Tag Archives: Kristy Herrera

USA, Brazil Share Top Spots in Turf Tour and Week 3 Grand Prix

Kristy Herrera and Cordaba AG Z (Photos courtesy of Equinium Sports Marketing)

West Palm Beach, FL (January 26, 2017) – Sun, sand, and turf were the three key ingredients for world-class competition during Week 3 of The Ridge at Wellington’s Palm Beach Series, held January 18-22. The 13-week circuit’s home base at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach welcomed competitors to its covered and all-weather arenas as well as to the spectacular grass field at Carben Farms for five days of phenomenal show jumping.

Splendor on the Grass

Kristy McCormack Herrera piloted Cordaba AG Z to victory against a lineup of some of the sport’s top international Grand Prix competitors at Carben Farm. The $15,000 1.40m Grand Prix, sponsored by Gigi Stetlar’s Broward RV, and other jumper divisions held at Carben were the first of this year’s Turf Tour classes to be held on the springy grass field of one of the event’s host farms. The main Turf Tour field began with the 1.30-1.35m Jumpers in the morning, followed by the $15,000 1.40m Grand Prix, presented by Broward RV, in the early afternoon. USA’s Lauren Hough, Venezuela’s Emanuel Andrade, USA’s Peter Leone, USA’s Debbie Stephens, and Ireland’s Daniel Coyle were just a few of the international Grand Prix competitors vying for supremacy over the technical courses laid out by Kevin Giblin. Jumper Ring 2, also on the grass, featured Low, Medium, and High Schooling Jumper divisions over a scaled down version of the main arena’s fences.

Twelve double clear rounds out of 32 riders summarized the Grand Prix competition at Carben. An early fast jump off by Emanuel Andrade set the tone, and it was Herrera and Cordaba AG Z who ultimately topped the field. The pair rode a clean and careful first round clear, followed by a quick and precise jump off to finish on 41.102. Despite a number of impressive efforts to challenge their lead, as the sun began to sink behind the stunning barns and fields of Carben Farm, Herrera remained on top.

“We’ve been bringing Cordaba along at the national Grand Prix level and he’s getting to the point that I am able to really ask him to be competitive,” said Herrera. “He’s still green and learning, but he has such heart and is so game for whatever I point him at. I love the idea and atmosphere of the Turf Tour. It’s great to come to a place where my horse gets confidence and that fits into my schedule. He’s still developing at this level and riding in a class like this and on a different surface I think will make him more dynamic in future classes.”

Saturday’s Grand Prix in Jim Brandon’s Covered Arena

Switching from the wide open spaces of the Turf Tour to the feel of a European indoor, Saturday’s 1.45m Grand Prix featured a more technical course shielded from the brilliant south Florida sun by Jim Brandon Equestrian Center’s oversized covered arena. Brazilian National Champion and 2012 Olympian Jose Roberto Reynoso Fernandez Fihlo and Chacco Balou, of Santana Stables, showcased the power and speed that have made him one of Brazil’s highly decorated show jumping champions.

Jose Roberto Reynoso and Chacco Balou

An early double clear effort by Ireland’s Dennis Coakley and Sterling Un Prince determined the pace at 36.203, with a lineup of successful Grand Prix competitors including Daniel Bluman and Christine McCrea, vying for a faster jump off. Reynoso and Chacco Balou ultimately accomplished the feat, finishing on 34.538 seconds. Decorated Irish show jumper David Blake and Pine Hollow Farm’s Quantero 2 gave the Brazilian champion a run for his money with a double clear effort and a final jump off time within a second of Reynoso’s, bumping fellow Irishman Coakley into third place.

FEI Course Designer Mark McGowan on His Creations for Palm Beach Series Week 4

During Palm Beach Series Week 4, the jumper competition will be played out on a stage set by Mark McGowan. Following a career as a rider and being at the top of the course designing game at the national level in Europe, McGowan is now a FEI Level 3 designer and has brought his passion and skill for show jumping into the arenas at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. Transitioning to The Ridge’s standard of multiple courses in one arena, McGowan deftly incorporates appropriate challenges for all competitors, from Young Horse Classes and Junior Amateur divisions to the 1.35 Jumpers and Grand Prix, into his designs.

“Riders in certain arenas have the choice between a Jump Off course or a Power & Speed course within the same design, and that presents an interesting challenge to provide enough differentiation between each course without moving the jumps,” said McGowan. “It’s a great opportunity for riders to practice a jump off or really fine-tune a horse at the same height without having to wait for a full course change.”

Also providing the designs for the bigger classes during Week 4, including the 1.25-1.30m divisions held every day Wednesday to Saturday and the 1.40 and 1.45m Grand Prix classes held Friday and Saturday, McGowan’s philosophy asks more questions as the jumps get higher, raising the bar figuratively and literally for competitors.

