Tag Archives: World Championship Hunter Rider

WCHR Qualification Guidelines for 2020 Capital Challenge Horse Show Announced

Cassandra Kahle and Monday Balous, winners of the 2019 $30,000 WCHR Professional Challenge. Photo by Jump Media.

Upper Marlboro, MD – The Capital Challenge Horse Show will welcome the country’s top hunter horses and riders for the year-end finale of the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Program, to be held on September 28 – October 4, 2020, at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Due to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic, adjustments have been made to the WCHR Program’s qualification requirements at Capital Challenge Horse Show and regional and national standings protocols for 2020 only.

As in the past, WCHR members – including Professionals, Developing Professionals, Amateur Owners, Adult Amateurs, Juniors, Children’s, and Pony riders – will continue to qualify for national and regional awards by earning points at member events held throughout the country. The top nationally and regionally ranked riders in each category will qualify and come together to compete in year-end challenge classes, which are held annually at Capital Challenge.

The changes made to these standings and qualification protocols for 2020 are as follows:

  • A WCHR member’s top two member events will count toward their regional and national standings. (Previously, a rider’s top four member events were counted toward these standings.)
  • A WCHR member may request one region change prior to August 31. Regional points are not retroactive, and no region change requests will be accepted once the final member event has begun in the member’s originally declared region.
  • The top 10 nationally ranked riders in each category, as well as the top 10 regionally ranked riders from each region and in each category, will be invited to compete in their respective WCHR challenge class at the 2020 Capital Challenge Horse Show. (In prior years, only the top six regionally ranked riders in each category qualified to compete at Capital Challenge.)
  • The top four to six riders competing in the Professional, Developing Professional, Amateur Owner, Adult Amateur, Junior, Children’s, and Pony divisions at the Capital Challenge Horse Show that are not already pre-qualified will additionally be accepted into their respective challenge classes.
  • Points earned at all WCHR member events are based on the WCHR increment chart and count toward the national and regional standings. This year, points earned in the WCHR challenge classes at Capital Challenge will be doubled.

The WCHR Program was founded in 1992 as a component of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA), recognizing and celebrating the hunter rider. Full details, specifications, and standings can be found by visiting www.USHJA.org.

Learn more about the Capital Challenge Horse Show by visiting www.capitalchallenge.org.

Emily Randolph
Jump Media
emily@jumpmediallc.com

Darragh Kenny and Red Star D’Argent Win $130,000 Grand Prix CSI 3* at WEF 6

Darragh Kenny and Red Star D’Argent. Photos copyright Sportfot.

3’3″ Hunters Garner WCHR Week Championships

Wellington, FL – February 19, 2016 – Ireland’s Darragh Kenny was the winner of Friday night’s $130,000 Grand Prix CSI 3* aboard a brand new mount, Red Star D’Argent, during week six at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Competing under the lights in the International Ring at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), Kenny topped a three-horse jump-off over Laura Chapot (USA) and ISHD Dual Star in second and Sayre Happy (USA) aboard Ludwig’s Joker B in third.

While hunters take center stage on the main show grounds for World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week, the international jumpers get a fresh change of scenery competing in both the Global International Ring and the Derby Field at The Stadium through Sunday. The feature “Saturday Night Lights” event will be the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherhill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular on Saturday, February 20, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The $10,000 Artisan Farms U25 Welcome, sponsored by EnTrust Capital, and the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic will both be held on the derby field at The Stadium on Saturday. The $25,000 Artisan Farms U25 Grand Prix, sponsored by EnTrust Capital, as well as the $50,000 WEF 6 National Grand Prix, will both be held on the derby field at The Stadium on Sunday. The 12-week WEF circuit runs through April 3 offering more than $9 million in prize money.

Richard Jeffery (GBR) set the course for 42 starters in Friday night’s grand prix with only three clear rounds for the jump-off. Sayre Happy qualified her mount Ludwig’s Joker B, but had a refusal at the second fence in the short course and chose to retire after her horse lost a shoe. Laura Chapot jumped next with Mary Chapot’s ISHD Dual Star, completing a clear round in 39.48 seconds. Last to go, Darragh Kenny and Red Star D’Argent clocked in two-tenths of a second faster to take the win in a time of 39.27.

