David Beisel and Ammeretto soar to victory.
Lexington, KY – August 17, 2014 – He may be the smallest horse in the class, but do not let his size fool you. The just barely 16 hand stallion Ammeretto is a fierce competitor with rider David Beisel, and he makes up for what he lacks in height and galloping speed with nimble turns. It was just such a turn that clinched the top spot in Sunday’s $40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi. Beisel was able to beat out second place finisher Michael Dorman by taking a very tight inside turn in the jump-off that Dorman chose to forgo.
“He’s a very nimble horse, and he’s a very little guy,” Beisel said of Ammeretto. “I think I was a little fortunate, two weeks in a row in Michigan I couldn’t beat Michael [Dorman], he chased me down both times, and both courses were very long galloping courses.”
Not to be out done a third time in a row, Beisel let the twisting jump off track work for him.
“I was thinking maybe I could use the turns to my advantage, because he turns very well,” Beisel continued. “I know when we turned after fence five [in the jump off] I stayed a good five feet inside of Michael’s hoofprints back to the in and out, so I knew I was on the pace there, and then I just did the inside turn and it worked out.”
Michael Dorman, Lorcan Gallagher and Jackson Brittan also posted double clear scores in the prix, though no one was able to catch Beisel’s wicked fast time. Dorman went first in the jump off and chose not to do the inside turn available, leaving the door open for Beisel to take over the lead. Brittan and Gallagher were left to chase Beisel’s time and track, and neither could catch him.
Beisel also competed in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic Friday night, finishing up in ninth place with a much hotter horse on his hands.
“I had a horse fall on me Tuesday and smoosh my foot, so I didn’t do a warm up class with [Ammeretto],” Beisel said. “So he was a little extra feisty in that prix. I was a little worried because he was so quiet on the way to the first jump today, but then he got into gear after he rubbed the first jump in the first round and he was even better than Friday.”
Beisel has been developing a relationship with the 9-year-old stallion Ammeretto for six year now, bringing the horse along from his three year old stallion inspection to the grand prix level. In fact, Beisel said he first met the horse exactly six years ago, when his owner Dale Nielson purchased the stud at the Kentucky summer show before sending him to Beisel to prepare for stallion approvals.
“After the approvals he just stayed with me and did the Baby Green Hunters and developed from there,” Beisel explained of Amaretto’s training. “Two years ago at this show we had qualified for the international derby finals here, and I called Mr. Neilson and I said ‘I know we’re qualified for this hunter derby, but I think your horse really wants to do the grand prix’, and he said great so we did the grand prix and jumped clear that night as a seven year old. He hasn’t done hunter derbies since.”
Beisel is quick to credit the horse’s hunter background for his current success in the jumper ring.
“I thought doing the hunters with him was a nice start in developing a nice canter and getting him comfortable going around the ring,” Beisel said. “When he’s quiet and going like a hunter he usually performs even better than if he’s feisty.
He’s more entertaining when he’s spicy,” Beisel continued with a laugh, “but he’s just not quite as careful. He’s so busy being spicy he doesn’t focus on the jumps. When he’s a little quiet I think he does a better job.”
As a trainer Beisel rides all kinds of different horses, but there is only one Ammeretto.
“He’s very special to me, he’s the best horse I’ve ever had, for sure,” Beisel said of the stallion.
Finishing second to Beisel was Michael Dorman aboard the much larger chestnut gelding Zephyr. Dorman was the pathfinder in the jump off, laying down a quick and clear track but opting out of the inside turn to the second to last fence.
“My horse is a little stiff on the left turn, so I figured it might be quicker just to run around with him,” Dorman said. “I think for my horse it was the right choice. He has a really big gallop and if it’s an extra tight turn he has a tendency of cutting in on the left a little, so sometimes its take longer to organize the turn than just to run around.”
Zephyr and Dorman have been a pair for three years now, and Dorman believes the horse is really starting to hit his stride this summer.
