Rembrandt and Ben Guanciale, 3’3” Performance Hunter. Flashpoint Photography.
As the Jacksonville Winter Series drew to a close and the north and west US were covered in inches of snow, exhibitors are trainers were again reminded why they migrate south for the winter: the Southern Hospitality and Florida Sunshine! Jennifer Berol Bliss, who hails from North Salem, NY, said, “I am based in Wellington for the winter, but I think that the horses benefit from a little change of scenery. The whole management team at Jacksonville works hard to make the shows very fun and exhibitor friendly. They also offer lots of fun classes, from the WCHR week to the USHJA National Hunter Classics and International Hunter Derbies.”
Jacksonville is honored to have been again chosen to be a World Champion Hunter Rider Member Event. The WCHR Program was founded in 1995 to recognize and celebrate the hunter rider. Professionals, Developing Professionals, Amateur Owners, Adult Amateurs, Juniors, Children’s and Pony riders compete to qualify for National and Regional Awards by earning points at Member Events held across the country throughout the qualifying year. Each year the top ten nationally ranked riders and top six regionally ranked riders in each category come together to compete in the WCHR Finals at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD.
Each week of the 3 week long series featured a $2,500 National Hunter Derby sponsored by Jerry Parks Insurance Group, Hunter Division Classics, and Children’s/Adult Jumper & AO Jumper Classics. Week 2 offered a $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby sponsored by Glen Kernan Golf & Country Club & Week 3 features a $10,000 Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic & a $10,000 Open Jumper Classic. Week 3 of the circuit was honored to have been chosen to host a Zone Handy Hunter Challenge, especially during the Inaugural season for these classes. Exhibitors in their home Zone enter this one round Handy Class, free of charge, and compete over option jumps for the $1,000 purse, which is sponsored by USHJA. The Southern Hospitality is certainly not lost in this series, as Spectators and Exhibitors alike can enjoy dinner and drinks in the heated VIP tent each week while watching the week’s highlighted event. Adequan and Mandarin Equine Veterinary Services generously sponsored lunch Pizza Parties under the Pavilion so exhibitors, trainers and spectators could grab a quick bite to eat while they were up at the ring preparing to show. Amanda Steege of Bedinster, New Jersey shared her sentiments about Jacksonville: “At Ashmeadow Farm we really love starting off our winter circuit at the Jacksonville horse shows. They have nice footing, pretty jumps and nice courses, and a great staff. They make an effort for the hunters by hosting a WCHR show, an International USHJA hunter derby, as well as weekly national derbies and pre green incentive classes. It is a great area with nice hotels and some unbelievable restaurants… we will definitely be back in 2015.”
With Equestrian Connect, you complete your entry form online with just a few clicks of the mouse. You now have the option to submit your entries electronically to a growing number of horse shows across the country or print and mail the hard copy. Equestrian Connect posts entry forms for over 800 USEF “A/AA” shows nationally and 30 select Canadian shows. Class schedules and prize lists are also posted.
Congratulations to Week 3 Champions:
Performance Working Hunter
CH – Karla ridden by Jeffrey Ayers and owned by Roberta Previ
Res – Thoughtful ridden by Keri Guanciale and owned by Kristen Gill
Green Working Hunter
CH – Esco ridden by Winn Alden and owned by Alexis Hale
Res – Portofino ridden by Keri Guanciale and owned by Alison Maine
Amateur Owner Hunter
CH – In Your Dreams ridden and owned by Krista Dietrich
Res – Bengale ridden and owned by Gerald Camera
Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3″
CH – Exakt ridden and owned by Gerald Camera
Res – Karla ridden and owned by Roberta Previ
Junior Hunter
CH – Comissario ridden by Morgan Ward and owned by Redfield Farm
Res – Sovereign ridden by Morgan Ward and owned by Lindsey Ward
Junior Hunter 3’3″
CH – In Our Time ridden by Victoria Wymer and owned by Ben Guanciale
Res – Celestial ridden and owned by Alle Justyn
Small Pony Hunter
CH – Juliet ridden and owned by Laurel Bennett
Res – Benlea Missou ridden by Madeline Schaefer and owned by Hannah Hoch
Medium Pony Hunter
CH – Hands Up ridden by Madeline Schaefer and owned by Jordyn Rose Freedman
Res – Sportster ridden by and owned by Madeline Schaefer
Large Pony Hunter
CH – Blind Date ridden and owned by Katherine Weisenmiller
Res – Illusion ridden by Morgan Ward and owned by Jeffrey Ayers
Green Pony Hunter
CH – Sanibel ridden by Victoria Wymer and owned by Keri Guanciale
Res – Candy Land ridden by Dominique Gonzalez and owned by T. M. Hills Farm International Corp.
Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35
CH – Gibralter ridden by Alexis Newman and owned by Laine Foshee
Res – Indiscretion ridden and owned by Krista Dietrich
Adult Amateur Hunter 36+
CH – Gallant ridden and owned by Millie Russell
Res – Roulette ridden and owned by Alice Dunn
Children’s Hunter
CH – Loyal Heart ridden by Madison Scott and owned by Laine Foshee
Res – Robinson ridden by Katherine Weisenmiller and owned by KMW Ponies LLC
Pre-Green Hunter
CH – Secret Santa ridden by Jeffrey Ayers and owned by Daniel White
Res – Roland Park ridden by Megan Young and owned by Dudley MacFarlane
Short/Long Stirrup Hunter
CH – Diamond ridden and owned by Janine Pappas
Res – Chicago ridden by Rachel Mason and owned by Nicole Mason
Low Children’s/Adult Hunter 2’6″
CH – Double Down ridden by Margaret Beeson and owned by Jennie Edwards
Res – Portofino ridden and owned by Allison Maine
Special Hunter 2’6″
CH – Allure ridden by Terry Gonzalez and owned by Judy Boccaccio
Res – Fabulanos ridden by Jamie Reinheimer and owned by Karen Fredenhagen
Special Hunter 2’9″
CH – Three Wishes ridden by Ben Guanciale and owned by Rebecca Johnson
Res – Cortona ridden by Stephanie Von Bidder and owned by Deborah Snyder
Hopeful Hunter
CH – For Sure ridden by Jeffrey Ayers and owned by Sally Culhane
Res – Cortona ridden by Stephanie Von Bidder and owned by Deborah Snyder
Low Children’s/Adult Jumper
CH – Markos ridden and owned by Michelle Kunz
Res – Confidant ridden and owned by Teri Austin
Children’s/Adult Amateur Jumper
CH – Hennessey ridden and owned by Madison Johnson
Res – Grappelli ridden by Lindsay Standley and owned by Gail Sonnenberg
Congratulations to Our Classic Winners:
AO Hunter – Exakt ridden and owned by Gerald Camera
Junior Hunter – Comissario ridden by Morgan Ward and owned by Redfield Farm
Pony Hunter – Blind Date ridden and owned by Katherine Weisenmiller
Green Pony Hunter – Candy Land ridden by Dominique Gonzalez and owned by T. M. Hills Farm International Corp.
Adult Amateur Hunter – Gallant ridden and owned by Millie Russell
Children’s Hunter – Say No More ridden and owned by Olivia Albright
USHJA Pre Green Stake – Secret Santa ridden by Jeffrey Ayers and owned by Daniel White
Short/Long Stirrup Hunter – Diamond ridden and owned by Janine Pappas
Low Children’s/Adult Hunter 2’6″ – Portofino ridden and owned by Allison Maine
$10,000 Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic – Florestano ridden and owned by Christie Cesery
$10,000 Open Jumper Classic – El Grecco ridden by Robert Lee & Owned by Brook Run Farm LLC
A special Congratulations to the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby Winner sponsored by Jerry Parks Insurance Group – Exakt ridden by Jeffrey Ayers and owned by Gerald Camera.
A special Congratulations to the $1,000 USHJA Pony Handy Hunter Classic Winner – Thank Heavens ridden and owned by Katherine Weisenmiller.
A special Congratulations to the $1,000 USHJA 3′ Handy Hunter Classic Winner – Gibralter ridden by Alexis Newman and owned by Laine Foshee.
A special Congratulations to the $1,000 USHJA 3′ 6″ Handy Hunter Classic Winner – Romanov ridden by Isabel Noto and owned by Janine Pappas.
Congratulations to Circuit Champions:
Amateur Owner Hunter: Exakt & Gerald Camera
Adult Amateur Hunter: Gallant & Millie Russell
Junior Hunter: Comissario & Morgan Ward
Pony Hunter: Illusion & Morgan Ward
Children’s Hunter: Say No More & Olivia Albright
Children’s Pony Hunter: Willy Wonka & Carly Hoft
Green Hunter: Portofino & Ben Guanciale
Low Adult Hunter: Mackenzie & Cynthia Kellogg
Low Children’s Hunter: Double Down & Margaret Beeson
AO/Jr. Jumper: Dexter & Mackenzie McGehee
Pre Green Hunter: Secret Santa & Jeffrey Ayers
High Performance Hunter: Rembrandt & Ben Guanciale
Short Stirrup Hunter: Into the Mystic & Janine Pappas
Baby Green Hunter: Kodiak BF & Michelle Moen