Author: Vixter

Alexandra Smith of Wellington, FL, aboard Perfekionist, owned by Tracey Topping of Wellington, FL, rose to the occasion in the WCHR Children’s Challenge presented by Stephanie Bulger and MeadowView, which saw 21 entries. The duo scored an 87.75 to finish atop the only WCHR Challenge class held in the outdoor this week. Hensley Humphries of New York, NY, and Pomodoro finished in second with a score of 86.75 and Lauren Katz of Potomac, MD, aboard Highland’s Right Royal earned third place with a score of 86.50.

“I’ve never done a challenge class in the children’s division, but I did it last year for in the pony division. We got him about two months ago when we decided to lease him from Tracey Topping and this is our third show together,” she explained. “He’s really sweet and I like him a lot already.”

At only 12 years old, Smith, who rides with parents Ken and Emily of Ashland Farms, comes from a long line of successful equestrians as older brother Spencer is making his way through the upper level jumper ranks. The course, which was set at two different heights for ponies and horses, rode nicely for Smith and long-strided Perfektionist, who is known around the barn as Fred.

“I think it was a very good course and it was fun. Fred can be a little bit lazy but I still have fun. You have to get him going but after that he’s really good,” she explained. The duo will take the next few months to fine tune their skills before entering the show ring again at the Winter Equestrian Festival in just a few short months.

“We aren’t going to do indoors this year so our next show will probably be at WEF. He’s really nice and I feel comfortable on him already so it hasn’t been that hard getting to know him,” she remarked.

Ashland had a great final month of the 2015 Summer circuit. We ended our final month of showing with great results.

Our adult rider Susan Stanley won several championships in the low adult division with her own Everest and ended up with a championship on her new horse Grand Cayman in her last Kentucky horse show. Another big winner was Catherine Stafford who took the reins on the jumper Aretina and ended up with the championship in the childrens jumper division at the khja horse show. That same week Kathryn Hall took the win in the childrens jumper classic ensuring a top spot qualifying for the fall indoor shows in the childrens jumpers as well as the This finals at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. Addison Piper and Katie Schell also received top placings in the equitation division qualifying them for the big eq. finals. Anna Koenig also had a great finish to her summer with a reserve champion with her hunter Happy Days and good results on her jumper Super Trooper. Anna also aquired a new horse to show in the hunter and equitation division who looks to be a real winner.

A new rider to the Ashland team Lilly French had a great final week winning the Small Jr. 15 under championship with her own horse Candor. Lilly rides with her trainer Carrie Gleason in Cleveland , Ohio and Ashland when Carrie can’t attend. Lilly also won the award for the leading Junior for the hallway derby series held throughout the Kentucky spring and summer shows. Helen Voss ended up finishing the Hallway series in third place with several top finishes. Helen is off to college and we all wish her the best. Alexandra Smith also finished the summer with a championship on a new mount Perfektionsist in the childrens hunter division. Ashland Farms wants to thank all of our clients, trainers, grooms, vets and farriers for all the hard work this summer.

We look forward to a successful fall circuit .

Week 1 Lake Placid / June 24-28

We had a great first week up in the beautiful Adirondacks! We started the week off with some great equitation results. Mitchell Endicott was 3rd in the 3* USET talent search with Baccharanta as well as a 4th in the jumper phase and PHA Medal with Narcos. Mitch finished out his week with a 3rd in the Maclay aboard Skara Glen’s Prologue. Catty Stafford was 5th in the PHA and Maclay riding RF Typecast. In the hunters, Helen Voss’s horse Census was Champion in the large junior hunters with Ashton Alexander in the irons. Leylan Gleeson won the Ariat Adult Medal aboard Contano as well as being the winner of 2 of the over fences classes in the adult hunters. Katie Schell won a class in the 3’3″ juniors on Barradouz. Katherine Hall also had a great week on her horses. She finished 3rd in the THIS medal riding Prosecco 24. She also won a class in the children’s hunters on Crystal Clear. In the jumper ring, Paulina Johnson had a great showing aboard Wundine. She finished up 3rd in the Adult Classic! All and all it was a fabulous first week.