Kenny just recently got the ride on Red Star D’Argent, an 11-year-old Selle Francais stallion by Quick Star. The horse was previously shown under Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya and is now competing with Kenny to be sold. Red Star arrived in the U.S. in the beginning of January, and Kenny has taken his time to get to know his new mount over the last several weeks before stepping up to Friday night’s grand prix.

“My relationship with him is very new,” Kenny detailed. “He was formerly ridden by a very good friend of mine, Sergio Moya. We had talked about the horse coming this winter for me to ride a little bit. He came about five or six weeks ago, and I have just really been getting to know him the last few weeks. He has jumped a lot of good rounds, but has had an unlucky jump down. Today he was fantastic. This was the first grand prix I have jumped him in. I have jumped some WEF (Challenge Cups) and some 1.50m (classes). I did not feel 100% comfortable that I knew him, that I had the right bridle, and everything like that. This week, he felt fantastic. He was really unlucky in the WEF, but fantastic today.”

“The idea is to sell the horse, and that is why he came here for me to ride and show,” Kenny continued. “I have had a lot of horses come and go lately. Some have gotten sold, some have gone to other people, and it does not really bother me because I am trying to produce new horses all of the time so that they can get sold and I can have horses to ride at the top level. The last few weeks I have been very unlucky, so to get this win is really great.”

Commenting on his jump-off round, Kenny said, “I did not actually watch Laura. I know that Laura is an extremely fast rider, and the horse is a super horse. I had one of my friends, Hardin (Towell), watch her. He said that you basically just have to go for it and see what happens.”

“The horse is very easy to turn, and he jumps even better when you turn him back up to jumps,” Kenny continued. “He really tries and is really careful, with good technique, so it makes it easy to turn really short with him.”

Knowing that Red Star turns so well, Kenny had planned to show the horse in Friday night’s grand prix in the smaller arena at The Stadium for the last four weeks.

“I had the aim of jumping him this week. I think this venue suited him,” Kenny said. “He is agile; he is good in a small ring. I knew it would be a careful course, (and) he is very careful.”

Chapot thought she may have been able to take more risk in hindsight, but the rider was very pleased with her jump-off round aboard ISHD Dual Star.

“I thought she jumped fantastic tonight,” Chapot stated. “I do not think she even came close to touching a rail. I think I just played it too safe in the jump-off. I probably should have made at least one of the inside turns, either after the double or to the last line. But with only three in the jump-off and the first one obviously being out, I wanted to put a little pressure on Darragh and not make a mistake. With the way my horse was jumping, I probably should have gone ahead and done that, and that would have made the difference.”

Although Sayre Happy had to retire from her jump-off round, the rider was happy with the way Ludwig’s Joker B jumped on Friday night. The horse was double clear and fourth on Thursday and continued to jump well for his third place finish under the lights.

“My partner and I bought the horse to sell, and I do not think we knew he would be as good as he is,” Happy noted. “I got this horse in July and just did some smaller 1.40m, 1.45m, and this is the biggest class I have jumped with him. The stop was my fault; I was a mile away. He tries his heart out every time, and he is a really fun horse.”

Speaking of the night’s course, Happy stated, “I honestly thought there were going to be a few more clear. Yesterday, the course I walked was what I rode. I watched a bunch of people go and thought, ‘Oh my gosh, maybe I should change my plan.’ But I stuck with it. Tonight I felt the same way. It kind of rode what he set when I walked it, and I stayed with my plan. I thought he did a great job.”

Kenny also spoke of the course, noting, “When I walked the course, it did not look so difficult, but always in this ring, the jumps come up so fast. It ends up riding much more difficult. It suited a smaller horse with more blood. There were a lot of questions here and there about the numbers, but in the end I think he did a super job on the course.”

Chapot, agreed, adding, “This ring rides a little bit more like an indoor ring, and after coming off riding in the International Arena, which is so wide open, it was difficult for horses to adjust that quickly. I thought he posed a lot of questions all throughout the course, and he had rails everywhere.”