“This is his first year being more of a seasoned grand prix horse,” Dorman explained. “He’s won three grand prixs this year, and he’s still new at it but it’s his turn to kind of step up. He’s almost there.”
Dorman said the horse has a lovable personality that makes him enjoyable to be around.
“He’s pretty easy to have a relationship with, he’s like a big dog,” Dorman said with a smile. “He’s very sweet, he’s an easy going horse and he’s a pleaser, he’s talented and he tries to please. He’s a nice horse.”
To learn more about the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
Kentucky Summer Series Fast Facts
Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2014 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.
What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC’s 2014 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions host the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award, as well as the Hallway Feeds National Derby Series.
Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Home to the United States Equestrian Federation.
When:
NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS – July 15-20, 2014
KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 23-27, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 29 – August 3, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
2014 USEF PONY FINALS – August 5-10, 2014
BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW – August 12-17, 2014
USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event
KHJA HORSE SHOW – August 20-24, 2014
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Audi of Lexington, GGT Footing, Equestrian Services International, Johnson Horse Transportation, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program, Sleepy P Ranch, and the Official Hotel The Clarion
Hours:
8am – 5pm daily
Parking:
Horse Show Exhibitors may purchase a weekly parking pass at the main Horse Park entrance for $15.00. Dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash.
Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located 8 miles northeast of Lexington, Kentucky at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.
Information:
Before Show – (859) 233-0492, Email: hakshows@earthlink.net
During Show – Telephone: (859) 254-3343, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling – Email Tom Blankenship at tomblank@bellsouth.net
Stable office – Before Show: (843) 269-4737, During Show: (859) 255-0605
Prize List Advertising – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Vendors – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Shownet – www.shownet.biz
Website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
Ring Dimensions/Specs:
The Stonelea Ring, Murphy Ring, Walnut Ring, Stonelea/Murphy Schooling Ring, the Alltech Arena and the Rolex Stadium have Otto Sport footing consisting of fine sand and synthetic fiber on pvc mats. The Claiborne, Annex, and Covered Arena (old) rings’ footing consists of a sand cushion on limestone base. The dimensions of the competition areas are as follows:
Stonelea: 140′x 280′, Murphy: 135′x 280′, Stonelea and Murphy Schooling: 110′x 400′
Walnut: 300′x 370′, Claiborne: 140′x 270′, Annex 130′x 250′, Covered Arena (old): 145′x 285′ Rolex Stadium: 360′ x 384′, Alltech Arena: 132′ x 265′
Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring.
Hotels:
CLARION HOTEL (Formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859-233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles (OFFICIAL HOTEL)
Discover the place where elegant comfort in an ideal location meets excellent service and affordability. At the Clarion Hotel Lexington, you’ll find well-appointed accommodations with options of double/doubles, double queens, king rooms or suites, exceptional amenities such as our free hot breakfast buffet, and Southern hospitality at its finest. The best hotel for Keeneland – located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region – home of the Kentucky Horse Park, the Lexington Convention Center, University of Kentucky, and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – our Lexington hotel is on Newtown Pike at Exit 115 on I-75, close to all the big attractions, and is the perfect place to stay whether you’re here to get down to business or have some fun. Best of all, bring your furry friends for any trip because the Clarion Hotel in Lexington is also pet-friendly.
CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS:
Reservations may not be made through the Horse Show office. To reserve a campsite at the Kentucky Horse Park for any of the horse shows, please call the Campground store at (800) 370-6416 or 859-259-4157 or email Sherry Logan at sherryd.logan@ky.gov. Be specific as to the show name and the dates you wish to stay. Check-in time is 2:00 p.m. and check-out is 12:00 noon. You must make arrangements with the Campground store if you plan to arrive earlier than 2:00 p.m. or stay later than 12:00 noon. Vehicles that are not removed from a campsite by check-out time will be towed.
Management:
Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC
P. O. Box 11428
Lexington, KY 40575-1428
859-233-0492 (phone)
859-233-0495 (fax)
email: hakshows@earthlink.net
website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
Media Contact:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com
