Tag Archives: Summer in the Rockies

It’s a Threepeat for VanderVeen in the Summer in the Rockies Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix

Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Eternal. Photo by Mary Adelaide Brakenridge.

Parker, CO – July 20, 2013 – The crown jewel of the Summer in the Rockies six-week series, the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix, was held on Saturday afternoon. It was Military Day at the Colorado Horse Park, honoring and welcoming military and first responders to enjoy family activities and great show jumping.

Title sponsor Parker Adventist Hospital was on hand for helmet fittings and distribution of free riding helmets to children as part of their Equestrian Safety Program. The evening began with lead line featuring cute ponies and children all walking away with blue ribbons, followed by fast and feisty Jack Russell terriers who raced against each other to the delight of the crowd of spectators.

The first horse appeared promptly at 4 p.m. to tackle international course designer Danny Foster’s course, a big and winding course that tested the maintenance of pace around turns, lengthening in forward lines and shortening in tight combinations.

“When you have the series-ending class and there’s extra money, there are all these reasons why you can go to the next level of competition,” said Foster. “I think people love it because it makes the first round so much more exciting.”

It wasn’t until six rounds in that Kristen VanderVeen from St Charles, IL, produced the first clear round aboard Bull Run’s Eternal. Five rounds later, John Pearce and Forest View Farm’s Chianto were fault-free, followed by Madeline Thatcher aboard Pony Lane Farm’s Splendor, then, Caitlin Hope and Total Touch, owned by Kathleen Hope. Armando Hassey put in what appeared to be a beautiful faultless round, but ¼ second over the time allowed cost them one fault.

Several rounds later, Alex Granato and Gangsta put in a clear effort, followed by Karen Cudmore and Southern Pride, and finally John Pearce and Son of a Gun. Altogether, seven horse and rider combinations met Foster’s challenge and progressed to the jump-off round.

“I like when more important classes begin with a championship,” said Foster. “They’re not just flat out decided in the jump-off.  If you get to the jump-off, right away you should be assured of a nice position. It was an accomplishment to go clean in that quality of first round.”

VanderVeen was the first to return for the short course with Bull Run’s Eternal. She delivered a flawless, clean round and tripped the timer at 40.035. Next, Pearce and Chianto had two down but a very fast time of 36.85. Thatcher lost a stirrup when Splendor knocked down a rail in their jump-off round and performed the majority of the round without her stirrup. Hope and Total Touch had a rail then some trouble at an oxer near the in-gate, which landed them in seventh place.

Alex Granato and Gangsta. Photo by Carrie Wirth
Alex Granato and Gangsta. Photo by Carrie Wirth

Granato and Gangsta managed the double clear in a time of 41.170 putting him in second place. Then Cudmore and Southern Pride were clean within 41.318 placing them in third.

Last to go in the jump-off round, Pearce and Son of a Gun attempted to come in clean and best VanderVeen’s time, but the pair had a rail and with a time of 42.069 ended up in fourth place.

VanderVeen had the win, her third grand prix win of the circuit. She had captured the top honors in the Summer in the Rockies II Grand Prix, presented by Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance, and the $40,000 Holiday Inn of Parker Grand Prix during Summer in the Rockies V. In addition, VanderVeen had won the 2012 $50,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix and the 2011 $50,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix.

“I felt good going in – he felt great in the warm-up ring,” said VanderVeen. “We felt on our A-game, but I never like to over think it too much.”

“In the first round all the lines were little bit slow, except one random line, so the whole rhythm of the course was a bit slow,” she continued. “My horse has a big stride, so I was trying to change gears in my mind. I was thinking, ‘Rein it back in stay in control; don’t get over-excited.’ The triple walked really tight and tough to jump, especially because it came after the only forward line in the course. It walked a big five then, turn right in the corner and real tight to that triple. I wanted to hit that five-stride and slow down into the triple. The vertical coming in was considerably smaller than B, which for some horses is hard to judge.”

“It is the end of three weeks so Gangsta is a little tired, but he shows it more as getting more tense to ride,” said Granato. “My plan for the first round was to hold it together and ride the best plan for him today – not how I walked. So I talked with John McConnell and Teri Knowlton who were helping me on the ground. We made a good plan for the first round.”

“I have known Danny Foster for years, so I knew exactly what to expect from his course,” said Cudmore.

John Pearce and Chianto. Photo by Carrie Wirth
John Pearce and Chianto. Photo by Carrie Wirth

“It is always hard to go first in the jump-off,” said VanderVeen. “I was going to lay it down and let them chase me. He’s got a really big stride, my plan was to start with that really big canter, be tidy but stay on my rhythm. You know, John Pearce can turn tighter than I can and there are other riders that can sneak in tighter than I can, but our strength is that he can jump off of a big gallop. That was my strategy.”

“My plan for the jump-off was still to hold it together, stick to the plan but be efficient and leave the rails up,” said Granato.  “Today it paid off.”

During the circuit, VanderVeen won the $30,000 Summer in the Rockies II Grand Prix, presented by Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance, and the $40,000 Holiday Inn of Parker Grand Prix during Summer in the Rockies V.

“What a great circuit it has been,” said VanderVeen. “We had a great welcome our first class, then Chelsea (VanderVeen’s client, Babcock) really killed it the first three weeks especially, she won almost every junior class, and the classics. Carolyn was champion last week in the low adults. So that was really encouraging, working with the whole team together, things were gelling and once you get that momentum going you can ride on it a little bit.”

“This is the threepeat,” said Keith VanderVeen, Kristen VanderVeen’s proud father. “This is the third year in a row she’s won the $50,000 Grand Prix. What makes me proudest is that every year the horse she won on got sold and she had to come with a new horse. And that’s not easy to do because you don’t have time to build a partnership.  We’ve had this horse for little under a year. She’s getting consistently better as a rider and she can ride a lot of different kinds of horses and get the best out of them. She’s worked very hard.”

“We came here when they were juniors, and now it is not the same show,” said Keith VanderVeen.  “Pat Boyle, in my opinion, has done a fantastic job teaming up with Helen (Krieble) to create a venue that’s  in a whole other league.”

“It is nice to see what Helen and Pat and Showplace Productions are doing,” said Granato. “We had a great circuit and it was a lot of fun. It is nice to be home and it is always good with Pat running a show. He does a good job.”

“The footing has also made a huge difference,” Keith VanderVeen continued. I want to give a shout out to the Coors Family for helping to make that happen. Now good horses can come to Colorado.”

The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts

What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series

Event Dates:

Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013

Prize List:

Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).

Entries:

Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.

Contact Information:

Pat Boyle, Show Manager                          (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager                        (303) 918-2908
Show Office                                                 (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax                                          (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office                (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax         (303) 841-7879

Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted

Directions:

Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado.  The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually.  CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.

The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space.  The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.

Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Kelsey Thatcher and Balougris SL Z Bring Home the Blue in the $2,500 1.30m Open Jumpers

Kelsey Thatcher and Balougris SL Z slice the second fence in the jump-off round.

Parker, CO – July 19, 2013 – Show jumping returned to the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena at Summer in the Rockies VI at the Colorado Horse Park. Highlights of the day included the $2,500 1.30m Open Jumpers and the $2,500 1.40m Open Jumpers.

In the 1.30m Open Jumpers, seven of the 13 horse and rider combinations that took on international course designer Danny Foster’s course progressed to the jump-off round. Haylie Jayne aboard Dolce Vita, owned by Pony Lane Farm, were the first in the order. The pair progressed to the jump-off round, where they were clean with a time of 38.958 seconds.