“For our 1.30m jumpers, I like to create a course that is simple, straightforward, and inviting, building on more basic skills developed at lower heights,” said McGowan. “For Friday’s 1.40m, which typically will be last year’s 1.30 horses, is a nice introduction to the Grand Prix task for the horse and rider, and then at 1.45m I begin to present more of a challenge, giving competitors options and asking them more technical questions. I also think riding and jumping on the grass is a dying art, as so many arenas are now all-weather. The Turf Tour is a great opportunity for riders to develop a horse’s balance and stamina, as well as their skill at navigating fences on an incline, which ultimately makes both horse and rider more competitive in a level arena.”

Week 3 also crowed the following Champion and Reserve Champion honors, as well as saw a number of the future generation of Grand Prix riders in its leadline and Teeny Tiny Jumper classes. A full hunter division runs alongside the Palm Beach Series each week at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center.

For full results for Palm Beach Series Weeks 1-3, visit www.TheRidgeFarm.com/Results.

For more information on the 2017 Palm Beach Series, including full schedules, prizelists, and entry blanks, visit www.TheRidgeFarm.com.

Kristy Herrera and Miss Lucy Capture 2016 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship

Kristy Herrera and Miss Lucy.

Sophie Michaels and Wallenberg Race to Victory in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show

Lexington, Ky. — Aug. 20, 2016 — A hush fell over the Kentucky Horse Park’s Rolex Stadium as the final two riders prepared to take the stage in the 2016 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship. As Jennifer Alfano and the SBS Farms team looked on anxiously from the sidelines, Kristy Herrera entered the ring with Miss Lucy and laid down the trip of a lifetime to secure the sweetest victory, bringing a true fairytale ending to life for the SBS Farms team during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show.

“I still can’t believe it,” Herrera said, fighting back tears of joy. “This is obviously a dream come true, and of course I have to first thank Jen for letting me ride Miss Lucy. I can’t believe it. Miss Lucy loves being in that ring, and I just steered, really. She just rose to the occasion. It’s unbelievable. I was in there riding, and I knew Jen was riding from the side for me. Every jump felt unbelievable, especially the last one.”

Sitting snugly in third place after Friday’s classic round, Herrera gathered her composure before heading into the ring for Saturday night’s handy round. Herrera was able to shake off the pressure and put her faith in Miss Lucy to lay down a spectacular trip, earning scores of 90.5, 90.5, and 92.5 from the three judging panels to combine with her 25 handy points and all of the high options. Herrera’s round brought Alfano to tears.

“I’m still in shock, also,” Alfano said, also fighting back emotion. “Everyone knows that that horse has such a special place in my heart for a lot of reasons, and so does Kristy. It was hard for me to be here not riding, but I was in tears and had goosebumps. It was so beautiful to watch the two of them together. I’m so proud of both of them. It was meant to be.”

After sustaining an injury in late May at the Devon Horse Show, Alfano was rendered unable to finish the season on Helen Lenahan’s 14-year-old derby star, Miss Lucy. Herrera, a former student of Alfano’s, rose up to fill Alfano’s shoes, taking over the ride on Miss Lucy just three weeks ago.

Beginning at the young age of 9, Herrera started training at SBS Farms, where, under Alfano’s tutelage, Herrera began to blossom into the rider she is today. Saturday’s victory truly marked a mentorship coming full circle for the two riders, as Alfano quite literally handed the reins to her student, putting her faith in Herrera and looking on as the duo filled her with pride.

“I really didn’t imagine this,” Alfano said. “I’m so happy. To be honest, I was a little nervous about tonight. Miss Lucy is an incredible horse, and Kristy is an incredible rider, but when you come to these handy rounds, that is when you really need to have a partnership with your horse. You have to know where all the buttons are. I think Kristy did something tonight that not a lot of people could have done.”

In a heartbreaking twist of fate, Kelley Farmer and Baltimore, who were leading after the classic round with a high score of 291 points, watched the win slip away as a piece of the final fence fell with Baltimore’s back hooves, bringing an unfortunate ending to an otherwise perfect round.

Standing proudly at 1.57m, the final fence not only marked the tallest obstacle on course, but also the tallest one in hunter derby history. The daunting wall dashed the dreams of many a rider, but Farmer’s mishap was easily the most devastating of the night.

“You know what, it is what it is,” Farmer said. “That horse did nothing to let me down tonight. It just happened to be a little bit of bad luck. The way Kristy went, and the way her horse went and with the scores she got, deservedly so, I wasn’t going to beat her doing anything else but trying to jump the high options. It’s not my nature to take the easy way out or jump the low side or anything. Kristy went beautifully, and she deserved to win. The only way I was going to beat her was to give it a shot.”

All hope was not lost, however, as Farmer still brought home the reserve championship aboard Nina Moore’s Kodachrome with scores of 89, 91, and 88 tacked onto 22 handy points, resulting in a grand total of 582 points. Another round laden with emotion, Farmer dedicated her ride to the late Russell Frey, who had the ride on Kodachrome until his passing in May. Making her stellar round even more special, Saturday’s finale happened to fall on Frey’s birthday.

