Tag Archives: USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship

Championships, Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Show Jumping

Owens and Barker Tie for First in Second Round of 2014 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship

August 14, 2014 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Kyle Owens and Messick.

Lexington, KY – August 13, 2014 – The second of three rounds of the 2014 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship saw two horses in the top spot in a tie for first. Kyle Owens and John Barker shared a blue ribbon aboard their mounts Messick and Carlotta, respectively.

Wednesday’s class was a first for amateur rider Kyle Owens in more ways than one.

“I had never even gotten a 91 before,” Owens exclaimed of his score from one of the three judging panels. “That was my first 91. I’ve never even gotten a 90, so it felt awesome. I was so excited.”

Owens changed things up with his 5-year-old gelding, Messick, this summer, choosing to keep the horse at home with him instead of meeting the horse at shows with trainer Peter Pletcher.

“I’ve connected a lot with the horse,” Owens said of the experience. “Normally, I would only ride him at horse shows, so I didn’t really know much about him. Going home and being able to do my own thing I’ve gotten to know him better. I kind of like doing exercises on my own that I thought he needed, and I kind of learn how to ride him better that way.

It’s definitely gotten better as the summer has gone on,” Owens continued. “So this is the cherry on top for sure.”

Messick was a horse that caught Owen’s eye from the start when he purchased the horse as a 4-year-old in July of 2013.

“In the video, I could tell he looked so easy already, like naturally the type of horse that got it,” Owens explained. “The day that I first sat on him, I jumped a three foot course and it was like almost like that,” Owens continued, motioning toward the Stonelea Ring where the Pre-Greens had just finished competing. “He jumped so well, I said, ‘Wow, this one is really good!'”

Going into Thursday’s final round of the championship, Owens has no expectations.

“Either way even if tomorrow I fall off, I’ll still be so excited,” Owens said with a laugh. “I’ll say ‘but yesterday I got a 91!’ I’m just thrilled that this happened today.”

Joining Owens in the tie for first was John Barker aboard Ashley Hodges’ entry Carlotta, a mare Barker said is lacking in something most good horses have – something that he is not complaining about.

“Honestly, she’s pretty perfect,” Barker said of Carlotta’s personality. “Even at home, it’s pretty unusual to have a horse that really seems to be this good and is easy at home. She’s not spooky; she’s not marish. She’s easy to be around, and that’s kind of unusual. A lot of good horses have quirks you have to deal with, and she really doesn’t.”

It does not hurt to add good looks to a great personality, either.

“What we really liked was her expression; she always wore her ears really nicely,” Barker said, explaining what appealed to him about the mare when looking at her for owner Hodges. “When you’re looking at her, the presence is the main thing which she has. When she walks in the ring she has a lot of it.”

As a professional rider, Barker said the USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program gets owners interested in something they are not always willing to invest in: young talent.

“I think it’s wonderful. It’s so good for the horse business,” Barker said of the program. “The owners want to participate with the young horses, which are a hard sell.”

Owens could not agree more.

“If you think about it, these Pre-Green horses are going to be our top 3’6″ horses of next year,” Owens said. “They’re going to be our top hunters, or amateur or First Year horses, and they’ll go on to the derbies and all that kind of stuff. I think really promoting the start of where we develop all the talent is really important, and it encourages people to get Pre-Green horses.”

The 2014 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive culminates Thursday with a third and final round, where the top thirty horses from Tuesday and Wednesday’s rounds will compete in a final over fences round. The final round will feature a “clean slate” format, meaning the scores from Tuesday and Wednesday will not be carried forward.

For more information on the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, including this week’s Bluegrass Festival Horse Show, visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Kentucky Summer Series Fast Facts

Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2014 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.

What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC’s 2014 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions host the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award, as well as the Hallway Feeds National Derby Series.

Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Home to the United States Equestrian Federation.

