North Salem, NY – May 11, 2013 – Capturing her third major equitation win of the year, 15-year-old Lillie Keenan of New York, NY, and Heritage Farm’s Clearway stood in the winner’s circle for the $5,000 Equitation Classic presented by AIG/Kaplow Insurance Agency with Heritage Farm. The event was the highlight of the Saturday schedule during the first week of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show. The first week of competition concludes tomorrow with the biggest event of the week, the $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix presented by Suncast, at 3 pm. The second week of the Spring Shows continues on May 14-19.
Keenan, who is no stranger to winning big equitation classes, moved up in the second round of competition for victory. She and Clearway, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding by Cheenook, had a first round score of 92, and with a forward and precise ride in the second round, the judges awarded them with a score of 96. Her total of 188 was more than enough for first place.
Lillie Keenan and Clearway
The top 12 from the first round were asked back for a second round of competition over a course designed by Guilherme Jorge. A tight time allowed asked more from competitors, as did the higher than usual equitation jumps. Michael Hughes and Zagreb set the winning score in the first round of 94, and their score of 90 in the second round gave them a total of 184 for second place.
Mattias Tromp and Vosquinus had an 83 in the first round and improved to an 86 in the second for a third place total of 169. Allison Toffolon rode Class Action to scores of 86 and 82 for a total of 168 and fourth place. The top four riders in the class were awarded jackets from Beval Ltd.
After winning two big equitation classes during the winter, Keenan has added yet another accomplishment to her impressive career. This is the second year in a row that Keenan has won this class. However, this year she had to make an adjustment when the class was moved to the sand Annex Ring due to inclement weather.
She explained, “I changed horses. I was going to ride Levistano, but I used Clearway instead. I rode him in the Medal and Maclay today in the other ring and he won both of those, so he was ready. He probably would have been fine out on the grass, but I’m used to riding him in a sand ring. There wasn’t an open water and it was similar to a Washington jumper phase, so he is the type of horse I would choose for these types of classes. I felt very comfortable. I love being out on the field and unfortunately it was raining, but they still made it a great class and I had a lot of fun.”
Lillie Keenan and Clearway with ringmaster Alan Keely and Evan Kaplow of Kaplow Insurance Agency
Keenan was one of few who were able to make it under the time allowed for the class, and it was something that gave her pause when studying the course. “The time was very tight,” she conceded. “I don’t ride Clearway in many timed events. I wasn’t totally sure if I was going to be able to easily make it under. I knew I was going to have to work for it. His stride is gimongous – it needs it’s own word! He can really hit a gallop and go. There’s nothing to worry about with him. I knew I could trust him and ask him to extend, even in the turns, because he’s so well trained. With the time, I thought just hit a gallop and keep it.”
Clearway showed beautiful form and soared over the higher than usual equitation jumps. Keenan said that he was impressed by the jumps, but his scope and ability made it easy for him. “The first few big oxers in the schooling area I had to readjust because I wasn’t used to being pitched that much,” she smiled. “They built this course bigger than most of the courses I do on him. It doesn’t matter for him, but it does wake him up a little bit. It’s not in a bad way; he just really uses himself.”
After another win, Keenan said it gives her “a lot of confidence” going into the prestigious Devon Horse Show. “Last year I won this class (and) I had a great Devon in the equitation. Luckily I’ll be able to continue to use Clearway. I know him very well now. Hopefully we continue on this streak,” she said.
Final Results: $5,000 Equitation Classic presented by AIG/Kaplow Insurance Agency with Heritage Farm
1. Lillie Keenan, Clearway: 92+96=188
2. Michael Hughes, Zagreb: 94+90=184
3. Mattias Tromp, Vosquinus: 86+83=169
4. Allison Toffolon, Class Action: 82+86=168
5. Diederique van der Knaap, Rico: 81.5+83.5=165
6. Kelli Cruciotti, Monterrey: 85+76=161
7. Maya Nayyar, Bellagio: 80+80=160
8. Brittni Raflowitz, Jet Streak K: 84+72=156
9. Sophie Michaels, Coco: 77+78=155
10. McKayla Langmeier, Czar-Z: 80.5+74=154.5
11. Brianne Link, Spock: 81+62=143
12. Katherine Strauss, Atlantic: 78+0=78
Jumper Classics Award Winners
Jennifer Rowland of Hoboken, NJ, found the winning path in the $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Adult Jumper Classic sponsored by Douglas Elliman Real Estate with Lux Lovely. In their first Adult Jumper Classic together, the pair beat 36 other entries with a speedy time of 32.945 seconds for victory. Lexi Maounis and Whisper placed second in 33.145 seconds, while Laura Sexton and Jessy du Brea had a time of 33.676 seconds for third place.
