Tag Archives: Jennifer Bliss

Jennifer Bliss and Flight Soar to Top of Standings in $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Jennifer Bliss and Flight ©Anne Gittins Photography.

Wellington, FL – May 14, 2022 – The fifth and final week of the ESP Spring Series held its featured class for hunter competitors on the grass Derby Annex at Equestrian Village on Friday. Jennifer Bliss and Flight captured their second consecutive win in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Equiline, after jumping to a two-round score of 179.

Deywi Rodriguez was the recipient of the Schneiders Groom Award following the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby as the groom of the winning derby horse. As part of the recognition, Rodriguez was presented with a bag of high-quality grooming supplies courtesy of Schneiders Tack.

Derby action continued on Saturday with the $1,000 2’6”- 2’9” Hunter Derby presented by Score at the Top, which offered less-experienced horses a chance to test derby-styled courses. Topping a field of 12 competitors, Katie Giddings and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang captured the win.

In the USHJA Hunter 2’/2’6″ division, presented by 100X Equine, Ki-Juan Minors of Wellington, FL received top honors with Wiser Now, owned by Laura Ojemann. The pair championed the division after placing consistent performances in all five of the division’s classes, earning a first and a second-place ribbon, two third-place ribbons, and a fourth-place ribbon.

Keri Kampsen captured the tricolor ribbon in the 3’ Green Hunter division with Randee Cherner’s Eliot Du Banney. The partnership was awarded three first-place ribbons which included two over-fences classes and the under saddle, to accrue the most points towards the overall championship honors.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Jennifer Bliss and Flight Land the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Jennifer Bliss and Flight ©Anne Gittins Photography.

Wellington, FL – May 7, 2022 – The Spring IV week of the ESP Spring Series saw hunters compete on the grass Derby Annex field of Equestrian Village throughout the week. The week’s feature class for hunter competitors took place on Friday, with Jennifer Bliss of Wellington, FL and Dandelion Farm LLC’s Flight topping a field of 16 competitors to capture their first derby win together thanks to two high-scoring rounds in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Equiline.

As the groom of the winning derby horse, Deywi Rodriguez was the recipient of the Schneiders Groom Award following the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby. As part of the recognition, Rodriguez was presented with a bag of high-quality grooming supplies courtesy of Schneiders Tack.

On Saturday afternoon, competitors jumped for the blue ribbon in the $1,000 2’6″-2’9″ Hunter Derby, presented by Score At The Top. Nabbing the win by more than ten points, Samantha Senft of Wellington, FL and her own La Roux 11 led the victory gallop with a total score of 177 points.

Ava Scharbo of Winnetka, IL and her own Logan impressed in the USHJA 3’ Hunter division, presented by Perfect Products. Though the pair only competed in three of the division’s five classes, they earned first place in all of their showings, which included two over-fences classes and the under saddle, to accrue the most points towards the overall championship honors.

In the 15-17 Equitation, Natalie Groulx of Bloomfield Hills, MI piloted Kate Abajian’s Lambada to a dominating victory in the divisional standings. The partnership was awarded three first-place finishes in three classes to earn the championship tricolors by a wide margin.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Menezes Masters $37,000 JTWG Qualifier CSI3* aboard H5 Elvaro

Eduardo Menezes (BRA) and H5 Elvaro © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – April 16, 2021 – As the 2021 ESP Spring Series continues on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village, it was a day for Brazil to shine as Eduardo Menezes guided H5 Elvaro, owned by H5 Sport Horses, LLC, to a spectacular winning finish in the $37,000 JTWG Qualifier CSI3*.

First to return, Menezes and the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion by Calvaro F.C. x Heartbreaker produced a fault-free round in a time of 38.65 seconds. While the execution of the second-round course was quite technical, Menezes credits his success to having a very simple plan.

“Going first, you need to go as fast as you can and try to leave the jumps up,” he said. “We had a couple of lines where I could use his big stride and leave one [stride] out. I started with that in the first line and once it worked, I just stayed on that rhythm.”

Jennifer Bliss and Face the Music Are Unbeatable in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

A total of 49 horse-and-rider combinations contested the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Perfect Products held in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Friday morning. Entering the ring as the 18th to go in the starting order, Jennifer Bliss and Face the Music, owned by Harris Hill Farm, LLC, galloped smoothly over fences one through 12, jumping all four of the high options, to finish on an impressive score of 96 and lead the classic round.

