Tracey Mack-Gorin and Icarus.
Lexington, KY – August 2, 2013 – The equitation took center stage under perfect skies in the Stonelea Arena today at the Kentucky Summer Classic, running through Sunday, August 4, 2013. Topping the opening round and the test in the Ariat Adult Medal was Tracey Mack-Gorin aboard Icarus. Earlier in the day, Lillian Kirbo’s talent shone through during the T.H.I.S. Children’s Medal with Easy Living to capture the winning honors.
Bobby Murphy designed flowing course for today’s classes, which included inside options and a vertical-oxer two stride. The top four combinations from the first round of the Ariat Adult Medal were asked to return for the final test. The judges asked the riders to walk in the ring, pick up the canter and demonstrate a simple change through the walk before cantering a single vertical on the centerline. Then they had to trot a vertical, canter a slow five strides through a bending line, halt on the straight line, and exit the ring at a walk.
The riders returned in reverse order, and Sherri Geddes of Jacksonville, FL, was the first to complete the test with Radius H after receiving an initial score of 77. A smooth lead change and trot jump helped them quickly climb the rankings, and they eventually placed second.
Susannah Rose of Coral Gables, FL, was next with an original score of 79 riding Calero. They successfully demonstrated the change of lead and trotted the vertical, but a slightly tight distance in the five strides had them maintain their third place position.
Anna Moerdsorf of Dublin, OH, earned a first round score of 80 aboard Seuss, but their test was not quite as smooth as their first. They were a bit rushed after the first canter jump, causing them to chip at the second canter jump and dropping them to the fourth place award.
Tracey Mack-Gorin of Noack, CT, and Icarus, owned by Ashland Farms, had a solid lead after earning an 83 during the first round. They were able to execute each piece of the test flawlessly, collecting beautifully to fit the five strides in the bending line. Their efforts were rewarded with the top call and blue ribbon.
“Icarus was really good,” smiled Mack-Gorin. “My plan was just to ride well. He’s been everywhere and done everything, and I was lucky to ride him. He’s super straightforward, and he’s a really good boy.”
Although Mack-Gorin was called back on top, she did not allow the pressure to rattle her. “I get a little nervous when I am on top, so it was nice to be on him because he’s so good,” she admitted. “My plan was just to make sure I got everything done. I wanted to make sure the five worked out because it was a little short for everybody else. I was lucky that I got to see everybody else do it because Icarus has such a big stride, but it was nice and easy for us.”
One of Mack-Gorin’s goals for the year is to qualify for the Ariat Adult Medal Finals, but she has been focusing on the bar exam for the past few months, taking the exam on Wednesday in Tampa before arriving in Lexington. “I finished a semester early this year, so I was lucky and I got to ride all winter,” noted the 25-year-old. “I really haven’t ridden since May because I was studying, so hopefully I’ll get to ride some more now that exam is over, and hopefully I’ll be a lawyer in a couple months!”
Earlier in the day, the younger riders had the opportunity to compete in the T.H.I.S. Children’s Medal where the top five riders entered the ring to complete the test. The judges asked the riders to canter from the lineup directly to single vertical, trot a vertical on the quarter line, canter a single vertical, make a right turn through the center of the ring, walk, pick up the left lead, and canter just the out jump of the two-stride before returning to the lineup.
Once again the riders completed the test in reverse order, the first being Avery Hinson of New Albany, OH, and Elaine, owned by SCNC Investments, who earned an original score of 79.5. Unfortunately, they stopped at the trot jump and placed fifth. Addison Piper of Wellington, FL, and Bravour VDL were up next with a score of 80. The pair had a good transition and trot jump to move up to third place.
After earning a first round score of 81, Gina Kumar of Bellevue, WA, and Gavi Di Gavi were ranked third, but they had a swap in front of the first fences, and eventually took home the fourth place ribbon.
Lillian Kirbo of Tallahassee, FL, had an original score of 82 with Kelsey Hileman’s Easy Living, just one point behind the leader Helen Voss of Versailles, KY. Kirbo kept an even pace throughout the test and executed each piece flawlessly. Voss and Adonis, owned by Redfield Farm, were next, but they almost canter the trot jump, a slight error that dropped them to second place and gave Kirbo the victory.
“Easy Living was really good and he was really soft during the first round,” said Kirbo. “He was going slow but he still had the pace to get the strides. He was listening to me; you could tell he wanted to do it.”
Kirbo continued, “The test was really good. I wasn’t sure about the trot jump, I was worried he wasn’t going to do it, but he was really good and just softened right up and started trotting. He’s a really good boy!”
Competing in the equitation at the Kentucky Summer Series is always a highlight for Kirbo. “I like just going out there and showing my stuff,” she smiled. “All the turns and everything, it’s really fun. The Kentucky Horse Shows are really pretty and there’s tons of good competition.”
Tomorrow in the Stonelea Arena, the country’s best horse and rider combinations will vie for the top honors during the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby. The Hallway Feeds Hunter Derby Series consists of seven national derbies held during the 2013 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the Series’ final event, three cash prizes totaling $15,000 will be awarded to the leading riders.
For more information on the Kentucky Summer Series, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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