Ashland Farms, FL

JULY 23, 2011 – SAUGERTIES, NY – With competition taking place in 10 different show rings and more than 1,600 horses on the premises, the opening week of the HITS-on-the-Hudson summer series is going like gangbusters, proving that Saugerties, New York is the place to be this summer.

Olympian Margie Engle picked up right where she left off upon her return to HITS-on-the-Hudson when she piloted Ashland Farms’ Lord Spezi to an exciting victory in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Engle and Lord Spezi had a very successful start to their season in Saugerties back in June when they won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix and finished sixth together in the $100,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix during HITS-on-the-Hudson III.

“He [Lord Spezi] had the winter off and we showed together here Week III where we did really well together,” said Engle. “We’re back for the summer and looking to qualify for the [Pfizer] Million. He’s a funny horse, he has a cocky attitude, but in a good way. He knows when he does a good job. Sometimes, after a jump he’ll let out a little buck, showing off like ‘Wow! Look what I did’. He’s not a very big horse, but he has a very big personality.”

Friday’s win did not come easy for Engle as 39 other starters stood in her way at the outset of the class, including fellow Olympians McLain Ward, Peter Leone, Todd Minikus, Kevin Babington and Manuel Torres. International Course Designer Marina Azevedo of Brazil set a challenging course in the roomy Strongid® C 2X Stadium that included a double combination early in the track, a water jump mid-way through the route and a triple combination at the second-to-last fence, which proved to be the downfall of many riders on the course.

The first clear ride came early in the order when David Raposa of Clinton, New York put down a flawless effort aboard Don Stewart’s Tebow. Ten trips later, Ohio’s Ali Wolff jumped clear aboard John Wolff & Blacklick Bend Farm’s Lanoo but had two time faults which kept them from advancing to the next round. Three trips later, Gemma Paternoster of Wellington, Florida rode her own Osiris to a clear round to force a jump-off. By the end of the first round, Raposa and Paternoster were joined by seven others for an intense battle to the finish.

Azevedo’s jump-off course consisted of seven efforts, including the double combination from the first round, with a time allowed of 55 seconds. Raposa wasted no time setting the pace when he and Tebow went clear in a quick 34.82 seconds to establish the Great American Time to Beat.

Paternoster and Osiris followed and had a rail down at the second effort to finish the class in eighth place. Ward of Brewster, New York was up next aboard his own Oh’ D Eole, the first of his two mounts in the jump-off. They went fast and clean in 34.22 seconds to take the lead from Raposa with six left to show.

Katie Dinan of New York, New York followed next aboard Grant Road Partners, LLC’s Couletto James and finished the round with 13 faults (8 jumping, 5 time) and the ninth-place check. Colombia’s Manuel Torres followed with a clear ride aboard TG Show Stables Chambacunero in 35.87 seconds which would earn them the fifth-place ribbon at the end of the class.

Connecticut’s Jonathan McCrea was next to show aboard Candy Tribble & Windsor Show Stables’ Colorado. The pair finished clean in 40.62 seconds which was good enough for sixth place.

With just three riders left to show and Ward still holding on to first place, Engle entered the ring aboard Lord Spezi with a fire in her eyes and only one thing on her mind, the win. The duo cruised through the course with perfection and managed to shave just over a tenth of a second off of Ward’s time to take the lead in 34.09 seconds to the delight of the crowd.

As the cheers subsided, the intensity grew when Ward returned with his second mount Poker. A rail down in the combination would put them in seventh place.

All eyes turned to Jimmy Torano and Bynum Farms’ Vince, who enjoyed their very first Grand Prix win together at HITS-on-the-Hudson last summer when they won the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix during Week V. Looking to repeat that performance where they used their last-to-go spot to pull ahead for the victory, the pair gave it their all and went clean but with a time of 35.57 seconds they had to settle for fourth place.

“The course was pretty perfect,” said Engle after the win. “The designer did a good job, making it challenging enough, but keeping the heat we had today in consideration. She designed it so that we had a nice number return for the jump-off, and set it so that it was not too big of a jump-off round, but perfect considering the heat.”

Engle has the distinction of being the winningest Grand Prix rider in the sport and has been known to have a perpetual fire in her belly each time she goes into the ring. Her focus and intensity can be felt for miles. “Well, I’m competitive and I want to win,” she added with a smile. “I’ve stayed hungry for it.”

