Nineteen horse and rider teams were on the hunt for the blue in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Legend, but it was Josie Baird’s Chapeau, ridden by Daniel Geitner of Aiken, South Carolina, who took the win earning a combined score of 174.
Hilary Baylor of Alpharetta, Georgia and her own Naddel gave Geitner and Chapeau a run for the money with their combined score of 170.5 which would earn them second place.
Third place honors went to Katharine Torrey’s The Stig, ridden by Jeremy Greene of Jasper, Georgia. The pair earned a first round score of 84 and a Handy score of 81 for a grand combined 169.
Barbara Fishman’s Mr. Big, ridden by Kris Killam of Naples, Florida, rode away with the fourth place ribbon after earning a combined score of 168.
Capriccio, owned by Samantha Kench and ridden by Carolyn Bell of Alpharetta, Georgia, earned a fifth placing with their combined score of 166 and Charlotte Warren’s Enticement, ridden by Julie Curtin of Woodstock, Georgia, placed sixth.
Upset de Talma, owned and ridden by Abigail Poss of Locust Grove, Georgia, placed seventh and Karen Bailey rode Troubadour, owned by Sarah Milliren of Jenks, Oklahoma, to an eighth place ribbon. Breaking News, owned and ridden by Isabel Harbour, placed ninth and Curtain returned for the tenth place ribbon in the irons of Rebekah Warren’s Silver Charm. Allure, owned and ridden by Gianna Cobb of Marietta, Georgia, finished in eleventh place and Tim Sweat of Milton, Georgia and his own Autograph wrapped it up with a twelfth place finish.
Danielle Grice and High Life Capture $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Mill Spring, NC – July 22, 2016 – Capturing their second victory in a two-week span, Richie Moloney (IRL) and Slieveanorra earned another victory in George H. Morris Arena, this time in the $35,000 1.45m Horseware® Ireland Speed Stake at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Moloney and Slieveanorra crossed through the timers in 56.09 seconds to push Samuel Parot (CHI) and Atlantis to second place, as the pair finished in 56.30 seconds. Emanuel Andrade (VEN) and Bon Jovi captured third place honors, completing the track in 57.67 seconds.
Catsy Cruz (MEX) is the course designer for this week’s FEI tracks in the George H. Morris Arena and is known for her strong building technique, which asks riders questions of technicality and quickness in each class. Moloney and Slieveanorra rode a neat and fast round, which placed them atop the leaderboard.
With 21 combinations contesting the track, Moloney had the advantage of tackling the course last in the order of go, already piloting his other mount Alsvid through the course. Seven pairs rode to finish with fault-free trips, but Moloney left everything on the line, entering the ring with an understanding that he would need to best the 56.30 seconds earned by Parot.
“He was very fast around the turns in between the lines and I think that’s where he upped the time,” said Moloney. “He’s naturally a quick horse and that helps in these speed classes. He felt great and is very aware of what is going on in the ring.”
When Moloney walked the course, he felt that while there were more efficient options available, he preferred to stick with a fast and straightforward approach, ultimately paying off with a victory.
“He always has a chance because he jumps up, but doesn’t waste time in the air. I thought that there were a couple of options to leave out strides and we didn’t even need to do that because it still worked out well,” he explained.
The 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Voltaire x Flagmount Diamond) owned by Equinimity LLC, has been a staple in Moloney’s string for a number of years and performs with a sense of consistency and strength that make him an invaluable member of the top competition team.
“He’s adjustable and naturally very quick around the turns. I don’t always have to take the fastest option, because I know he will make it up around the rest of the course,” he commented. “He’s very experienced, and like I said last week, we try to save him for classes we know he will do well in and this was one of those occasions.”
Moloney will look to continue his success throughout the week as top mount Carrabis Z is entered in the $216,000 Tryon Estates Grand Prix CSI 4* Saturday evening, while Alsvid and Slieveanorra will both contest the $35,000 1.50m Suncast® Classic on Sunday, July 24. Looking forward to a rest for the horses in the coming weeks, but also already preparing for a strong fall campaign, Moloney reflected on his team’s success so far this season.
“I’m just pleased that my horses are all going well. We’re picking up good results at almost every competition and going forward I think we’d like to keep that,” he said.
Danielle Grice and High Life Capture $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Danielle Grice of Mufreesboro, TN and High Life, owned by Allison Reichenbach, rode to victory in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at TIEC, taking the class with a two round score of 121. Morgane Qualls of Mufreesboro, TN and Limousine, owned by Julie Burton, took second place honors with a score of 163, while Jillian Briggs of Wellington, FL piloted Roc Du Triomphe, owned by Barry H. Carragher, to third place, receiving a 156.
Danielle Grice and High Life
Grice and High Life, a flashy dapple grey gelding, impressed the judges, earning the two highest scores of the class with an 87 in the first round and an 84 in the handy. High Life plays dual roles as he is ridden by owner Allison Reichenbach in the Adult Amateur Hunter divisions and then transitions to Grice for the larger classes.