Along with the prize money for her third place finish Friday night, Sayre Happy was presented the award for Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider for her success in week six. The award is sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur of Douglas Elliman Real Estate in memory of Dale Lawler.

3’3″ Hunters Garner WCHR Week Championships

Stephanie Danhakl wrote the perfect ending to a comeback story for her nine-year-old Warmblood gelding Quest in the culmination of the Osphos® 3’3″ Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division Friday. After much success with Danhakl’s trainer Scott Stewart in First Year competition in 2014, Quest suffered a rare complication involving the veins in his hooves that required over a year of rest to completely regrow healthy hoof.

Stephanie Danhakl and Quest
Stephanie Danhakl and Quest

This week marked the two-year anniversary of his First Year championship at WEF with Stewart, and he celebrated it by carrying Danhakl to first and second over fences, fourth under saddle and a win in the handy on a score of 91 for champion in the 3’3″ Amateur-Owner Division.

“I have to credit my vet Haynes Stevens for getting Quest back to full health,” said Danhakl. “After his First Year Championship his feet started getting sore, and we didn’t really know what was wrong. Haynes was the only one who could figure out how to bring him back.”

After over a year off, Quest returned in style and has been back in the show ring with Danhakl for the past few months.

“I’m happy to have him back – he’s an amazing horse,” she said. “He was phenomenal both yesterday and today. I never have to worry about him spooking, and I was confident about him showing in the International Arena. I really look forward to this week with the focus on the hunters. There is a lot of excitement in the air, and it is nice to be able to gallop around and really let out his stride.”

Danhakl admits that her division is a competitive one with a lot of junior riders moving up into amateur competition, but she is happy to be kept on her toes.

Scoring first and third over fences and second under saddle, Vivian Yowan piloted Anytime, owned by Saddle Ridge, LLC, to reserve champion behind Danhakl.

In the Karina Brez Jewelry 3’3″ Amateur-Owner 36 and Over Division, Daryl Portela and Winner, owned by Isalou, Inc., claimed champion after jumping to reserve honors during Week 5. Portela and Winner were first and fifth over fences, second in the handy, and third under saddle to clinch the tricolor.

“I had a great week,” said Portela. “It’s a tough division with a lot of good horses and a lot of good riders, but I feel very comfortable with [Winner].”

Portela has had the ride on the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding for four years after her trainer Jimmy Torano imported him.

“He didn’t have much of a personality and had never done the hunters when I got him,” she said, “but I started him right away. He developed a great personality and became very comfortable.”

For Portela, having a chance to shine in the International Arena is a rare treat. “We never get to show in here. It’s a long way around, but it’s so exciting,” she said.

Reserve champion honors in the Amateur-Owner 36 and Over 3’3″ division was awarded to Lynn Seithel and her own Walk the Moon after a third place finish over fences and a blue ribbon in the handy.

The UHealth Ear Institute 3’3″ Junior Hunter Division saw stiff competition during WCHR week and was split into two sections with Lili Halterman and her own Genuine taking champion in Section A and Mimi Gochman earning champion in Section B aboard Papyrus for owner David Gochman.

Seventeen-year-old Halterman is savoring her final season as a junior competitor at WEF and admits that earning champion during WCHR week was a special bonus.

“This season was most about having fun and enjoying being on my horses,” she said. “I really enjoy big rings, but this ring especially.”

Halterman and Genuine collected two first place finishes over fences, a second-place ribbon in the handy, and a win under saddle to secure champion honors.

“He has always been great,” said Halterman of her 17-year-old Oldenburg gelding. “He always steps up and acts like a babysitter for me, and I have won a lot with him because of that.”

Halterman also earned reserve champion honors in Section A on her own Cussini with a win in the handy, as well as second and sixth over fences.

Taking the Section B Championship, Gochman rode Papyrus to third over fences, adding to his second over fences and wins in the handy and under saddle earlier in the week with Emma Kurtz in the irons.

Gochman, 11, showed in the International Arena at WEF for the first time this week and did it on a new mount. Papyrus, a nine-year-old German Warmblood gelding is one of the youngest and most green horses Gochman has sat on. She only started riding him at the beginning of the winter season.