Cleocin Gel

June 11, 2011 – SAUGERTIES, NY — Margie Engle made a triumphant return to HITS Saugerties this week and reignited her winning streak in the Strongid C 2X Stadium when she captured both the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome on Wednesday and the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, aboard Ashland Farms’ Lord Spezi on Friday.

On Wednesday, Engle of West Palm Beach, Florida and Lord Spezi beat out 38 starters in the Brook Ledge Open Welcome, with Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, Florida and Candy Tribble & Windsor Show Stables Inc.’s Sweetheart in second, followed by Richard Moloney of Wellington, Florida with Equinimity LLC’s Alsvid in third.

In Friday’s feature class, Engle, Minikus and Moloney were at it again as three of 42 starters on a course designed by International Course Designer Olaf Petersen Jr. of Muenchen, Germany. After the first round, ten horse-and-rider combinations returned to navigate the short course in an exciting jump-off.

Nicholas Dello Joio of Wellington, Florida returned first in the jump-off aboard his own Geledimar and set the Great American Time to Beat at 41.479 seconds. Dello Joio was joined in the jump-off by his father, Norman Dello Joio aboard Thelma Romero-Cloud’s Notre Star De La Nutria. Father and son finished third and fourth, respectively.

The all-star duo of Minikus and Pavarotti, owned by Todd Minikus, LTD., were second to jump-off and went clear with a fast time of 38.139 seconds and put a tight grip on the lead. The next six riders failed to go clear and it was starting to seem like Minikus had it all wrapped up until Engle and Lord Spezi entered the ring.

“After I watched Todd go, I thought I was riding for second place,” said Engle, a former U.S. Olympian who is also the winningest Grand Prix rider of all time. “I think we all thought we were riding for second place, but I knew it had to be all or nothing and I need all the help I can get!”

Engle and Lord Spezi posted a clear jump-off in 37.410 seconds to take the lead, pushing Minikus into second place. “I’ve only been riding this horse for a short while and I just started going fast with him,” she commented. “He’s really handy and galloped up nicely for me.”

Rounding out the top five in Friday’s Grand Prix was Moloney aboard Equinimity LLC’s Let’s Go in fifth.

Engle, who competed in the 2010 Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, is back on course to qualify for this year’s installment, which is set to take place on September 11 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York. “I hope to qualify for the Pfizer Million Grand Prix again this year,” said Engle. “I will definitely be here a lot this summer.”

As the $100,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, approaches this Sunday to highlight the spring series of horse shows, Engle and Lord Spezi have plenty of momentum to potentially sweep the competition.

Sunday’s Purina Mills Grand Prix will be Engle’s and the rest of the High-Performance roster’s last chance this spring to capture prize money in order to qualify for the Pfizer Million before the summer circuit kicks-off at HITS Culpeper on Wednesday, July 6 for two consecutive weeks. The Culpeper shows in July will feature two more $40,000 Pfizer Million Qualifying Grand Prix and then it’s back to HITS-on-the-Hudson for three consecutive weeks of competition and six more Pfizer Million Qualifiers starting on Wednesday, July 20.

June 12, 2011 – LEXINGTON, KY – Competition at Lexington’s Country Heir I Horse Show concluded today with an exciting finish in the Jr/AO division, where riders competed in the $10,000 SJHOF Jr/AO Jumper Classic.

The win went to Shawn Casady, riding Skara Glen’s Basel competing over a course at a height of 1.37m.  Rounding out the class in the second and third place spots were Samantha Senft on “Early Morning” and Sarah Sturges riding “Kick AZ”.

Casady has had a strong year thus far on the show circuit, beginning with success on the Florida Circuit in Wellington, Florida working with his coaches, Ken and Emily Smith of Ashland Farms.

Class Results:

May 22, 2011 – LEXINGTON, KY – Thirteen riders faced off this week at the Kentucky Spring Classic’s installment of the Platinum Performance USEF Talent Search.

The program seeks to develop the sport of show jumping’s future stars.  Over the past 51 years, the roster of graduates has included the top stars of today, including: Beezie Madden, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, McLean Ward and Lauren Hough (among many others).

Results on the day ended with a win  by 17 year old Caroline Spogli, riding “Cruise Z”, a horse owned by Cavallo Farms LLC.  Spogli, resides in New York City and has been riding and training with Wellington, Florida’s Ashland Farms for the past few years with Ken and Emily Smith.