Jayne held on to the lead until Andrew Kocher and Cricket, owned by Lance Williamson, had a clear first round, then delivered a fault-free jump-off round to trip the timer at 36.971. Last to go in the order, Kelsey Thatcher and Balougris SL Z, owned by Pony Lane Farm, put in a double clear effort. Their jump-off round took full advantage of the short course’s time-saving options and the pair bested Kocher with a time of 36.971. When Thatcher and Balougris SL Z, known as Balou in the barn, left the ring, Thatcher was beaming.

“My horse was excellent so I was happy,” said Thatcher. “Balou is one we bought from Denise Wilson, who is from Ocala and the Chicago area. We’re glad that he’s broke finally. When they imported him he was already 8 or 9 years old and had no experience. My sister was the first one that started to ride him and he went around like a giraffe. He had no understanding of leg to hands. He would buck anytime you put your leg on, like a total little punk. But he is super, super talented.”

“He is the definition of team work,” Thatcher continued. “Haylie showed him for several months and Charlie did him in Florida in a couple of the WEFs and Mark Ferris would do lots of flatwork on him. I’ve shown him and my sister has shown him. He’s been great for all of us and we all love him.”

“I hadn’t ridden him in a year,” she said. “I showed him here last year. And my sister rode him for a year and now I’m riding him again. He’s an incredible athlete. It’s amazing how far he’s come. I’m so proud of him. It’s fun to talk about him because he’s been a little secret.”

Thatcher found the course challenging. But with Balou, the jump-off was an opportunity to show off his talent.

“The jump-off was fun,” Thatcher said. “The horses have to pay attention to where their legs are. I am lucky that he is a nice horse. That number two fence of the jump-off was like a 30 degree angle. I think he just barely got his eye on it and jumped it in perfect form. It is not a shot I could have taken on any other horse.”

Thatcher will ride two entries in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix tomorrow, Everything and Athena.

“I’m glad I rode in the class today because it gave me a good idea of what to expect for tomorrow with his course design,” she explained. “It’s funny, from one week to the next, it is the same ring, the same jumps, but the course designers ask completely different questions. There will be a phenomenal quality for a big money class.”

Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run's Holy Smokes
Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Holy Smokes

Foster’s tough course for the $2,500 1.40m Open Jumpers produced only one double clear round, from Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Holy Smokes, one of the latest additions to the impressive string of Bull Run Jumpers.

“We just got her recently and we’ve had a lot of fun trying a new program,” said VanderVeen. . “She only jumped the 1.20m when I got her just a few weeks ago. She’s really moved up quite quickly with us.”

The course today suited Holy Smokes. “The courses that are winding and turny work for her because I can break her up a little bit,” shared VanderVeen. “She likes to go, so that slowed her down a little bit.”

“They are very different than what we’ve been jumping, for sure,” she continued. “It was great for that horse. I like an open forward course. This course breaks up your ride a lot – it makes you jump off your eye with the bending and it challenges the riders in a very different way. It is good to change it up. If you’re not on the rhythm, it can get dicey real fast. If you can’t stay on the pace, the bending lines catch everybody a little bit backwards.”

VanderVeen, who won the Summer in the Rockies II Grand Prix, presented by Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance, and the $40,000 Holiday Inn of Parker Grand Prix during Summer in the Rockies V, will attempt another big win in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix on Saturday with her two entries, Bull Run’s Eternal and Bull Run’s Holy Smokes.

The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts

What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series

Event Dates:

Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013

Prize List:

Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).

Entries:

Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.

Contact Information:

Pat Boyle, Show Manager                          (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager                        (303) 918-2908
Show Office                                                 (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax                                          (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office                (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax         (303) 841-7879

Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted

Directions:

Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado.  The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually.  CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.

The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space.  The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.

Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Caitlin Boyle and Emma Willsky Take Charge in Small & Large Jr. Hunters at Summer in the Rockies VI

Caitlin Boyle and Finders Keepers.

Parker, CO – July 19, 2013 – Emma Willsky and Simply Said scored a hat trick in the Large Junior Hunters and Caitlin Boyle and Finders Keepers collected two wins in the Small Junior Hunters as the Junior Hunter divisions got underway at Summer in the Rockies VI.

Boyle and Finders Keepers demonstrated how far their partnership has come, cruising through relaxed, confident rounds that showcased the horse’s flashy jumping style. Boyle has had Finders Keepers for about a year and a half and has enjoyed seeing him develop into the horse he is today.

“We’ve made many, many improvements with him,” she said. “When we got him, he’d probably never jumped over 3′. So it’s nice to see how much he can do. He’s actually really athletic. We improved his smoothness, jumping form, lead changes and strength. He’s so simple now. It’s really nice.”

While Finders Keepers is for sale, Boyle is happy to keep showing him until he finds the right home. “We really love him – he’s a great horse,” she said. “So we’ll just keep showing him until someone wishes to have him. He’s a funny little guy, and he has a really cute personality.”

Boyle and Finders Keepers were 10th in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Sunday at Summer in the Rockies V. “I’m so proud because that was his first derby, and he just walked in there and jumped right around, like he didn’t care about anything,” she said. “He was amazing.”

Boyle also rode her equitation mount, Loredo, to a first place finish in the Washington Hunter and Jumper Phases, securing the overall win with scores in the upper 80s throughout. She and Loredo are shooting for top finishes at the big equitation finals this fall, and they have placed well in the equitation throughout their three weeks at Summer in the Rockies.

“He was really good,” Boyle said after her win on Loredo, whom she leases from Micaela Kennedy. “He was nice and quiet. He has a giant stride and the lines walked nice and easy today. I just needed to stay on one rhythm and have everything look the same.”

“We were 17th at Harrisburg (in the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Equitation Medal Finals) last year,” she added. “Now I know him a little better and hopefully we can do better this year. He’s just an awesome horse – you can do anything with him.”

Emma Willsky and Simply Said
Emma Willsky and Simply Said

Willsky and Simply Said had excellent rounds over fences and in the handy to score the wins in both classes in the Large Junior Hunters, and they stood out in the hack as well, earning another blue ribbon to complete the hat trick. Willsky said the horse shines in the hunter rounds, but came through in the handy as well to best the competition.

“He’s definitely my favorite horse to ride,” Willsky said. “He’s the only reason I still do the hunters – I’ve mostly switched over to the jumpers, but he always keeps it exciting. He’s very scopey.”

Willsky trains with Ashley Keeler, who has also achieved success with Simply Said at Summer in the Rockies. Keeler and Simply Said started off the week by winning the reserve championship in the 3’6″ Performance Working Hunters. Willsky began riding with Keeler after Keiri Kaneps, her previous trainer and the previous rider of Simply Said, passed away.

“I really like her as a trainer,” Willsky said of Keeler. “She’s done a really good job with him. He’s definitely learned a lot since he’s been with her.”

Willsky is headed to Vanderbilt University in the fall, where she plans to study economics. She will bring her jumper to school with her and hopes to bring Simply Said as well.

She recently rode Simply Said in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Summer in the Rockies V. “I’m aging out (of the juniors) this year, and I want to turn him into a derby horse,” she explained. “He’ll do 4′ easily. It’s what we’re working towards.”

Kai DeVoglaer and Colleen McKenzie’s Castello also performed well in the Large Junior Hunters, collecting two second places over fences as well as a third in the hack.