Jennifer Rowland and Lux Lovely
Rowland, who works full-time in New York City, was able to take time off work yesterday to prepare for today’s classic. She has only ridden Lux Lovely for a month and this was their second show together. “I ride with Chris Kappler and he finds the best horses and has a really great training program. It just all comes together. She’s super honest and she’s a game horse. She is forgiving, which is good for an amateur horse, but at the same time she makes me ride her and doesn’t let me get away with everything,” she described.
She said of her round, “This is the biggest we’ve jumped together. We had our game plan and went in and executed it well. It’s my first adult classic to win, so it’s just gratifying. I took my first vacation day off work this year yesterday to be here, so it was great to have that pay off.”
Jennifer Rowland and Lux Lovely with ringmaster Alan Keely, along with Barbara Plunkett and associates from Douglas Elliman Real Estate
The $5,000 Low Junior Jumper Classic was an exciting class. Out of 37 entries, it was 14-year-old Brianne Link of East Islip, NY, on Zycarla Z who galloped to victory. They won with a clear round in 37.683 seconds. Kira Kerkorian rode Rashmo Z to second place, double clear in 39.090 seconds. With a time of 40.710 seconds, Lilly Ulrich and Up Stream placed third.
With just a short amount of time under their belt, Link and her 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Zandor Z made the best of it with their first classic victory together. Link trains with Jeffrey Welles and noted, “I’ve been riding Zycarla for a month. Jeffrey gives me the best lessons. Everything that you would use in the ring, we practice at home. It all worked out perfectly here in the ring today. The first round, she was amazing. She jumped so high that I got loose over a few jumps. In the jump-off, we just really ate them up. We made some great turns back and she got down the lines perfectly.”
Brianne Link and Zycarla Z
Of her victory, she said, “It means the world. I was in the Children’s Jumpers for three years and I was so scared to move up. She helps me with my confidence a lot. She has done the grand prix with Jeffrey and knowing that she’s capable of doing it and taking care of me makes me feel better. She is like a mommy; she takes care of me!”
The $5,000 Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic had 31 entries. Catherine Tyree of Chicago, IL, rode Wetter to the win in a time of 38.79 seconds. Kenzie Snyder and Arturo held the early lead in the class and finished second in 39.13 seconds. For Beauty, ridden by Hayley Carlson, was third in 40.11 seconds.
Tyree started riding Wetter, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding by Stetter, just over a year ago. They normally show in the High Amateur-Owner Jumpers, but after a break following the winter circuit, she wanted to get Wetter show-ready again. “He felt amazing. He’s ready; he could have jumped the Highs this week,” Tyree said.
Catherine Tyree and Wetter
She said of Wetter and their jump-off round, “He’s a pretty versatile horse; I can do a lot of different courses on him. He’s very rangy. I can leave out, I can add, he’s scopey, he’s careful. I felt very comfortable going into the ring with him today. He’s quick across the ground naturally, but doing the inside turn from the first to second jump and then back to the third, I think I caught a little time off and let him go. I did four down the last line, which some people were doing. I trusted him there and he was great.”
In the $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Children’s Jumper Classic, Daisy Farish and Ornella R raced through the jump-off with no faults to win the class out of 30 entries with a time of 33.510 seconds. Second place went to Tye Donaldson on Dunja in 34.700 seconds. Alexandra Murphy and Sante were third in 34.809 seconds.
Twelve-year-old Daisy Farish, of Versailles, KY, is known as a top pony rider. She started riding in the Low Children’s Jumpers at the beginning of the year and moved up to the Children’s Jumpers with Ornella R, a 14-year-old Holsteiner mare by Lorentin I. This is their first big classic win together.