This was Spogli’s second USEF Talent Search win of the season, and she now moves on to continue her USEF pursuits in Lake Placid and the Northeast show circuit.

The second win has qualified the Spogli for the West Coast Finals, and another win prior to the end of August will further qualify for the East Coast Finals.

January 22, 2011 – WELLINGTON, FL – The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), which runs from January 12 through April 3, awarded more championships today in the junior hunter divisions. Among the various junior hunter divisions offered at WEF, the Large Junior Hunters 16-17 finished early Saturday and awarded tricolor honors to the victor.

Shawn Casady, riding the Elm Rock LLC entry, Vida Blue, rode to the Large Junior16-17 Hunter championship in the second week of WEF. Casady, of Midtown, TN, and Vida Blue were a hard pair to beat this week. The duo received impressive scores of 92 and 95 over fences on the first day of competition.

They then went on to have a repeat the second day of competition, receiving the same two scores of 92 and 95 over fences.

Vida Blue, a thirteen-year-old, grey Holsteiner mare by Chambertin, has had an impressive show career in the junior ring. Now her success continues with Casady, who has been showing Vida Blue since November. “She is a beautiful mare to ride,” said Casady.

The pair clinched the championship by winning all four over fences classes.

Reserve champion honors went to Perfectionist. Perfectionist is shown by Heather Hooker and owned by Richard Prant. The pair was third, fourth, and fifth over fences and they won the under saddle class.

Casady, a high school student, is home-schooled in Wellington so that he can continue riding throughout the winter season, a decision that has proved very beneficial to his riding career thus far.

“I want to thank Susie Humes and Elm Rock LLC,” said Casady of getting to ride Vida
Blue.

Article by Brooke Bidgood for Equestrian Sport Productions

January 15, 2011 – WELLINGTON, FL -The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival saw a busy start to its first weekend in the 2011 season. Competitors will be awarded numerous championships throughout the season, which runs through April 3. Today, one of those championships was presented in the Illustrated Properties Small Junior 16-17 year-old Hunter division.

Shawn Casady of Midtown, TN, took the tricolor aboard Glass Castle. Elm Rock LLC owns Glass Castle, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare. “I’m very thankful to Susie Humes, Elm Rock LLC, and Ken and Emily Smith,” stated Casady.

Casady was more than happy with his results aboard Glass Castle, as this is only his second show on her. “She is a wonderful horse and beautiful to ride,” he beamed.

Casady secured the division championship in a field of 14 riders by placing first, second, fourth and fifth over fences, and placing second under saddle.

The points for champion and reserve were very close this week in the Illustrated Properties Small Junior 16-17 Hunters. Not far behind Glass Castle was reserve champion Caretano, owned and ridden by Hannah Goodson-Cutt. Goodson-Cutt won two classes in the division and also placed fifth and sixth over fences.

Casady stays in Wellington for the remainder of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. While here, Casady is home schooled, and said, “I am very serious about school.” Home schooling allows for more time to be devoted to riding.

Brooke Bidgood for Equestrian Sport Productions

January 17, 2011 – WELLINGTON, FL – Elm Rock LLC’s Junior Hunters Glass Castle (Small) and Vida Blue (Large) kicked off the first week of competition of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) with two championships. Junior rider Shawn Casady piloted both of the talented mounts to a tricolor in their respective divisions by earning top ribbons in all of the Junior Hunter classes.

Casady secured the division championship in the Small 16-17 Junior Hunters with Glass Castle by earning first, second, fourth and fifth place ribbons over fences, and receiving second place ribbon in the under saddle. Casady was thrilled with his rounds aboard Glass Castle. “She is a wonderful horse and beautiful to ride, always jumps a great jump and really tries hard to win” commented Casady.


In the Large 16-17 Junior Hunter Division, Vida Blue and Casady were presented with the division’s top honors. The duo won both over fences classes on Sunday, and were second and third for their efforts in Saturday’s classes. “Vida tries to win every time she walks into the ring.” said Shawn with a smile. “I am really lucky to get to ride her.’