“I thought this was a great derby course. I liked how they had the high options early on in the course so that you could impress the judges right off the bat,” said Grice. “The first bending line looked like it was riding as a very long seven and I was a little bit nervous after watching the first few go, but he has a huge step and carried me down early in the seven.”
“The handy round had some great options, which I think really showed off his highlights,” she added.
Grice and Reichenbach have been working with High Life for a year now, as they purchased him from Chad Keenum and have been competing him since, specifically with Reichenbach who competes in the amateur classes.
“He’s been doing the First Year Greens and we’ve kept him at the 3’3″ height to preserve him for next year. He’ll start doing the bigger classes and larger derbies, and Allison will also step him up in the amateur classes too,” explained Grice.
According to Grice, the ring presence of High Life has had a major impact on his success in the ring, influencing his ability to score well with both herself and Reichenbach. She commented, “He likes to show off, but he’s super quiet. He has this tremendous presence in the ring that I think draws people to him. He jumped some of the best jumps of his life in the schooling area before the class, so I knew he was ready.”
The pair who rode two elegant and smooth rounds, finished well atop the leaderboard, which helped them to gain needed experience for what Grice hopes will be a successful fall campaign.
“I would love to get him to indoors and take him to some big places. He doesn’t care very much about the environment. We always want him to be impressed with what he sees in the ring,” she noted. “I think it would be fun to get him to some of those bigger horse shows and show him off.”
Competition at TIEC continues Saturday featuring the highlight class of the week with the $216,000 Tryon Estates Grand Prix CSI 4*. Gates open to the public at 6:00 p.m., while entertainment will begin at 7:15 p.m. Competition will commence at 8:00 p.m. For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.
Steve Heinecke and Hercules VD Vromboutshoeve Take First Place Honors in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Mill Spring, NC – July 15, 2016 – Ali Wolff (USA) and Caya dominated in the $35,000 1.45m Horseware® Ireland Speed Stake CSI4* at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), exemplifying speed and agility with a remarkable time of 61.42 seconds. Trailing not far behind Wolff and earning second place honors was Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Famoso D Ive Z with a time of 62.81 seconds, also winners this week in the $35,000 Horseware® Ireland Opener CSI 4* earlier in the week. Third place was awarded to Todd Minikus (USA) and his mount, I Am Nala, with a time of 63.95 seconds.
Wolff and Caya (Carolous I x Lancer II) have been partners for almost four years, growing together as a team since she took over the ride. Wolff consistently showed Caya in the high amateur classes and brought home multiple wins. During their campaign, the numerous and accumulating wins led Wolff and her team to the decision to step Caya up to the FEI level.
Wolff was determined to secure yet another victory, stating, “I was going for it. I did not care if I had a rail or not; I was tired of being third, fourth, and fifth. I was either going to go for it or I was going to have a rail trying.”
Wolff went on to elaborate about the specific track she chose set by Manuel Esparza (MEX) that ultimately granted her the victory. She commented, “What helped the most was going inside the double combination towards the end of the course. I also snuck inside after the Horseware® Ireland oxer, where many competitors went around to approach the double verticals. I think that shaved off a significant amount of time.”
Along with impressive inside turns, Wolff touched on her horse’s athletic abilities. Wolff believes that Caya’s talent shines in the speed classes as the mare is quick off of her feet and very adjustable around courses, especially those that offer multiple tracks and opportunities.
“Caya is a speed demon. She is so naturally speedy and fast across the ground that I can rely on this a little bit to decrease our time,” said Wolff. “Caya goes the same every day. She is one of my most reliable horses and she is always game for anything.”
This is Wolff’s first victory at TIEC this season and it came at the right time, as the rising star for the United States has found herself in every position but the winner’s so far during her time at the venue. Wolff and team will stay to contest the remainder of competition this week, as well as for the CSI 4* to be hosted next week.
“I love it here! It is a great show. It seems as though it is well put together, and planned out from the beginning,” noted Wolff. “There is incredible competition here and it is located in a very horse-friendly area. Tryon also offers great money, so how could you not want to come here?”
Steve Heinecke and Hercules VD Vromboutshoeve Take First Place Honors in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Steve Heinecke of Charlotte, NC and Hercules VD Vromboutshoeve, owned by Freedom Group, rose to the top of the class in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, earning a two round score of 181. Madison Johnson of Matthews, NC and her own Ferrari earned second place receiving a 172, while Josh Dolan of Wellington, FL and Hidden Lane, owned by Page Tredennick, collected third place, finishing just behind Johnson with a score of 171.
Steve Heinecke and Hercules VD Vromboutshoeve
Heinecke and “Hercules” took the class by storm, collecting a score of 91 in the first round to then return for the handy to earn a 90. Hercules recently transitioned from the jumper ring to the hunter ring and Heinecke has been impressed with his willingness and attitude, which has helped him to excel in the derby classes.
“I’ve only had him for a month and a half or two months. He came out of the jumper ring and came over to the U.S. in January,” said Heinecke. “Geoff Teal had him first and said he would be a great derby horse. He said I should take the ride and show him, so I did.”