The top twelve pairs were invited back to contest a handy round with a cut-off score of 86.5 making for a very competitive finish. Last to go, Bliss of Loxahatchee, FL was smooth once again as she posted a score of 100, which included bonus points for handiness, making her two-round total 196 points to secure the win.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Jennifer Hannan and Mindful Win $15k USHJA International Hunter Derby “Hunt and Go”

Jennifer Hannan and Mindful. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 30, 2018 – The final week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued with a full day of hunter derby competition on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Friday, March 30. Jennifer Hannan and Mindful were victorious in the $15,000 International Hunter Derby Hunt & Go.

Thirty-nine competitors took to the field in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Hunt & Go to compete for the blue over Kenny Krome’s 14-fence course. Jennifer Hannan and Mindful, owned by Kensel, LLC, took the lead after earning 355 points with a daring performance around the derby track.

Jennifer Bliss and Daisy Farish Take Blue Ribbons in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Jennifer Bliss, aboard Sugarman, and Daisy Farish, riding Cinemagic, showed their winning ways at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s (PBIEC) Equestrian Village on Friday in their respective sections of the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby.

Bliss piloted her mount of four years, Sugarman, owned by Harris Hill Farm, LLC, to an 84 in the first round and returned to capture the highest score of the handy with a 92, for a combined total of 176 to win the open section of the class. The pair took all four high options in their second round to achieve their top score, with an additional point added for each.

The Junior/Amateur section awarded the blue to Daisy Farish and Cinemagic, owned by Meralex Farm, Inc., who led both cards with an 88 and a 93 to a total of 181, which included eight additional points from all high options.

Brazil and Ireland Pocket Wins on Friday during Final Week of 2018 WEF

Wellington, FL – March 30, 2018 – The final week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued with a victory for Brazil’s Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa (BRA) riding Sharapova Imperio Egipicio in the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m CSI5* and a win for Irish rider Jordan Coyle aboard Eristov in the $35,000 Wanderers Club 1.45m CSI2* at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Musa mastered fellow Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge’s speed track and secured the top spot by more than two seconds. Stopping the clock in 58.08 seconds, he and Sharapova Imperio Egipicio, a 15-year-old Brazilian Sport Horse mare (Baloubet du Rouet x Welton Ambassador) topped the 49-horse field. Yet another Brazilian, Eduardo Menezes, took second riding Caruschka 2 in 60.97 seconds for owner E2 Stables, while Alexandra Paillot (FRA) was third aboard Uelem Croze, owned by Paillot Equine Consulting, Inc., with a time of 61.82 seconds.

Later in the day, Coyle ended his circuit in just the same way it began after a win in the $35,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 1 during the first week of the season. Both top placings came aboard Eristov, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Concorde) owned by Elan Farm.

Returning third in Friday’s 1.45m, Coyle was one of 11 riders to advance to Jorge’s jump-off track from an original field of 63. His time of 33.06 seconds held on for the win, dropping Matthew Metell (USA) to second in 33.46 seconds riding Donchalant for owner Wolver Hollow. Javier Fernandez (MEX) rounded out the top three in 34.06 seconds aboard End Good All Good, owned by Miguel Madero.

Equestrian Sport Productions | 561-793-JUMP | news@equestriansport.com | www.PBIEC.com

Alberto Michan and Inouk P Capture $35,000 Dever Golf Cars, Inc. 1.45m Classic CSI 4*

Alberto Michan and Inouk P. Photo Credit ©AnneGittinsPhotography.

Jennifer Bliss and Poker Face Sweep $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

Wellington, FL – December 1, 2017 – Mexico’s Alberto Michan and Inouk P took the win in the $35,000 Dever Golf Cars, Inc. 1.45m Classic CSI 4* during the first week of the ESP Holiday Series at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL.

Course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) set the day’s track for 39 entries in the International Ring, which saw nine clear rounds vie for top honors in the speed competition. Michan and the 2008 Belgian Warmblood mare (Thunder Van De Zuuthoeve x Darco), owned by Ilan Ferder, jumped their winning round in 60.59 seconds. Molly Ashe (USA) and Louisburg Farm’s Picobello Choppin PC, a 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Motzart Des Semilly x Diamant De Semilly), finished second after stopping the timers in 60.69 seconds. Margie Engle (USA) and Dicas, a 2009 Rheinlander gelding (Diarado x Cassini I) owned by Storm Ridge Capital LLC and Gladewinds, Inc., placed third, crossing through the finish in 60.72 seconds.

