LEXINGTON, KY-July 31, 2010 – It was another beautiful day at the Kentucky Horse Park, host of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, and ultimately, the FEI World Equestrian Games this coming fall. Being clean and fast was key for competitors in today’s High Amateur Owners Junior Jumper class. Having a timed first round required riders to be fault free, and with the fastest time possible to be in ribbon contention.
The course in today’s class was designed by Richard Jeffery and consisted of fences anywhere from 1.35 meters to 1.45 meters. Beginning with a wide open oxer, riders were then challenged with a vertical-rollback-vertical combination to a galloped open water jump with the pole only being scored. The course went on to include a one stride vertical combination, a triple bar oxer, an oxer to vertical combination, and an oxer with a Liverpool.
It was a bright beginning with the first rider to go, Dr. Fernando Cardenas and Orphan Car who went through a clean round in 74.728, well under the time allowed of 83 seconds. It was just two more rounds until Audrey Coulter registered the second clean round aboard Copernicus Stables, LLC horse Titania, just a tick quicker in 74.301.
Out of a field of 27 competitors, only five riders went clean . Near the end of the class, it was Megan Fellows and her horse, Le Supra, who took a commanding lead with a clean round in 71. 051. But Fellows stay at the top was short-lived as the next to go was Elizabeth Boyd’s First Lady, ridden by Shawn Casady. The pair re-set the stage with another flawless round and stopped the clock in a blazing 69.843, good enough for the win.
“Everything went so well, smiled Casady after his winning ride, “We got out in an open gallop and everything just kept coming up nicely. She jumped very careful and I am learning a lot from her,” He went on to add, “She’s owned by Liza (Elizabeth Boyd) and she wants to keep doing hunters, so First Lady is currently for sale.” When asked about how he is enjoying his time at the Kentucky Horse Shows, Casady replied, “I come to the spring and summer shows a lot because it’s in the middle of the north and south, so a good place. It has good people, a great facility, good footing and jumps, fun rings to ride in, and beautiful hunter rings.”
Written by Kentucky Horse Shows