Camila Trejo, like Boyle, has her sights set on the big equitation finals, and she took another step toward that goal with a win in the ASPCA Maclay aboard Don Stewart’s Scarto. “I’m very happy with my ride,” Trejo said. “He was responding to my leg well and he’s jumping really well right now.”

Trejo, who lives in Dallas, TX, and trains with Jim and Joan Hensen, is competing at the Colorado Horse Park for the first time. “It’s a really nice horse park,” she said. “The footing’s great and so far the show’s been really good.”

She is qualified for the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals and the ASPCA Maclay Regional Finals. “My goal is to qualify for Maclay Finals and then do well at Medal Finals,” she said.

The Junior Hunter divisions return Saturday in the Olson Family Hunter Arena. The 3’6″ and 3’3″ Amateur Owner Hunters will also square off as Summer in the Rockies enters its final weekend.

Full results available at http://www.showplaceproductions.com/chp/resultsDivisionList.php?competition=23.

The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts

What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series

Event Dates:

Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013

Prize List:

Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).

Entries:

Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.

Contact Information:

Pat Boyle, Show Manager                          (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager                        (303) 918-2908
Show Office                                                 (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax                                          (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office                (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax         (303) 841-7879

Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted

Directions:

Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado.  The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually.  CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.

The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space.  The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.

Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Caitlin Hope and Total Touch Hit the Target to Win the $15,000 McElvain Energy Welcome Stake

Caitlin Hope and Total Touch.

Parker, CO – July 18, 2013 – The $15,000 McElvain Energy Welcome Stake was the highlight of the day in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, CO. The Colorado Horse Park’s scenic views of distant mountains paired with blue skies and gentle breezes set the stage for an ideal day of show jumping competition at Summer in the Rockies VI.

International Course designer Danny Foster built a large, challenging course appropriate for the final week of the Summer in the Rockies circuit.

“I’ve known him (Foster) since I first started going to Calgary and he was riding on the Canadian team,” said Diane Carney, trainer of the winning rider, Caitlin Hope. “I thanked him for building a track that let the horses jump. It was fair – there was some careful, there was some width. There was variety in the fences. All of that is really great for keeping the horses sharp, and producing a riding contest, as we saw.”

“The jump-off was hard – it was long,” said John Pearce, the second place finisher aboard Chianto. “I left two strides out on the angle. I thought it was difficult.”

“It was a hard course,” said Daniela Stransky, who rides for the Step by Step Foundation with trainer Hector Florentino and earned third place aboard Twister. “I spoke to John Pearce and he said, ‘Just have fun.’ And I did.”

John Pearce and Chianto
John Pearce and Chianto

Of the 29 horse and rider combinations that tackled Foster’s course, 10 progressed the jump-off round. Of the 10, John Pearce and Forest View Farm’s Chianto were the first to complete the short course fault-free with a time of 44.409. Then Stransky and Twister, owned by Stransky’s Mission Farm, delivered a brilliant performance, leaving all the rails in their cups in a time of 48.467.

Next, Caitlin Hope and Total Touch, owned by Kathleen Hope, put in an incredibly fast and accurate performance that edged Pearce out of the first place position, stopping the timer at 43.806. Hope and Total Touch were second in the Welcome Stake during Summer in the Rockies V.

Sarah Tredennick returned on Page Tredennick’s Zenith Dance and also accomplished a double clear effort, timing in at 52.492, which landed the pair in fourth place.

“She rode great,” said Foster of Hope. “It was just how you hope those top stakes classes work out – the best rider of the day wins. I don’t think anybody would dispute that she rode fantastic.”

“You always hope that it is going to be your day,” said Hope. “And a lot of times you’re close to hitting the center of the target but you’re just right off the target. My horse Total Touch did some of the short turns back to the skinny and also the slice to the vertical. I tried really hard just to be smooth, starting with enough to the first jump so that everything showed up nicely.”

“I said to Caitie in the beginning, ‘This is going to be a jumping contest today,'” said Carney. “The riders are going to have to ride smooth and the horses are going to have to jump so I was extremely pleased and proud in how she rode and how she navigated the questions because Danny’s questions were hard today. They came out double clean with the win.”

“I wanted to be good on Chianto today and he needed to stretch his legs,” said Pearce of his longtime partner. “I made some nice turns on him but I didn’t really put the pedal to the metal on him today. I’m going to try to save him and keep him a little fresh for Saturday. Winning both classes is against the odds so it was a little bit strategy. He was great, though and so was the other horse, Johnny B Good. He was third string at the beginning of the circuit and he’s been doing some good things. He’s been clean in almost every grand prix.”

Pearce and Forest View Farm’s Johnny B Good ended up in fifth place and were the fastest four-faulters.

Daniela Stransky and Twister
Daniela Stransky and Twister

Third-place finisher Stransky looks forward to the future as she continues to improve. “I’m 17,” said Stransky. “I’m still young and I’m still learning. I beat my trainer (Florentino), so that’s fun. He’s my trainer – of course he wants me to do better than him.”

“You love to see these emerging riders take a top pro on like that and go head to head,” said Foster. “Some days John (Pearce) will beat them. These kids are proving that they are good enough that they can compete.”

“I’ve been in love with Twister. I got him a year ago,” Stransky said. “I call my horses my boyfriends because my dad doesn’t want me to have real boyfriends. So I’ll just have horses.”

“I’m not the easiest course designer; I know that,” said Foster. “I’m not trying to make life hard for them. I just want them to be better and better. I’m a born teacher. There is reward after so much is put in. We all know what a tough sport it is to succeed. There is so much losing and so much heartbreak. You can come out with 4 or 8 faults and feel like – wow! That was electric! In the end, this is who I am. This is what I do and I try to do.”

“At the Colorado Horse Park, the jumps are great and the footing is great,” added Foster. “You have every reason to succeed here. I am happy to be a part of it. They are making this a legitimate mid-summer competition venue. It wouldn’t surprise me if this becomes one of the major venues. Kentucky is one and this should be one. The weather is dependable. The climate is great.”

“We’re going to start coming here a lot,” said Stransky. “We like to come here because I like to meet new people, to compete against new people with good prize money. I love it here.”

The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts

What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series

Event Dates:

Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013

Prize List:

Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).

Entries:

Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.

Contact Information:

Pat Boyle, Show Manager                          (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager                        (303) 918-2908
Show Office                                                 (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax                                          (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office                (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax         (303) 841-7879

Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted

Directions:

Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado.  The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually.  CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.

The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space.  The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.

Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Hannah Holik Conquers the Competition in 3’6″ Performance Hunters at Summer in the Rockies V

Hannah Holik and Dahlila.

Parker, CO – July 18, 2013 – Hannah Holik is moving up the ranks in the jumpers and showing that she is capable of dominant performances in the hunter ring as well. She and Czech Mate LLC’s Dahlila notched two wins on Wednesday and placed well on Thursday to secure the championship in the 3’6″ Performance Working Hunters, with Ashley Keeler and Emma Willsky’s Simply Said taking the reserve.

“She was really good today,” Holik, 16, said of Dahlila. “I think the heat might have gotten to her a little bit. She felt like she had a little less energy, but she still jumped in great form and I can always count on her to bring all her efforts to the ring.”

Later in the day, Holik paired with her jumper, Cupido de Laubry, for a clear first round and a top 10 finish in the $15,000 McElvain Energy Welcome Stake. She said the switch from the hunters to the jumpers was made easier by Dahlila’s background as a jumper.