“I think that it was a big enough course for a speed class,” Michan described. “We saw Brianne Goutal go out early on and ride very, very fast, so I think that she set the bar high for the rest of us today and made us all take a serious shot at it. Because of that, we had to take strides out at almost every line and if you wanted to be in the top three you really needed to push it.”

The mare, most recently piloted by Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts, is a new sale horse for Michan. Of his round, Michan explained, “We really considered whether or not we should push it and go really fast with her or not, but she is a very quick mare and has done very well with Nicola. We knew she was very experienced and has done it many times. We just went out there and went for it and she jumped unbelievably.”

Michan’s goal is to find someone who enjoys the mare as much as her previous riders have. Until then, he plans to continue taking her out at the Grand Prix level in the coming months. “We have a very nice group of horses here this winter and I have three or four horses to jump in the Grand Prix classes this coming season. Hopefully, because of them, we will have a successful year,” he concluded.

Jennifer Bliss and Poker Face Sweep $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

Later in the afternoon, Jennifer Bliss of Wellington, FL rode Poker Face, owned by Harris Hill Farm, to top honors in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Second place went to Brent Balisky of Langley, BC and Easy Street, owned by Thunderbird Show Stables, completing their rounds with a final score of 175. Third place was awarded to Kris Killam of Naples, FL with Barbara Fishman’s Mr. Big, earning a 173 to finish their afternoon.

The combination mastered the track designed by Robbie McGregor of Wellington, FL and received an overall score of 176. Of her win, Bliss exclaimed, “I’m so excited. This horse is my long-time partner. I’ve had him for about six or seven years and I just love him to death. He’s been happy to get back in the ring and I’m happy to get back in the ring with him because I just love this horse so much.”

The pair was the first to achieve victory in the new “Hunt and Go” format, in which competitors complete a classic hunter round and then immediately begin their handy round. “I thought it was fun,” said Bliss in regard to the new format. “I think that it will certainly take a little bit of getting used to, but I did like trying it out. It really keeps things flowing.”

Kelly Mullen of Franklin, TN rode to the top of the leaderboard in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, aboard Fortuny, owned by Warioto Farms Inc. The pair rode to a first round score of 88 and returned for the handy, where they earned a total score of 175.5 and first place honors. Second place went to Jennifer Bliss and Sugarman, owned by Harris Hill Farm, LLC, after the duo completed their rounds with an overall score of 174. Third place was captured by Devin Seek of Ocala, FL aboard Emo Stables’ Attila with a two round score of 169.

For more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Coyle and Kocher Top Developing Jumper Classics at the Winter Equestrian Festival

Daniel Coyle and Farona. Photos © Sportfot.

Jennifer Bliss and Taylor St. Jacques Claim Wins in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Wellington, FL – March 31, 2017 – The young horses of the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) got their opportunity to compete on the main stage on Friday, as the Five-Year-Old, Six-Year-Old and Seven-Year-Old Developing Jumper Classics were featured in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL.

Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Farona won the $20,000 Spy Coast Farm Seven-Year-Old Developing Jumper Classic, Andrew Kocher (USA) and G Star were victorious in the $15,000 Spy Coast Farm Six-Year-Old Developing Jumper Classic. Coyle also rode Khaleesi to top honors in the $10,000 Gut Einhaus Five-Year-Old Developing Jumper Classic.

Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER) set the courses for the Developing Jumper Classics. In the $20,000 Spy Coast Farm Seven-Year-Old Developing Jumper Classic, Petersen saw 58 entries and 19 clear rounds to jump-off. Nine entries also jumped clear over the short course. It was Daniel Coyle’s time of 38.46 seconds that took the win riding Farona for Ariel and Susan Grange. Mario Deslauriers (USA) and Lisa Deslauriers’ Cooper Royal finished a very close second in 38.47 seconds. Ramiro Quintana (ARG) and Auer Sport Horses’ Ceitasi placed third in 38.98 seconds.

“Farona is a star!” Coyle said of the winning Dutch Warmblood mare (by Baltic VDL) bred by NHG Broeders. “We bought her at the [WEF Sport Horse] VDL Auction here last year, and ever since the day we bought her, she has been amazing. She went to Spruce Meadows last summer and won I don’t even know how many classes. She won the six-year-olds at Angelstone, then came down here and did a few 1.40m classes. She won a couple of seven-year-old classes here this winter. She has done so much.

“We were aiming her to win this class,” Coyle continued. “She is that type. You can really go to win. She has a lot of blood. She can be a little frustrating sometimes because she has so much blood, but she jumps so great you have to forget about it. I am so happy that [owner] Sue [Grange] found her. Sue is wonderful at finding young horses.”