“Each week he just keeps getting better and better. He came in third in the last derby and you know, he’s never had to trot a jump in the ring before and has handled it all so well. He’s just been so nice to ride,” he added.
Hercules VD Vromboutshoeve is co-owned in partnership by Heinecke and good friend Laura Kraut, as the pair typically invests in two horses a year together. While the gelding may be new to the discipline, he’s shown that he’s willing and able to score well against some of the best combinations in the country, and Heinecke is hopeful that he will turn into something very special.
“He has an enormous stride and is very easy. You can see where you are ten strides away and if you need to adjust, you can,” he commented. “We’ll do the derby again next week and then we’ll bump it up into the Performance Hunters. Then, if we still have him in the fall, we may try to do an International Derby.”
Heinecke, who is based in Charlotte, NC during the spring, summer, and fall months, is thrilled with the opportunity to compete at TIEC, which has drastically impacted the growth of his business, as horses of all ages and experience levels benefit from the competition.
“We love it here. We’re actually staying at The Lodge on Lake Lure this week and have had an incredible time. I love this show and I’m a big fan and advocate,” commented Heinecke. “I bring my more experienced horses and also the younger ones too. There’s something for everyone here and I think they treat this show like every ring is FEI or international competition. It’s really just spectacular.”
Competition continues Saturday, July 16, featuring the third week of the third installment of the “Saturday Night Lights” Series of the 2016 Tryon Summer Series presenting the $216,000 Hollow Creek Farm Grand Prix CSI 4* with gates opening to the public at 6:00 p.m. and entertainment beginning at 7:15 p.m. Competition will commence at 8:00 p.m. For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.
The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Geddaway Farm, was the featured hunter event Friday night and 34 horse and rider teams took to the course designed by Allen Rheinheimer of Zionsville, Indiana.
Tim Maddrix of Leeds, Alabama and Missy Nolen’s Shutterbug led the first round with a score of 91 and combined with their second round score of 88, for a total of 179 points, found themselves in the winner’s circle!
Southland Stables’ End Game, ridden by Christina Jason of Aiken, South Carolina, earned second place honors with a first round score of 85 and a second round score of 84 for a total 169 points.
Third place honors went to Fit to Print Farm’s Homepage, ridden by Holly Sims of Atlanta, Georgia, with a Classic round score of 84 and a second round score of 80, for a total of 164.
Lord Baltimore, owned and ridden by Katie Ramsey of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, placed fourth after earning a first round score of 83.5 and a Handy score of 79 for a total of 162.5.
Barn Rat, LLC’s Nobel Laureate, ridden by Erika Jakobson of Boca Raton, Florida, placed fifth after earning a first round score of 78 and a second round score of 82 for a total of 160 points.
Matt Martin of Petersburg, Tennessee rode Karen Kogon’s Casino Royal to the sixth place ribbon after earning a first round score of 86 and a Handy score of 72 for a total of 158.
Pumpkin Patch Farm’s Vermeer, ridden by Emmanuelle Greenberg of Boca Raton, Florida, earned a Classic score of 78.5 and a Handy score of 76 for a total of 154.5 which saw them finish in seventh place overall.
Eighth was awarded to Gene Cone’s Cash in Hand, ridden by Alex Joerg of Collierville, Tennessee, after earning a first round score of 80 and a Handy score of 74 for a total of 154 points.
Martin returned for the ninth place ribbon in the irons of Jessica Dicampli’s Sparticus after earning a first round score of 77.5 and handy score of 76 for a total of 153.5 points.
Jason returned for the tenth place ribbon in the irons of Carline Clark’s Caballero after earning a Classic score of 84.5 and a Handy score of 68 for a total score of 153.5.
Liza Thompson’s Promise, ridden by Eliza Hay of Johns Island, South Carolina, took eleventh place honors after earning a Classic score of 82 and a 64 in the Handy round for a total of 146.
Lalique, owned and ridden by R. Meggin Patterson of Malvern, Pennsylvania, wrapped up the class with a twelfth place finish.
All sponsorship and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Director of Marketing and Sponsorship, at lisa@classiccompany.com.
Mill Spring, NC – July 8, 2016 – Rachel Kennedy of Brookeville, MD and Timberline, owned by Sarah Brooks, captured an emotional win in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Kennedy and Timberline earned a two round score of 178 to take the victory ahead of Hayley Iannotti of Wellington, FL and Vermeer, owned by Pumpkin’s Patch Farm, LLC, who finished with a score of 173. Steve Heinecke of Charlotte, NC piloted Hercules, owned by Freedom Group, to round out the top three finishers and received a 172.5.
Kennedy and Timberline collected a score of 89 in the first round of competition, which placed them second behind Heinecke and his mount, Pamina, who earned a 90 moving into the handy. Timberline, who excels in the handy portion of competition, completed an effortless round filled with smooth roll back turns and an athletic and adjustable presence, which ultimately secured the win, as the pair earned a repeat score of 89.