Week 2 Lake Placid / July 1-5

The second week of Lake Placid was a very successful one for all of our riders. The week began with good equitation results. Mitchell Endicott was 5th in the Washington jumper phase and 3rd in the Washington hunter phase on Narcos. In the Pessoa Medal, Katie Schell was 6th on Barradouz and Catty Stafford was 2nd on RF Typecast. Olivia Woodson riding Aran J took home a 5th place in the PHA medal. In the Taylor Harris Medal, Katherine Hall took home the blue aboard Narcos and Alexandra Smith finished in 3rd riding Vedette. In the jumpers, Olivia Woodson and Baccharanta finished 1st and 3rd and ended up reserve champion in the Children’s jumpers. Anna Koenig finished 3rd on her horse Super Trooper in the Children’s 15-17 jumper classic. Katherine Hall also got good ribbons on her two jumpers in the children’s jumpers. In the hunter rings, Katherine Hall was 1st and 3rd in the 3’3″ juniors riding Crystal Clear. Anna Koenig got 2nd and 3rd in the Children’s 15-17 on her horse Happy Days. Leylan Gleeson was champion in the adult hunters on Flyboy winning all but one class. She also earned multiple top ribbons in the adults on Contano.

Traverse City / July 1-5

While some of us were in Lake Placid the other half of our team was showing up in Traverse City. Helen Voss finished the week with a championship in the 3’3″ junior hunters on Friend Request. She was also 1st in the Maclay on Cash. Addie Piper was 2nd in the classic and reserve champion in the Low Junior Jumpers on Halbi D’abri.

Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic / July 8-12

After a successful two weeks up north we headed down to Cleveland for the Chagrin Valley Hunter a Jumper Classic. It was a great week full of riding, ribbons and lots of exhibitor hospitality. We started the week off with Alexandra Smith and Barrosi C winning the championship in the children’s hunter and Anna Koenig and Happy Days picking up the Reserve. Alexandra was also the Grand children’s hunter championship. Katie Schell started off our equitation success with a win in the THIS Medal riding Barradouz. In the USET our riders picked up the 1st-4th awards. In the Washington jumper phase our riders were 1st and 3rd and 3rd-6th in the Washington Hunter phase. In the Pessoa medal, our riders earned 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th. In the OPHA we brought home the 1st-4th awards. In the Maclay we finished with 2nd and 3rd place honors. Rounding out the equitation for the week was Leylan Gleeson winning the Ariat on Bami B. In jumper world we also cleaned up. Katherine Hall was 2nd in the classic and champion in the Children’s Jumpers on Cananbarras. Wundine and Paulina Johnson were the winners in the meter 30 speed. Baccharanta and Olivia Woodson won a class In the Low Junior Jumpers. Spencer Smith had a great showing on his mount Ecuador finishing 3rd in the welcome stake. While there were many other great wins throughout the week one of the highlights came Sunday in the National Hunter Derby. This class was won by Addie Piper riding Billy the Kid. She was followed up by Catty Stafford and RF Typecast finishing in second. Katherine Hall and Prosecco 24 were 5th and Leylan Gleeson and Bami B were 7th.

Written by: Elaine Wessel
Client: Stadium Jumping, Inc. http://www.stadiumjumping.com/sj/index.cfm
Release Date: 2015-07-03

Traverse City, MI – July 3, 2015 – Junior Hunters took center stage in the Polk Family Main Hunter Ring today at Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, and with the age and size groups combined, competitors needed to outshine the rest of the pack in order to come out on top. Expertly navigating the hunter tracks presented to them, a few select riders were able to do just that to take the division’s rosette.