Speaking of his jump-off, Coyle stated, “She is naturally very fast. Mario was very close to beating me, but thankfully he did not. If you ride her right, she is not going to knock a jump down. She is very special. I think she will turn out to be one of the best horses we have. She is one of those horses, whenever you are just hoping it all goes right, she is the one that you can always count on.”

Kocher Wins Six-Year-Old Classic

The $15,000 Spy Coast Farm Six-Year-Old Developing Jumper Classic saw a win for Andrew Kocher (USA) riding his own G Star. Fifty-two entries contested the Six-Year-Old Classic, with 14 clear rounds, and four double clear over Petersen’s short course. Kocher and G Star clocked the winning time of 39.10 seconds.

Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Artisan Farm’s Vienna placed second in 39.97 seconds. Lauren Tisbo (USA) guided Tequestrian Farms’ Graffiti Boy to third place in 41.51 seconds, and Gustavo Prato (ARG) jumped Nelson Pessoa’s Carioca ZE to fourth place in 43.13 seconds.

G Star is a Dutch Warmblood mare (Carambole x Karshmire van Schuttershof) bred by I. Huijbregts. Kocher co-owns the mare with Willem Greve, who purchased her as a yearling and brought her along.

“I bought my part of her around Christmas,” Kocher stated. “I was looking through tapes, and I liked the way she looked. She is really good. We have only shown her maybe three times. This was awesome. It was a really fun class, and it is nice to jump for a little prize money with the young ones. I was really happy with her.”

Young Irish rider Jordan Coyle showed G Star early in the circuit before Kocher took over the ride just this week. With Kocher, she jumped clear in all three classes this week.

“She can have a little attitude, but she is easy to ride, and easy to manage.” Kocher detailed. “She is fast. She goes like a Thoroughbred; she is very light. She was great in the jump-off. I had a lucky day, so I was happy.”

Coyle Tops Five-Year-Olds

Daniel Coyle also guided Ariel and Susan Grange’s Khaleesi to victory in the $10,000 Gut Einhaus Five-Year-Old Developing Jumper Classic earlier in the day. The Dutch Warmblood mare (Gaillard de la Pomme x Sir Corland) was bred by W.A.M. Tilbeke and purchased as a four-year-old by Brady Hayes.

Eighteen entries showed in the class and five qualified for the jump-off. Coyle and Khaleesi jumped the faster of two double clear rounds. Their time of 41.78 seconds took top prize. Yannick Patron (FRA) rode Valhalla Equestrian Centre’s Inshalla V.A. to second place in 42.69 seconds. William Hickey (USA) and Pony Lane Farm’s Karlton placed third with four faults in the jump-off in 44.21 seconds.

“Brady Hayes works with us at Lothlorien, and he had this horse that he wanted to sell,” Coyle detailed. “She was really nice, a good jumper, so Sue decided to buy her. The mare jumps brilliant. She is only five, so she is still a little green, but she felt really good today.”

Coyle continued, “We have prepared her for this class, and she jumped phenomenal today. That is the first time I have actually asked her to jump a clear round and be a bit competitive. I am sure Sue is happy and so am I. Thanks to Brady for finding her for us.”

Khaleesi showed at the start of the circuit with Keri Sutherland before Grange made the purchase and Coyle took over the reins.

“I showed her seven or eight times and she has just gotten better and better,” Coyle stated. “She will get a bit of a break now and show this summer in Toronto.”

Breeder and Rider Awards

Several special awards were also presented on Friday to recognize the riders and breeders of the circuit’s top young horses. Brendan Williams (riding Hercules) was presented the award for Best American Rider 25 and Under in the five-year-old division based on cumulative clear rounds in each section of WEF 1-12, excluding the classic. Theodore Boris (riding Flip de Hus Z) earned the award in the six-year-old division. Sarah Hubbard riding Farrero was the winner in the seven-year-olds. The under 25 rider awards were sponsored by DiAnn Langer.

The Best Rider 26 & Over was also awarded in each division, sponsored by Spy Coast Farm and Lisa Lourie. In the five-year-old division, Yannick Patron earned the award riding Inshalla V.A.

The six-year-old division awarded Vasco Flores, the rider of Manhattan. The best rider award in the seven-year-old category went to Armando Hassey, rider of Lomax.

