Ashland Farms, FL

At the conclusion of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows we would like to congratulate all of our riders on much success.

Kathryn Hall receiving high awards in the Children’s Jumper division along with a clean sweep of the 12-14 Equitation.

Mitchell Endicott and Addison Piper both earning high ribbons in Jr Jumpers on new mounts.

Helen Voss showed Cashmere in the Hallway Feed National Hunter Derbies. After finishing 4th week one and 5th week two she is currently second in the Leading Rider Standings!

We are incredibly proud of all of our riders and horses. Wishing everyone the best of luck at Devon this week.

 

With the winter circuit all wrapped up Ashland Farms would like to congratulate all riders on a fantastic 12 weeks of showing.

With many blue ribbons and championships won by all of our riders we extend a special congratulations to our circuit champion winners.

Isabel Ernst and Double Dutch champion in Low Children’s Hunters and Alexandra Smith champion of the 11 and Under Equitation division.

In the next few weeks everyone will be working hard to prepare for a great summer circuit! Best of luck to all!

 

Congratulations to all of our riders on all their success in the past few weeks.

Kathryn Hall and her Jr Hunter Crystal Clear earned the owner rider champion award of the Younger Small Jrs. Kathryn also rode to a champion in the 12-14 Equitation aboard Prosecco 24.

Alexandra Smith was 11 and Under Equitation champion.

Isabel Ernst made another clean sweet of the Low Children’s hunters on her own Double Dutch. Finishing first through third in the 14 and Under THIS medal, placings went this way, Lilly French , Kathryn Hall followed by Hannah Beiling. Still dominating the 15-17 section of THIS medal was Mary Elizabeth Cordia.

Best of luck to all in the final week of the Winter Equestrian Festival.

With the finish of Nations Cup week Ashland Farms could not be happier with our results. After many top placings throughout the show the pressure was at a high for our two rounds of Young Riders Nations Cup.

Spencer Smith and Shawn Cassidy both put in clear rounds for team USA, assisting the team to move to round two carrying zero faults. In the final leg, and Grand Prix Smith rose to the occasion putting in a second clear and advancing to the jump off.

Riding the Wyndmont owned horse, IV Ever in a blazing fast jump off he found himself in the winners circle for the second time, now pairing his Welcome win with a Grand Prix win to secure the top rider award.

Team USA made a clean sweep at all levels of Nations Cup. Ashland Farms could not be more proud of our riders and teams!

Week three of the Winter Equestrian Festival proved to be a successful one for Spencer Smith and the Artisan Farms owned horse “Nevada”. After finishing 7th in the 1.45 on Thursday Smith continued to push for a top finish. Ending his week with a 3rd place finish in the world ranking FEI 1.45 out of 57 top competitors. We wish Spencer and “Nevada” all the success in weeks to come!

Ashland Farms would like to congratulate all of our riders on a fantastic season thus far. In the most recent weeks we have received many top ribbons along with champion and reserves throughout the show. Kathryn Hall and her own “Crystal Clear” were champions in the Younger Children’s Hunters. Maria Moore and “Lucilla” received a champion along with a second place finish in the Low Jr Jumper Classic. Isabel Ernst and her own “Double Dutch” won three of the four over fences securing a champion in the Low Children’s hunters. Devon Aurbach and “Lord Spezi” topped the Modified Adult Classic. Lauren Sturgess rode “Santino” to a first and third place finish in the Adult Hunters.
We wish all of our riders much success in the weeks to come!

RELEASE: November 2, 2014
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: Kenneth Kraus and Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

Lexington, Ky. – The final day of the $65,000 Sleepy P Ranch & Deeridge Farm Under 25 Championship at the 131st National Horse Show ultimately came down to two demanding rounds and an upset in the ranks as Shawn Casady and Twister made a comeback to seal the victory. Casady jumped from the fourth position to the first with a double clear today, finishing on a total of 6 penalties to lead the victory gallop for the inaugural championship.

Casady’s consistent efforts in the first two days of competition put him just behind the 18-year-old Michael Hughes and MacArthur. Hughes and MacArthur, owned by Christina Fried, led the standings going into the final day of competition, with day one and two class winners Wilton Porter and Kalvin Dobbs sitting in third and second respectively. With zero penalties to his name, Hughes entered the competition with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

MacArthur, a horse known for his foot speed, unfortunately had one rail during the opening round and continued into the second round with four penalties. A rub at the front rail of the tenth obstacle dropped him from the lead, leaving Casady to take the championship with six penalties overall.