“It can be difficult sometimes to switch, but Dahlila can sometimes be ridden like a jumper – she gets a little strong once in a while,” Holik said. “That makes it easier for the transition between the rings.” She added that Cupido de Laubry, whom she calls Cupi, was “absolutely wonderful.”

“I was really excited about going clean,” she said. “My goal was to not get any time faults, because that’s been bugging me for a little while. This is the first time I’ve gotten to the jump-off with Cupi, and I was just excited that we had a smooth, clean round.”

Holik’s next target with Dahlila will be the ASPCA Regional Finals, and she plans to continue gaining experience and mileage with Cupi at the grand prix level. “I’ll maybe do Young Riders next year – now that we know him really well, I feel like I’m prepared,” she said. “And I just want to keep getting more experience.”

Riding is a family affair for Holik. Her mother, Renée, introduced her to the sport when she was young, and she has pursued it with dedication ever since. Renée rarely competes now, but she helps her daughter keep her horses fit while balancing a busy school schedule.

Holik, of Jackson Hole, WY, trains with Randy Henry. “We meet up with Randy at the horse shows,” Holik said. “She also sometimes comes to clinic for a few days.”

While Holik has ample talent and drive to succeed, she is not necessarily planning to make a career out of riding and training. She hopes to attend college and continue riding in the higher-level jumpers, and her ultimate goal is to become a vet. “I just want to continue to be a better rider,” Holik said. “I hope to be a vet so I can still be around the horses as much as possible.”

Summer in the Rockies has been an important show circuit for Holik. She rode in the grand prix last year and then rode Cupido de Laubry in their first grand prix together this year. “It’s been going great,” she said. “I absolutely love this show. It gives me the option to do all these different things with my horses. The courses are great, the jumps are beautiful – it’s just a nice show.”

Freddie Vazquez and Marneux
Freddie Vazquez and Marneux

Husband and wife team Freddie and Jodi Vazquez continued their successful run in the hunters. Both had strong results throughout the day. Freddie rode Cynthia Baffa’s Marneux to claim the win in the $1,000 Open Hunter Classic. He and Marneux also took the championship in the 3’3″ Performance Hunters over Amanda Hauser and her own Calido’s Son.

Jodi turned the tables to pick up first place finishes with Kevin Babington’s O’Hern in the 3’6″ Performance Hunters and Mark Senn’s Presently in the First Year Green/Second Year Green/High Performance Hunters. She defeated her husband in both classes.

Freddie was happy with Marneux’s performance. “He was wonderful,” he said. “He was shockingly a little more up today than he was yesterday, but totally manageable. He just keeps getting better and better. He jumped beautiful and got the win in both classes and the classic – I couldn’t ask for more!”

Freddie knew Marneux had a good shot to win the Classic, and Marneux rewarded his confidence with an outstanding effort. “I don’t enter unless I think I can win,” he smiled. “He’s the only one I did in the Classic. After yesterday, I really thought he was spot on, and I thought he could step up and win the Classic today.”

Freddie also won the championship in the Green Conformation Hunters with Meg Gehron’s Talan. Cara Anthony and Potcreek Partners LLC’s Qindar LN took the reserve.

Consistency was the ticket for the championship in the First Year Green/Second Year Green/High Performance Hunters. Haylie Jayne and Summer Place compiled an impressive record of two wins and three seconds to take the honors, while Laurie Jueneman and Rio’s Firefly finished in the top four in every class to earn the reserve.

Christen Tuxworth, the owner of Rio’s Firefly, said he lives at home with her, goes trail riding, and shows a few times a year. She lives in Black Forest and was evacuated during the fire in June, but fortunately her house was unharmed. She described Rio’s Firefly as a horse with a lot of personality.

“He’s a clown,” she said. “He’s so fun to have at home.”

Summer Place is owned by Pony Lane Farm, and Jayne enjoys having the opportunity to prepare him for Madeline Thatcher to ride. “I love showing him at 4 foot because he’s so scopey and so much fun,” Jayne said. “You can kind of drop the reins and gallop at the jump, which you can’t do with lot of hunters. He moves beautifully and has a beautiful jump. He’s very consistent and reliable.”

According to Jayne, Summer Place is devoted to his owner. “He loves Maddie, and she gets along amazingly with him,” she said. “He jumps better for her than for me! He knows who his person is and he loves her.”

Jayne said Thatcher has had great success with Summer Place in the past. “She got great ribbons at WEF (the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival) and really nice ribbons at Devon,” Jayne said. “We’re shooting for good ribbons at indoors, which is very possible – they did well last year.”

Thatcher plans to show him in the Large Junior Hunters at Summer in the Rockies VI before going on to compete at indoors in the fall. The Junior Hunter divisions begin Friday and run through Saturday in the Olson Family Hunter Arena, which will also host equitation classes such as the ASPCA Maclay.

Full results available at http://www.showplaceproductions.com/chp/resultsDivisionList.php?competition=23.

The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts

What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series

Event Dates:

Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013

Prize List:

Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).

Entries:

Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.

Contact Information:

Pat Boyle, Show Manager                          (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager                        (303) 918-2908
Show Office                                                 (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax                                          (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office                (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax         (303) 841-7879

Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted

Directions:

Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado.  The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually.  CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.

The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space.  The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.

Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Gamboa Wins 1.30m Open Jumpers for Step by Step Foundation at Summer in the Rockies VI

Mario Gamboa and VDL Vinzell.

Kristen VanderVeen Successfully Moves Bull Run’s Revive Up to Take the $2500 1.40m Open Jumpers

Parker, CO – July 17, 2013 – Show jumping returned to the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena at the Colorado Horse Park as Summer in the Rockies VI got underway.

International course designer Danny Foster returned to design the courses for the final week of the series. Foster built a track with turns and bending lines that provided the opportunity for horse and rider combinations to demonstrate their abilities while singling out the top contenders for the jump-off rounds. The day’s courses got things rolling after the two-day break in the Summer in the Rockies circuit.

For the $2,500 1.30m Open Jumpers class, 12 of 23 horse and rider combinations progressed to the short track. Of the 12, 8 were double clear. Mario Gamboa and VDL Vinzell, owned by Stransky’s Mission Farms, were the fastest double clear, crossing the timer at 40.762. Andrew Kocher and Wicoca, owned by Alexandra Biederman, earned second with a time of 40.775 and Delaney Flynn and Jennifer Flynn’s Quite Quick received third place honors with a time of 42.423.

Gamboa works for trainer Hector Florentino and Stransky’s Mission Farms. All proceeds of their winnings go to the Step by Step Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Liliane Stransky that enhances the lives of underprivileged children. The Foundation creates and supports health, nutrition, water, and education programs that promote the human rights and development of children worldwide.

“You’re riding and doing what you love- what you really enjoy doing – and at the same time you get to help people,” said Gamboa, who is from Bogota, Colombia. “I really like that.”

“She’s a really great mare, she’s fast and goes clean- she’s a winner,” said Gamboa about VDL Vinzell. “It was a really good course today. You had many opportunities to go inside. I really liked it.”

Florentino has a committed group of clients that all ride for the Step by Step Foundation, including Daniela Stransky, who will ride in the Welcome class and the Grand Prix this week, and Jackson Brittan, who won the $10,000 Low Junior Amateur Classic out of 51 entries last week aboard Ugaz. Brittan’s twin brother, Spencer Brittan, another talented junior rider, went double clear in today’s 1.30m Open Jumpers, ending up in seventh place. Look for both Gamboa and Florentino in the Welcome and the Grand Prix later this week.