Special U.S. Breeders Awards were also presented in the Six and Seven-Year-Old divisions, sponsored by Spy Coast Farm, based on individual horse money won from WEF 1-12, excluding the classic. Gotham Enterprizes’ Manhattan earned the six-year-old award, home bred by owner Georgina Bloomberg, and sired by her winning mount Metropolitan (x Lancer III). The gelding showed throughout the winter with Puerto Rico’s Vasco Flores.

The seven-year-old U.S. Breeder Award was presented to Spy Coast Farm and Lisa Lourie for Kimmel SCF, a Belgian Warmblood stallion ridden by Shane Sweetnam and sired by his famous former mount Amaretto d’Arco (x Lester).

Also competing in the International Arena on Friday, the Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series hosted a 1.40m speed class, with a win for Rogelio Pellerano (DOM) riding Temporelle de Fritot.

Jennifer Bliss and Taylor St. Jacques Claim Wins in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Jennifer Bliss, riding Sugarman, and Taylor St. Jacques, riding Di Samorano, impressed on the derby field at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s (PBIEC) Equestrian Village to win their respective sections of the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby on Saturday.

Ken Krome of Westminster, MD set the courses for the USHJA National Hunter Derby, which was awarded in two sections, a junior/amateur section and an open section. Competition consisted of a first round and handy trip where the top 12 riders from each section returned to determine the final placings.

Jennifer Bliss and Sugarman

Bliss, of Wellington, FL, and Sugarman, owned by Harris Hill Farm, LLC, posted the top scores in both rounds of the open section with a 91 in the first round combining with a 93 in the second round for a total of 184. Maria Rasmussen of Oak Creek, WI finished in second riding Subject to Change, owned by Corporate Way, LLC, after scores of 86 and 92 for a combined total of 178. Rachel Kennedy of Brookeville, MD rounded out the top three ribbons riding Dubai for owner Casey Millis after scores of 88.5 and 88 combined for a total of 176.5.

Sugarman, a ten-year-old gelding, joined Bliss’s string four years ago before embarking on successful Pre-Green and First Year campaigns. In 2015, the pair competed in their first-ever international derby competition together at WEF.

“He was tenth in his very first international derby, so we had high hopes for him,” said Bliss. “Unfortunately, he was injured at the end of that season and we had to step back and give him a lot of time. We tried to go slow and do it right because we love him and believe in him. Hopefully, now we are on the right track and we can get him back to the international derbies.”

The USHJA National Hunter Derby during WEF 12 marks Sugarman’s third horse show back in the competition ring, as well as the horse’s fourth derby class ever.

“This class has been our goal for the circuit because he is typically great in this kind of venue,” said Bliss. “I absolutely love riding him because he has the most laid-back attitude, is absolutely fearless to the jumps, and so scopey. He is a blast to ride in these venues with a little more atmosphere.”

Speaking further about riding on the derby field at PBIEC, Bliss noted, “It is such a treat at the end of WEF to have a change of scenery, and you can really gallop and show off your horse’s style. We always look forward to showing out here at the end of the season.”

In the junior/amateur ranks, 17-year-old St. Jacques of Glen Allen, VA piloted her own Di Samorano to the first-place ribbon on scores of 88 and 83 for a combined total of 171. Samantha Schaefer of Westminster, MD earned the second-place ribbon riding her own Stallone on scores of 85 and 83.5 for a combined score of 168.5. Rounding out the top three, Hannah Doherty of Westwood, MA piloted her own Vondel DH Z to the yellow ribbon with scores of 83 and 84 combining for a 167 total.

Di Samorano, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Samorano, also serves as a top equitation mount for St. Jacques and was previously owned by Heritage Farm, where St. Jacques trains with Patricia Griffith and Andre Dignelli.

“Andre imported him to sell as a young equitation horse,” said St. Jacques. “He was a very good boy, so they put me on him and it was a great match. He has been absolutely perfect ever since.”

St. Jacques, who is well-known for catch riding in the hunter, jumper, and equitation rings, was pleased to win a derby on her own horse, noting, “It is a special feeling. I love winning on my own horses because I also do a lot of the work myself, so it is really rewarding. I love being out on the big field, and I think it is really fun to compete against the professionals”

“I have really been focusing on the equitation with Di Samorano this season, so I thought it would be fun to do a little derby with him during the last week,” concluded St. Jacques.

Competition continues on Saturday at PBIEC featuring the $216,000 The Wanderer’s Club Grand Prix CSI 4* during Saturday Night Lights, round one of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on the Derby Field at the Equestrian Village (AGDF show grounds), and champion presentations in the Junior Hunter divisions. For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.