The $7,770 Hester Equestrian, LLC Jumper Classic was a huge success yesterday and saw twenty horse and rider teams take to the world class grass grand prix turf over a course designed by Manuel Esparza of Mexico City, Mexico, former Assistant Designer for the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing in 2008.
“I love designing on this field,” commented Esparza. “This class is so great for horses to get experience on this turf,” he said. “I could design the course with fast options because there is so much room here and the footing is great,” he added.
Eight advanced to the second round and Andy Kocher of Ocala, Florida and Jodie Camberg’s Destiny Van De Noordheuvel set the time to beat at 39.000 seconds, well within the 42 seconds time allowed.
Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama and Loretta Patterson’s HJ Platinum looked to beat Kocher’s time, but their clear second round in a time of 40.987 seconds would put them in second place temporarily.
Penny Brennan of Ocala, Florida and her own Japan also looked to beat Kocher’s time and turned in a lightning clear second round in a time of 37.002 seconds, taking the lead and setting the new time to beat.
Helen Gilbert’s Al Pacini, ridden by Shannon Hicks of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, was the fourth to advance to a second round, but their time of 43.513 seconds, would see them finish with two time faults.
Sara McCann of Flower Mound, Texas, riding Fleur de Lis Farms’ Bacchus S, also turned in a clear second round, but their time of 42.731 would result in one time fault.
Mikayla Foster’s Kleinzoon Van Chin Ree, ridden by Amanda Comly of Waller, Texas, followed in the jump off order, but their second round saw twelve jump faults in a time of 39.577 seconds.
Leann Kelly of Valatie, New York and Honorway Farm, LLC’s Undercover finished their second round with four jump faults in a time of 39.403 seconds.
Sean Steffee of New Orleans, Louisiana and Isabel Coleman’s Warsteiner sat in the last to go spot and used those fast options when he rode to the win in a fast and clear second round in a time of 36.311 seconds, stealing the lead from Brennan.
The class finished up with Brennan and Japan in second, Kocher and Destiny Van De Noordheuvel in third, Shepherd and HJ Platinum in fourth, McCann and Bacchus S in fifth, Hicks and Al Pacini in sixth, Kelly and Undercover in seventh, and Comly and Kleinzoon Van Chin Ree in eighth. Brooke Kemper of Culpeper, Virginia and Christina Van Patten’s Riptide earned ninth place honors as the fastest four faulter in a time of 76.401 seconds; Kelly and Sarah Hunter’s Graf Joe earned tenth place after posting a four fault first round in a time of 79.202 seconds. Eleventh place went to Heather Zuber of Zionsville, Indiana and her own Phoenix, and Lila Sessums of Clinton, Mississippi and her own Jet wrapped up the class in twelfth place.
The 1.25 m Jumper Classic is open to all horses not competing in the grand prix which is a perfect opportunity for them to gain valuable mileage on a world class grass grand prix field. Sponsor of the $7,770 Jumper Classic is Hester Equestrian, LLC. With a new location at Hilaur Farms in Lexington, Kentucky, Hester Equestrian is happy to compete on some fabulous new circuits like Pensacola and Gulfport. Coming from the West Coast, it is great to make new friends, and keep the old, and let the horses frolic in large green pastures in the bluegrass. They welcome training clients and always have a nice selection of sale horses. See hesterequestrian.com for all the information.
Microchipping is now a requirement!
The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) now requires horses to be microchipped by December 1, 2017 in order to be eligible for Horse of the Year awards. Get ahead of this requirement at a very reasonable price while showing at the Gulf Coast Winter Classics. Dr. Patrick Cleveland, the Official Veterinarian of the Gulf Coast Winter Classic, is offering those showing in Gulfport a discounted rate of only $28 to microchip your horse. Dr. Cleveland is available to discuss any questions you have about microchipping and Mary Babick, United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Hunter Vice President, is also available for questions about the rule change.
The Gulf Coast Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. For more information on Gulf Coast Classic Company and its exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at www.gulfcoastclassiccompany.com.
All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director, at lisa@classiccompany.com.
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See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd.
www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island SC 29457