“MacArthur is usually a horse that thrives off going a lot more, so I was a little bit surprised the first night when he went so well,” Hughes recounted. “Usually he can be a little bit spooky the first night, but he was great every round. He tried so hard. We made a few mistakes the last couple of rounds, being a little bit nervous. But other than that he was amazing all week.”

Hughes continued, “Going into the second round, I knew I couldn’t have a rail. I could have time faults, but MacArthur’s naturally a fast horse so I didn’t think I would. I thought it was going to be a great course for him. I was a bit surprised by the rail we had. I couldn’t have asked any more from him all week.”

Casady, a rider recently turned professional, was thrilled with his win aboard Twister, owned by Cavallo Farms, LLC. He trained with Ken and Emily Smith of Ashland Farm during his junior years, and his transition to professional rider has been smooth as he continues his relationship with their operation.

“As a junior I was always busy, kind of like a professional, catch riding and working for different people,” Casady said. “I have been trying to do more, ride more and get more classes like this. It’s been a really smooth transition. I’ve worked with Twister for a couple years now. The Spoglis own him-huge thanks to them for the opportunity to ride a real grand prix horse like that.”

Casady continued, “He likes to be ridden together with seat and contact. He’s not a small catty horse. You have to worry a little about the time allowed, but he thrives off the pace of it and it works.”

Third place finisher Nicole Bellissimo made a huge comeback after initially placing 17th on the opening day of competition. Although she consistently rode VDL Bellefleur to four clear rounds, her opening day put her into a low rank when she incurred time faults for her tidy round.

Bellissimo described, “I’ve had her since the end of her 6-year-old year, so even though she’s 8 years old right now, I know her extremely well. We’ve been stepping her up and down. She’s done some grand prix, won a 1.50m class at Bromont and jumped clear at New Albany. We let her tell us how she’s feeling and try not to push her too much.”

Casady admitted that the quality of horses was unbelievable, with the top ranked riders in the nation, 25 and younger, vying for the first annual championship.

“This championship is great!” Casady said. “It’s neat that they started it this year, and I’m excited to see where it goes. It is a really great program. I don’t think there was a bad horse in the class. Every round, every horse, every rider-it was intense!”

RELEASE: November 3, 2014
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: USEF Communications Department

Lexington, Ky. – At the end of the competition at the 2014 ASPCA Maclay Finals, Spencer Smith was awarded the Wilson Dennehy Equitation Trophy as the rider with the best results overall from the ASPCA Maclay Final and the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals. Smith finished fifth at the Maclay finals.

At the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in October, Smith won the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals. He was the first male rider to win that title in 12 years.

Why did Spencer Smith win the Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals? If you ask the judges, like we did, they’ll say because of his consistency, his confidence and his connection. “From the get-go, from the first round to the final round, he always kept a rhythm and a great connection. I don’t judge a lot and I do a lot of clinics around the country. One thing that he did so well that really stood out was that he kept connected with his horse, on every round,. He just stayed the same every time he rode,” said grand prix rider Candice King, who judged the final alongside Cynthia Hankins.

“That’s what we saw a lot weakness in some riders today—lack of lower base and keeping the connection. We built the course to have a nice flow and not be tricky or trappy, and Spencer did it quite well,” she continued.

If you ask Smith why he won, he’ll be a lot less descriptive. “This is my third year here. The first two years, I was a little off here and there—the first year very off!” he said. “This year just came together; I had a better mindset, and with a really good horse like [Beau van het Keyershof] you have a lot of confidence. I had a great team helping me.”

If you ask Don Stewart, who was part of the training team that guided Smith to the blue, he’ll joke about it. “He won because I gave him a lucky tie,” Stewart said, laughing.

“We were thinking he was going to deliver,” said Stewart, who has worked with Smith alongside his parents, Ken and Emily Smith, and Geoff Teall, for four years. “He’s always a perfect gentleman to everyone, except maybe to his parents, like any teenager.”

And why did Michael Hughes, who was leading the class after the first round, not win? Because his horse spooked dramatically at a sign for the class title sponsor, Pessoa, set in the course for Round 2. Hughes landed off the curved brush fence—the third fence in Round 2, and was set to ride a direct version of the bending line to the next oxer, but his horse sighted in on the Pessoa sign and spun, so Hughes had to circle and regroup. The mistake dropped him out of the ribbons.

