Competition Is Under Way at the 2011 Atlanta Spring Premiere and Atlanta Spring Challenge Series

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Hunt Tosh and Cloud Harbor. All photos: Shawn McMillen photography

May 13th, 2011 – Competition kicked off this week to beautiful sunny skies at the 2011 Atlanta Spring Premiere Horse Show at the Georgia International Horse Park in Atlanta, Georgia.  Aiken, South Carolina resident J. P. Godard and his Equus Events manage the annual two week series which takes place May 11th-15th and 18th-22nd.

The professional hunter divisions took center stage in the hunter rings on Wednesday and Thursday while the jumpers tried their hand in the International Arena at courses designed by international jumper course designer Pierre Jolicoeur.  Hunt Tosh of Milton, GA had a stellar start to the week coming away with three tricolors on three Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler owned entries.  Tosh took home the First Year Green Hunter Championship aboard Triton Z, the Second Year Green Hunter Championship on Good Humor, and the Conformation Hunter Championship aboard Cloud Harbor.  Tosh is no stranger to the winners circle as he capped off an incredible 2010 season with a win in the coveted $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby finals in Lexington, KY on Lonestar as well as a Grand Hunter Championship and Leading Hunter Rider award at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, just to name a few.  He was also the recipient of the United Equestrian Federation’s Emerson Burr Trophy in 2010.

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Daniel Geitner and McGraw

Aiken, South Carolina based rider and trainer Daniel Geitner also had his share of the winnings, picking up a Championship in the High Performance Working Hunters with the Kimberly Quinn owned entry McGraw as well as tricolor in the Baby Green Hunters with High Valley Hanoverian’s Rubina. Julie Curtain also made her mark by winning the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Classic on Friday morning with Ramano owned by Martin Schlaeppi.  Curtain and Ramano were also Reserve Champion in the Performance 3’6-3’9 Working Hunter Division.  Other hunter champions earlier in the week included:

* Pre-Green 3 ft – Bright Side owned by Ellie Mann and ridden by Lauren Kissel

* Pre-Green 3 ft 3 – Fairfax owned by Liz Hudspeth and ridden by Liza Towell

* Performance 3’3 working Hunters – Swank owned by Don Stewart and ridden by Terry Brown

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Hardin Towell and Casey Jones

Over in the jumper ring, Hardin Towell of Camden, South Carolina started off the week right by taking home double wins in both $5,000 Open Welcome Stakes.  First on Wednesday afternoon with Emily Bickford’s Casey Jones and then again he rode to the blue on Thursday with Kelly Maloney’s Fieona.

The exciting hunter and jumper action continues this weekend featuring the $25,000 Atlanta Spring Premiere Grand Prix Saturday evening along with Exhibitor and Sponsor Reception in the International Arena.  Admission is free and the public is invited to come and enjoy the competition.

For complete results and more information on the Atlanta Spring Premiere Horse show and other Equus Events horse shows please go to www.equusevents.com or call 803-643-5698.

Contact: Equus Events, Inc.
803-643-5698

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