“Andy [Christiansen] does a great job course designing and it was very flowing. Basically all I had to do was find the spots and that horse will do the rest for me,” said Kennedy. “Timberline, he’s a horse that can do about anything. It’s my job to just guide him in the right direction.”
In the final round of competition, Kennedy began to feel the pressure, as there was a strong chance that with a solid ride, the pair would ensure the victory. She added, “I typically just direct him and then stick with my spot or move up and a lot of times, you get so anxious, but I didn’t want to make a mistake in there.”
Hayley Iannotti and Vermeer
Kennedy and Timberline have cultivated an incredible relationship and the duo have accumulated a number of top finishes, but Friday’s win turned into both a memorable and special class, as Timberline will likely move on to a completely amateur-focused career with owner Sarah Brooks.
“His first derby win was in 2010 in State College and he’s been winning ever since. That’s all I do with him is the derbies. His owner Sarah Brooks does the Adult Hunter and he’s great for both of us,” explained Kennedy.
“I always say that Timberline is like my secret boyfriend,” she laughed. “He makes the world better, no matter what; if you sit on that horse the world just becomes a better place,” she said, as she reflected on the duo’s career together.
It slowly began to hit Kennedy that their win may have capped an incredible derby career together, which has been a joyous journey for all involved including horse, rider, and owner.
“We’ve thought about doing him in another derby in the fall, but I want him to go out as a winner,” said Kennedy, as she began tearing up, reminiscing on the duo’s success together. “He’s seventeen years old and I want to make sure that he’s able to still show for his mother Sarah. The horses always come first for me and this was just a special day.”
“He totally knows when we’re doing the derby and will jump pretty much anything. That’s what makes him so special. He got two scores of 89 and I just don’t know if you can top that. If I let him do it forever he would,” she concluded.
Competition at TIEC continues Saturday with the $5,000 Pony Hunter Derby in the George H. Morris Arena, kicking the competition off at 8:00 a.m. The $130,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 3* will begin at 8:00 p.m. while gates are set to open at 6:00 p.m. For more information about TIEC and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.
Tim Maddrix of Birmingham, Alabama rode Holly Labry, LLC’s Riverside to the win the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Legend, besting a field of twenty-seven horse and rider teams.
Maddrix himself rode five of the horses and earned ribbons for four of them!
Maddrix and Riverside earned the highest score of 92 in the Classic round, followed by Naddel, owned by Hilary Baylor and ridden by Daniel Geitner of Aiken, South Carolina, who earned a first round score of 90. Sitting in third position before the Handy round was Face Time, owned by Harris Hill Farm and ridden by Jennifer Bliss of Wellington, Florida. The pair earned a Classic round score of 87.
Sitting in fourth position after the first round was Maddrix and Holly Labry, LLC’s Red Rooster with a Classic score of 86, and Aaron Vale of Williston, Florida and Aberdeen Ventures, LLC’s Madewell sat in fifth place after posting an 85 in the Classic round. Geitner and Geddaway Farm’s Bella Vida found themselves in sixth place with a score of 82, and Maddrix and Cheryl Rubinstein’s Capisce placed seventh in the Classic round with a score of 81.5.
Maddrix and Missy Nolen’s Favorite earned a first round score of 81.25 in the Classic round and sat in the eighth position, while Louise Petz’s Wellington, ridden by Megan Wexler of Reddick, Florida, earned a Classic score of 81 and sat in ninth position.
Elbo VDL, owned and ridden by Angela Pollex of Troutman, North Carolina, sat in the tenth position after the Classic round with a score of 80.75, and Frances Robinson’s Relax Jack, ridden by Wexler, sat in eleventh place with a Classic score of 80.5. King Bee, owned and ridden by Louisa Brackett of Grayslake, Illinois, sat in twelfth place after the Classic round with a score of 80.
Maddrix and Favorite were first to go in the Handy round and earned a score of 44. Their overall score of 125.25 would see them finish in eleventh place overall.
Pollex and Elbo VDL followed Maddrix and Favorite, earning a second round score of 77 for a combined total of 157.75 and an eighth place overall. Wexler and Relax Jack were next in the order and earned a Handy score of 69 and a combined score of 149.5 for a ninth place ribbon. Geitner and Bella Vida earned a second round score of 84 and a combined score of 166 which would see them move into a fifth place finish. Maddrix and Capisce followed in the order and earned a Handy score of 86 for a combined total of 167.5 and moved up to finish fourth place overall. Louisa Brackett and her own King Bee followed in the Handy order and earned a score of 85 for a combined 165 which moved them up to finish in sixth place overall.
Bliss and Face Time sat in third place after the Classic round, but a Handy score of 33 earned them an overall score of 120 and the pair finished in twelfth place overall. Maddrix and Red Rooster sat in fourth position after the Classic round, but their Handy score of 90 for an overall total of 176 moved them into second place overall.
Geitner and Naddel moved from their second place position after the first round to third after earning a Handy score of 84 and a combined score of 174. Wexler and Wellington sat in ninth place after the first round, but after earning a Handy score of 49 for a combined total of 130, finished in tenth place overall.
