Tag Archives: hunter/jumper

Medium Pony Hunter Grand Championship Awarded to Meredith Darst and Highlands Make Believe at 2010 USEF Pony Finals

Meredith Darst and Highlands Make Believe earned the Medium Pony Hunter Grand Championship at the 2010 USEF Pony Finals. Photo By: Alyson Sanderford/PMG.

Lexington, KY – August 13, 2010 – It was another hot day at the Kentucky Horse Park but that did not slow down the exciting competition at the 2010 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships. The top ponies and riders gathered at the Walnut Ring to showcase their talent. The pony action began with the Large Pony Hunter model and under saddle phases, and was followed soon after by Medium Pony Hunter over fences phase to determine the grand championship and reserve grand championship titles. The day rounded out with the second phase of the Individual Jumping, which included the Team Competition.

Meredith Darst and Highlands Make Believe, owned by Elizabeth Wenner of Garden City, NY, had an incredible round during the Medium Pony Hunter over fences phase that earned them a total of 259 points. Their excellent score helped them win the over fences phase and also moved them from 14th in the overall standings to first place overall. Their advancement in the standings with a 1006.25 total score garnered them the Medium Pony Hunter Grand Championship.

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Michael Murphy and Corrado Take Top Prize in Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal and ASPCA Maclay at Kentucky Summer Classic

Michael Murphy and Corrado won the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Section B and the ASPCA Maclay at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Photo By: Whitney Campbell/PMG.

Lexington, KY – August 7, 2010 – Another beautiful day greeted riders at the Kentucky Summer Classic, presently held at the Kentucky Horse Park.  It was a very victorious day for rider Michael Murphy and mount Corrado, earning two back-to-back blue ribbons during both of today’s highlight events in the equitation ring. The Covered Arena featured the competitive Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal that attracted over 50 riders. Due to such a large entry figure the class was split into two sections (A and B). After a round over fences, the top four riders in each section were invited back into the ring to ride to complete a final test.

The top four riders eligible for the first section were Lillie Keenan on Sanderson, Maggie Boylan aboard Barcelona, Laura Baginski on Say No More, and Samantha Schaefer on her mount Pioneer. The test round instructed the four riders to canter three verticals from the line and counter-canter a combination of two fences.  Next, riders had to trot the sixth fence before halting in front of the judges.  Finally, they would return to the line at a sitting trot.

Continue reading Michael Murphy and Corrado Take Top Prize in Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal and ASPCA Maclay at Kentucky Summer Classic

Red Panda and Hayley Barnhill Named 2010 USEF Junior Hunter Finals-East Coast Grand Champion

Hayley Barnhill and Red Panda won the 2010 USEF Junior Hunter Finals-East Coast Grand Championship. Photo By: Alyson Sanderford/PMG.

Lexington, KY – August 4, 2010 – High temperatures made for an intense final day of competition for the USEF Junior Hunter Finals at the Kentucky Horse Park. Today’s classic round determined both Reserve Champion and Champion for each division, as well as overall High Point Mare, Reserve Grand Champion and Grand Champion.  Today’s course was designed by Bobby Murphy and involved multiple bending lines, rollback combinations, a triple combination down the diagonal towards the in-gate, and finally a strong gallop to an oxer.

Small 15 & Under Junior Hunters were first in the order of go and it was 15-year-old Caitlin Ziegler aboard Safari making a comeback from the Handy Round to receive scores 87-86-86 for a total of 259 and the blue ribbon in the Classic Round. Ziegler and Safari, an eight-year-old Hanoverian, earned an overall score 634.5 points, which was good enough to claim division championship. Shawn Casady and Scout, owned by Mattie Warsham, came out of the Classic Round in fourth and received the reserve championship prize with 629.5 points. Hanging on for third in the division was Meg O’Mara and Fernwalk, owned by Don Stewart, finishing with 622.5 points.

Continue reading Red Panda and Hayley Barnhill Named 2010 USEF Junior Hunter Finals-East Coast Grand Champion

Charleston Summer Classics Finale of Champions

Jennifer Munday & Samaritan ©Flashpoint Photography

Johns Island, SC — July 26, 2010 — The Charleston Summer Classics’ final week of competition at Mullet Hall Equestrian Center on Johns Island, SC found most attendees weren’t so anxious to head home, but rather thinking of extending their stay at nearby Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island beach resorts.

Sunny skies and ocean breezes provided another perfect backdrop last week for not only competition in the arenas, but at area golf courses and nearby beaches as well. “We really have been fortunate with the weather here. With classes starting at 7:30 each morning many of the families have been able to hit the beaches by early afternoon and enjoy all this area offers,” Bob Bell of Classic Company said.

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HITS Culpeper in Review

© ESI Photography. Grand Prix Rider Aaron Vale and Paparazzi 10 won the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

Vale and Fenney Accelerate on the Road to the Pfizer Million, Woodhall Farm Owns the Hunter Rings and Odor-No-More Honors the Grooms at HITS Culpeper

CULPEPER, VA (July 22, 2010) — The road to the Pfizer Million passed right through the heart of Virginia’s horse country for the HITS Culpeper July horse shows and saw two major contenders in the race for the top prize in the Pfizer $ 1 Million Grand Prix pull off a pair of big wins at HITS Commonwealth Park, in Culpeper, Virginia.

