Four-Year-Olds Star With Young Riders
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
by Sara Pizzuto
Taylor River Farm has proven that young horses can be successfully shown by young riders. This was evident as 4-year-olds Ledyard’s Perfect Manhattan and Ledyard’s Midas Touch earned Grand National titles paired with their youth and junior exhibitor partners.
Ledyard’s Perfect Manhattan was unanimously victorious in the second section of the youth hunter pleasure qualifier with owner and rider Michelle Quinlisk aboard. “Neptune” is the reigning Three-Year-Old Hunter Pleasure World Champion, and has seamlessly transitioned into the role of a youth horse. The stallion picked up blue ribbons throughout the season enroute to Oklahoma with both Michelle and trainer Sarah Gove in the saddle.
“He felt great in our class,” Michelle said. “He was very energetic, yet well behaved. He has a really good brain, and is easy to ride in the crowds, which I think is really impressive. I forget that he is only four all of the time.”
Another Ledyard bred horse, Ledyard’s Midas Touch, made the last pass in the Junior Exhibitor 13 and under class with Sophia Vasapolli. “Nova” joined Sophia’s family last year, and the two have spent the season perfecting their skills. The team saved their best performance for Oklahoma.
Trainer Sarah Gove was incredibly proud of her two riders and their junior horses.
“It is always fun to have a plan come together when you select a junior horse to bring along,” she said. “It’s icing on the cake to have an amateur or junior exhibitor that can be equally as successful with them.”
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