Lexington Junior League - Thursday Morning
Friday, July 11, 2014
Louis and Jennifer Louw and their crew celebrated the first winner of the day, Rayann Schaffer, in Saddle & Bridle’s Pleasure Equitation Medallion. Rayann has worked hard with New York City Kitty, showing a strong campaign across the Midwest, culminating this Lexington victory pass. Kristina Mauro is following the path of the California equitation riders through the Zubrod Stables program. She showed Renaissance Rose to reserve honors today from her Carlsbad, California home base. Kristina is another crossover from the Morgan ranks as well, winner of the Junior Classic Equitation World Championship at the Morgan Grand National last year.
Privé made a blue ribbon show with Kay Marschel, as these two made just their second show together. Also a winner at Midwest Charity for Majestic Oaks, Privé is by Dun-Haven Truly Awesome and out of Heartland Chelsey. Heartland Priscilla and Paige McQuown were reserve for Richard McQuown. Matt Schuckert trains this one, winners of this class at River Ridge and Indianapolis Charity.
All of the top four in the Adult Country Pleasure Championship carry their “CH” designation from the Saddlebred Registry, showing the depth of competition in this class. CH Teuschers was judged to be the best from this good group, as Gretchen Bentz kept her remarkable undefeated record going aboard the big chestnut gelding.This week was their first show together since Louisville 2013 where they were crowned World’s Champion of Champions. Teuschers has shown 16 times since then, some with Teresa Atkin and some with Jerrdin Selwyn under the LaFleur banner. On her 65th birthday, Vickie Byrd took the reserve tricolor with CH Talkin’To You. This was a fourth straight reserve win for these two against the very best of competition. The other two reserve titles in that run came at Midwest Charity. Before that they showed at Asheville and J.D. Massey, coming off a season where they were the reserve national champions. Of importance here is that according to the USEF, Vickie is still just a 64-year-old rider! CH Callaway’s Summer Solstice and Carissa Marshall were third for Tannehill Farms, with CH Phi’s Phortune Teller in fourth with Tracy Gibson.
Sarah Madison Hecht and Aragorn defended their Road Pony Under Saddle Championship title, winning that class for the second year in a row. These two show under the Majestic Oaks banner. Smokin’ Aces and Jennifer Huston were the Reserve Champions for Kathleen Chapman. Janet Crampton trains this pony.
Gretchen Halloran was thrilled with her ride aboard CH Jessie Cole in the Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Championship. Matt Shiflet made his usual jog to the winner’s circle to head up the winner for Gaited Inc. This is Gretchen’s first year showing Jessie Cole, who returned to Matt Shiflet Stables after a four season tour of success in the Midwest. This is now their fifth win together, taking on the tough Carolina circuit to prep them for today’s tricolor ride. Qualifier winner Reedann’s Rare Mystery represented the bays versus the grays. He was the reserve champion with Juliette Dell, repeating their placement from the championship at Midwest last month. This is Juliette’s second year with Rare Mystery, her first in this division. CH Peanut Butter and Ellie Kangur were third in this big class, followed by G.V. Silver Oak and Sommer Justice for Grand Vin Stables.
Jonelle Chovanec got to head up a victory pass in the two-entry AHHS Pleasure Pony Under Saddle Medallion. Finnagan Winnagan was the winner with Cece Hoffman riding for Christine Johnson. They were also winners of this class at Tanbark. Indy Charity winner Heartland Prancer was reserve with Samantha McCutchan for Kristen Bagdasarian.
The tricolor winner here a year ago, Jolly Mon Sing continued his great run with Ali DeGray and a good day for the grays with a win in the Hunter Country Pleasure class. This was a 12th win in a row for the gray gelding for owner Helen Rich and trainer Ruth Gimpel. The division was well-attended this year, with even more quality than in years past. Harlem’s Sweet Success was the reserve winner with Phyllis Brannon aboard for Phyllis and Caitlin Brannon. Owned and trained by Phyllis, Sweet Success has been sweetly successful on the competitive Ohio circuit the past two years.
If you want to see an example of the mystique and aura that still surround the Lexington Junior League Horse Show, look no further than Brett Self’s win in the NHS Good Hands Event. The Fiesta Farm cheering section raised the roof when she was called out the winner, then all filed back to form three different waves of at least 10 people each to congratulate Brett and Paradoc’s Korygami with trainer Stephanie Lilly. Kara Hachigian was up for reserve honors with He’s A Momma’s Boy, directed here by Marilyn Macfarlane.
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