“He just landed and spooked. It was a fair test, but that’s horses. What can you do,” said Missy Clark, who trained Hughes. “It was too bad because to lose it because of a decoration is heartbreaking. He was riding so well.”

“We had to put the Pessoa sign in the ring, and it was a nice tool for us because we wanted an island there,” said Cynthia Hankins, who judged alongside King.

“We wanted them to stay connected and in a nice rhythm,” King said. “But once one rider goes and does a certain number of strides, it seems like everybody follows suit. Especially if there’s a horse that’s spooky, we’d rather see a rider bend the line out. We used the Pessoa sign where it was to let people know to bend out and use the track and not the inside line.”

Once Hughes dropped lout of the running in Round 2, Mackayla Langemeier moved up to the top of the callback for the test—Smith was called back in second. Smith’s test was flawless, while Langemeier had rough transitions to the walk and the counter-canter. “Mackayla was very good, but there were just a few minor things that made the difference,” said King. “It wasn’t lack of riding ability that made the difference, it was more having that little extra bit of confidence to go in there and give us what we wanted to see.”

“Spencer showed that maturity and confidence,” Hankins said. “It’s the art of doing nothing, and it’s hard work to make that look happen.”

Smith, 17, has been riding his whole life as the son of two successful trainers. And while his equitation rounds showed a smoothness and flow that are ideal for the hunter ring, his heart lies in the jumpers. “He’s just better focused now,” Stewart said. “He certainly has the tools to do it, it was a matter of getting him to calm it all down. He’s probably more comfortable on the jumpers. He likes to go at a good pace, and it’s hard to get him to take a breath in this ring.”

Langemeier, 13, ended up second in her third attempt at the Medal Finals. “I’m truly honored to be reserve champion. It’s been a dream of mine to test in the medal. I’m so excited and thankful to be second here,” she said. She trains with her mother, professional trainer Linda Langemeier, and Clark.

Ali Tritschler, who is a noted pony hunter catch rider and trains with Timmy Kees, placed third.

For details about all the action in all three rounds of the Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals and more photos, check out the Chronicle’s round-by-round commentary.

To read more about the winners at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, check out the October 27 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse print magazine.

See all of the Chronicle’s Pennsylvania National Horse Show online coverage.

See full Pennsylvania National results.

Upper Marlboro, MD – September 27, 2014 – The Capital Challenge Horse Show started with junior riders competing on Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. Championships for age divisions in equitation were presented today, leading up to tomorrow’s finals competition. The Capital Challenge Horse Show continues through Sunday, October 5.

The equitation age divisions had over fences classes in the outdoor and indoor rings, joined by a flat class indoors. There were five junior equitation age division champions awarded, along with classes for the Adult Amateur Equitation and THIS Children’s Medal Equitation Warm Up.

The 17 Year Old Equitation division championship, sponsored by Frank Madden Show Stables, went to Spencer Smith of Wellington, FL, riding Beau van het Keyershof. The pair were second in all three classes. The reserve champion was Halie Robinson riding Barolo W, who placed first and third over fences.

Spencer has been riding Ashland Farms’ Beau van het Keyershof, an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding for one year after the horse came from Canada, where he competed in the jumpers and equitation. “He’s turned out to be a really great eq horse, and he’s my main horse,” Smith said. This is their first time together indoors, but Smith believes that with his career in Canada, he has experience in indoor arenas. “He handled it really well; he’s a smart horse,” he said of today’s classes.

In his last junior year, Smith is aiming to win a major equitation final, and he enjoys competing at Capital Challenge to start the fall season. “It’s tricky (to win), but I think I have a good horse. (Capital Challenge) is nice to bring you into the indoors, and it’s nice to have the outdoor ring too. It merges instead of going right into a big medal final.”

Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, and her mount Clearway made a statement in the 16 Year Old division, sponsored by Frank Madden Show Stables, by sweeping blue ribbons in all three classes. Meredith Darst was reserve champion with a second place over fences on Soldier and a second on the flat with Great Expectations. Darst and Great Expectations were also victorious in the North American Junior Flat Equitation Championships.

Colvin first showed Clearway, a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding by Cheenook owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, at the Lake Placid Horse Show in late June when she started training with Andre Dignelli and Heritage Farm. This is only their third equitation show together.

She described of Clearway, “He’s very elegant. He’s so big, but he just canters across and is so smooth. He has a humongous stride. He’s a little bouncy at the sitting trot! But we make it work.”

