Tag Archives: Louise Serio

Louise Serio Inducted to National Show Hunter Hall of Fame

Louise Serio was inducted to the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame by Jimmy Lee during the Devon Horse Show. Photos By: Nancy Jaffer.

Devon, PA – June 8, 2012 – On May 29, 2012, championship rider and trainer Louise Serio was inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame during the prestigious Devon Horse Show. Serio has been an instrumental part of the hunter community since she began Derbydown, a nationally recognized show hunter barn, in 1975. She helped found the American Hunter Jumper Foundation, the World Champion Hunter Rider Program, and the United States Hunter Jumper Association. Serio has won championship honors at the country’s most prestigious horse shows, won the Old Springhouse Trophy for Lifetime Achievement, been named the Chronicle of the Horse Hunter Horseperson of the Year, and represented the United States as part of the WCHR Hunter Team at the 2009 World Cup Finals and the USHJA International Hunter Derby Team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Serio helped Co-Found the American Hunter Jumper Foundation alongside Geoff Teal, who commented, “Louise has an amazing record of giving back to the sport. She has changed the sport of showing hunters in so many positive ways and along the way helped a countless number of people in our community that have found themselves in some sort of need. I think the real reason that she is receiving this honor is that in her own way, she is never satisfied. She never quite rode that horse well enough, she didn’t quite communicate to her student what she wanted clearly enough, and she has never yet been able to help enough people or do enough things for our sport. We have all benefited from her outlook.”

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Louise Serio Continues to Lead 2012 Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby Series

Louise Serio and Corvine continue to lead the $15,000 Hallway Feeds Leading Rider Bonus standings. Photo By: Shawn McMillen Photography/PMG

Lexington KY – May 23, 2012 – Professional rider Louise Serio continues to hold the lead after the second part of the 2012 $45,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby came to a conclusion on Saturday, May 19, 2012 during the Kentucky Spring Classic. The Hallway Feeds Series consists of six national hunter derby events held during the 2012 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the final event, cash prizes totaling $15,000 will be awarded to the series’ leading riders.

The Kentucky Spring Series was held May 9-20, 2012, and featured two of the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derbies. The top riders from across the nation gathered to compete over the challenging courses and vie for the winning title and valuable points towards the $15,000 Leading Rider Awards. Louise Serio and Corvine led the victory gallop for the leadoff event during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, but it was professional Lourdes de Guardiola and Autumn Rhythm who took the top honors for the second derby event.

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Louise Serio Leads Hallway Feeds National Hunter Derby Series

Louise Serio and Corvine win the lead off $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby on Saturday, May 12, 2012, at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 16, 2012 – The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows began on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, and one of the highlight events was the kick-off of the 2012 $45,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series, sponsored by Hallway Feeds. The Hallway Feeds Series consists of six national hunter derby events to be held during the 2012 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the final event, cash prizes totaling $15,000 will be awarded to the series’ leading riders.

The Kentucky Spring Horse Show, held May 9-13, 2012, featured the lead-off event on Saturday evening with the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby. The top riders from across the nation gathered to compete over a challenging course and vie for the winning title and valuable points towards the $15,000 Leading Rider Awards. At the end of the night it was Louise Serio and Corvine who took led the victory gallop, giving Serio the lead in the standings. The Kentucky Spring Classic, May 16-20, 2012, will host the second of the six derby events in the series, the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby, on Saturday, May 19, in the Stonelea Arena.

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Louise Serio Dominates First Year Greens at Kentucky Spring Horse Show

Louise Serio piloted Aate' and Casino to the First Year Green Working Hunter Championship awards for the second day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 10, 2012 – Today marked the conclusion of the professional hunter divisions for the second day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Riders gathered at the Stonelea to vie for the championship awards in the competitive divisions. Tammy Provost and Chris Payne proved successful in the Green Conformation Hunters and Second Year Green Working Hunters, respectively. Jennifer Alfano rode to the top of the leaderboard with Lions Paw in the Regular Conformation Hunter division, as well as showing Jersey Boy to the championship tricolor in the High Performance Hunters. Rider Louise Serio dominated the First Year Green Working Hunters, earning the championship prize aboard Aate’ and also taking home the reserve championship with Casino.