“I have to be a lot more gentle with him – he is always really cautious so I try to be really soft, which is new to me,” said Gochman. “He took care of me out there today, and it was really a treat. It was fun to have the experience, but also to do well in the big ring. I’m proud that I could keep it together with a new, green horse.”

Mimi’s sister Sophie Gochman collected reserve champion in Section B with Last Man Darling, owned by David Gochman. She won Friday’s over fences class after Emma Kurtz piloted Last Man Darling to fourth over fences and second under saddle earlier in the week.

Week six of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival continues on Saturday with more hunter and jumper action on both sides of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Lauren Fisher and Lindsay Brock for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Hunters Rule the International Arena for World Championship Hunter Rider Week at WEF

Scott Stewart and Catch Me. Photos copyright Sportfot.

Conor Swail and Dillinger Win $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6

Wellington, FL – February 18, 2016 – The arrival of World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival heralds the traditional beauty of the hunter discipline, which is featured all week long in the main International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The professional hunter divisions were completed today and seven divisions named champions. WEF 6 runs through Sunday, February 21, with the highlight event, the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, as the “Saturday Night Lights” event starting at 6:30 p.m. under the lights.

Jumper competition during week six is held at The Stadium at PBIEC. Ireland’s Conor Swail and Dillinger took the win in the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6.

The international jumpers get a fresh change of scenery competing in both the International Ring and the Derby Field at The Stadium through Sunday. The $130,000 Grand Prix CSI 3* will be the highlight event on Friday night in the Global International Ring, the $10,000 Artisan Farms U25 Welcome Grand Prix sponsored by EnTrust Capital and the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic will both be held on the derby field at The Stadium on Saturday, and the $25,000 Artisan Farms U25 sponsored by EnTrust Capital as well as the $50,000 WEF 6 National Grand Prix will both be held on the derby field at The Stadium on Sunday. The 12-week WEF circuit runs through April 3 offering more than $9 million in prize money.

Perennial favorite Scott Stewart of Flemington, NJ captured two championships today; he rode Dr. Betsee Parker’s A Million Reasons to the tricolor in the High Performance Hunter division and David Gochman’s Catch Me to the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Second Year Green Working Hunter championship.

Stewart topped two of the three over fences classes and placed second in the under saddle with the nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding. Havens Schatt settled for the reserve honors with Shaw Johnson Price’s 11-year-old Mecklenburg gelding, Custom Made, topping the under saddle and earning a fifth and two second place ribbons over fences.

Catch Me was recently named the USHJA WCHR Hunter of the Year for 2015 and will receive the WCHR Peter Wetherill Cup on Saturday night. In May of 2015, Catch Me became ill and was diagnosed with botulism, a neurologic disorder that can result in paralysis and may be fatal. Since the disease was caught early and treated, Catch Me was able to make a full recovery and returned to the show ring in August.

“When you saw him at the clinic you would not have thought he was going to make it,” Steward remarked about the ordeal.

He was especially impressed with the gelding’s performance this week. “He’s so careful, and he was awesome,” Stewart detailed. Catch Me’s performance has led him to consider competing him in the Hunter Spectacular.

Stewart looks forward to earning a spot in the coveted class each year. “It’s certainly one of the most special weeks for us here,” he remarked. “It’s still a great thing to try to do.”

Stewart and A Million Reasons won the stake round of the High Performance Hunters with a score of 88 and placed third in another of the three over fences classes. A Million Reasons also earned a blue ribbon in the under saddle class.

The 11-year-old Holsteiner mare walked right into the International Arena on Wednesday, competing for the first time since the National Horse Show in November. “She doesn’t show that much,” Stewart detailed about the mare’s light show schedule. When asked what helps the mare continue to impress year after year, Stewart explained, “I don’t really jump her [four feet high] at home. She has an easy job, so I think she stays pretty interested.”

A Million Reasons, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, may be a small horse, but she never appears to be when on course. “She’s not that big a horse, but she has a giant stride,” Stewart stated. “You just have to do things her way. She’s a little temperamental, but very scopey for a small horse.”