“I like the footing,” said Florentino about the changes at Colorado Horse Park. “We appreciate the benefits – the horses jump better. We like to go to a place that is beautiful, the people are nice and it has good footing. We are happy about that.”

Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run's Revive
Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Revive

In the $2,500 1.40m Open Jumper, Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Revive edged out the competition, including second place finishers Armando Hassey and Eminem and third place pair Sarah Tredennick and Zenith Dance to clinch the win. VanderVeen was surprised and pleased with the win.

“It was the first time I moved him up,” she said. “My brother showed him once in the high amateurs, but was moving him up this week to see if he’d be ready for the Welcome. That’s encouraging he did so well today.”

Revive is an 8-year-old that VanderVeen imported from Germany last year.

“I’ve taken my time with him because I have high hopes that he will be an up-and-coming grand prix horse for me,” she explained. “I’m just now trying to test the waters to see if he’s ready to start the bigger classes. He thinks he’s the man- a lot of confidence. He always goes in the ring and he always wants to jump and he’s excited to do his job. He has quite the personality.”

“The courses are very different this week,” VanderVeen continued. “There are very twisty lines and a lot of bending lines and rollbacks out of the corners that, with that horse, was a bit of a challenge. So I’m really happy how he went today. He’s always going to jump, but we are still working on his turning and his rideability in the turns. He handled the turns well and still looked for the jumps.”

Summer in the Rockies VI returns on Thursday. The highlight of the day in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena will be the $15,000 McElvain Energy Welcome Stake.

The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts

What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series

Event Dates:

Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013

Prize List:

Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).

Entries:

Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.

Contact Information:

Pat Boyle, Show Manager                          (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager                        (303) 918-2908
Show Office                                                 (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax                                          (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office                (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax         (303) 841-7879

Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted

Directions:

Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado.  The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually.  CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.

The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space.  The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.

Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Summer in the Rockies V Winners Share Similarities

Kelsey Thatcher and Athena.

Jackson Brittan and Ugaf Come Out on Top of the $10,000 North American League Low Jr/AO Classic Presented by WeatherTech

Kelsey Thatcher Captures First and Second of the Coveted $20,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior Amateur Owner Classic

Parker, CO – July 14, 2013 – The final day of Summer in the Rockies V featured a huge, 51-entry $10,000 North American League Low Junior/Amateur Owner Classic Presented by WeatherTech and the $20,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior Amateur Owner Classic.

International course designer Anderson Lima once again tested the horse and rider combinations with a higher level of difficulty to match the importance of the competition.

“You need to propose something to them with some challenge,” said Lima. “I like to make them get into the ring jumping, if it is possible, more jumps so they get better for the weekend. I like to make them jump doubles and liverpools during the week with easy distances – get-in-get-out. When they come to the Welcomes, the Prixes and the Classics, I can ask my questions. They can try to do a better job when you ask more.”

Kelsey Thatcher and Jackson Brittan competed horses in both classes. Thatcher, a student at University of Georgia, won the $20,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior Amateur Owner Classic aboard Athena and earned the red ribbon with Everything. Brittan, a 15-year-old high school sophomore from Dallas, TX, and Ugaf claimed the $10,000 North American League Low Junior/Amateur Owner Classic Presented by WeatherTech. The two young, talented riders had similar reactions to Lima’s course and have both brought exceptional horses back from injury.

“It was definitely more challenging than it walked,” said Thatcher about the course. “It wasn’t too big and it didn’t look too technical but it got a lot of people. It was a careful course. Lima does a great job letting you go forward and, like the mountain oxer to the reverse Liverpool, you need to get them sitting back up. Same thing for the plank to the oxer. He (Lima) sets great courses. Making the time allowed tight, it’s a great thing. At any final, you need to be going along, so it’s a good thing to practice.”

“It was a pretty technical course,” said Brittan. “There were only three or four double clear rounds in the lows. It rode a lot harder than I thought it would. In the highs, I thought the skinny would be easy because my horse has a big stride. It was a six-stride and I thought that would be no problem for him. I thought I gave it a good ride but everyone was having that rail. It was a hard jump.”

Both Thatcher and Brittan have siblings who are also actively competing in show jumping.

“I have to say, I’m Maddie’s biggest fan and her harshest critic,” Kelsey Thatcher said. “It’s been fun – we have a little fun, healthy competition.”

Jackson has an identical twin brother named Spencer who also rides and competes. “We’re both really into riding,” he said. “We have a friendly sense of competition between us.”

The two also used similar approaches to tackle the questions proposed by the courses.

“It was really about being neat every time you land, just getting to the next jump,” said Thatcher.

Jackson Brittan and Ugaf
Jackson Brittan and Ugaf

“I went inside to jump number seven and was quick around the turns,” said Brittan. “I tried to turn neat around the turns and not go too wide. I have to watch time allowed with that horse because he has a really big stride and he doesn’t have a fast canter.”

Both winning horses have interesting backgrounds.

“Athena is amazing and everyone loves her,” said Thatcher. “I started bringing her back from an injury in August. Charlie (Jayne) gave her to me. She’s 12 now and she does have some big jumps left in her.”

“She’s a lot of horse to go from being ridden by Charlie who can hold her together and push her where he wants,” she said. “So we had to do a lot of flat work and I did several ‘chair in the airs’ in Florida. And, I’m not kidding, there are some great pictures online. It is supposed to be a quiet seven and she’d just leave in six.”

“The Jaynes (Our Day Farm) have been great about when I go to school,” Thatcher continued. “They keep her well flatted. We have to keep her in a ball so that we ask her to go forward and come back and keep her in a frame.  If you don’t teach her on the flat, then you can’t do it over the jumps.”

“We got him about a year ago,” said Brittan about his stallion, Ugaz. “He’s from Portugal. We tried him in quarantine and he jumped really well. He had an injury so we had to help him come back. We’ve been building him up and he’s jumping really well and he’s fit.”

“His personality is my favorite out of all my horses,” Brittan said. “He’s really confident and straightforward. He doesn’t spook or get timid or anything. He knows his job. I feel like his confidence helps mine. He seems like he knows what he’s doing. We started training with Hector Florentino and Stransky’s Mission Farms at the beginning of the WEF (FTI Winter Equestrian Festival) circuit. He’s a really good trainer and he’s helping me with this horse.”

Thatcher and Brittan have showed at the Colorado Horse Park for years.

“I grew up riding here starting out in the short stirrup,” said Thatcher. “I did millions of pony rounds. I can remember watching the prixes and being amazed. So, yeah, it is a little bit of home.”

“I was born in Denver and we’ve competed here every year,” said Brittan. “I love it. The footing is so much better. The Grand Prix ring has really nice footing. I am really pleased with the changes.”

“You don’t appreciate good footing until you’re there,” said Thatcher. “Oh my gosh, they did such a great job. I don’t know about you, but permanent bathrooms – that makes me really happy. It is the little things that count. They have done a great job. It is an excellent horse show. We are going to be here next week as well.”

Brittan will also be here to compete in Summer in the Rockies VI.

“Since my stallion was really good today, we’ll move him up to the highs next week and see how that goes,” he said. “We’re pretty excited.”

The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts

What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series

Event Dates:

Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013

Prize List:

Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).