Serio, was filled with determination as she guided Aate’, owned by Bright Star 158, LLC of Snyder, NY, to two blue ribbon finishes early this morning. The crisp weather had the horses feeling fresh; however, Aate’ rose to the occasion, executing two beautiful rounds over fences.

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Louise Serio and Castle Rock Earn WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular Second Place Honors

Louise Serio and Castle Rock claimed the WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular reserve championship. Photo By: SportFot

Wellington, FL – February 24, 2012 – Defending 2011 WCHR Pro Hunter Classic champions Louise Serio and Castle Rock returned to International Ring at the Winter Equestrian Festival on Saturday, February 18, to compete during the 2012 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular. Their flawless rounds were recognized with high marks from the judges, and at the end of the night they took home the second place prize.

Serio and Castle Rock, owned by Bryan Baldwin, have been an unstoppable duo for many years, willing not only the 2011 WCHR Pro Hunter Spectacular, but also the 2010 USHJA International Hunter Derby. The veteran pair stepped into the ring ready to perform on Saturday, and once again Castle Rock stepped up to the plate with ease. They qualified for the second round with a score 88.12, and sealed the second place award with a score of 91.50, for a two-round total of 178.37.

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Louise Serio and Castle Rock Sweep Performance Working Hunters at WEF I

Louise Serio and Castle Rock Swept the Performance Working 3'6" Hunter division at WEF I. Photo By: SportFot

Wellington, FL – January 14, 2012 – The prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival got underway with its first week of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. Derbydown owner and trainer Louise Serio started off right, claiming the Performance Working 3’6″ Hunter Championship after sweeping the division aboard Bryan Baldwin’s Castle Rock. Serio also took home the reserve championship honors in the Pre-Green Level 2 Hunters with Aate’, owned by Bright Star 158, LLC.

Over the years, Serio and Castle Rock have won many coveted titles, including WEF’s 2011 WCHR Pro Hunter Classic and 2010 USHJA International Hunter Derby. This week they returned the arena and were unstoppable. The duo claimed the first place prize in all of the Performance Working 3’6″ Hunter classes, and were eventually honored with the championship tricolor.

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Round 1 of $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series Goes to McLain Ward and Oh’ D Eole at WEF

Castle Rock and Louise Serio Sweep CWD Performance Working Hunter 3’6″ Championship

McLain Ward with Oh D'Eole. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 12, 2012 – Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward (USA) was able to beat a field of 39 competitors to take the first round victory in the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. He and Oh’ D Eole triumphed in the jump-off over Charlie Jayne (USA) on Chill R Z and Darragh Kerins (IRL) with Hot Wheels. Today’s grand prix marked the start of an exciting show jumping season, where riders will compete over 12 weeks to win bonus money in the $100,000 FTI Consulting Rider Challenge.

The first week of the FTI WEF runs through Sunday, January 15, and is sponsored by Surpass. The 2012 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit. The highlight jumper class in week one is the $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix on Saturday, January 14, at 7 p.m.

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Derbydown and Louise Serio Dominate Brandywine Valley Summer Series

Louise Serio and Rock On won the Green Hunter Circuit Championship at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Devon, PA – July 15, 2011 – Louise Serio and the riders at Derbydown had great success over the past two weeks during the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Showcasing their mounts in the prestigious Dixon Oval at the Devon Show Grounds, riders consistently earned top placings and tricolor awards for their efforts.  Derbydown owner and founder Louise Serio led the way, claiming the Green Hunter Circuit Championship with Rock On after earning each week’s Overall Grand Champion Professional Hunter and Leading Hunter Rider Awards.