Vale and Madewell earned a Handy score of 78 and a combined 163 for a seventh place overall finish.
Maddrix and Riverside sat in the first position after the Classic round and their Handy score of 92 for a combined 184 would see them hold their lead and take the win.
All sponsorship and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Director of Marketing and Sponsorship, at lisa@classiccompany.com.
Hunter Holloway and Entourage Take Top Honors in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Mill Spring, NC – June 3, 2016 – Taylor Land of Atlanta, GA and Nepal collected a first place finish in the $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), completing the jump-off in 40.795 seconds for the win. Luis Larrazabal of Wellington, FL finished in second place aboard Quintus Fabius, crossing through the timers in 41.623 seconds, while Bryn Sadler of Santa Fe, NM and Cezarro earned third with a time of 42.012 seconds. Competition at Tryon Spring 7 continues Saturday with the $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3*. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and the class is set to start at 8:00 p.m.
Land and Nepal, a 2002 Argentine gelding (G.S. Raimundo x Rye Grass Finest RP H-31) owned by Jay Land, went early in the order, entering the ring as the third pair to test the track set by Michel Vaillancourt (CAN). Land and Nepal led with a clean effort on the first round track, moving them forward to the jump-off round. Brittni Raflowitz, of Palm City, FL and Baloumina Du Ry, followed after Land, also securing a place in the jump-off and ultimately finishing in fourth.
“He’s fourteen and we’ve had him for nine years now. He’s like a family heirloom,” laughed Land. “He’s been passed around between me, my sister, and my dad, and he’s just been a great horse for us all around.”
The duo rode a crisp first round, which demanded technical attention and skill, as it included several tight turns and two forward combinations. According to Land, Nepal has made great strides since her family bought him as a young horse, and he has steadily made his way through the ranks with several members of the Land family.
“We started him when he was five and he hadn’t jumped any bigger than 1.20m at the time. I’ve done so much with him and he’s been such a great horse for me,” explained Land. “We’ve done NAJYRC and Spruce Meadows together and really anything we ask of him he’ll always do.”
This is the duo’s top finish to date at TIEC this season and Land was pleased with their rides in both rounds, noting that the gelding felt fresh and mentally prepared for the class even before they entered the ring.
“This is our first class this week, but we’ve been here for three weeks so he felt like he was ready to go,” she noted. “My plan was to try and be smooth and clear in the first round and I think we accomplished that.”
Land went first in the jump-off round and attacked the course with a forward and bold round in an effort to seal the win, knowing that only three riders followed her in the order. She explained, “Since I had to go first in the jump-off I knew there weren’t so many people behind me and I decided to go fast and really go for it. It was either going to be first or fourth for us, but it worked in our favor today.”
The duo will stay and compete next week at TIEC, before taking a small break ahead of the summer season. Land explained, “We’ll be here next week for the CSI 5* and then I think head home for a bit of a rest. I love showing here though because the atmosphere is just incredible. The bigger classes on Saturday always have a great crowd and I love the feel of the ring. It just feels really intense all of the time.”
Hunter Holloway and Entourage Take Top Honors in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Hunter Holloway of Topeka, KS continued her momentum from Tryon Spring 6 into this week’s competition, capturing top honors in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby hosted at TIEC aboard Entourage, owned by Hays Investment Corp., with a total score of 173. Blythe Marano of Franklin, TN and Fondant, owned by Virginia Ingram, finished in second with a total score of 172.5, while Daniel Bedoya of Magnolia, TX and Playbook, owned by Monica Hanks, collected third place, receiving a 170.5.
Hunter Holloway and Entourage
Holloway and Entourage received a score of 82 in the first round from the judges, before returning in the handy round to receive an impressive 91. Marano and Fondant sat atop the leaderboard after the first round, earning an 88 from the judges, but a score of 84.5 in the handy would ultimately drop them to second place.
“He’s seven and we got him a year ago. He moved up to the Junior Hunters towards the end of the season in Ocala and has been really awesome ever since. He just keeps stepping up,” commented Holloway. “He scored a 90 last week and a 91 today so I’m feeling pretty good about how he’s going right now.”
Holloway rode the handy round beautifully, piloting Entourage to a smooth and accurate round, showcasing his athleticism and attentiveness. She entered the round with a plan to take advantage of the numerous inside turns on course, which helped her to secure the win.
“There were a lot of inside turns that were options and I felt like I had ground to make up from the first round so I decided to go for them,” she said. “I wanted to take the chance and really go for it. He handled it very well. He was up for the task all the way around and I was really impressed.”
Entourage began his derby career this past spring with Holloway guiding from the irons and he’s displayed a sense of consistency and bravery that has impressed everyone at Equi-Venture Farm.
“He’s very easy and is a really straight forward horse. We’re hoping for a good summer season and success at indoors in the fall,” she smiled.
Competition at TIEC continues Saturday with the $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3*. Gates open to the public at 6:00 p.m. and competition begins at 8:00 p.m. Parking and general admission are free! For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of weekly results, please visit www.tryon.com.