Kelley Farmer and Like I Said settled for the reserve honors after winning two of the three over fences classes. The pair also placed sixth in the under saddle. Like I Said is an eight-year-old Mecklenburg mare, who was recently purchased by Pony Lane Farm.

Farmer and Like I Said moved up to the top tricolor ribbon in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals First Year Green Working Hunter. Farmer, who splits her time between Lexington, KY and Wellington, piloted the mare to wins in two of the three over fences classes. The pair also placed fourth over jumps to clinch the tricolor win.

Like I Said received the highest score of the week, earning an impressive 94 in the stake round today. “She was amazing; what a horse,” Farmer stated. “The only reason she wasn’t champion in two divisions this week was because I got in her way.”

Farmer and Like I Said also won both of the over fences classes in the High Performance division on Wednesday. “For a First Year horse to walk in the International ring yesterday and win both classes… she’s a heck of a horse, and I think she speaks for herself,” Farmer laughed. “I couldn’t be happier with her.”

Reserve champion honors in the First Year Green Hunters went to Victoria Colvin and Style. Style, who is a seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Take the High Road LLC, earned a second place ribbon in the under saddle, and a first and a sixth over fences.

Farmer topped another division in the Shapley’s Grooming Products Green Conformation Hunters with Clever Conversation, a seven-year-old Warmblood gelding by Celestial owned by Kensel, LLC and Woodland Way, Inc. They placed second in the model, won the under saddle, and were first, second, and second over fences. Trainer Larry Glefke was pleased that the horse continued his winning ways from earlier in the circuit in WCHR week, but the young gelding will not compete on Saturday night. “All of them that Kelley rides can jump big jumps, but going out there for the first time under the lights is a lot to ask from him as a First Year Horse,” he explained.

“Clever” is like a “baby Huey”, Glefke described. “He’s like a big puppy dog. He’s beautiful, and he has a tremendous canter. He just flies across the ground. When you’re cantering around, you feel like his feet don’t even touch the ground.”

Farmer added, “He was ready to come into his own. He’s been winning a lot. He’s brave, he’s quiet, and he has a ton of ability. I knew he would walk out there (in the International Arena) and love it.”

Farmer also rode the reserve champion in the division, It’s Me, owned by Farmer, Pinney, & Hill. The seven-year-old Warmblood stallion by Quality won two over fences classes and was third over fences, and placed third in the model.

Farmer, like Stewart, has been reigning in the professional hunters since the WCHR Hunter Spectacular started 20 years ago. When asked about her success during WCHR week at WEF, she stated, “I’ve won that (Hunter Spectacular) class once. I’d really like to say I’m a multiple winner! To keep having horses that are capable of competing on that field and at this week, [qualifying for] the class, it’s a testament to all of my team and what a great job they all do. Larry, Bucky (Reynolds), Debbie (Buchanan) in the barn, and all my great guys, and the horses. I’m lucky to have a group like I do. It’s nice to keep being back in the mix every time.”

For Farmer, it’s a balance of peaking her young and experienced horses at the right time and keeping herself healthy. Last year at WEF 4, a horse she was riding tripped and fell. Farmer tore her rotator cuff and had a hairline fracture in her sternum. Despite her injuries, she was back week 6 and competing.

“Truthfully I wasn’t in good enough shape to ride, and I pushed myself. It probably didn’t benefit my horses, and I didn’t ride the way I should for my horses. This year, I’m back and I feel good,” she said.

Chris Payne of Cincinnati, OH brought home another championship for the circuit with Truman, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Debbie Bass and Maypine Farm, in the Shapley’s Grooming Products Regular Conformation Hunters. They won two over fences classes and were third in the remaining over fences class, and won the model and the under saddle.

“He’s an absolutely amazing horse,” Payne said. “He’s a beautiful horse, he’s very correct. He hasn’t lost an under saddle. He just has a great style and technique. He is what you think of, when you think of a hunter.”

Payne, who imported Truman as an inexperienced five-year-old from Europe, did not have any expectations coming into WCHR week. But he is excited to showcase Truman’s talent in the horse’s first ever Hunter Spectacular at WEF. “The International Ring is very imposing for some. I went into it hoping that he and I had a good time,” he explained. “If the cards played out in our favor, I was happy. (On Saturday night) I’ll go out and have a good time. I’m lucky to get to ride him, and Debbie Bass is an amazing owner for letting me do this.”