Daisy Farish and Ornella R
“I like doing the jumpers. She is really nice to have in the barn and is actually really friendly. (In the ring), she’s really fast, but she comes back to you. She’s really fun,” Farish said. “She did the Low Amateurs for a while before I got her. It feels good to win. I think I’ll do the Children’s for a while and keep learning. I do a lot of ponies, so it’s a lot different and really exciting. The jumpers are always different.”
Final Results: $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Adult Jumper Classic sponsored by Douglas Elliman Real Estate
1 LUX LOVELY, JENNIFER ROWLAND: 0/0/32.945
2 WHISPER, LEXI MAOUNIS: 0/0/33.145
3 JESSY DU BREA, LAURA SEXTON: 0/0/33.676
4 TUVALU, ALISON FINGER: 0/0/33.735
5 SPIT FIRE, ELIZABETH LAMOTTE: 0/0/33.821
6 CRUSADER, AHMED ALALI: 0/0/34.841
7 LOREANA, MICHELLE KAMINE: 0/0/35.000
8 THADDEUS, CHERYL SCOTT: 0/0/35.687
Final Results: $5,000 Low Junior Jumper Classic
1 ZYCARLA Z, BRIANNE LINK: 0/0/37.683
2 RASHMO Z , KIRA KERKORIAN: 0/0/39.090
3 UP STREAM, LILLY ULRICH: 0/0/40.710
4 WENDA AK, JACQUELINE SHILEN: 0/0/41.441
5 HESTER, LUCY DESLAURIERS: 0/0/41.737
6 QUIDAM MANCIAIS, SOPHIE MICHAELS: 0/0/43.610
7 VELINTA PALO BLANCO, ALI TRITSCHLER: 0/4/37.517
8 COMPANIERO, MEGAN MCDERMOTT: 0/4/39.780
9 ZOPALA, SIMA MORGELLO: 0/4/40.653
10 BARONESSE, ANNASTELLE COHEN: 0/4/41.632
Final Results: $5,000 Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic
1 WETTER, CATHERINE TYREE: 0/0/38.797
2 ARTURO, KENZIE SNYDER: 0/0/39.138
3 LORCA DE CARYAN CATHERINE TYREE: 0/0/40.024
4 FOR BEAUTY, HAYLEY CARLSON: 0/0/40.111
5 ANTONOV, JOANNA WOLFFER: 0/0/41.380
6 VALFEE DES HAZALLES, ERICA POLLE: 0/0/42.698
7 WATERLOO, KENZIE SNYDER: 0/4/37.267
8 U2, FRANCESCA BOLFO: 0/4/37.373
9 CHEVAL D’ESPOIR, ALLYSON SHRYOC: 0/4/39.872
10 OREADE DU CHANOIS, HAYLEY CARLSON: 0/4/41.106
Final Results: $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Children’s Jumper Classic
1 ORNELLA R, DAISY FARISH: 0/0/33.510
2 DUNJA, TYE DONALDSON: 0/0/34.700
3 SANTE, ALEXANDRA MURPHY: 0/0/34.809
4 BMC CHIFAIRA, ELIZABETH D’LOREN: 0/0/35.412
5 FEDERER, TYE DONALDSON: 0/0/35.465
6 PERQUIN, TAYLOR KWAIT: 0/0/35.647
7 FIREWORK, YASMIN RIZVI: 0/0/36.216
8 DOWNTOWN, TAYLOR KWAIT: 0/0/36.596
Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Is Crowned
Lauren Cechini of Flemington, NJ, and her horse Graffiti, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding, swept awards in the Amateur-Owner Hunters. Their championship in the Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’3″ Hunters led to the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship. In their division, they won a class and received three second places over fences, and they were fourth under saddle. The reserve champion was Bozeman, ridden by Kathleen Oberkircher, who placed first, third, and fourth over fences and second under saddle.
Lauren Cechini and Graffiti
Cechini described Graffiti as “kind of like a little scooter.” She continued, “You can maneuver and put him wherever you want him. His jump is incredible. He really cracks his back over the jumps and he gives it his all every single time he goes in the show ring.”