Lexington, Ky. – May 23, 2016 – Aaron Vale has widened his early lead in the 2016 Hagyard Challenge Series by claiming the second place prize for the second week in a row during Thursday’s $34,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic CSI3*. Vale, who has been competing at the Kentucky Horse Shows for 28 years, piloted Quidam’s Good Luck to a double-clear round, finishing just shy of the winner, Todd Minikus and Quality Girl. The Kentucky Spring Classic also featured the second event for the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby series, where Geoffrey Hesslink earned the second place prize to further his lead in the standings.
During the first event of the Hagyard Challenge Series Vale placed second and third to claim the early lead. Pablo Barrios of Venezuela continues to hold the second place position in the standings after claiming the victory in the first leg of the Series aboard ASD Farfala. Todd Minikus and Quality Girl are just 30 points behind Barrios after winning Thursday’s highlight event.
The Hagyard Challenge Series consists of seven grand prix classes to be held during the 2016 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the final event, a cash prize of $50,000 will be awarded to the rider accumulating the most points throughout the series as well as a $10,000 prize for the reserve champion.
The series concludes with the $65,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic held during the Kentucky National Horse Show. Following that exciting competition, the winner of the $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus will be announced and presented with the cash prize by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. New this year is the $200 Best Turned Out award, sponsored by Bob Mickler’s, which will go to a well-deserving groom following each grand prix. In addition, a Hagyard’s Handsomest Hound contest will also be held at each grand prix, sponsored by MedVet Medical & Cancer Centers for Pets.
Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry, and Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and well-being of the horse.
The facility at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute offers 13 digital radiology systems, 1.5 Tesla Siemens MRI, nuclear scintigraphy, an on-site laboratory, an on-site pharmacy, full medical and surgical services, 24-hour emergency services and hyperbaric medicine. The practice has performed veterinary medicine for more than 137 years and is currently composed of over 50 experienced veterinarians, with 13 board certifications in specialty areas of medicine, surgery and theriogenology.
For more information on the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, please visit www.hagyard.com.
Several generous sponsors have helped m
Geoffrey Hesslink and Esco
ake this exciting series event happen. These gracious supporters include title sponsor MWI Animal Health and presenting sponsor Zoetis as well as Dean Dorton Allen Ford, PLLC, Hallway Feeds, Audi of Lexington, Pike & Preston, Sallee Horse Vans and Hagyard Pharmacy. Additional sponsors include Equine Therapy and FooteWorks.
The Kentucky Spring Classic also featured the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby, the second event in the 2016 Hallway Feeds series. Hesslink took home the second place honors with Esco, which was combined with his first and third place ribbons during the first week to take over the lead in the standings. Aaron Vale earned the victory during the Kentucky Spring Classic with Madewell to move into the second place position, while Hunter Holloway rounds out the top three and is the leading junior competitor.
The five-part series will feature a $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby throughout the spring and summer, and at the conclusion of the series the Leading Rider Bonus will be presented. The $15,000 Hallway Feeds Leading Rider Bonus will award a $10,000 cash prize to the professional rider accumulating the most points in the five classes that make up the 2016 Hallway Feeds series. The series-leading amateur and junior riders accumulating the most points will each receive a $2,500 cash prize. Riders will receive points only on their highest placed horse in each of the classes. The awards will be presented at the conclusion of the Hallway Feeds class at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show on August 21.
Hallway Feeds’ close proximity to the Kentucky Horse Park provides ample opportunity to utilize the freshest feed, manufactured with time-honored commitments to high standards of quality and the latest scientific advancements. Combining a premium nutrition package with a professional level of dedication in horsemen and women provides equine athletes with the formula for success.
The Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby series would not be possible without many generous sponsors including Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Fenwick Equestrian Products, EquiVision, Inc., Caddel Equine Therapy Center, Bauer Hay & Straw, Alfagreen Supreme, Trouw Nutrition, The Andersons, Mark Fischer Inc., Double S Liquid Feed Services, Inc., Agri-Business Insurance Services and Sweet PDZ Horse Stall Refresher.
For more information on Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows series, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
Media Contact: Rebecca Walton
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386 PhelpsMediaGroup.com
Aaron Vale Demonstrates Skills in Hunter Ring with $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Win
Lexington, Ky. – May 21, 2016 – The Kentucky Spring Classic’s main event, the $130,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI3*, was an unforgettable one as Todd Minikus (USA) and Quality Girl pulled off their third FEI win for the week. The win was extra meaningful to Minikus as it honored his dear friend and horsewoman Mary Rena Murphy.
“I’ve been coming to the horse park since before it was cool to come to the horse park,” said Minikus. “Mary Rena was putting on the horse shows here and she used to give me a lot of grief. At the same time, she was very nice and helped me along quite a bit. She was an awesome lady and did a lot for the sport. It makes me very happy to win the grand prix with her name attached to it. Her entire family has been instrumental to the horse park and this whole facility for decades now.”
“Todd was one of my mom’s bad boys and she loved him,” said Renie Murphy, daughter of Mary Rena Murphy. “He’s been trying for 17 years since she died to win this grand prix so the family is really happy. It’s happy and sad, but we’re glad that Todd won it – for our family.”
