The Girls of Revelation Farm
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
Stake night is usually reserved for professionals of the trade, but 15-year-old Kaitlyn Grom didn’t let that stop her from competing in the Five-Gaited Jackpot Stake at this year’s UPHA Chapter 14 Spring Premier Horse Show in W. Springfield, Mass. Kate won the open class earlier in the week with her entry Diamond Flight, who just happens to be a pony.
Come Saturday night the team was geared and ready to take on the eleven horse field and they came out the winners! Kate wasn't the only junior exhibitor showing under the Revelation Farm banner. Her sister Tara and their cousin Chelsea Simon were also spotted in the winner's circle. Trainer Terry Stephenson said, "We've shown a total of 34 times in three days!" What a busy bunch of horse lovers.
For Kate the love affair with horses began when she was four years old. "I started riding huntseat, then I rode with Sally Eichlin when I was about seven until I was 13. And then my family decided to start our own barn," said Kate. The rest is Revelation Farm history.
Founded in 1995 by Kim and Robert Grom, Revelation Farm is situated on 140 acres of plush pasture ground in the Kingwood Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The farm has been home to Revelation's Amazing Grace, a top three-gaited park contender, and Revelation's Glory, a top fine-harness entry. It's apparent to anyone whose seen this successful group at a show that they truly love this sport.
Not only did Kate claim the tricolor in the gaited stake, but she also took the tricolor in the Three-Gaited Junior Exhibitor Stake with Mega Volt, the junior exhibitor five-gaited tricolor and open blue with Miss Marian, and the Saddleseat Equitation Senior Championship tricolor. Clearly this is one talented youngster.
Tara Grom, the younger of the sisters, began riding at age five with Sally Eichlin. "Now our trainer is Terry Stephenson and our equitation instructor is Jo Cornell," stated Tara. She claimed many ribbons in W. Springfield as well, one of which was the English Show Pleasure Junior Exhibitor Stake tricolor with News Stand. Tara also took the blue in the USAE Saddleseat Medal class and the Saddleseat Equitation Riders 12 & 13 class.
The third junior exhibitor showing under the Revelation Farm Banner is Kate and Tara's cousin, 15-year-old Chelsea Simon who Kate says, "is really more like our sister. We're always together." Chelsea has been riding for three years and made strong appearances in Massachusetts as well, winning the Roadster Pony Jackpot Stake with Whims And Wishes and taking top ribbons in the pleasure equitation division.
All three girls attend Hunterdon Christian Academy and are involved in many extra curricular activities but say they mostly just enjoy having a good time and doing anything fun. Who wouldn't have a good time winning all those ribbons and riding all those fun horses?
|