She added with a smile, “He’s very sweet, and he loves bananas, peel and all.”

Melanie Selleck of Westlake, Village, CA, rode Zenden to the 15 Year Old championship. They placed first over fences and first on the flat. Katherine Strauss, riding Donald Stewart’s El Paso, was the reserve champion after they picked up first, third, and sixth place ribbons.

Selleck has ridden Zenden for just over a year; he changed jobs to the equitation ring after competing in Europe as a jumper. “I needed to have a consistent 3’6” horse,” Selleck explained. “He has his little quirks, but I figured that out in the first few months. There’s nothing too crazy hard about him.”

This is Selleck’s third year showing at Capital Challenge, and she names it as one of her favorite horse shows. Selleck travels from California, taking off two days of school to prepare to compete. To win a championship here means a lot to her. “It’s very prestigious, and it shows that I’ve worked hard all year. It’s one of the shows where you want to do as well as you can. This gives me a nice boost of confidence going into the (equitation) finals,” she noted.

Fourteen-year-old Coco Fath of Fairfield, CT, piloted Chemie Ancar to the 13 & 14 Year Old Equitation Championship, sponsored by Suave Pony LLC. They won both over fences and placed fourth on the flat. Emma Kurtz and VIP Z won the reserve championship with second, second, and fifth placings.

Fath got the ride on Chemie Ancar, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding, in March after the former jumper moved into the equitation ranks with Caitlyn Boyle. Fath trains at Heritage Farm, and while they showed regularly this summer, success came at last week’s ASPCA Maclay Regional, where they placed eighth.

“We’ve really clicked since then,” Fath said. Although she has won hunter championships before at Capital Challenge, this win was special for her. “It’s a big accomplishment, considering how many people are in it. It’s a lot different than the hunters. It means a lot to me. It’s the first time I’ve accomplished something big at an equitation show on this horse,” she said.

The champion in the 12 & Under Equitation was Maria Moore of Johnstown, OH, riding Prosseco 24, owned by Cavallo Farms, LLC. Moore won both over fences classes and was second on the flat. The reserve champions, Sophia Pilla and Pop Rocks, were second, second, and fourth.

Moore trains with her mother Angela as well as Ken and Emily Smith at Ashland Farms. “I could not be here without them,” she said. Moore originally started riding “Peter” in January on a weekend lease. When the pair won the USEF Medal class at the Winter Equestrian Festival in their first outing, everyone knew they were a pair that needed to stay together. “It was my first time ever winning a big eq class. They said it’s a match, so I got him and we’re still plugging along!” she remarked.
Moore describes Peter as “different all the time,” but that he “knows how to do it all. “If I do my part, he’ll do his,” she pointed out. Moore had a triumphant return to Capital Challenge after falling off and breaking her arm here last year. “It was much better this year, and hopefully will be even better tomorrow!” she said. Moore will compete in the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, one of three major finals on Sunday of Equitation Weekend at Capital Challenge.

Special Groom’s Awards were also presented to the grooms of the winning horses today, with prizes sponsored by Tammy Provost and Erin Duffy. The winners include:
Beau van het Keyershof – Madeline Kemp
Clearway – Benji Hernandez
Zenden – Alex Garcia
Chemie Ancar – Rene Ochoa
Prosseco 24 – Moises Yool

In the Adult Amateur Equitation division, Haleigh Landrigan took the championship ribbon riding Dragonfly. They won both over fences classes and were third on the flat. Laura Owens and L.Alta Vida were reserve champions after finishing third over fences and first on the flat.

The THIS National Children’s Medal Warm Up division hosted three classes as well, with wins for Jordan Allen with Show Boat (and a high score of 90) and Elizabeth Ekberg on Finnegan over fences and victory on the flat for Sophie Lenihan on Wayfarer. Allen finished as champion in the division, while Carly Hoft on Don La Rouge was reserve champion.

Tomorrow’s schedule concludes the Capital Challenge Equitation Championship weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. The day starts with the North American Equitation Championships of two rounds. Following that is the Taylor Harris Insurance Services National Children’s Medal Finals and the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Finals.

For full results, more information, or to watch the live webcast, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org. Like the Capital Challenge Horse Show page on Facebook and on Twitter @capchallenge and Instagram @capitalchallengehorseshow. For behind-the-scenes photos, videos, and more!

In its 21st year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year’s show will take place on September 27-October 5.

Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country’s best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes.