APRIL 1, 2013- WELLINGTON, FL– Ashland Farms wishes to congratulate all its riders and horses on a great WEF circuit. Ashland Farms ended the circuit with many blue ribbons, champions and major top placings as well as many circuit champion awards.
Marissa Thompson and Little Freebie finished as the circuit champion in the Child/Adult Training Jumper Division, only having shown for the first half of WEF.
Addison Piper and Superfly were circuit champions of the 11 and Under Equitation division.
Tracey Mack-Gorin rode two different mounts to circuit championships this season, Condor and Bravour VDL. With Condor, Mack-Gorin bested the Adult Amateur 18-35 Section A division and with Bravour VDL she was the victor in the Adult Equitation.
Gucci and Darragh Kenny took the circuit champion honors in the 1.35 Jumper division.
Ashland Farms also wishes much success to the many horses sold this circuit at their new homes. Thank you everyone for a great WEF circuit.
MARCH 24, 2013- WELLINGTON, FL- Ashland Farms had another successful week at the 2013 Winter Equestrian Festival. Spencer Smith was a standout this week in the equitation and jumper rings aboard several different mounts. Aboard S&L Technicolor, Smith took the overall win in the Washington Equitation class and finished a fantastic 12th place in the George Morris Equitation Championship class. Smith rode Lord Spezi to a convincing win in the High Junior Power and Speed class this week as well. Addison Piper and her newly acquired mount, Superfly, were once again a dominating force in the 11& Under equitation division and swept all 3 classes for the division championship. Davinci and Shawn Casady and Gucci and Darragh Kenny, both owned by Cavallo Farms, had fantastic results in the 1.35 division. Bravour VDL and Morgan Qualls capped off a great week with a win in the USEF/ Pessoa Hunt Seat medal. One of Ashland Farm’s youngest riders, Victoria Mirabel, had a great weekend in the walk/ trot division on Bayview High Hopes and finished with the reserve championship.
Ashland Farms now looks to finish out a great WEF circuit with week 12 of WEF.
MARCH 4, 2012- WELLINGTON, FL- Ashland riders enjoyed great successes at week 8 of WEF. Alexandra Smith and the Ashland owned entry Sunday Sneakers took the division championship in the Large Childrens Ponies. Addison Piper had a standout week on Cavallo Farm’s’ Superfly in the equitation, winning the division championship in the 11 and Under Equitation and also taking the win in the Taylor Harris Medal 14 and Under. Spencer Smith rode to excellent placings in the Medium Junior Jumpers on Cavallo Farm’s Nakano RB and Ashland Farm’s Skara Glens Voltan and had a 4th place finish in the ASPCA Maclay on S&L Technicolor. Gabriella Mershad also rode to consistent placings in the Medium Junior Jumpers on the Mershad Stable’s Skara Glens Basel. Andre Mershad made his debut in the jumpers on the Mershad Stable’s Epilot Can De Moskifarm.
Additionally during WEF 8, Ashland riders Spencer Smith and Gabby Mershad were invited to ride as individuals for the United States Junior Rider and Young Rider teams. Spencer Smith and Ashland’s own Lord Spezi rode to 2 clear rounds over the 3 days of competition and finished in 4th place in the Junior Rider Welcome. Gabby Mershad and the Mershad Stable’s Caprilli HSF finished an exciting 2nd place in the Young Rider Welcome.
Ashland Farm looks forward to competing at WEF week 9 with its jumpers, as head trainer Ken Smith has been asked to handle Hunter and Equitation judging duties for the week.
JULY 23rd, 2012 – LEXINGTON, KY – Rising junior talent Shawn Casady and Elm Rock LLC’s Zubantos were the winners of the Individual Junior Show Jumping Silver Medal during the 2012 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC). After earning just four faults over the first five rounds of the competition, they advanced to the jump-off where another clear round over the technical track was good enough to claim the Individual Silver Medal.
Eighteen-year-old Casady showcased consistency and accuracy with the eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood Gelding Zubantos, lowering the height of just one fence throughout the five rounds of the prestigious event. “Zubantos is still young, but he’s a great guy, careful and scopey,” stated Casady. “I’ve been so fortunate to ride this horse.”
Trainer Ken Smith added, “This was an exciting accomplishment for all of us. Shawn rode great throughout the whole competition. Zubantos is a super brave horse, scopey and careful. He has really benefited from Shawn’s accurate riding this year.”