Aaron Vale got the party started during the Showday National (July 7-11) when he rode Paparazzi 10 to the blue ribbon in the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, to climb into the top 15 of the Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings for the big-ticket class that will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson on Sunday, September 12.

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Eventing Radio Episode 87 – Building a Partnership and Are You Ready for Your First Event:

Boyd Martin is my guest to discuss Building up a Partnership and Are You Ready for Your First Event, plus we have a new quiz – Name That Rider as well as a book review. Another new segment, It’s Your Call for listeners, begins with Sandi Archipow. Listen in right here.

Eventing Radio Episode 87 – Building a Partnership and Are You Ready for Your First Event:

  • Show Hosts: Chris Stafford & Boyd Martin
  • Listener Guest: Sandi Archipow
  • Book Review: Equine Fitness by Jec Aristotle Ballou, Published by Storey Publishing, Dec. 2009
  • Name That Rider: Win a $75 Gift Certificate from Equestrian Collections – Send Chris your answer and email address – first correct answer will be the winner. Who is this talking about their fitness?
  • Link: The Kentucky Horse Park’s Gift of the Desert

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Charleston Summer Classic One

July 18, 2010 – We just finished a great week in Charleston.  The weather was warm but there was always a great breeze, the benefit of being only a few miles from the ocean.

To start I want to thank Red’s Ice House for a great Welcome party at Bohicket Marina, along with a big thank you to Poplar Grove and Seabrook Island Equestrian Centers for the great parties for the Hunter Classic and the Jumper Classic on Friday and Saturday.

On Saturday, 4300 people lost power on Johns Island, Seabrook Island and Kiawah Island.  The power outage was caused by a truck hitting a power transformer.  The show was without power for five hours.  I want to thank all the exhibitors for their understanding and for keeping the show going so well without much sound.

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Telluride Farm Awarded Top Prizes at Spruce Meadows “North American” & “Canada One”

Caitie Hope and La Paz took home the first place prize in the $1,000 CN Amateur Welcome class at the Spruce Meadows Tournament. Photo by: Kenneth Kraus

Calgary, AB – July 16, 2010 – Recently, top trainer Diane Carney traveled with Richard Rinehart and riders of Telluride Farm to compete at the Spruce Meadows Tournament. The riders competed during the “Canada One” week, which began July 1 and ran through July 4, 2010, and the “North American” week, held July 7-11, 2010. Rinehart, Caitie Hope, Michael Burnett, Virginia Bartholomay, and Morgan Dvorkin all scored top ribbons and had the opportunity to ride in the Spruce Meadows victory gallops.

Rinehart earned a victory during “Canada One” with Iron in the 1.20m Open Jumper Welcome Class. He also showed Total Touch, owned by Kathleen Hope to a second and fourth place finish in the 1.20m Open Jumper classes. “Richard is a brilliant rider and might not have taken the big step to compete at Spruce Meadows without this opportunity,” noted Carney. “If you can ride and understand horsemanship then you will leave Spruce Meadows encouraged and fulfilled.” Rinehart was the winner of the Maxine Beard Award in 2001.

Continue reading Telluride Farm Awarded Top Prizes at Spruce Meadows “North American” & “Canada One”

Chicago Equestrians for a Cause to Host $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Presented by CN

Chicago Equestrians for a Cause Logo. Photo © Chicago Equestrians for a Cause.

Chicago, Illinois – July 16, 2010 – Chicago Equestrians for a Cause is pleased to announce the return of the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby (Chicago Hunter Derby) Presented By CN to Annali Farm in Antioch, IL, on August 29, 2010. The net proceeds generated by this prestigious competition will benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital of Chicago, IL, as well as the United States Hunter Jumper Association Foundation (USHJA Foundation).

Unique in nature, the Chicago Hunter Derby will feature a vintage hunt course set out on Annali Farm’s beautifully landscaped steeplechase course in-field. The course will be co-designed by Jimmy Torano and Bobby Murphy, and will welcome the nation’s top equestrians as they vie for top honors in this prestigious event.

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Virginia Is Vale! Aaron Vale and Paparazzi 10 Win the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper

© ESI Photography. Aaron Vale and Paparazzi win the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Culpeper.

CULPEPER, VA (July 13, 2010) — HITS Grand Prix Veteran Aaron Vale and Paparazzi 10, owned by Thinkslikeahorse and Norman Peterson, won the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

Vale, of Morriston, Florida, was one of 22 horse-and-rider teams to compete over a course designed by International Course Designer Olaf Petersen, Sr. of Paehl, Germany. Only three riders jumped clean in what turned out to be a very challenging first round which featured a double and a triple combination, as well as an open water obstacle.

“It was a tricky course,” said Vale. “You don’t come to Culpeper expecting to jump open water and Olaf [Petersen, Sr.] makes it challenging. You needed to do some real horseback riding on this course.”

Continue reading Virginia Is Vale! Aaron Vale and Paparazzi 10 Win the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper