Nicholas Horgan and Captain 33 led the way in the Junior Hunter division. Photo by AnLi Kelly-Durham/Phelps Media Group.
Halifax, MA – June 22, 2013 – The hunter horses and riders were out in force today on the fourth day of the Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic, held at the Fieldstone Show Park. Featured in the Main Hunter Ring was the Junior Hunter division, where Nicholas Horgan and Captain 33 shined. Earlier in the day, the Adult Amateur Hunter divisions came to a close, with Rebecca Clawson and Freeport rode away with the championship in the Adult Amateur 18-35 Hunters, while Robin Harkins and Swiss Miss earned the championship in the Adult Amateur 35 and Over Hunter section.
The Junior Hunter division saw a strong field of competitors from all over New England. Nicholas Horgan of Charlotte, VT and his own Captain 33 had a great start on the first day of Junior Hunter competition, picking up a blue in the handy and a second over fences. Horgan also won the WIHS Hunter Phase earlier in the day. Not far behind him was Katie Eppinger of Grafton, MA, who is the rider and owner of KEC Felix. They claimed a first over fences and a second in the handy. Picking up a third in the over fences was La Vita and rider Fiona Steinmetz, while Alexis Anderson and Gotta Dance received a third for their efforts in the handy class.
“You had to have a lot of pace; the lines are set kind of long today, so you had to keep a good pace through the whole thing,” explained Horgan of the course. “For the handy, my plan was to stay collected through the turns, but then get the pace back on the straightaway in order to make it down the lines. My plan for tomorrow is to do as well as I did today.”
Horgan continued, “My horse is a 7-year-old Holsteiner gelding that I got two years ago in Florida. He takes a soft ride, but if you ask him, he’s there. In the WIHS, I think there were a lot of good riders, but I rode strong and stayed light, letting him do his thing so he could move nicely throughout the course. I think that’s what helped me win. Next, we are off to the Northeast Benefit Horse Show, then I go to the Emerging Athletes Program Clinic, and I will be back at Fieldstone in August. I hope to qualify for and compete at the National Medal Finals this fall.”
The Junior Hunter division will finish tomorrow with two classes over fences and the under saddle, and the championship titles will be awarded.
Earlier this morning, the Adult Amateur Hunter divisions finished up, with many talented horses and riders returning for their second day of competition. Walking away with the champion honors after the second day of Adult Amateur Hunter competition was Rebecca Clawson of Halifax, MA and Freeport in the Adult Amateur 18-35 Hunter division, and Robin Harkins with Swiss Miss, an entry owned by Jay Sargent of Portsmouth, RI, in the Adult Amateur 35 and Over Hunter division. Clawson and Freeport won three of the over fences class and received the highest score in the first round of the Adult Amateur Hunter Classic. Harkins and Swiss Miss also won three over fences class in addition to the under saddle, and received a second in the other over fences class.
“Freeport is only a 5-year-old and he is really good; we always have to plan that he may not be good because he is only 5, and this is only his third show doing the three-foot divisions,” smiled Clawson. “He was such a good boy and he gave great efforts. I was really happy with my score of 82 in the first round of the classic, he was really good and I think we were really smooth and consistent and he was jumping really well. I just planned to be smooth and consistent and to help him the best I could. He did a really good job; he was quiet, calm, and really relaxed. He likes a really soft ride. He wants his rider to let him go and do his own thing, but he does need help because he is only five and is new to this.”
“We are just planning to see how he goes, but eventually I would like to move up to the Amateur-Owners with him, and we are hoping to qualify him for the Marshall & Sterling Adult Finals this year,” commented Clawson on her future plans with her mount. “I am really excited to do the second round of the classic out on the field tomorrow; we did the derby yesterday, and he was ninth in it. He loves the field; he just likes getting that big gallop, so I am hoping he will be the same tomorrow in the class out on the big field.”
The Children’s Hunter Horse divisions also came to a close this morning. In the Children’s Hunter Horses, it was Sinatra, a Monica Rauschenbach entry of Newburgh, NY, and Kianna Taylor walked away with the championship, while Remington and Anna Phillips of New Canaan, CT finished in reserve.
The Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic will conclude tomorrow with the highlight hunter event, the $10,000 Fieldstone 3’3″ Hunter Derby, in addition to the $1,500 Adult Amateur Hunter Classic and the $1,500 Children’s Hunter Classic, all to be seen on the derby field. For more information on Stadium Jumping and the Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic, please visit www.showfieldstone.com. You can also follow the Fieldstone Horse Shows on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/fieldstone.equestrian.
Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic 2013 Horse Show Fast Facts
Events: 2013 Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic
What:
The Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic includes five days of top hunter/jumper competitions during the month of May. The Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic is host to the $25,000 Fieldstone Grand Prix, $7,500 Welcome Stake, $7,500 Open Speed Derby and the all-new $10,000 3’3″ Hunter Derby and $2,500 2’9″ Hunter Derby.
Where:
Fieldstone Show Park
21 Plymouth St.
Halifax, MA, 02338
When:
PLYMOUTH ROCK HUNTER/JUMPER CLASSIC – June 19-23, 2013
$25,000 Fieldstone Grand Prix
$7,500 Welcome Stake
$7,500 Open Speed Derby
$10,000 3’3″ Hunter Derby
$2,500 2’9″ Hunter Derby
$2,500 Pony Classic
Hours:
8am – 5pm daily
Animals:
No dogs or other pets are allowed on the grounds unless they are leashed and under control. Unrestrained pets will be impounded and released only upon payment of fine.
Directions:
From Route 3: Heading south or north take Exit 9(Rte. 3A, Kingston, Plymouth). Top of the ramp turn right on Rte 3A (towards Kingston). Through two sets of lights to a blinking light, bear left on to Rte 27-106. Travel about one mile to set of lights and fork. Take left at fork onto Rte 106. Fieldstone Farm is approximately 5 miles on the right in Halifax, MA.
From the West: Rte 495 to Rte 24 North. First exit Rte 104 and head east. Rte 104 merges with Rte 106. Cross over Rte 58 in Halifax Center. Fieldstone Farm is 1.2 miles on the left.
Information:
Before Show – (941) 527-6602, susiemorr@aol.com
During Show – Telephone: (781) 422-7978, Fax: (781) 679-0739
Stabling – Call (781) 422-7978
Stabling office – (781) 422-7978
Shownet – www.shownet.biz
Website: www.showfieldstone.com
Ring Dimensions/Specs:
The Grand Prix Field is grass. The Jumper Ring 5, Hunter Ring 1, Equitation Ring 2, Hunter Ring 4, Jumper Schooling areas and other schooling areas have Sand Euro Felt footing. The lunging area has a sand surface. The dimensions of the competition areas are as follows:
Grand Prix Field: 350′ x 400′, Jumper Ring 5: 200′x 250′, Hunter Ring 1: 175′ x 240′, Equitation Ring 2: 175′ x 250′, Hunter Ring 4: 100′ x 210′
Management:
Stadium Jumping
1301 Sixth Avenue West Suite 406
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 527-6602 (phone)
(941) 744-0874 (fax)
e-mail: susiemorr@aol.com
website: www.stadiumjumping.com
AnLi Kelly-Duram 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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