“I’m very thankful to Susie Humes, and to Elm Rock LLC for the opportunity to ride these great hunters, and also to Ken and Emily Smith for all of their help and encouragement everyday. I really appreciate their support,” said Casady. “I would be remiss to not thank Bill Schaub who gave me my start and made me a horseman.”

Written by: Alyson Sanderford

November 9, 2010 – SYRACUSE, NY – This weekend junior rider, Leah DeMartini of Bronxville, NY, had the opportunity to compete with her talented mount Vida Blue during the 127th National Horse Show in Syracuse, NY. Together DeMartini and Vida Blue took home the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter Reserve Champion Honors after they won the handy round and placed second in the other two over fences classes.

At the end of the week, Vida Blue was also named the High Point Junior Hunter Over Fences for receiving more points than any other junior hunter in the three jumping classes.

“Vida really likes it here, but I think more than that I’ve really learned how to ride her,” noted DeMartini. “It’s taken me a little while to figure her out but now that I have I am really happy because she’s so great. I don’t get nervous because I think it’s more about experience in the ring. It’s different riding inside when the jumps come up quickly, so after doing the indoor shows, all the repetition has helped. I really like this ring and think the horses are very comfortable here.”

“Her handy round was so smooth even with all the hard options,” said DeMartini’s trainer, Susie Humes of Greentree South. “It was one of the hardest handy tracks I’ve seen in awhile, and the fact that she went out there and executed everything so precisely was exciting. I am very proud of her!”

“This was a great ending for Indoors for Leah, it was really well done,” Humes continued. “She’s ridden so well, she’s very determined and very focused. I’ve very proud of her, it’s a great way to end the year and I couldn’t be happier. I’d like to give a big thanks to Ken Smith for coming up to help, and of course Andrew Lustig (Elm Rock’s rider and co-trainer) and all the support we get from friends.”

“Leah really just rose to the occasion and persevered through indoors,” said Smith. “It was great to see it all come together for her this week and I’m just so proud of her.”

“I just want to thank Ken Smith for his help, and of course Susie and Andrew for everything. Its been a great year and I am excited about Florida,” said DeMartini.

During 2011 DeMartini will head back to Florida to compete at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).

By Phelps Media Group

SYRACUSE, NY – November 4, 2010 – Awards for the Small Junior Hunter 15 and Under Division were presented today at the 127th National Horse Show in Syracuse, NY.

Taking top honors in the division was Shawn Casady riding Wildrose. Casady ends the 2010 show season with a string of wins and championships including a win in the ASPCA Maclay Region 4 Championships, a top ten finish at the USEF PESOA Hunter Seat Equitation Medal Finals in Harrisburg and a Junior Hunter Championship in Washington DC.

For winning the Championship, Casady and Wildrose took home the “Blue by You” Memorial Challenge Trophy donated by Miss Elyse Novick. Casady is currently training for the 2011 Season with Wellington Florida’s Ashland Farms under the guidance of Ken and Emily Smith.

Excerpt from article by Jennifer Wood
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 29, 2010 – The best junior hunters in the nation went head-to-head today in their respective divisions to determine championships at the 52nd Washington International Horse Show. Shawn Casady of Midtown, TN, rode Cachet, owned by Caroline Spogli of San Diego, CA, to the final junior hunter division championship.
Although Shawn Casady hails from Tennessee, the 10-year-old Warmblood mare Cachet kept the California vibe alive when she and Casady won the Large Junior 15 & Under championship for owners Caroline Spogli and Cavallo Farms of San Diego, CA.

Casady piloted Cachet to first place over fences and third place under saddle for the division championship. Walk the Line (owned by O’Mara and Donald Stewart) and Abby O’Mara of Rumson, NJ, were the reserve champions after they placed first and fifth over fences and fifth under saddle.

Casady is fifteen years old and gets the ride whenever Cachet’s owner, Caroline Spogli, is unavailable. They competed once in the winter, a handful of times this summer, and have made the full indoor tour through Capital Challenge, Harrisburg, and the WIHS. Casady said of Cachet, “She’s a blast to ride. She’s a sweet mare. She has a really good feel and a sweepy stride. Most of the horses I ride are mares and she fits in. I’ve always gotten along with mares.”

Casady was champion at the WIHS in 2008 in the Large Pony Hunters and he was excited to win again. He remarked, “It’s an honor to win here and it feels good.”

For full results and more information, please visit www.wihs.org.
Photo Credit: Photos © Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.