Lexington, KY – August 23, 2012 – The Bluegrass Festival Horse Show was alive with action last week, and Uphill Farm did not miss a second of it. Earning top awards in both the hunter and jumper divisions, Tom Wright guided his students to consistent ribbons throughout the course of the week. Reid Patton took center stage with Foreign Encounter, riding to the top of the standings in the Large 16-17 Junior Hunters. The pair was awarded the division’s championship for their outstanding efforts. In the NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic, Laura Karet piloted Caliber to the top scores for both rounds, capturing the first place finish and championship title.
Reid Patton showed nothing short of success in the Large 16-17 Junior Hunters this past week. Aboard her mount Foreign Encounter, she rode to the top of the standings and secured the championship tricolor. The pair picked up the first place finish in the handy round, as well as earning the first and two seconds for their efforts in the over fences.
“I have had him for quite a while, and it is so nice to know that we can go into the ring, and I know that he can hold a candle to all the other top horses,” Patton described. “He is one of those horses that I can trust that he is going to be there for me. I just have to put him in the correct area and he is never going to let me down. I have so much confidence in him and in myself on him.”
Patton has been working with Foreign Encounter for the last three years, and with the support of the team at Uphill Farm, she admitted that they both have grown into true competitors. “Since I have had him, I never really thought of him as anything more than my steady eddy, but this summer everything seemed to really change. I have been putting a lot of focus on him, and with the help of Hayley Barnhill, he has really grown into himself. From the beginning, he has had to get me out of so many bad places, but it is nice now that I can give him a break on that and we can work together as a more experienced team. He shined this summer, and he became a great competitor.”
The NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic saw excellence during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Laura Karet guided Caliber to the day’s high scores with an 85 in the first round, and an 87 in the second round. Her overall total of 172 points garnered them the top prize.
Meredith Darst rode Copyright to the fourth place finish in the WIHS Equitation Hunter Phase. The duo scored an impressive 85 from the judges, and took the first place position overall. Taylor Schmidt rode to the second place finish behind Darst with Play Boy, owned by Ken and Emily Smith of Ashland Farm in Wellington, FL.
In the Murphy Ring, it was Brad Wolf who rode to consistent ribbons throughout the Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunter division with Winterplace. Earlier in the week, Hayley Barnhill had shown the Holsteiner gelding to two red ribbons in the Performance 3’6″ Hunters.
Barnhill’s success continued into the jumpers, where she rode her own Toucan Tango to good ribbons in the competitive 1.40m Open Jumpers. The pair laid down a clean first round in 72.719 seconds and moved into the jump-off where they faced off against seven other contenders. Barnhill navigated Toucan Tango to a double-clear effort in 32.962 seconds, securing the third place finish.
Although originally from California, Wright has trained show hunters, jumpers and equitation on the East Coast since 1980. Wright and his team of trainers and riders at Uphill Farm have become an unstoppable force in the equestrian sport, earning top honors at the best nation’s most prestigious horse shows. Using a training technique that stresses methodical preparation, encourages strong horsemanship, and uses forward thinking, Wright has worked his way to the top. Wright is the only trainer to have won the AHJF Hunter Spectacular of Palm Beach an astounding five times. He has trained numerous Maclay and Medal winners, including 2010 USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals and 2010 ASPCA Maclay Finals winner, Hayley Barnhill.
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