Rock On, owned by Jennifer Burger, and Louise Serio won the First Year Green Working Hunter Championship during both weeks of competition. During the second week, the impressive duo won four of the division’s classes. “Rock On was great; he’s so consistent,” said Serio. “He’s such a mellow horse, and I think these two weeks he’s been very consistent and he’s ridden very well. He’s a little lazy, but sometimes he can take over a little bit. I am very pleased with how he went this week.”

Serio also had great success with Burger’s second mount, Phillipa. The duo earned the reserve championship in the Second Year/High Performance Hunter division during the first week and received excellent ribbons in the First Year/High Performance Hunter division during the second week. For their efforts in the ring they were presented with the High Performance Hunter Circuit Championship. In the First Year Green Working Hunter division, Serio also received the reserve championship prize aboard Lisa Scott’s Head Over Heels during the first week.

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Louise Serio and Rock On Win $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Swan Lake Stables Kickoff “AA” Show

Louise Serio and Rock On (Pictured at Brandywine Valley Summer Series) Photo By: PMG.

Littlestown, PA – June 30, 2011 – It was an excellent week for the horses and riders of Derbydown during the Swan Lake Stables Kickoff “AA” Show, held June 21-26 at Swan Lake Stables. The talented Louise Serio took home three tricolor ribbons throughout the competition. Serio also earned the win in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby with Jennifer Burger’s Rock On. The talented group of riders at Derbydown earned multiple winning results after successfully competing in the show’s challenging hunter, jumper, and equitation divisions.

Serio piloted Jennifer Burger’s Rock On to the top of the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. The pair took home the winning title after beating out 25 competitors. Serio also garnered championship honors with Rock On in the First Year Green Working Hunter Division. The dynamic duo swept the division earning the blue ribbon in all of the division classes topping out at 50 points.

Jennifer Burger also achieved her own success aboard her second mount, Rock Star, earning a first and third place ribbon in the 3’3 Amateur-Owner 35 & Over Hunter Division.

Serio picked up another championship, this time in the High Performance Hunter Division aboard Phillipa owned by Jennifer Burger. Serio and Phillipa earned four blue ribbons and a yellow ribbon throughout the division. They racked up an impressive 44 points to secure the championship title.

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Kentucky Spring Classic Wrap Up May 18-22

Lexington, KY – May 23, 2011 – As the Kentucky Spring Classic hosted another night of show jumping, the incredible duo of Kent Farrington and Uceko continued their complete domination of the last two weeks by securing the $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix victory. Tonight’s event was sponsored by Audi of Lexington and honored Mary Rena Murphy, a horsewoman whose dedication to equestrian sport was unmatched. Once again, speed proved to be the determining factor during the thirteen horse jump-off, and that is something Farrington and Uceko are proving to master. The duo was a full two seconds ahead of second place finishers Ali Wolff and Lanoo, while Christian Heineking and River of Dreams took home third for the second time this week.

“During the first round, there were more clear than I expected,” admitted Farrington. “The outside line started with a wall and then an awkward distance to an oxer-oxer combination, and then a very steady distance to a liverpool. I thought that would catch more horses than it did. I think the footing here is excellent, and these horses have been here for two weeks now, so I think they are really comfortable in the ring. I think that’s why there were more clear rounds than Richard expected. It’s under the lights, so they are a bit impressed, and I think the horses were just really going well on the ground.”

For the final test, Jeffery had riders start over a single oxer to the liverpool and make a bending line to a single oxer. They then made a sharp roll back to a vertical-oxer double combination and galloped across the ring to a wide oxer. Finally, riders made another sharp turn to a tall vertical before they galloped towards the timers over the last oxer. Of the thirteen qualifiers, seven were able to make it a perfect night and finish without any faults added to their score.

Continue reading Kentucky Spring Classic Wrap Up May 18-22