Devin Ryan and Chantilly soar over the CWD jump on their way to the win in the $5,000 Open Jumper Welcome Class. Flashpoint Photography.
The second week of the Atlanta Spring Classic is underway and attendance confirms the fact that the great migration is underway. Riders are making the Georgia International Horse Park and the Atlanta Spring Classic a stop on their way home after a long winter of showing.
The $5,000 Open Jumper Welcome class Thursday saw Jersey boy Devin Ryan of Long Valley in the irons of Sima Morgello’s Chantilly win the class after turning in a first round effort in 61.124 seconds and a second clear round in a time of 36.690 seconds. Ryan and Chantilly also won the Welcome the first week of the Atlanta Spring Classic. “I thought it was a nice course,” said Ryan. “There was nothing over-challenging and it was pretty straightforward,” he added.
Melissa Rudershausen of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania and her own Gunner were the first to go in the class and turned in a clear first round effort in 65.870 seconds, well within the 76 seconds time allowed. Their clear second round in a time of 39.283 seconds set the time to beat, but with the entire class yet to go, it was still anybody’s call who would win.
Francois Lamontagne of Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada and Nature des Pierres, owned by Christina Macdougall, turned in a first round time of 60.229 seconds. Their second round was also clean and their time of 38.102 seconds set the new time to beat.
Ryan was the next to go clean and his second round time set the lead which would inevitably win the class.
Daniel Geitner and the Kenwood Syndicate’s Kenwood were the next clear round in 63.514 seconds, but their second round effort in a time of 40.369 seconds resulted in four jump faults and would see the pair finishing in fourth place overall.
Haley Lubow of Nashville, Tennessee and Krisley Hill Equine Investments’ Calligraphy followed Geitner and turned in the next clean effort in 66.170 seconds. However, their second round time of 49.257 seconds would result in four jump faults and see them finish in fifth place overall.
Amanda Flint of Long Valley, New Jersey and the Coverboy Group’s VDL Zedaldine followed Lubow and turned in a clean first round in a time of 67.863 seconds. However, eight jump faults in their second round effort in 42.557 seconds would see them finish in sixth place overall.
Ann Horrell Glaus of Ocala, Florida and Troy Glaus’ Boujis was next to go and turned in the fastest four fault first round effort in a time of 59.687 seconds. The pair would finish in eighth place overall.
Flint returned for a final round this time in the irons of Child Z, owned by the Coverboy Group, and turned in a first round effort in 66.600 seconds. In the enviable last to go spot, the pair tackled the second round, but four jump faults and thirty one time faults saw them finish in seventh place overall.
The top three finished with Ryan holding the lead with Chantilly, followed by Lamontagne and Nature des Pierres, and the third place was awarded to Rudershausen and Gunner.
“Chantilly is a great horse,” said Ryan. “She has tremendous scope and talent,” he added. “I have been in the top six of every grand prix we have done together and I just started riding her before Gulfport.”
Ryan has been on the road for the past three months and just finished with the six weeks at the Gulf and the two Atlanta Spring Classic shows. “We are heading back to Jersey after this week,” he said.
“All of my horses have been great this winter,” said Ryan. “I have a talented group of young horses and a very supportive group of owners and sponsors. I appreciate all of them!” he said.
Second Career Thoroughbred Hunters
The Atlanta Spring Classic Horse Show is proud to offer the Second Career Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper Division. The Second Career Thoroughbred Program offers hunter and jumper classes for registered Thoroughbreds.
Founded by the New York Racing Association, New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc. and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, TAKE2 was created to put the spotlight on Thoroughbred hunters and jumpers, demonstrating that retired racehorses can be retrained for sport horse careers with great success. This program’s efforts will help to ensure happy and productive futures for retired racehorses.
Simply Decadent, owned by Treena McClelland and ridden by Shara Pavan, won the Second Career Thoroughbred Hunter Championship and Eighth Wonder of the World, owned by Daniella Mclean and ridden by Treena McClelland, took Reserve honors.
On Deck!
The $25,000 EMO Grand Prix is slated for tomorrow and Sunday will feature Classics Sunday.
Sunday night the Classic Company bids farewell to their horse show family and takes some time to reset and put the final touches on its biggest shows this summer at the Georgia International Horse Park in June and the Charleston Summer Classic set to kick off on July 8 on Johns Island in South Carolina.
“We would like to thank everyone who showed with us in Pensacola, Gulfport and Atlanta and we look forward to seeing our horse show family again this summer in June,” said Classic Company President, Bob Bell.
After a successful winter at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic Circuit, the fun has moved to the Georgia International Horse Park for the Atlanta Spring Classic Shows. Remember, the Classic Company does not charge extra office fees for credit card transactions nor is there a scratch or add fee! Classic Company wants to make your showing experience the best ever!
So whether you are a seasoned veteran or novice looking for a positive show experience, head to the Georgia International Horse Park and the Atlanta Spring Classics, where you can ride in Olympic style and get the red carpet treatment you deserve!
The Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. Together, they offer the best exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events each winter. Please visit them on the web at www.ClassicCompany.com or call them at 843.768.5503.
All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director, at lisa@classiccompany.com.
Stay up to date: Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter!
See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd.
www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island SC 29457