“That horse had to carry the weight of the world over the past months, and he’s done nothing but get better and better,” Farmer said. “To walk out there and go like that, I couldn’t be more proud of him. Nina bought that horse for Russell to come to Derby Finals. When she sent him to me, she said that’s what she wanted him to do. She told Russell that he would, so I’m honored that she gave me the opportunity to keep going.”

Before heading to the Kentucky Horse Park, last year’s champion, Liza Boyd, kissed her superstar, three-time Derby Finals champion, Brunello, and teared up as she drove down the driveway without him. Boyd brought a piece of Brunello’s tail with her, which she tucked safely in her pocket and rubbed before her round aboard O’Ryan. With some luck from Brunello’s tail, the duo turned in the best handy round of the night, earning scores of 91, 90 and 92 in addition to a total of 27 bonus handy points for a total score of 578 points to finish in third place overall.

“On a lighter note, I was a lot more laid back than Kelley and Kristy,” Boyd said, laughing. “With the pressure that these two had, I don’t know how they did it. I just had fun on my junior hunter, and he stepped up for me, and I couldn’t be happier. I thank the owners, the Styslingers, for letting me do this with him. I honestly wasn’t sure I was going to be in this press conference without Brunello, so I was glad to be here.”

Course designers Bobby Murphy and Danny Moore said that they were looking to raise the stakes with Saturday’s course, challenging the derby riders by pushing them to new heights. Murphy and Moore also decorated the ring with elaborate sand sculptures, crediting the generosity of donors such as Hugh Kincannon, Rob Murphy, Diane Carney, Ron Danta and the Gochman family for making that a possibility.

“If you have more people in the hunter industry that will step up to finance these courses, then we can create more spectacular courses,” Murphy said. “It comes down to money with this, and tonight moved this program a step in the right direction. I’m sure the Hunter Derby Program created new fans tonight through this course and through these riders, and through them jumping this gigantic wall. It was an exciting class. The specs say in bold, ‘no maximum height,’ so we’ll treat this as a hunter puissance, and we’ll just keep inching up. That half inch counts!”

Sophie Michaels and Wallenberg Race to Victory in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers

Sophie Michaels was aboard Serenity Equestrian Ventures’ Wallenberg to capture the win in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show out of 15 entries. Michaels currently trains with Andre Dignelli and Patricia Griffith at Heritage Farm in Katonah, New York.

Sophie Michaels and Wallenberg
Sophie Michaels and Wallenberg

The 18-year-old rider, of New York, New York, sped to victory in an impressive time of 59.69 seconds that no one else could top. Despite the rain in the Rolex Stadium, Michaels was able to keep her composure and come out on top. Her mount, a 13-year-old Hanoverian by Stakkato, has also seen success in the jumper ring with another accomplished young rider, Kelli Cruciotti.

“I’ve had Wally since Florida. I leased him from Kelli,” Michaels said. “He’s been really great. He is really conventional and he’s really broke so he’s fun to do speed classes on. I can feel like I have a shot because he’s on his game to do neat turns and go fast.”

The plan going into the class was simple, to go fast, and Michaels was confident in her partner’s ability to do so.

“My trainer told me just to have the fastest time. I knew I could do it because he’s really good at going fast and I feel comfortable on him,” she said.

In addition to Saturday’s win in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class with Wallenberg, Michaels won the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers with her mare, Balouba, on Friday.

“I’ve had her for a few years now. She’s been so great – she’s super careful and really fun. I got to go last, so it was an advantage, for sure.”

She also won the Medium Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers on Friday with Darero. Michaels took MCB Maya in Friday evening’s $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, where they put down a clear round but were 0.5 seconds over the time allowed.

Michaels is looking forward to beginning her freshman year of college at Yale University, where she will be able to continue training at Heritage Farm and gearing up for equitation finals in the fall.

Anna Beth Athey guided her own Samoa to the second place position behind Michaels, with 60.014 seconds on the clock. Banda De Hus earned third place honors with Ashley Fleischhacker in the irons. The chestnut mare is owned by Ashland Show Stables, LLC, of Lexington, Kentucky.

In the 1.40m Open Jumpers, Kyle Timm reigned supreme aboard his own Georgie B. He was able to navigate the course against 18 other competitors and finish clean. In the nine-horse jump-off, Timm and the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse rose to the top to claim the victory in a time of 40.46 seconds.

Timm, of Apex, North Carolina, trains at Apex Equestrian Center, where they specialize in importing, buying, selling, and training high-quality hunter, jumper, and equitation horses in the Raleigh and Durham areas. An international show jumping star, Timm grew up in Calgary Alberta, Canada.

Coming in second place behind Timm was Carlos Quinones aboard Michelle Navarro-Grau’s Sagu. The pair just missed Timm’s time, clocking in at 43.232 seconds. Quinones also took the third-place ribbon in the class, with Alhalil, also owned by Michelle Navarro-Grau. Alhalil galloped through the timers with a 43.585 second finish.

The Bluegrass Festival Horse Show will wrap up on Sunday with the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby and the $40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington.

For more information, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Media Contact: Rebecca Walton
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386
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