(c) ESI Photography. Melissa Rudershausen and Abracadabra.
OCALA, Florida (March 8, 2015): Melissa Rudershausen of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, riding her own Abracadabra, took home the first-place prize in the $7,500 U-Dump/SJHOF Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, presented by VETERA® XP Vaccines, on Sunday morning in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium.
Six moved onto the jump-off and Rudershausen had the advantage of going last, when one other rider had been double-clear. She posted a clear round in 51.223 seconds to claim first place. Two rounds earlier, Nicole Bellissimo, riding Bellissimo LLC’s Harley David, had posted a clear – but slower – round in a time of 53.831, which earned her second place. Hayley Waters, riding Qurint, owned Chuck and Dana Waters, was fastest in 46.376 but four faults put her at third.”
“I touched the clouds a few times today,” said Rudershausen, who added that the course was challenging and the time tight. “You had to be efficient and the timers were a ways away from the last jump so you had to be careful and then gallop away.”
“In the jump-off,” she added, “I planned to do the five strides from one to two but he landed a little shallow and he jumped so high over the oxer that he almost jumped me off. He jumped the next two huge as well then settled in. The door was open with only one clean in the jump-off, so I tried to be a little faster.”
Bellissimo was happy with her ride, saying, “I just wanted to do a nice clear so I rode carefully. My horse jumped great.”
Florencio Hernandez of Mexico City, Mexico designed the course. The class is a qualifier for the VETERA® XP Vaccines $250,000 Junior/Amateur-owner Jumper Prix at the HITS Championship at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York in September.
Gabrielle Calvert and Cat Woman Win $7,500 Marshall & Sterling/TuffRider-Equine Couture Children’s Jumper High Classic
OCALA, Florida (March 7, 2015): On Saturday night, the bleachers and VIP tent Saturday night were full of spectators who cheered for their favorites and sighed at downed rails in two jumper classics.
The juniors rode first in the $7,500 Marshall & Sterling/TuffRider-Equine Couture Children’s Jumper High Classic. A newcomer on an experienced campaigner followed her plan with a few improvisations and came out a winner: Gabriel Calvert and Cat Woman, owned by Daniel White of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, was double-clear in 30.856 to take home first prize out of a class of 35 riders.
Second-place winner Isabella Roman, of Green Oaks, Illinois, and Moraleja, went last of the thirteen that jumped-off and galloped the entire course, going wide on the turns and clocking in at 33.051. Ashton Alexander beat her own time and was third and fourth with Zibon HC and Naturel in times of 35.125 and 35.758, respectively. The only other double-clear was Savannah Nicole Unger on Lagoa for fifth place.
Cat Woman has competed through the Level 7 Jumpers with owner Daniel White, who gave Calvert the opportunity to show the veteran mare. Relatively new to the jumpers, 17-year-old Calvert is leading the Children’s Jumper High Division for Circuit Champion and is aiming toward the $25,000 Marshall & Sterling/Team Barber Child/Adult Jumper High Classic coming up this Saturday.
An excited White praised his rider, saying, “She took all the inside turns and did the seven down the last line and followed the plan. This girl has a bright future.”
Saturday night at HITS also featured a trainer and exhibitor party sponsored by VETERA® XP Vaccines with complimentary food and drink in the Paddock Club VIP tent, which drew a terrific crowd.
Madison Akins on Chasm Z Take Top Place in $7,500 M&S/TuffRider-Equine Couture Adult Jumper High Classic
The crowd was treated to a thrilling jump-off when Madison Akins of Winder, Georgia, riding her own Chasm Z, won the $7,500 Marshall & Sterling/TuffRider-Equine Couture Adult Jumper High Classic, leaving out strides and mastering tight turns to claim the win.
Only six of the original 38 advanced to the jump off and five managed to go double-clear. First to go clear was Anna Whitman of Marston Mills, Massachusetts on Calino-GZ, who stopped the timers in 37.889, but her lead was short lived and she finished fourth.
Next to challenge was Avery Sharp on Skye’s the Limit who added strides in the lines but turned tight enough to shave more than two seconds off the lead and finish in 35.549. Lindsey Simmons of Middleburg, Virginia and 7-year-old Don Loma took over the lead in 34.812. Simmons had to settle for second when the lead changed hands for the final time as Akins and Chasm Z put it all together and galloped through the finish timers more than two seconds faster than Simmons in 32.840 for the win.
After the class, an excited Akins, who is at HITS while on spring break from the University of Georgia, said, “Honestly, I just knew I just had to go faster than I ever have. It was all him – he is an amazing horse. I’ve only had him for a year… What a great way to start my vacation.”
Florencio Hernandez of Mexico City, Mexico, designed both courses.
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