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Wilton Porter and Patriot Win $5,000 1.40m Open Jumpers at Kentucky Summer Horse Show

Wilton Porter and Patriot.

Lexington, KY – July 24, 2015 – Wilton Porter and longtime partner Patriot are no strangers to success in the Rolex Stadium the Kentucky Horse Park. On Friday, the pair again found themselves at the top of the leaderboard, besting the field of 31 to take home the blue ribbon in the $5,000 1.40m Open Jumpers.

However, it was Shane Sweetnam and Beluga who took the early lead in the power-and-speed class, clocking a seemingly unbeatable jump-off time of 28.148 seconds.

As competitor after competitor attempted the Alan Wade-designed course, Sweetnam’s time remained unchallenged until Sharn Wordley stepped up to the plate on Popstar Lozonais, tripping the timers in 28.673 seconds – just half of a second behind Sweetnam’s lead.

With only a handful of riders left to jump, Porter and Patriot entered the ring and delivered a flawless power round to advance to the speed portion. While the turn to the final single-to-oxer combination proved fatal for the majority of riders, Porter’s effective ride kept the duo in the clear, surpassing Sweetnam with a time of 26.809 seconds.

“I didn’t even see Shane go,” Porter admitted. “We were really tight in our turns, especially that final turn to the last two jumps. I think we nailed that, and that’s probably where we beat them. Patriot’s also a quick jumper; he just kind of skims the jump, and there’s not much air time, so that helps as well.”

One final challenger, Adam Prudent, came close to Porter’s blazing time with Si Bella, clocking in at 28.659 seconds and falling short by 1.85 seconds to settle for third place, leaving Wordley in fourth, Sweetnam in second and Porter and Patriot with the top spot.

Patriot has been a favorite of the Porter family for years, having brought both Wilton and younger brother Lucas Porter up the ranks.

“He’s been an awesome Young Rider horse,” Porter said. “He got a lot of results at Tryon this summer in the Under 25 classes, and he’s just been so consistent throughout the years.”

The summer jumper action continued on Friday with the 1.35m Open Jumpers, which saw 24 entries over the Alan Wade designed course.

Third in the order of go, Hayley Iannotti and Carlos G delivered the second clear round, immediately advancing to the short course. The duo went double clear, stopping the clock at 33.461 seconds in the jump off.

Challengers Andrew Welles and Crimana also went double clear to clock the second fastest time, coming in just .23 seconds behind Iannotti with a time of 33.691 seconds.

Conor O’Regan and Salome De Mars secured third place with their assertive effort, finishing just a tenth of a second behind Welles, and .33 seconds behind Iannotti.

The young rider’s early effort held fast throughout the close race, securing the win for Iannotti and Carlos G.

“He’s just naturally a really fast horse, and he doesn’t like to get rails,” Iannotti said. “If I ever do get rails, it’s my fault, not his. I really tried to stay on the pace, and I took a stride out down the first two lines, so that was to my advantage. He was amazing, and he jumped really well.”

Look for both riders in the Rolex Stadium this weekend, with upcoming jumper highlights including the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hats Off Day and the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, and the U25 Grand Prix following on Sunday.

Kristen Schnelle and Dawn Fogel Lead 3’3″ Amateur-Owner Hunters

For amateur rider Kristen Schnelle and her mare Calena their time at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show could not be off to a better start. On Friday, Schnelle learned that a surrogate mare was successfully carrying Calena’s first foal, and on Saturday, Schnelle and Calena swept all three classes of the 3’3″ Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter division.

Schnelle and her husband, Jason Schnelle, a professional out of Autumn Chase Farm in Collierville, Tennessee, imported Calena, a 7-year-old Oldenburg mare, from Germany in 2012, and Kristen has had the ride in the 3’3″ Amateur-Owners just since March.

Kristen Schnelle and Calena
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Kristen Schnelle and Calena

“When we first got her, we were afraid that she was going to be a little bit hot to be a hunter, so she actually did the jumpers for first maybe six months here. After that she did a few shows in the baby greens and a few shows in the pre-greens with my husband,” Kristen explained.

Now Kristen is seeing continued success in the saddle aboard Calena, including on Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park where she earned scores of 81 and 84 to win both of the 3’3″ Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter over fences classes before also claiming the top call in the under saddle class.

“She’s only 7, but ever since I’ve started showing her I’ve had a real blast with her,” Kristen said. “She’s been awesome; she’s a ball.”

In addition to being happy with their success on Saturday, Kristen is thrilled that Calena will also now be producing her and her husband’s first foal.

“We actually just found out yesterday that the surrogate mare is pregnant. Yesterday was my husband’s birthday, so it was a good birthday present for him,” Kristen said. “It was the second time that we tried. The first time with the recipient mare, the pregnancy didn’t take so we had to do it a second time. It’s the first time we’ve bred a horse, so we’re super pumped.”