Entries:

Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.

Contact Information:

Pat Boyle, Show Manager                          (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager                        (303) 918-2908
Show Office                                                 (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax                                          (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office                (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax         (303) 841-7879

Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted

Directions:

Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado.  The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually.  CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.

The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space.  The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.

Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Freddie Vazquez Wins $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Summer in the Rockies V

Freddie Vazquez and Presently were victorious in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.

Parker, CO – July 14, 2013 – The battle for the title in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Summer in the Rockies V came down to the handy after a tie in the first round, and Freddie Vazquez chose an effective path and laid down a brilliant trip with Mark Senn’s Presently to secure the win over Kelli Cruciotti and Monterrey.

“My horse could not have jumped better,” Vazquez said. “He was fabulous. It was a beautiful day to ride today, a good temperature and a beautiful sky.”

Twenty-two horses and riders came out for the International Derby. In the classic round, Cruciotti and Monterrey scored 178, a score no one could touch until Vazquez and Presently, competing third to last in the order of go, matched it.

Vazquez was awarded the victory in the classic round, with the first judging panel’s scores serving as the tiebreaker. But he had his work cut out for him to produce a handy round good enough to best Cruciotti, a young but formidable competitor who came into the class off a win three weeks ago in the International Derby at Summer in the Rockies III.

Kelli Cruciotti and Monterrey
Kelli Cruciotti and Monterrey

“The tie always makes me a little bit nervous, because I’ve got to then really turn it on,” Vazquez said. And turn it on he did. He and Presently found their way through the handy course with style, earning base scores of 86.5 and 85.5 from the two judging panels, plus 4 high option points and a 7-point handy bonus from each panel. Their 194 in the second round sealed the win over Cruciotti, who scored 187.5.

“I opted to do a little bit of a serpentine through the ring,” Vazquez explained. “I came back on the first fence, rode through the middle with the snake logs, back again over the birch vertical, back again over the oxer – just did a little serpentine which I felt could show our handiness.”

“We did all the high options,” he continued. “We had a nice trot fence. I tried to just allow a nice gallop for my ride, and then after the hand gallop I wanted to make sure he came back to me and could reach some height at the oxer. Obviously I’m very pleased.”

Course designer Skip Bailey offered the riders many options throughout the course. “I always give options,” Bailey said. “The riders love choosing their own path.”

The course began with a choice between two similar jumps facing different directions. Competitors then rode through the middle of the ring and over the “snake” obstacle, which had several segments that could be jumped from either direction. From there, they chose between two jumps set at a right angle in the middle of the arena and then continued to fence 4, a single oxer. All of the options came into play as riders selected several different routes through the first three fences, with some choosing a longer, loopier path and some negotiating tight turns.

A distinguished group of judges was on hand for the International Derby. Frank Willard, Mark Jungherr, Brian Lenehan and Geoff Teall assessed the performance of horse and rider over the classic and handy courses.

“It was such a great course and it’s such a great ring with great footing,” Teall commented. “I thought he (Vazquez) was awesome. He’s really gotten so good. We’ve been talking about him all week – he’s really improved so much over the last year. There are so many things that can go wrong when you’re on top, and he just had a beautiful ride.”

Teall added that he was impressed by the younger riders in the class, including Cruciotti and third-place finisher Hunter Holloway. Holloway and Chianti’s Dream, owned by Hays Investment Corp., scored 197 for their handy trip to win that round. “It’s really fun to see the kids do it that well, and have the opportunity to do it,” Teall said.

While some riders ran into trouble at the first fence, nothing could stop Vazquez and Presently. “You couldn’t build a jump scary enough for him,” Vazquez said. ‘You could light one on fire and he’d be happy with it – it might get his attention a little bit.”

“The footing is great,” Vazquez continued. “It was a beautiful course built by Skip Bailey – I’m a big fan of Skip. Showplace Productions and Pat Boyle gave him an incredible amount of material to work with, and he built beautiful, impressive fences that allowed good derby horses to really show their ability.”

Vazquez, who trains out of Messenger Hill Farm in Libertyville, IL, alongside wife Jodi, thanked his staff for helping him achieve the win. “My staff is wonderful, and my grooms are incredible,” he said. “My wife, Jodi, prepared the horse beautifully. Katie Kappler, another one of our head trainers, is also an incredible asset to Messenger Hill Farm. My assistants, my shoers, my vets, Katie Kappler, and number one of all, my beautiful wife Jodi – without them, this wouldn’t happen. I get the easy part.”

The International Derby capped a day that began with the $2,500 CHP Pony Derby and also featured the $5,000 USHJA National Derby. “It’s really a nice day,” Teall said. “I’ve never seen one where they had three derbies in one day, and I really enjoyed it. They make it a big deal and it’s fun to have that many people watching. Skip always does a great job and Pat always does a great job.”

The National Derby proved to be popular, drawing 38 horses and riders. Brianna Davis and Riveting, owned by Sarah Engel, were consistent in both rounds to finish in first overall. Riveting and Davis sat just behind the leading pairs with an 84 in the first round and earned an impressive score of 89 in the handy to step up and clinch the win. Their total score of 173 was one point ahead of second-placed Kelley Buringa, riding Katie Thomas’ Yahtzee.

Brianna Davis and Riveting came away with the win in the $5,000 USHJA National Derby
Brianna Davis and Riveting came away with the win in the $5,000 USHJA National Derby

“I thought the course rode very nice,” Davis said. “I enjoyed all the fill and the course jumped well. Having that many options really made me think, that’s for sure. I just did what I thought would be easiest for my horse, with the turns and the different options.”

Davis, the head trainer at Mary Dunahay’s Savoy Stables in Littleton, CO, has worked with Riveting since the beginning of his show career.

“He’s one of the most special horses I’ve ever had,” Davis said. “I imported him as a three-year-old and I’ve had him with me ever since. He has a new owner that just bought him in Thermal, so she’s getting used to him. He’s a jack of all trades. He jumps beautifully, and the four white socks definitely help. He’s just very pleasant to watch.”

Rylee Shufelt and her own Harrington Park Quest started the day off by claiming the top spot in the $2,500 CHP Pony Derby. Shufelt trains with Lauren Stevens of Stepping Out Farm in Corrales, NM. She scored an 80 in both the classic and handy rounds to take first by a comfortable margin over second-placed Jordan Cobbs and John Wayne. She also finished sixth with her large pony, Camelot.

“The course was nice,” 10-year-old Shufelt said. “They gave you space to do the handy turns. I tried to take it subtle and make it seem nice and easy.”

Shufelt praised Harrington Park Quest and said she especially appreciates his attitude. “I love him,” she said. “He’s like, ‘Let’s do this, I know I’m at a horse show, I’m going to try.’ He’s just the best pony in the world.”

Full results available at http://www.showplaceproductions.com/chp/resultsDivisionList.php?competition=22.

The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts

What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series

Event Dates:

Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013

Prize List:

Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).

Entries:

Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.

Contact Information:

Pat Boyle, Show Manager                          (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager                        (303) 918-2908
Show Office                                                 (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax                                          (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office                (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax         (303) 841-7879

Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted

Directions:

Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado.  The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually.  CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.

The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space.  The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.

Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Kelsey Thatcher’s New Tactics Pay Off with Victories in 3’6″ A-O Hunters at Summer in the Rockies V

Kelsey Thatcher and Fredrick.