When:

NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS – July 15-20, 2014
KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 23-27, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 29 – August 3, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

2014 USEF PONY FINALS – August 5-10, 2014
BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW – August 12-17, 2014
USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event

KHJA HORSE SHOW – August 20-24, 2014
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Audi of Lexington, GGT Footing, Equestrian Services International, Johnson Horse Transportation, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program, Sleepy P Ranch, and the Official Hotel The Clarion

Hours:
8am – 5pm daily

Parking:
Horse Show Exhibitors may purchase a weekly parking pass at the main Horse Park entrance for $15.00. Dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash.

Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located 8 miles northeast of Lexington, Kentucky at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.

Information:
Before Show – (859) 233-0492, Email: hakshows@earthlink.net
During Show – Telephone: (859) 254-3343, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling – Email Tom Blankenship at tomblank@bellsouth.net
Stable office – Before Show: (843) 269-4737, During Show: (859) 255-0605
Prize List Advertising – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Vendors – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709

Shownet – www.shownet.biz

Website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

Ring Dimensions/Specs:

The Stonelea Ring, Murphy Ring, Walnut Ring, Stonelea/Murphy Schooling Ring, the Alltech Arena and the Rolex Stadium have Otto Sport footing consisting of fine sand and synthetic fiber on pvc mats. The Claiborne, Annex, and Covered Arena (old) rings’ footing consists of a sand cushion on limestone base. The dimensions of the competition areas are as follows:

Stonelea: 140′x 280′, Murphy: 135′x 280′, Stonelea and Murphy Schooling: 110′x 400′
Walnut: 300′x 370′, Claiborne: 140′x 270′, Annex 130′x 250′, Covered Arena (old): 145′x 285′ Rolex Stadium: 360′ x 384′, Alltech Arena: 132′ x 265′

Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring.

Hotels:

CLARION HOTEL (Formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859-233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles (OFFICIAL HOTEL)
Discover the place where elegant comfort in an ideal location meets excellent service and affordability. At the Clarion Hotel Lexington, you’ll find well-appointed accommodations with options of double/doubles, double queens, king rooms or suites, exceptional amenities such as our free hot breakfast buffet, and Southern hospitality at its finest. The best hotel for Keeneland – located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region – home of the Kentucky Horse Park, the Lexington Convention Center, University of Kentucky, and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – our Lexington hotel is on Newtown Pike at Exit 115 on I-75, close to all the big attractions, and is the perfect place to stay whether you’re here to get down to business or have some fun. Best of all, bring your furry friends for any trip because the Clarion Hotel in Lexington is also pet-friendly.

CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS:
Reservations may not be made through the Horse Show office. To reserve a campsite at the Kentucky Horse Park for any of the horse shows, please call the Campground store at (800) 370-6416 or 859-259-4157 or email Sherry Logan at sherryd.logan@ky.gov. Be specific as to the show name and the dates you wish to stay. Check-in time is 2:00 p.m. and check-out is 12:00 noon. You must make arrangements with the Campground store if you plan to arrive earlier than 2:00 p.m. or stay later than 12:00 noon. Vehicles that are not removed from a campsite by check-out time will be towed.

Management:
Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC
P. O. Box 11428
Lexington, KY 40575-1428
859-233-0492 (phone)
859-233-0495 (fax)
email: hakshows@earthlink.net
website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

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

Championships, Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Show Jumping

Tosh and Gotham Take Top Spot in Opening Round of USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship

August 13, 2014 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Gotham and Hunt Tosh during their winning trip in Round 1 of the Pre-Green Incentive.

Lexington, KY – August 12, 2014 – The second annual 2014 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship kicked off with an opening round Tuesday at the Kentucky Horse Park. While there were many new riders and horses competing in the round, it was the championship’s 2013 winner, Hunt Tosh, who took top honors in the opening class, showing the field of 130 how it is done aboard the Douglas Wheeler entry Gotham.