The young riders entered in the Junior division at the 3’6” height, sponsored by Hillside Farm, were the first to have a crack at the tricolors, with Vivian Yowan and Emma Wujek heading into the second day of Junior competition with more than one advantage above the rest. Yowan and Wujek not only had multiple mounts entered in the classes, but also consistently placed at the top of the judges’ cards. The California split-division had entrants competing in two jump classes yesterday, with Yowan earning firsts in both portions of the handy round aboard Ransom, owned by Saddle Ridge LLC and Character, owned by Belhaven Stables LLC. Wujek held her own as well, claiming first in the over fences and the second in the handy aboard Claire Azar’s Lucky Times, among other placings. Four more horses were split between the two riders, including Laura Stern’s Harrison, Amanda Foard’s Julian, Boggs Hill Farm’s Anytime, and Crackerjack, another Saddle Ridge LLC horse.

Friends Yowan and Wujek, both out of the Lexington-based Boggs Hill Farm operated by trainer Tim Goguen and his wife Kelly, both took more top-three placings to secure their leads, and ended up sharing the spotlight as champions.

“It’s been a really great start to the first week of the series for the farm,” Yowan reflected after win. With numerous champions and reserve champions crowned in only the first three days, Yowan and her barn mates have been setting a ferocious winning pace.

Yowan seems to have found a few trusty mounts to carry her for her last year as a junior. Although they have only been partnered together for a few months, Character effortlessly helped her to the champion honor today.

“He is so scopey, which makes him great for this. He has done the 4’ divisions and the High Performance Hunters in the past, so this is easy for him,” she said of her mount.

Ransom and Yowan also took the runner-up position in her section of the split division, earning her both tricolor ribbons.

Look for Yowan later in the month at the North American Junior Young Rider Championship in Kentucky as a part of the Junior Show Jumping team. She will be riding Vornado van den Hoendrik, owned by Stone Hill Farm. The pair was one of only two clear rounds in the $25,000 Antares Welcome Stake this afternoon, ultimately earning the second place.

Champion in the second group of the Junior 3’6” Hunters, Emma Wujek and Lucky Times earned 36 cumulative points to best the rest of the horse and rider pairs. Coincidentally, the grey horse has a tie to the show itself, as it is under the training of Abby Blankenship out of Carmel, IN, the wife of show manager Tom Blankenship.

A few points behind Wujek and “Lucky,” Absolut and Martha Ingram rounded out the top two placings. Absolut is owned by John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC.
Bringing the jumps down just a few inches to the 3’3” height, a new group of riders took their turns under the watchful eyes of the judges. Earning a first and two seconds today, Kandis Wrigley’s Friend Request, with Helen Voss in the irons, navigated his way to the top of the leaderboard. The pair earned a total of 38 points, ten points ahead of the second-best entry, to take the win.

Voss and the gelding have only been together a few weeks, but the rider has quickly taken a liking to him.

“Friend is a super easy and calm horse. He knows his job in the ring,” she said of the horse. Friend Request recently came to Ashland Farm, where Voss trains with Ken and Emily Smith, in order to be sold. The team is travelling to a number of shows throughout the summer circuit, hoping to find the horse a new owner and give him more show experience.

As for Voss, she plans to continue showing this summer, mainly focusing on the equitation, and will appear at her respective Maclay Regionals and Medal Finals later in the year. Texas A&M University will gain another rider to their equestrian team in the fall in the soon-to-be freshman. Although she looks forward to the upcoming events, Voss is happy to be in Traverse City.

“We have been coming here for three or four years. We love this show; it is one of our annual favorites,” Voss commented.

Claiming the second position overall, Gg Equine Holdings’ Zekiel and Sarah Mechlin also put in two strong trips top end up with 28 points in the division standings.

The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival at Flintfields Horse Park will continue to serve as host for competition over the course of the next four weeks. Tomorrow’s hunter action continues with the championships awarded to the Amateur Owner Hunters. Later in the week, riders will have the opportunity to compete in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. For more information, please visit www.greatlakesequestrian.com or www.stadiumjumping.com.

photo credit, Elaine Wessel

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!