Forty-one exhibitors went head-to-head over the challenging 14-fence first round course, designed by Olaf Petersen, where horses and riders were tested to their limits. Only three were able pass the test and jump clear to advance to the jump-off.
Minikus and Quality Girl, owned by the Quality Group, were nineteenth in the order-of-go and the first to jump clear.
“Tonight this was a proper course,” said Minikus. “You had the time tight and some of those lines were very sophisticated. The combination rode scopey, and I think it ended up being a great class for the crowd.”
Shane Sweetnam (IRL) piloted Chaqui Z, owned by Spy Coast Farm, to a faultless effort five rounds later to challenge Minikus in a jump-off.
“The course was jumping difficult, but I got to watch a few so I had a plan,” said Sweetnam. “I wasn’t sure if I’d be inside the time because there weren’t so many options, but he can turn very tight. He jumped really well. I thought he was a little fresh tonight, maybe fresher than normal, but he still jumped very well.
“Olaf did a great job,” continued Sweetnam. “Time definitely played a factor and then you had a few tricky options. The lines got very tight coming home. I think the course tripped up people everywhere, but it was definitely a difficult last line.”
It looked as if the two would go head-to-head for the top prize once again, after Sweetnam already placed second to Minikus in Thursday’s $35,000 Welcome Speed CSI3* with Cyklon 1083, but Daniela Stransky (VEN) added herself to the good list as the last contenders in the first round aboard Stransky’s Mission Farms’ HH Donnatella.
“I just wanted to take it jump by jump,” said Stransky. “It’s my first big class on her; I really wanted to take it slow, jump by jump and just have a nice, cool head – no emotions. It really paid off – every single ounce of effort this whole weekend. I love that mare, and she loves me, thank God!”
Minikus and Quality Girl entered the ring once again as the first to tackle the jump-off course. They set the pace for Sweetnam and Stransky, producing another double-clear round, in 40.70 seconds.
Sweetnam and Chaqui Z tried their luck next but pulled an unfortunate rail to earn them a 4-fault jump-off finish in 43.92 seconds, which would garner them second place honors.
“Luckily, or unfortunately, I got to see Todd go so I knew I really had to go,” said Sweetnam. “I think I did one less up the first line and then the second line it made me very flat and then that flattened the plank. I could maybe try all day to beat Todd’s time because that mare is very, very fast and he did everything right. He did a great job.”
“I was nineteenth in the original order and no one had gone clear,” said Minikus. “It rode tricky and, between her and me, we’re not short of experience. She went great and Shane is a very fast rider so I really thought I needed to go in the first part of that jump-off and put enough pressure on Shane. He tried to do the leave-out and got his horse undone just a little bit and had the plank down so it worked out for us.”
It was all up to Stransky to catch Minikus. However, the new pair could not match the seasoned partnership of Minikus and Quality Girl. They finished with a 4-fault effort in 44.66 seconds, claiming a very respectable third place.
“She’s a very new horse for me,” said Stransky. “I’ve had her for less than a year. This is my third grand prix on her ever – in my life, actually. I could not have been happier. I actually went against my favorite rider Todd Minikus, which is kind of funny, and I don’t like him anymore because he beat me. I’m beyond happy and – just wow!”
After winning both the $35,000 Welcome Speed CSI3* and the $35,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic CSI3*, Minikus and Quality Girl wrap up a phenomenal Kentucky Spring Classic with their third win in a row.
“My mare was awesome this week,” said Minikus. “I was in Europe for the past couple of weeks and I haven’t really ridden her since the Ocala million. For a couple of months, I really didn’t ride her. I’ve got to thank my wife, Amanda, who was very diligent at home working her and giving her a couple of schools before we came here to the horse show.”
Next week Minikus heads back to Europe, where he will represent the U.S. next at CSIO5* St. Gallen in Switzerland along with teammates Lucy Davis, Margie Engle, Lauren Hough and Reed Kessler as he continues to compete for a spot on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team.
However, he will return to the U.S. in June to compete Quality Girl in the $380,000 Tryon Grand Prix CSI5*.
Aaron Vale Wins $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
Hunter riders braved the rain Saturday in the Stonelea Ring to compete in the second leg of the $40,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby series. Aaron Vale and Madewell were on top in the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby, followed by last week’s winner Geoffrey Hesslink and Esco in second place and Ally Marrinan and At Last rounding out the top three.
Aaron Vale and Madewell
The $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby is part of the $40,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby series, which is returning for the fifth year in a row at the Kentucky Horse Park. The five-part series awards a $15,000 Hallway Feeds Leading Rider Bonus presented at the conclusion of the series.
Vale took the lead in the first round on Madewell, an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, with a score of 90, taking all four high options on the Bobby Murphy-designed course.
“Last week I only took three high options,” Vale explained. “One option was ridiculously high last week so I skipped that. This week all the options were doable. It was just a nice, smooth course in spite of the weather. He was really settled and a bit more relaxed than last week so I was able to ride him around pretty smoothly. It was good fun.”