The 6-year-old Holsteiner gelding is a new mount for Tosh, but the two have clearly already found their rhythm; the pair recently captured the tricolor in the 3’3″ Pre-Green Incentive class at the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show (N.C.) before coming to Kentucky.

Gotham is quickly becoming a favorite for Tosh.

“He’s a very straightforward horse, very brave with so much scope and plenty of range,” Tosh said. “Today, going so late in the order, I wasn’t sure what Gotham was going to do because I don’t know him that well yet, but he jumped phenomenally. It was just a really fun ride on a great horse.”

Tosh, who last year won the inaugural Pre-Green Incentive class in a tie with two of his mounts, Crisp and Casanova, has already placed himself in a good spot for tomorrow’s second round. He is a big fan of the Pre-Green Incentive program, and predicts this year it will be an even bigger hit than last year.

“It’s a great event because the whole horse show really comes out to see all these fabulous young horses. Obviously the money gives it a bigger feel too, but anything that showcases the young hunters and gets people involved and interested is an awesome thing,” Tosh said.

He hopes to continue his success tomorrow, planning to do the exact same thing in the ring to keep the tough competition at bay, applauding Scott Stewart, who led before Gotham went in, for putting in a great ride.

“I saw trip after trip completed by very nice horses that went well. It was tough today and overall very awesome to compete in this atmosphere and on this horse,” Tosh said.

Tosh may have taken top honors in Tuesday’s opening round, but right on his heels was a whole herd of mounts piloted by Scott Stewart. Stewart placed four of the seven horses he rode in the class in the top twelve, picking up second, third, fourth and seventh place.

As evident by the results, Stewart certainly has an eye for picking young horses.

“For me they have to be a nice mover and just sort of an attractive looking horse,” said Stewart, explaining his methodology for selecting young talent. “Then overall obviously is their jumping style and their mind, just to make sure they’re relaxed and quiet.”

Stewart’s top placed horse in the class, Celebration, shares more than a barn with one of the other top hunter’s in Stewart’s care.

“My second place horse is actually by Dedication, that’s his baby,” Stewart explained.

Dedication was another young horse Stewart brought up the ranks through the green divisions.

Celebration looks just like his sire (who has since been gelded), but is still working on logging as much ring time.

“This is only his third show, he did [Fairfield County Hunt Club] and one week of Michigan [Horse Shows by the Bay],” Stewart explained. “He’s only 5 years old.”

Stewart’s third placed horse, Remarkable, is really just that; the 7-year-old gelding has a very unique marking on his left front leg and chest. When paired with his picturesque form over fences, the horse makes for quite an eye catching sight.

“I think most people passed on him because of that,” Stewart said of the marking. Stewart recounted that a lot of people saw the horse on video last year and may have been put off by his unusual coloring. “On the video you couldn’t really tell how pretty he was,” Stewart said. “I think if we didn’t go to Europe to see him, we probably wouldn’t have bought him. We saw him in person, and we bought him right away.”

Stewart is not entirely sure where the coloring comes from, but he suspects it has to do with the gelding’s sire, Lordanos.

“A lot of Lordanos’ [offspring] have a lot of white, like Golden Rule, my working horse, has a lot of high white legs,” Stewart explained. “Some of them have a lot of white, so it’s somewhere in there!”

This is Stewart’s first year competing in the Pre-Green Incentive program, and so far he is enjoying the experience.

“I thinks it’s great for everyone to bring out there nice young horses, and the prize money is super,” Stewart said. The opening round alone offered $43,852.50 in cash prizes and paid out to 27th place.

The 2014 USHJA Pre Green Incentive championship will continue on Wednesday with a second round, where all 130 horses will carry their scores from Tuesday forward and go again over fences to determine the top thirty to compete in the final round on Thursday. The final round will be a blank slate format, putting all horses back onto an even playing field.

Jumper classes at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show also kick off tomorrow at the Kentucky Horse Park with the 5-year-old Jumpers beginning at 8 a.m. in Rolex Stadium. To learn more about the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.