Parker, CO – July 13, 2013 – Kelsey Thatcher and Pony Lane Farm’s Fredrick coasted through beautiful rounds in the 3’6″ Amateur Owner Hunters on Saturday at Summer in the Rockies V to win two blue ribbons and the trophy in the $2,500 Amateur Owner Hunter Classic. Thatcher rode with poise and confidence to post the high scores in each class.

Fredrick paired with Thatcher’s trainer, Maggie Jayne, to earn the championship in the High Performance/Second Year Green Hunters earlier in the week. Thatcher said she benefited from Jayne’s advice to improve her performances with Fredrick.

“Maggie and I had a talk from last week to this week about how to ride him better, and I think he came out better and he went around great,” Thatcher explained. “He’s a very low horse – he isn’t a very big horse – and I ride uphill, fiery ones better, so we had a good talk about it and we are much more consistent this week.”

She said part of her new strategy involved working to adjust her riding to the horse’s way of going. “With him, it’s just staying really light and understanding that he goes low,” she described. “You’ve got to go with the flow and let him cruise right around.”

And cruise they did, putting in steady, flowing rounds over the Skip Bailey-designed courses. “The courses are absolutely beautiful out here,” Thatcher said. “They do a great job of making it feel like a very special horse show.”

“It’s a pretty special horse show for me personally,” she added. “I showed in the short stirrups here – I actually fell off in that ring right down there! We love coming out to Colorado.”

Thatcher also rode Pony Lane Farm’s Starina B in the 3’6″ Amateur Owner Hunters. Starina B and Haylie Jayne won the championship in the First Year Green Hunters earlier in the week.

Kelsey Thatcher and Starina B
Kelsey Thatcher and Starina B

“Starina came out ready to play, but I didn’t get her down one line quite early enough, so she hit a back rail pretty hard,” Thatcher said. “That mare likes to be perfect, so she was a little upset with me. But we did a bridle change for the last classic round, and she was much better and ready to go.”

Thatcher also trains with Haylie Jayne and looks to her for advice on the horses she rides. “We’re all a very tight-knit group,” Thatcher said. Her sister, Madeline Thatcher, has also been successful in the hunters at Summer in the Rockies V, collecting top ribbons in the Junior Hunter divisions. And both Thatcher sisters competed in the $40,000 Holiday Inn of Parker Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon.

“I have to say, I’m Maddie’s biggest fan and her harshest critic,” Kelsey Thatcher said. “It’s been fun – we have a little fun, healthy competition. My dad and mom love watching us both get fired up about that. I’m proud of her for how much she’s improved her riding.”

Thatcher will enter her senior year at the University of Georgia this fall, and she will continue to juggle academics and her busy show schedule as she works toward two goals: graduating with her degree in early childhood education and bringing home a championship on the indoor circuit. She believes her horses have what it takes to win and is grateful to the Jaynes for keeping them ready for her. “I’m aiming for an indoors champion cooler for sure,” she said.

While Thatcher looks to be tough to beat for the 3’6″ Amateur Owner Hunter championship, the 3’3″ division could be a toss-up between several strong competitors. Saturday’s classes shaped up as a contest between an up-and-coming young horse and a seasoned campaigner returning to the show ring after time off. Anna Corley and 6-year-old Ddominicc picked up a win and a third place over fences, and Candace Cavanaugh and 16-year-old Irish Storm collected a win and a second. Irish Storm is easing back into competition after colic surgery last year, while Ddominicc just stepped up to the 3’3″ Amateur Owner Hunters after competing at 3′ for the first weeks of Summer in the Rockies.

“He felt great,” Corley said after her rounds on Ddominicc. “He’s young, so it’s always a little bit of a challenge. It was his second time doing the 3’3″s. My first course was one of the best I’ve had on him. The jumps were all really nice, we had a good pace and he jumped them all really well.”

According to Corley, Ddominicc’s favorite treat is peppermints – he’s allergic to carrots. He certainly earned a sweet reward for his efforts in the hunter ring. Corley purchased Ddominicc two years ago and has been working to bring him up the ranks with guidance from trainer Matt Cyphert of Dallas, TX.

“I’ve done most of his training myself and he’s done really well,” she said. “He’s been very easy. He’s has taken it all in stride, and Matt has helped me a lot in getting him going right. It’s been fun.”

Corley, who lives in Austin, TX, trains with Stacie Bird when she’s at home. She will ride Ddominicc in the USHJA National Hunter Derby on Sunday and eventually hopes to move up to the 3’6″ Amateur Owner Hunters with him, though she plans to give him plenty of time to adjust to the 3’3″ height before stepping up again.

“He’s such a pretty horse,” Corley said. “He’s got a pretty head and his color’s very striking. When he walks in the ring, he just turns it on. He always has his ears up and he’s happy. I think he’s really eye-catching for the judges.”

Cavanaugh has had a long relationship with Irish Storm, whom she bought when he was 6 years old. She started him in the Pre-Green Hunters and moved up from there. Ten years later, their partnership is still going strong, and Irish Storm is back in good form after taking a hiatus to recuperate from his colic surgery.

“My first round was really, really nice,” Cavanaugh said. “I was very happy and my horse was jumping great. The lines seemed to run a little long, so we really had to flow down each one. It’s a nice course and the jumps are very inviting.”

“He enjoys his job very much and he’s responsive to me,” she added. “He is very level-headed. He’s got a really good brain and he really likes to jump, so he makes my job so much easier.”

Cavanaugh trains with Meredith Houx-Remiger of Sandia Farm in Albuquerque, NM, and she is spending four weeks competing at the Colorado Horse Park this summer along with her barn. “I love the facility,” she said. “It’s just gorgeous and they put on really nice horse shows, so I like coming up here. I lived here for many years and actually boarded here at the Horse Park, so I love coming back. And I like the new footing!”

The Amateur Owner Hunters continue Sunday. The Large and Small Junior Hunters wrapped up on Saturday with the final two classes over fences for each division. Hunter Holloway and Chianti’s Dream won both of Saturday’s Small Junior Hunter classes to clinch the championship, while Amanda Hauser and Calido’s Son notched second and fourth place finishes for the reserve.

The Large Junior Hunter championship went to Emily Sutherland and Phineas, owned by Lisa Sutherland. The pair started off the division on a high note with two wins on Friday and had the best overall placings over the two days. Kai DeVoglaer and Colleen McKenzie’s Castello added a third place over fences to their strong results from Friday to earn the reserve championship.

The Junior Hunter riders also faced off in the $2,500 Junior Hunter Classic. Hunter Holloway took three of the top two spots: she rode Cascina to the win, finished second with Chianti’s Dream, and took fourth with Lyons Creek Bellini. All three horses are owned by Hays Investment Corp. DeVoglaer and Castello were third.

Summer in the Rockies V comes to a close on Sunday with a major highlight for competitors and spectators alike: the hunter derbies. The $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, the $5,000 USHJA National Derby, and the $2,500 CHP Pony Derby begin at 8 a.m. in the Olson Family Hunter Arena.

Full results available at http://www.showplaceproductions.com/chp/resultsDivisionList.php?competition=22.

The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts

What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series

Event Dates:

Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013

Prize List:

Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).

Entries:

Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.

Contact Information:

Pat Boyle, Show Manager                          (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager                        (303) 918-2908
Show Office                                                 (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax                                          (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office                (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax         (303) 841-7879

Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted

Directions:

Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado.  The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually.  CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.

The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space.  The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.

Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Kristen VanderVeen Wins $40,000 Holiday Inn of Parker Grand Prix at Summer in the Rockies V

Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Eternal.

Parker, CO – July 13, 2013 – Brazilian course designer Anderson Lima built what appeared to be a straightforward course for the $40,000 Holiday Inn of Parker Grand Prix for Summer in the Rockies V, considered the peak week of the summer series at the Colorado Horse Park. But the course was tougher than appearances let on.

“I decided to do a more technical course than a really big course, which meant they had their work cut out for them,” said Lima. “The time was quite a challenge, too. John Pearce was the first to ride the course on one of his young horses (Son of a Gun) and he rode very forward with a really good rhythm.”

The time allowed was tight. Some of the first few horse and rider combinations fell victim to time faults, like Alex Grenato and Page Tredennick’s Mullaghdrin Rado, who were second in the order. The pair was clean but one second over the time allowed. The riders later in the order learned that it was necessary to be forward.

“We stuck with the time allowed,” said Lima. “It is a tough decision when you have the second horse with the time fault. You need to present some challenge and sometimes time makes the challenge better, not just big jumps, tough distances. I used that in the Welcome on Thursday and I did that today.”

“I was glad they didn’t adjust the time allowed,” said Steve Schaefer, who finished second. “It was great that the judge did that early on. It was definitely the right move. It made the class more challenging and it was the right thing to do.”

Caitlin Hope and Total Touch
Caitlin Hope and Total Touch

“Time allowed was tight, but it is always something I think about, so it ended up being not so much of a factor for us,” said Caitlin Hope, who earned the third place prize with Kathleen Hope’s Total Touch. “Going to the last two jumps, Diane (Carney, Hope’s trainer) said, ‘Time.’ But it ended up being not too bad for me because I was thinking about it from jump one to jump two, rather than waiting until the end of the course to try to make up time.”

“I really enjoyed his courses this week,” said Kristen VanderVeen, who earned the victory gallop aboard Bull Run’s Eternal. “They’re set a little on the forward step, which has been great, because I try not to ride backwards. They come across simple but it’s almost the simple that people complicate, like you take it for granted a little bit. I thought he did a really great job. There were enough clean to make it interesting but never so many that it was a foot race. It is great that they are setting to standards here.”

A total of 34 horse and rider combinations took on Lima’s course with the goal to return for the jump-off round. Karen Cudmore and Blair Cudmore’s Ceonto were the first to have a clear round within the time allowed, immediately followed by Chris Killiam and AEM Enterprise’s Black Diamond.

Eight rounds later, John Pearce and Johnny B Good, owned by Forest View Farms, were fault-free, followed by Schaefer and his own Caribe and then amateur Hope and Total Touch. Bryn Sadler and Bon Giorno, owned by Showcase 81 LLC were next to go clear, and Welcome Stake winners Granato and Page Tredennick’s Zenith Dance were clear as well. The third to last in the order, VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Eternal, and the last to go, Cudmore and Shea, joined the group headed to the short course.

Schaefer and Caribe delivered the first double clear effort with their jump-off round timing in at 37.518 to give them the lead. Next, Hope and Total Touch produced another clear round over the short track in 38.728 to claim second place. Sadler and Bon Giorno also were double clear with a slower time of 41.608. VanderVeen then piloted Bull Run’s Eternal flawlessly through the jump-off, stopping the timer at 36.812 to win the class. Schaefer moved to second place and Hope to third.

“I am really happy with the number we got in the end,” said Lima. “I’m really happy with Kristen (VanderVeen). The first time I was here three years ago, she won the grand prix.”

“I was very proud of my horse,” said Hope.  “We had a really consistent week so I was really glad that I was second and third in the two big classes at the show.”

“I thought she did a super job,” said Hope’s trainer, Diane Carney. “Obviously to jump around the first track clean was excellent, as easily and rub-free as she did. And in the jump-off I thought she was exceptional. The mark of a really good match in a good horse and a really good rider is, when things aren’t going great, it still works out great. I think that speaks to Caitie Hope and this horse, Total Touch. Even when it is not great, they know how to get out of trouble and the two of them figured it out. She did a great job and we love the results.”

Steve Schaefer and Caribe
Steve Schaefer and Caribe

“The course was good, appropriately challenging in a lot of ways,” said Schaefer. “There was a bogey jump but riders started to figure it out near the end of the class, so we ended up with a fantastic jump-off – fast riders all. It was a good class and a great course. It was fun that the crowd was into it – they were cheering for everybody.”

Schaefer imported Caribe from Argentina as a 4-year-old and brought him along.

“Years ago I showed at the Colorado Horse Park, when I was coaching the VanderVeens,” said Schaefer, who is from Maple Park, near Chicago. “We came a couple of years in a row when Kristen was doing the low junior jumpers. We had a great time and always enjoyed it but just haven’t been able to make it back. But I came here with my clients and we’re having a great time. It is fantastic- the footing is fabulous, the management is great. We couldn’t be happier with the whole experience.”

“I started riding with Steve Schaefer when I was 8 years old until I was 15 or 16,” said VanderVeen, who is now 24 and a professional. “He taught us a lot.”

Bull Run’s Eternal has been a consistent winner for VanderVeen.

“He has been such a blessing,” she said. “When I got him in the fall, he was a completely different ride for me. I am used to smaller, hot horses, with not as much scope. He is very conventional, very scopey and very careful. There’s nothing tricky about him. So now that I have it together with him, it is like a different sport. He’s jumped every grand prix clean. He’s been first twice and second and I had two time faults in the other one. The other two Welcomes he also jumped double clean in both of those and was first and third.”

VanderVeen rides with the Christian symbol of the fish embroidered on her show coat sleeves and Romans 8 and Psalms 139 embroidered on the back hem.

“For me faith has been a big part of my life and you just don’t get a lot of it in the horse show world,” she said. “I have always been a little quiet about it. I realized that there are people who share in my beliefs. So I put it on my jacket. It has been what has shaped my life since I grew up, and it is how I live my life and how I do my horse business. I want to keep it honest, do honest deals. As a person, I’d like to live that way. That is how we name the horses – Eternal is a Christian reference.”

“I actually did not have a great week,” VanderVeen shared. “The Welcome went terrible- I didn’t get past jump three. In the Speed Derby I had a blip at jump two and I thought, ‘I don’t know where this is going.’ Before I went in the ring for the Grand Prix, my warm-up was not fantastic. I prayed as I went into the ring, ‘Lord, if this goes well, it is all you today, because we are not on our A-game.’ It was so cute when I came out and I told Chelsea (Babcock, VanderVeen’s student). She laughed and said, ‘When you were walking in the ring, I did the exact same thing.’ It is so great that we can share that together.”

Although VanderVeen had a tough week, it ended on a high note with the victory in the $40,000 Holiday Inn of Parker Grand Prix. In addition, horses she has sold are performing well.

“I had a horse win the Child/Adults that I sold,” she said. “I had one that was second in the Low Child/Adults, one that won the WIHS another one earlier in the week – it has just been great. I feel we have been blessed here. It is fun to see the business growing. We try to represent the horses fairly so they work out.”

The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts

What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series

Event Dates:

Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013

Prize List:

Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).

Entries:

Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.

Contact Information:

Pat Boyle, Show Manager                          (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager                        (303) 918-2908
Show Office                                                 (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax                                          (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office                (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax         (303) 841-7879

Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted

Directions:

Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado.  The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually.  CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.

The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space.  The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.

Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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