Tag Archives: Ky. Spring Horse Show

Louise Serio Dominates First Year Greens at Kentucky Spring Horse Show

Louise Serio piloted Aate' and Casino to the First Year Green Working Hunter Championship awards for the second day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 10, 2012 – Today marked the conclusion of the professional hunter divisions for the second day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Riders gathered at the Stonelea to vie for the championship awards in the competitive divisions. Tammy Provost and Chris Payne proved successful in the Green Conformation Hunters and Second Year Green Working Hunters, respectively. Jennifer Alfano rode to the top of the leaderboard with Lions Paw in the Regular Conformation Hunter division, as well as showing Jersey Boy to the championship tricolor in the High Performance Hunters. Rider Louise Serio dominated the First Year Green Working Hunters, earning the championship prize aboard Aate’ and also taking home the reserve championship with Casino.

Serio, was filled with determination as she guided Aate’, owned by Bright Star 158, LLC of Snyder, NY, to two blue ribbon finishes early this morning. The crisp weather had the horses feeling fresh; however, Aate’ rose to the occasion, executing two beautiful rounds over fences.

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Reed Kessler and Onisha Demonstrate Power and Speed at Kentucky Spring Horse Show

Reed Kessler and Onisha won the 1.40m Open Jumper Power and Speed at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 10, 2012 – It was a great day for the team from Plain Bay Farm as student Reed Kessler won the 1.40m Open Jumper class, and trainer Katie Prudent placed second, as well as claiming her own victory in the 1.35m Open Jumpers. In the 1.40m Power and Speed event at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, Kessler piloted her talented mount Onisha to the blue ribbon prize with quick speed. Prudent placed second with V, who was also very fast during the speed phase. Earlier in the day, Prudent won the 1.35m Open Jumpers with a double-clear effort aboard V, which was just as speedy and good enough for the blue.

Kessler, now of Lexington, KY, is currently atop the Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team, and hopes to make a bid for the 2012 London Olympics. Tomorrow, the Kentucky Horse Park and the Rolex Stadium will host the first of their Observation Events with the $50,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, and the events will continue on Sunday with the $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix.

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Second 2012 US Show Jumping Team Observation Event Features 15 of America’s Best Jumpers

Reed Kessler and Cylana (Sportfot)

Lexington, KY – The second of four 2012 US Show Jumping Team Observation Events takes place this weekend at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show held at the Kentucky Horse Park. Fifteen members of the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games are set to contest two Observation Event classes. On Friday, these combinations will jump alongside other entries in the $50,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic and will return to the Rolex Stadium Sunday afternoon to try and top an open field in the $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix.

The top three combinations from the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games have all made the trip to Lexington to compete in this Observation Event. Seventeen-year-old Reed Kessler brings her own top-ranked Cylana, the horse she rode to the 2012 USEF National Show Jumping Co-Champion title in March. Kessler will also serve as owner and rider of fifth-ranked Mika this weekend.

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Hector Florentino and Ultimo Speed to Victory in $35,000 Welcome Cup at Kentucky Spring Horse Show

Hector Florentino and Ultimo won the $35,000 Welcome Cup at the 2012 Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 9, 2011 – Speed was the name of the game during the first day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, and the Dominican Republic’s Hector Florentino had it with Ultimo. The pair dominated the $35,000 Welcome Cup, clocking in at a speedy 67.530 seconds, which earned the blue ribbon prize during the speed event. Ashlee Bond stepped up to place second with her veteran mount Cadett 7, while the lead-off rider Kent Farrington, placed third with Voyeur.

Today’s class was the first major event during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, which will be hosting two Observation Events for the U.S. Show Jumping Team later in the week. To welcome the riders, course designer Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England built a speed track in the Rolex Stadium that included a double combination, a triple combination, and open water with a pole, and multiple inside options. Seven of today’s 24 entries completed their rounds without fault, but it was Hector Florentino and Stransky’s Mission Farm’s Ultimo that took home the lion’s share of the prize money.

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Jennifer Alfano Sweeps First Day of Professional Hunters at Kentucky Spring Horse Show

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy scored two blue ribbons at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show in the High Performance Hunters, sweeping the first day of classes. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 9, 2011 – Riders gathered at the Stonelea Ring to face the demanding hunter course as the first day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show got underway. They were greeted with a brisk morning air, and a cloud filled sky, as the divisions commenced with top riders from across the nation competing for the winning honors in their respective divisions. Opening day marked the beginning of the First Year Green Working Hunter, Second Year Green Working Hunter, Green Conformation, Regular Conformation and High Performance Hunter classes. Leading the way in the Green Conformation Hunters was Hunt Tosh aboard Say Again, while Havens Schatt exhibited both Macallan and Valencia to top honors in the Second Year Green Working Hunters. It was Jennifer Alfano, however, who stole the show in the Regular Conformation Hunters with Lions Paw, as well as the High Performance Hunters with the revered Jersey Boy, sweeping both divisions.