The reserve champion in the division was Lucador, ridden by Scott Stewart for Dr. Betsee Parker. They were third in the model, second under saddle, and first, second, and third over fences. Stewart plans to compete Lucador in the Hunter Spectacular on Saturday night.

A field of 58 horses vied for the Performance Working Hunter 3’6″ championship, resulting in a California split of the division. Elizabeth Boyd piloted Stella Styslinger’s O’Ryan to one of the two championships following two wins and a fourth place ribbon over fences. The pair also placed fourth in the under saddle. Brady Mitchell rode Cassanto to the second championship title. The pair placed first and second over fences and topped the under saddle. Cassanto is a nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Emily Perez.

Jimmy Torano piloted Mia Holstead’s Sutherland to one of the Performance Working Hunter 3’3″ division championships. Torano placed second in the under saddle and earned fifth, second, and first place ribbons over fences on the 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding. Victoria Colvin also earned a championship tricolor aboard Havana, who is a 16-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Take the High Road LLC. The pair topped the under saddle class and earned a second and two third place ribbons over fences.

Conor Swail and Dillinger Win $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6

Richard Jeffery (GBR) set the course for 70 starters in Thursday’s Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6. Ten entries cleared the first round course to advance to the jump-off where only four jumped double clear.

Conor Swail and Dillinger
Conor Swail and Dillinger

Laura Kraut (USA) and Cherry Knoll Farm, Inc.’s Constable were first to clear the short course in 42.29 seconds, eventually finishing third. Sayre Happy (USA) cleared the track next with HC Sport Horses’ Ludwig’s Joker B to finish fourth in a time of 44.29. Conor Swail was next to clear the jump-off course with Ariel and Susan Grange’s Dillinger, stopping the clocks in the winning time of 39.98 seconds. Last to go, Peter Wylde (USA) jumped into second place with a time of 41.28 seconds aboard Kathleen Kamine’s Paloma.

Speaking of his jump-off round, Swail said, “One to two was just a nice seven strides for him. The rollback was pretty nice and then the eight strides up to the Liverpool were nice for him. Then just on the landing he had a little bit of a stumble and it made me turn a little late there, but thankfully we still got that inside turn. Then the in-and-out and the last fence he did great.”

Dillinger, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion (by Contender x Capitol I), is a horse that Swail has high hopes for.

“He just turned nine years old, so this would be the start of the higher level in his career,” Swail stated. “He is a very good horse. We have had him since he was five years old, and he has been very good basically the whole time we have had him.”

“He jumped his first couple of 2* and 3* grand prix at Angelstone at the end of last year and he jumped clear in five out of the six ranking classes, so he has been very consistent,” Swail noted. “This is probably his first big win, but he has had some good placings. He is a fabulous horse. He is very scopey and very careful. It is what we are all looking for,” he said.

The smaller International Ring at the Stadium was a change for Dillinger, but the young horse proved his versatility and made great turns.

“For a big horse that ring is actually quite difficult, so I think it is a testament to how good he reacted, and I was delighted with him,” Swail said.

Dillinger will jump again in Friday night’s $130,000 Grand Prix CSI 3*, but Swail plans to take his time developing the horse further.

“We have been building him up gradually,” Swail detailed. “He was out a few weeks ago jumping the two 1.45m ranking classes. He had one down with the fastest time in the first class and he was third the next time, so he is slowly improving. I think he is going to be a championship horse. I really do think a lot of him. Whenever he is more comfortable and more ready to jump the bigger jumps, I think he will tell me when he is ready to do that. In the meantime, he is getting good experience all of the time and I never want to over face him too much, so we will keep just going along nicely. Hopefully towards the end of this year he will be doing some pretty nice things.”

In addition to the winning prize money, Swail picked up a $3,000 bonus for wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style riding gloves as part of the SSG Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion.

While jumper action continues at The Stadium on Friday featuring the $130,000 Grand Prix CSI 3* in the evening, the third day of WCHR competition will host more championship presentations on the main show grounds. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Gulf Coast Winter Classics Named World Championship Hunter Rider Event

Photo by MH Hamm.