Earlier this month, the junior hunter Glass Castle has made a triumphant return to the show ring with Casady in the irons. Casady piloted the Elm Rock LLC mount to the Grand Hunter Championship at the Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic after dominating the Small Junior Hunter division. This victory came just following Lake Placid Horse Shows, where the duo took home the reserve championship honors during each week of the competition in the Small Junior 16-17 Hunter division.
Trainer Ken Smith noted, “Glass Castle is a very consistent horse. When you send her in the ring you feel like she can win any class at any show. She’s one of our all time favorites.”
Casady will now compete with Glass Castle at the National Junior Hunter Championships in Lexington, KY.
Shawn Casady on Zubantos – Photo By Parker Russell The Book LLC
MAY 27, 2012 – DEVON, PA – The $3,750 Junior Jumpers Gambler’s Choice couldn’t have taken place on a more perfect evening, Friday night in the Dixon Oval. The air was full of excitement and the tension continued to build as the ring crew set boldly colored, towering jumps that looked like they would present quite a challenge for the 17 competitors.
Each obstacle was valued at 10 to 120 points based on the level of difficulty and points could only be gained when jumped correctly. All obstacles had to be jumped once but were allowed to be jumped twice, then the finish line had to be crossed in order for the time to be counted. Once the course was completed the rider was allowed 20 seconds to jump the “Joker” which could either gain them 200 points or deduct 200 points from their previous round.
First in the order of go was Kalvin Dobbs riding Winde, he was the first to successfully make it clean over the “Joker” but unfortunately was outside the time allowance so he had to settle for third place. Following Dobbs in the order of go was Shawn Casady, of Wellington, FL riding Zubantos owned by Elm Rock LLC. A fiercely executed, clean first round, which he personally devised, ended in 59.897 seconds earning a total of 990 points. Casady rose to the challenge of the “Joker”. Like the rest of his round before, Casady took on the “Joker” with complete ease soaring to the top of the chart early where he would hold onto a lead that far surpassed the other scores. Michael Hughes took second and Kalvin Dobbs third.
With the “Joker” jump putting up a challenge few were able to overcome, the Gambler’s Choice was a great spectacle in the Dixon Oval Friday night.
MAY 12, 2012 – LEXINGTON, KY – Competition was fierce this afternoon as the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal commenced in the Stonelea Arena. At the end of the day, it was Leylan Gleeson and Playboy who caught the attention of the judges as they captured the winning prize for their excellent equitation in the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal. The day saw outstanding hunter rounds as the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions got underway at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Riders Tracy Scherrif-Muser and John Ingram proved triumphant in their respective divisions, showing their mounts to the top honors.
A cloudless sky welcomed the field of 25 riders as they faced off for the first place prize in the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal. The course began over a standalone vertical, and riders then proceeded to make a left rollback over a brush fence. A right turn took them over a second natural fence, and then they moved over a white oxer set on the outside. Making a left rollback, they then moved over a vertical and then took a right over a wooden oxer heading toward the far end of the ring. The final set of obstacles was a vertical leading to a one-stride vertical-oxer combination. Shawn Casady on Nixon - 2nd Place
Four riders were called back into the ring for a test—Spencer Smith, Shawn Casady, Vivian Yowan and Leylan Gleeson. The test involved cantering directly over the second obstacle, counter-cantering the third fence and coming to a halt on the rail. Riders were then asked to make a half-turn on the haunches and hand gallop the sixth fence. Upon landing, they would then return to their spot in the line at the far end of the ring.
It was Leylan Gleeson and her mount, Playboy, owned by Stepping Stone Farm of Moreland Hills, OH, who came out on top with the first place ribbon. The duo exhibited a beautiful test, and opted to take a wider turn to the sixth fence upon completing their half-turn. The fluidity of the course demonstrated what the judges were looking for. Shawn Cassady atop Nixon, owned by Pine Hollow Sales LLC of Lakeland, FL, was awarded the second place prize. Naf-Naf, owned by Gabrielle Bausano, Inc. of New York, NY, with Vivian Yowan in the irons took home the third place ribbon, as well as the first place ribbon from the WIHS Hunter Phase. She was followed closely by Spencer Smith aboard Icarus, owned by Ashland Farm of Wellington, FL, who was awarded the fourth place honors. Spencer Smith on Icarus - 4th Place
This was the first time Gleeson had shown Playboy since their participation in the ASPCA Maclay Finals in 2011, because he had been injured shortly after. She commented, “I have had him for two years, and this is my last year doing the equitation classes. He is such a wonderful horse, and he is finally starting to get back to where he was before his injury. I can only have one horse, and if I could have any horse, it would be without a doubt, Playboy.”
Gleeson is a working student for Ken and Emily Smith of Ashland Farms in Wellington, FL. While Playboy was enduring recovery, she worked constantly on riding whatever she could get her hands on. “I haven’t done a lot of the equitation this year, but I am hoping to qualify for all of the Finals since this is my last year.”
“I thought the course was definitely perfect for an equitation class,” Gleeson described. “It was very serpentine-like, and the test was what should be expected of a Medal. I am so happy that my horse is returning to himself again, and hopefully we will be able to make it all the way.”
MAY 8, 2012 – WELLINGTON, FL – For fifteen year old equestrian, Spencer Smith, riding has always been a big part of his life. Growing up in Wellington, Florida, Smith has developed into a well rounded show jumper that juggles a busy training schedule along with a full timetable at Wellington Christian. The month of April was an eventful month for Smith, with a win at the WEF Junior Classic aboard Skara Glen’s Voltan H, as well as a double clear round at the Open Stake, taking 8th place honors from a field of over 40 riders.
Smith has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to grow up in a show jumping family where he has been able to develop his skills under the tutelage of both his parents, Ken and Emily – each notable trainers within the equestrian world. Their influence on their son started at a very early age and each lend specific inputs into the preparation that goes into every trip in the competition ring.
Smith relayed the differences between each of his parents’ approaches: “Both of my parents are very competitive by nature, my dad works a lot on developing my riding position and is very focused on maintaining a calm approach on the horse. My mom is a fantastic motivator that is great at getting me mentally prepared to enter the ring and keep me set on what I need to do to win.”
The one-two tandem approach to Smith’s riding has paid dividends over the past year. As a fourteen year old, Smith competed last year in his first Grand Prix in Lexington, Kentucky, and has high aspirations of competing in at least a couple more during the summer of 2012. Smith added, “Voltan H is an exceptional horse, and we have been building on a great rapport in the show ring this season, I really think we have a shot at competing in a couple of Grand Prix events this season, particularly when we show in Cleveland during the summer. I would also like to build up some more experience at the higher levels with another horse I’m excited about, an 11 year old Zangersheide mare named Charme Z.”
The pressure will be elevated this summer, as the young rider will compete towards qualifying for the Maclay Zone IV Regionals, a demanding series that attracts the top junior riders from the sport. Smith will begin his qualification pursuit at the end of May at the Devon Horse Show, which takes place in Pennsylvania. Smith will face off this season against some of his fellow riders, Caroline Spogli, Leylan Gleeson and Shawn Casady – all riders that train with his parents at Ashland Farms. On the friendly rivalry, Smith remarked, “we have all been riding together now for the last few years and all get along as friends, but when it comes to getting in the ring – we all want to compete at the highest level we can.”
During the spring season, Smith has added a new influence to his riding development, with the addition of trainer Andres Rodriguez. “I find that Andres and I share similar frame types, and I’ve learned a lot from him over the last few months. Sometimes it’s easier to receive instruction from an additional point of view and Andres has been a huge help in getting me prepped to compete this year.”
The team at Ashland Farms will soon embark on the spring and summer tour across the East Coast, with stops in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York. With a strong team of supporters and a pair of athletic horses, Smith is optimistic about his chances to meet and exceed some of the goals he has set for himself in 2012.
APRIL 14, 2012 – WELLINGTON, FL – As the Winter Equestrian Season in Wellington comes to a close, Ashland Farms would like to acknowledge many of the significant accomplishments this season.
Over the course of the past few months, Ashland’s riders have competed in the WEF series, in Wellington, and we are pleased to announce our list of Season Final Champions, Reserve Champions and Finalists for 2012. Congratulations to all our riders on your outstanding achievements.
MARCH 25, 2012 – WELLINGTON, FL – The 5th Annual George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championships were held on Friday evening in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. A feature event for the junior riders at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.
The evening’s class was held in three rounds with thirty-four riders competing in round one, the top 13 coming back for round two, and the top four returning for the third and final round. The course walk and schooling were the sole responsibility of the riders. Competitors were allowed no contact with their trainers during the class and were responsible for time management, warm up, and schooling of their own horses with the assistance of one groom.
The course was designed by Richard Jeffery, of Bournemouth, England, in conjunction with the judges. The riders were judged by two panels and also received a score in the schooling area after the first and second rounds. Judging Panel 1 included George Morris and Kirsten Coe; Panel 2 included McLain Ward and Kent Farrington.
Out of the 34 young riders that competed in the Equitation Championships, Ashland Farms’ Shawn Casady had a strong showing, finishing just outside the final four with a 6th place finish.
