn to the skinny before leaving a stride out to the final oxer. The final time of 40.757 seconds would be good enough for the win.

Charlie Jayne and Chill R Z
Charlie Jayne and Chill R Z

Charlie Jayne attempted to catch Engle’s time with Chill R Z, owned by Alex Jayne of Elgin, IL. He and his World Cup mount were just a touch too slow, galloping through the timers in 40.905 seconds to take over second, sealing the victory for Engle.

“Last year, I practiced jumping clear rounds with Chill, and this year I’ve been trying to practice speed in the jump-off,” noted Jayne. “This was actually the first class that he jumped since World Cup finals that I just did two weeks ago. I jumped him a little bit this morning just to practice the Nations Cup format of jumping twice in one day, because I’m going to do the Nation’s Cup team coming up next month in Spruce Meadows. I was really happy that I could jump him this morning and then come back again this afternoon, and he just jumped to rounds like it was nothing.”

Jayne added, “He’s ready to win. He’s got a big, lofty stride, and I have to make it up in the turns and by leaving out strides. A bigger ring is easier for him because I can just pick up that nice forward gallop that I like. Today, I was really happy that he’s so adjustable. That’s one of his greatest assets.”

Young rider Reed Kessler of Lexington, KY, had the time with Mika, but a heartbreaking rail at the last oxer gave them four faults for sixth. Emanuel Andrade had a rail with each of his mounts from Hollow Creek Farm, Walter 61 and ZZ-Top VH Schaarbroek Z, to place seventh and eighth, respectively.

Mario Gamboa and the Stansky’s Mission Farm’s Unico, and Sharn Wordley with Ashland Stables’ Derly Chin De Muze each had four faults as well for the ninth and tenth place positions. The eight-faulters included Aaron Vale riding Zippo II for 2VR Showjumpers, Schuyler Riley aboard M. Michael Meller’s Waterloo, and Ramiro Quintana with St. Bride’s Farm’s Whitney.

This evening’s victory on Royce marks an improvement from second place in the event for Engle. “I was really pleased with him both rounds,” she smiled. “Royce is riding better and better. He’s always had all the ability in the world. He’s got unbelievable talent, and it’s just taken me a little bit of time to get the rideability in between the jumps. I was just starting to get it before I got hurt last year, so then he had some time off. He’s a horse that you really need to develop a rapport with. I lost half the year, so I was almost starting from scratch again. He jumped a lot of clear rounds in Florida, but I was just going medium because I still didn’t have the rideability where I wanted it. I am starting to get him back to where I had him last year.”

Engle continued, “Royce is not a quick horse by any means. He jumps very high and spends a lot of time in the air. He’s only eight years old, so he really over jumps the fences, and he’s very good behind. He is a little bit of a slower going horse. Since he has so much scope and ability you can turn back to things really quickly and he’s got the ability to get across easily. He’s so scopey he just gets higher where a lot of horses get flat.”

The next stop for Engle and Royce will be the Devon Horse Show, followed by HITS Saugerties and the Lake Placid Horse Shows, before heading to Europe for the end of the summer. She has very high hopes for the young mount and sees a very bright future.

“He’s not a speed horse and you’re not going to be able to go fast with him every time, but we’re working on his rideability and getting quicker,” she admitted. “I think his main qualities are going to shine through when the courses get really big. I really feel like he’s a championship horse and he can do big round after big round and it doesn’t take much out of him. I know he’s got all the ability and the talent. I really think he’s a horse for the big, big stuff.”

Engle has always enjoyed competing at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, and this year was no exception. “It’s a big open area and you’ve got plenty of room to ride here,” she said. “Weather is always unpredictable, and no matter what the weather does the footing is always perfect. It’s nice to have permanent stabling, and there are always good courses. Kentucky is horse area!”

The Kentucky Spring Classic will conclude tomorrow with the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic, which gets underway at 8a.m. The High Junior and Amateur-Owner Classics, as well as the Low Amateur-Owner Classic will wrap-up the competition in the Rolex Stadium.

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
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