Gulfport, MS – December 9, 2013 – This winter, hunter riders will have their first opportunity to vie for prestigious World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) points along the picturesque Mississippi Gulf Coast. For the first time since its inception, the Gulf Coast Winter Classics, a United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Member’s Choice award-winning show, has been chosen as a distinguished WCHR host event.

The WCHR week will be held during the Gulf Coast Sunshine Classic week of March 5-9, 2014 during the Gulf Coast Winter Classics series at the beautiful Harrison County Fairgrounds and Equestrian Center.

A limited number of horse shows are chosen each year by USHJA for the distinction of being a WCHR event host. Events are selected on an annual basis based on the evaluation of a submitted application, votes from WCHR members and selection criteria including exhibitor hospitality, event scheduling, awards presentations and the quality of the footing, courses, stabling, staff and more.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have been chosen as a WCHR event host this year,” said Bob Bell, President of the Gulf Coast Winter Classics. “I think we have a great horse show and setting for it, and it’s a great program, one that we’re honored to get to be a part of.”

The USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Program was founded in 1995 to recognize and celebrate the hunter rider. Since the inaugural WCHR Professional Finals in 1995, the WCHR program has expanded to include coveted year-end awards for professionals, developing professionals, amateur-owners, adult amateurs, juniors, and children and pony riders. WCHR program members qualify for national and regional awards by earning points at member events held across the country throughout the qualifying year.

In conjunction with the WCHR member event, the Gulf Coast Sunshine Classic will offer a $1,000 Pre-Green Incentive class, a $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and a $3,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby. The Gulf Coast Winter Classics will also offer $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derbies during weeks two, three and four of the circuit, which runs February 5 – March 16, 2014.

The Gulf Coast Classic series offers competition for every level of horse and rider, from lead line through grand prix. Reserve your stalls today. Come for the show and stay for the fun.

For more information, go to: http://gulfcoastclassiccompany.com/.

Gulf Coast Winter Classics Fast Facts:

What:
Gulf Coast Winter Classics USEF AA-Rated/Jumper Levels Four and Five

Where:
Harrison County Fairgrounds and Equestrian Center
15321 County Farm Rd.
Gulfport, MS 39503

When:
February 5 – March 16, 2014

Highlights Include:
Weekly USHJA National Hunter Derby & Classics, Week 5 International Hunter Derby
Week 1  $5,000 Welcome – $25,000 Grand Prix
Week 2  $25,000 Welcome – $35,000 Grand Prix
Week 3  $25,000 Welcome – $50,000 Grand Prix
Week 4  $25,000 Welcome – $50,000 Grand Prix
Week 5  $25,000 Welcome – $77,000 Grand Prix
Week 6  $5,000 Welcome – $25,000 Grand Prix, Plus Rodeo.

Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Phelps Media Group, Inc.
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Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
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Kentucky Summer Horse Shows Prize List Now Available

The Kentucky Summer Horse Shows Prize List is now available one. Photo Courtesy of the Client.

Lexington, KY – May 21, 2011 – The Kentucky Summer Horse Shows’ management company, Kentucky Horse Shows LLC, is pleased to announce that the hunter/jumper competition’s prize list is currently available online. The prize list and entry blanks are posted online at www.kentuckyhorseshows.com. Entries for the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows close on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 and Wednesday, July 27, 2011 for the Bluegrass Festival and the KHJA Horse Show.

The top hunter and jumper riders will return to the Kentucky Horse Park for this world-class event. The Kentucky Summer Horse Show will kick off the series and will be held from July 27-31, 2011. This event will run concurrently with the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships. As the competition continues, the Kentucky Summer Classic will get underway on August 3, 2011, and run through August 7, 2011.

The Kentucky Summer Horse Show will feature two exciting highlight events, including the $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington, to be held on Sunday, July 31, 2011. The best jumper riders in the world will gather to compete for the title, and will also have the chance to compete during the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. This class will be the third event in the Hagyard Challenge Series. The rider who accumulates the most points throughout the seven-class series will be presented with the $45,000 Leading Rider Award.

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