Vale returned in the handy round, again taking all four high options, scoring an 87.5 and a cumulative score of 177.5.
“My handy round plan was to take the inside turns, jump the high options and try not to get too greedy where you make a mistake,” Vale said. “I have to watch that. I want to get aggressive – I want to go fast. You have to just keep your patience, make the turns, be smooth and not try to overdo it.”
The derby course challenged horses and riders today even on fences that, at first glance, seemed inviting.
“It was kind of a hard turn to the brush on the end,” Vale said. “That was kind of tricky in both rounds. Even the first round horses didn’t jump this option fence really well. You’d think they would because it’s all brush and solid, but for whatever reason a few of them jumped a bit out of shape. Just being patient to that jump and making sure you got a distance so the horse didn’t make a mistake was important.”
Geoffrey Hesslink won last week’s $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby aboard Rookie, and he was the series’ leader coming into this week’s class with Esco, an 8-year-old Rhinelander gelding. Hesslink posted a score of 81 in the first round, taking all four of the handy options.
“I went second in the order and it was raining so I was a little conservative in round one,” Hesslink said.
Hesslink and Esco returned in the handy round to earn the score of 89, taking all four handy options again.
“For the handy course I thought he was on it,” Hesslink said. “I thought he executed it perfectly, and he did everything I asked him. We ended up second, and he was really good today. The rain didn’t bother him at all; I think it bothered me more than him.”
Hesslink was enthusiastic about continuing to compete in the $40,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby series throughout the rest of the summer.
“That’s one of my goals for this year,” Hesslink said. “It wasn’t one that I was thinking, but after last week and this week, it is. I think it’s a great class and they do a great job with it so I’m pretty sure I’m going to continue with it because we are going to be here for all of the summer shows.”
Vale echoed Hesslink’s sentiments.
“Anything that has a bonus is nice,” said Vale. “Now we have more reasons to try to put Kentucky Horse Shows on our summer schedule because the Hallway shows are going to be the same shows that have the Hagyard classes, and I’m doing well in both of them.”
The Kentucky Spring Classic, running through May 22, features a FEI CSI3* rating. The featured national classes will be the $50,000 Bluegrass Grand Prix, which counts towards the Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking List, and the $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix to be held on Sunday, May 22, in the Rolex Stadium.
EQSportsNet will be streaming live webcasts throughout the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. EQSportsNet Full Access subscribers can watch all rounds of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows series on demand at www.eqsports.net.
For more information on Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
Media Contact: Rebecca Walton
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386 PhelpsMediaGroup.com
Redfield Farm of Califon, New Jersey owned the Hunter Division Week II at the Jacksonville Spring Classic!
The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Legend, awarded Amari, owned by Emma Richardson and ridden by Cassandra Kahle of Califon, New Jersey, the win after earning a first round score of 91 and a Handy score of 92 for a total score of 183.
Whiskey Tango, owned by Lee Cesery and ridden by Megan Young of Jacksonville, Florida, earned a Classic score of 89 and a Handy score of 88 for a total of 177, which took second place.
Meadowood Farm’s Sandrimo, ridden by Lauren Schweppe of Ocala, Florida, placed third overall after earning a Classic score of 85 and a Handy score of 89 for an overall score of 174.
Kahle also picked up fourth through sixth place. Fourth was awarded to Redfield Farm’s Nino Nacho after earning a first round score of 88 and Handy score of 83 for an overall 171. She rode Redfield Farm’s Balouette to a fifth place finish with a Classic score of 86 and a second round score of 85 for a total of 171. She placed sixth with Isabel Stettinius’ Guest of Honor with an overall score of 169.
Lee Cesery’s Swagger, ridden by Camryn Hulsey of Saint Augustine, Florida, placed seventh, followed by Janine Pappas’ Romanov, ridden by Claire Lee of Ponte Vedre, Florida. Ninth place went to Peggy Fuller’s Entreprenur, ridden by Nashea Powell of Jacksonville, Florida.
Tenth was awarded to Masterpiece, owned and ridden by Paige Moose of Tampa, Florida. Eleventh was awarded to TM Hills Farm International’s Ingo De Kalvaire, ridden by Dominque Gonzalez of Dunellen, Florida, and Seven Hills, LLC’s Conradi 10, ridden by Kristin Martiniello, wrapped it up in twelfth place. For full results, click here.
Redfield Farm’s Giovanni, ridden by Cassandra Kahle of Califon, New Jersey, brought home the Championship in the 3′ Division along with almost $200 in prize money, all for a $5 entry fee! King, owned by Tracy Treace and ridden by Chad Watridge, was Reserve Champion.
Kahle went on to win the 3’3″ Pre-Green Hunter Division Championship in the irons of Emma Richardson’s Amari and collected close to $250 in prize money for the $5 entry fee. Redfield Farm’s Nino Nacho, ridden by David Wilbur, rode away with the Reserve Champion honors.
All sponsorship and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel at lisa@classiccompany.com.