While in Kentucky from Tennessee, the Schnelles plan to go to Spy Coast Farm to meet the sire of Calena’s first baby, Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve, in addition to enjoying their time at the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows.

“The facility here is fantastic. It’s one of the bigger shows that we attend, so it’s really nice for us to come here and be able to compete amongst a lot of other great horses,” Kristen said. “Plus, the weather is a lot better than it is right now in Memphis; it’s about 10 degrees cooler.”

Fellow amateur rider Dawn Fogel is no stranger to the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park and the top competition offered by the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows. Residing not far from the Horse Park in Louisville, Kentucky, Fogel is a frequent competitor and winner at the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows.

On Saturday, she earned back-to-back victories over fences in the 3’3″ Amateur Owner Over 35 Hunters aboard her own Summer Catch. The 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding has been extremely consistent with Fogel in the irons, and the pair showed that constancy again on Saturday, earning scores of 84 in both over fences classes. In order to maintain their consistency, Fogel keeps Summer Catch well-conditioned at home.

“We do a lot of long walks with [Summer Catch]. That keeps him happy, and we’re really fortunate that [trainer Rick Fancher’s] farm is next to a big property that is about 75 acres. After I hack him I take him on about a 45 minute to an hour walk. That’s sort of his routine,” Fogel said. “It allows him to stay fit but not work very hard. I think it keeps him happy too doing that. He jumps about once a week, and then he flats the rest of the days and goes on long walks. He really enjoys that. I’m lucky that he’s a very straightforward horse so that program suits him.”

Fogel and Kristen return to the show ring at the Kentucky Horse Park on Saturday as the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions continue beginning at 8 a.m. in the Stonelea Ring. In addition to a full range of hunter divisions, hunter competition at the Kentucky Summer Classic culminates in Sunday’s $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby.

To learn more about the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Kentucky Horse Shows 2015 Horse Show Series Fast Facts

Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2015 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals and the Pre Green Incentive Championship.

What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC’s 2015 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions host the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award, as well as the Hallway Feeds National Derby Series.

Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™, home to the United States Equestrian Federation.

When:

NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS – July 14-19, 2015

KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 22-26, 2015
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 28 – August 2, 2015
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

2015 USEF PONY FINALS – August 4-9, 2015

BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW – August 11-16, 2015
USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix sponsored by Audi of Lexington
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event

KHJA HORSE SHOW – August 19-23, 2015
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Summer Series: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Hollow Creek Farm, GGT Footing, Rood and Riddle, Audi of Lexington, Sleepy P Ranch, CWD, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program, and the Official Hotel The Clarion

Hours:
8am – 5pm daily

Parking:
Horse Show Exhibitors may purchase a weekly parking pass at the main Horse Park entrance for $15.00. Dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash.

Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located 8 miles northeast of Lexington, Kentucky at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.

Information:
Before Show – (859) 233-0492, Email: hakshows@earthlink.net
During Show – Telephone: (859) 281-7979, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling – Pat Duncan (503) 510-8797
Stable office – Before Show: (503) 510-8797, During Show: (859) 255-0605
Prize List Advertising – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Vendors – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Shownet – www.shownet.biz

Website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry, and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring.

Hotels:
CLARION HOTEL (http://www.clarionhotellex.com) (Formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859-233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles (OFFICIAL HOTEL)
Discover the place where elegant comfort in an ideal location meets excellent service and affordability. At the Clarion Hotel Lexington, you’ll find well-appointed accommodations with options of double/doubles, double queens, king rooms or suites, exceptional amenities such as our free hot breakfast buffet, and Southern hospitality at its finest. The best hotel for Keeneland – Located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region – home of the Kentucky Horse Park, the Lexington Convention Center, University of Kentucky, and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – our Lexington hotel is on Newtown Pike at Exit 115 on I-75, close to all the big attractions, and is the perfect place to stay whether you’re here to get down to business or have some fun. Best of all, bring your furry friends for any trip because the Clarion Hotel in Lexington is also pet-friendly.

CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS:
Reservations may not be made through the Horse Show office. To reserve a campsite at the Kentucky Horse Park for any of the horse shows, please call the Campground store at (800) 370-6416 or 859-259-4157 or email Ryan McGaughey at Ryan.mcgaughey@ky.gov. Be specific as to the show name and the dates you wish to stay. Check-in time is 2:00 p.m. and checkout is 12:00 noon. You must make arrangements with the Campground store if you plan to arrive earlier than 2:00 p.m. or stay later than 12:00 noon. Vehicles that are not removed from a campsite by check-out time will be towed.

Management:
Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC
P. O. Box 11428
Lexington, KY 40575-1428
859-233-0492 (phone)
859-233-0495 (fax)
email: hakshows@earthlink.net
website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

Media Contact:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

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