Alfano piloted the nine-year-old thoroughbred, Lion’s Paw, owned by Danny Robertshaw of Camden, SC, to two blue ribbons in the Regular Conformation Hunters. She originally began showing the gelding at the beginning of HITS Ocala; however, this was her first time show with him this spring. “I had him since the beginning of Florida, and he hasn’t actually been shown since the third week. I was thrilled with him. He was great, and the course rode nicely. He’s pretty simple to ride, he never spooks at anything, and he is just a fun horse to ride.”

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Long Listed Show Jumping Riders Prepare for Kentucky Spring Horse Shows Observation Events

2012 Olympic Trials for Show Jumping Winner Reed Kessler has had great success with Mika at the Kentucky Horse Shows for many years. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington, KY – April 13, 2012 – The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows are just around the corner and some of the nation’s top riders are gearing up for the two-week event. The first week of competition, the Kentucky Spring Horse Show CSI3*, May 9-13, 2012, has been designated by the USEF as a 2012 US Show Jumping Team Observation Event. Long Listed riders such as Reed Kessler, Margie Engle, Beezie Madden, Mario Deslauriers, and Christine McCrea will all be at the event to showcase their talent to the Selection Committee.

The jumper highlights in the Rolex Stadium during the first week will include the $35,000 Welcome Cup on May 9th. This will be followed on Friday, May 11th by the $50,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic and on Sunday, May 13th by the $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix. These two major competitions are Observation Events for the US Show Jumping Team.

Seventeen-year-old Reed Kessler was the winner of the 2012 USEF Selection Trials for the US Show Jumping Team, and has been competing at the Kentucky Horse Shows for many years. “I am really excited,” she expressed. “I think it’s a terrific venue. It’s a perfect test and a great observation site to prepare for London because it’s another big, impressive ring, so that’s why we decided to show there.”

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US Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe to Undergo Treatment for Cancer

Lexington, KY – U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe George Morris will be undergoing treatment for prostate cancer this spring.

Morris will remain in his position of Chef d’Equipe and will stay closely involved with the program, the selection process and the riders even though he will be unable to travel to the Observation Events.

Morris has asked Robert Ridland (who was recently named the Morris’ successor beginning in 2013: http://www.usefnetwork.com/news/8096/2012/2/21/robert_ridland_approved_for_us_sh.aspx) to attend the Observation Events and monitor the technical aspects of those competitions and report to Morris.

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US Show Jumping Team Observation Events to Be Held in Four Locations

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announced today the four competitions which will host the 2012 US Show Jumping Team Observation Events. These events will play an important role in selecting the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Following the USEF Selection Trials at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival March 21-24, 2012, a Long List of athlete/horse combinations will be ranked. Any of these combinations wishing to continue in the Olympic Selection process will have to contest two of the four USEF Observation Events.

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Kentucky Spring Horse Shows Feature US Show Jumping Team Observation Event

Kent Farrington and Uceko won the 2011 $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix at the Kentucky Spring Classic. Photo: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington, KY – February 28, 2012 – The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows are pleased to announce that their first week of competition, the Kentucky Spring Horse Show CSI3*, May 9-13, 2012, has been designated by USEF as a 2012 US Show Jumping Team Observation Event. The jumper highlights in the Rolex Stadium during the first week will include the $35,000 Welcome Cup on May 9th. This will be followed on Friday, May 11th by the $50,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic and on Sunday, May 13th by the $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix. These two major competitions are Observation Events for the US Show Jumping Team. Following the US Show Jumping Team Selection Trials in Wellington, FL in March, riders named to the long list must compete at two of the four designated observation events, one of which will be the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. In addition to the long listed riders many more top horse and rider combinations are expected to gather at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows to vie for the winning title in these challenging events.

Chef d’Equipe George Morris commented, “I think that Kentucky is a premiere facility, they have hosted trials before, they know how to do it. It’s a lovely time of year, great footing, so it has to be a hit. The whole area is very horse friendly and very natural.”

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Eastwood and Taylor Ann Adams Earn Championship at Kentucky Spring Horse Show

Taylor Ann Adams and Eastwood at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Photo Credit: Holly Whiteman/PMG

Lexington KY – May 15, 2011 – The first week of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show wrapped up the first week of a two-week long horse show event.  On Wednesday, May 18, the series will pick up again with the Kentucky Spring Classic.  Riders and spectators experienced summer-like weather conditions throughout most of the show with a touch of rain putting only a slight damper on the last two days. The Junior Hunter Divisions concluded with championship honors being awarded in the Stonelea Arena. Despite the rainy forecast, riders turned out to the ring in mint condition, ready to compete.

Taking the show in the Large 16-17 Junior Hunter Division was Taylor Ann Adams and Eastwood. The pair won the championship prize with two blue ribbons.  Shawn Casady and Stars Go Blue earned the reserve championship tricolor.

Adams, who has only competed Eastwood once before, was all smiles after their performance.  The duo fought the cold and rain to come out of the ring victorious, “Eastwood was amazing. I hate competing in the rain and the cold.  I couldn’t really see the jumps so I really just had to trust that he was going to be there and he was.”

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