She added with a laugh, “He kind of has a funny personality. He likes to rest his head on my shoulder when we wait for the jog. He gets anxious for treats after he works. He will eat anything; he tries to grab all the bushes at the horse show!”
Cechini and Graffiti paired together in September where they won in their first time out at the Maryland Horse and Pony Show. They continued through December, but a slight injury and recovery time for Graffiti set them back this winter. This week was their first time back in the show ring this year.
“He’s been great at home,” Cechini said. “I set goals for myself and try to hit those goals, like keeping my eyes up and my hands in front of me, and to be consistent. We did that and I was very pleased with that. I didn’t go in expecting (a Grand Championship) to happen, but it was a great thing to happen. I was very happy. Graffiti got an extra carrot, so he liked that!”
She added, “It was really exciting to win here. He’s such an amazing horse, and (my trainers) Jen and Rolf (Bauersachs) are wonderful. I’ve been with them for seven years. I just graduated college and Graffiti was my first horse since the juniors. I’ve never been grand champion before, so it was really special. I have to thank our vet Haynes Stevens and farrier Chuck Simons, and Jen and Rolf. That’s why we were able to be so good when we came back.”
Lauren Cechini and Graffiti in their winning presentation
In the Amateur-Owner 36 & Over 3’3″ Hunter division, Sandra Epstein and Catamount finished as champions. They received three second places, a third, and a fourth. Bombay and Lyn Pedersen, who placed first, second, third, and fourth in the division, were reserve champions.
The Amateur-Owner 36 & Over 3’6″ Hunter division saw Becky Gochman sweep the championship awards. She and Whatever finished as champions after they captured two firsts and two thirds. Gochman rode Empire to the reserve championship. They won two classes, got two fourths, and a sixth in the division. For her win this week, Gochman received a $500 gift certificate from Hunt Ltd.
Moshi continued his winning ways from earlier this week as he captured the Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’6″ Hunter championship with owner/rider Stephanie Riggio. They placed first and picked up three second places in the division. Sienna and Lexi Maounis were reserve champions and placed first, first, third, and fifth.
The first week of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show concludes tomorrow with many different awards for hunters and jumpers, including the Grand Pony, Grand Junior, and Grand Children’s Hunter Champion awards, the $7,500 Medium Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic (Annex Ring), $10,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic (Grand Prix Field), and the highlight event of the week, the $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix presented by Suncast at 3 pm in the Grand Prix Field. For more information please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net/mayhome and for full results, please visit www.horseshowsonline.com.
Live Webcast and Fun Events Information
The $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix, presented by Suncast, on May 12 (starting now at 3 pm), the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate, on May 18, and the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, on May 19 will all be broadcast on the USEF Network.com presented by Smartpak. Watch live streaming of every round in the ring during both weeks on www.shownet.biz, and tune into USEF Network to watch these three highlight events!
On Sunday, May 12, prior to the start of the $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix presented by Suncast, join us for the “Rolex FEI World Cup Champion Congratulatory Ceremony for Beezie Madden, and Our American Representatives.”
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, rated the #11 show in North America by the North American Riders Group, has a full schedule of fun events for exhibitors and spectators. General admission, set at $20.00 per car on Friday-Sunday, generates proceeds to support the Old Salem Farm Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Join us tomorrow for a Mother’s Day Luncheon and the Mother’s Day Ride for Cancer Research!
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows celebrate its 31st year in 2013 and offer two weeks of exceptional equestrian sport on May 7-12 and May 14-19 at one of the nation’s premier and newly renovated equestrian facilities, Old Salem Farm, in North Salem, New York. Old Salem’s beautifully manicured grounds, list of elite horses and riders, and fantastic social gatherings draw spectators from Westchester County and beyond to watch horses and ponies of every size compete for almost $500,000 in prize money. The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows feature over 130 hunter and jumper classes each week, bringing together top competitors, including Olympic show jumpers, from across the country. For more information, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net/mayhome.
Photo Credit: Photos – © The Book LLC . These photos may be used only in relation to this press release and with proper credit.