Horse Shows by the Bay Series III Wrap-Up, July 22-26

Traverse City, MI – July 27, 2009 – It was an exciting victory for Kyle King and Riptide in Saturday’s $30,000 D-BRAIDER Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix during the third week of competition at the 2009 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. King and Riptide, owned by Alison Friedman, topped a field of 16 to earn top honors in the class, which was held in the Grand Prix Ring at Flintfields Horse Park in beautiful Traverse City, MI.

Saturday’s grand prix class was the conclusion of open jumper competition at this year’s Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. The class was sponsored by D-BRAIDER and Karin Flint of Wellington, FL, and 16 entries showed over the challenging track set by course designer Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC.

Vaillancourt tested the horses and riders over a difficult course in the first round and just five entries were able to complete the course without fault to advance to the jump-off. The top four went double clear and the top three galloped through the timers, each one faster than the next, in the jump-off. Laura Pfeiffer was first to jump off with Thorstin and put in a clear round in 40.551 seconds that earned fourth place upon completion of the class. Blythe Marano was next to jump the shortened course with Urban and went clean in a slightly faster time of 38.990 seconds that eventually earned second place.

Kyle King entered the ring and topped Marano’s time, riding Riptide to a blazing fast round in 36.695 seconds to take the lead. Laura Pfeiffer followed with her second jump-off mount, Anberlin. Pfeiffer rode Anberlin to a clear round and finished faster than her time with Thorstin, but stopped the clock in 40.072 seconds to take over the third place honors. The final jump-off round belonged to David Beisel, who rode Patoile to a four-fault round in 38.055 seconds to earn fifth place.

Grand prix winner Kyle King is from Ocala, FL, and has ridden 14-year-old Riptide for many years. Riptide is by Ocean II, and King and his father bought the Holsteiner gelding in California as a two-year-old. King and Riptide have a long history together that includes over fifteen grand prix wins throughout the years, and even though King had not ridden the horse in four years, they proved today that they can still win.

Although he finished fifth in the grand prix, David Beisel has done consistently well throughout the three weeks of jumper competition at the Horse Shows by the Bay Series, and was presented with a special award prior to the class. Beisel was named the Ovation Leading Open Jumper Rider and was honored with a $500 gift certificate from English Riding Supply. A special CANTER exhibitor party and silent auction was also held during the grand prix, sponsored by Meijer.

Sunday’s competition was the conclusion of three weeks of hunter/jumper competition at the 2009 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. Dressage and polo action will be featured for the fourth and final week at Flintfields Horse Park beginning Wednesday, July 29, and will run through Sunday, August 2. For more information, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com

USHJA Member’s Choice Awards

Please vote for Horse Shows by the Bay for the USHJA’s Member’s Choice Awards. The Member’s Choice Awards Program, developed by the Show Standards Committee, gives horse show exhibitors and participants the opportunity to award excellence at USEF Licensed Hunter Jumper competitions through their feedback relating to the competition, the facility where it took place, footing, show personnel, and hospitality.

The goal of the Member’s Choice Awards Program is to promote exhibitor friendly competitions and reward excellence based on the amenities and qualities exhibitors’ value. Competitions winning the Best Overall Competition awards will receive a USHJA banner, recognizing their accomplishment. An award to each zone’s “Member’s Choice Award” Show will be given out at the USHJA Annual Meeting.

To fill out the Horse Shows by the Bay Evaluation please visit: https://www.usef.org/_AUAIFrames/USHJA/CompEval/USHJACompEval.aspx 

Jumper Highlights – Thursday through Sunday

David Beisel and Patoile earned the victory in Thursday’s $10,000 Welcome Prix class at the 2009 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. Positive Step Farm of Howell, MI, generously sponsored the week three Welcome Prix class, and Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC, designed the course. Thirteen entries showed over the first round course, and eight went clear to jump-off. Of those eight, four went double clear, and David Beisel had two of those clear rounds. Beisel and Patoile, owned by Harlow Investment Enterprises, LLC, had the fastest clear jump-off round for the win, coming through the timers in 33.093 seconds.

Scott Lenkart and Un Prince earned the second place honors, jumping clear, but stopping the clock just a fraction of a second slower in a time of 33.656 seconds. Beisel took home the third place honors with Moet Walk, who he rode to victory in the week one Welcome Prix. This week the pair jumped double clear and had a jump-off time of 35.467 seconds. Fourth place was awarded to Brian Shook and Courage 68, who were the only other pair to jump double clear, and stopped the clock in 36.248 seconds.

Along with the excellent competition at the Welcome Prix class show exhibitors were treated to a wine, beer, & cheese social sponsored by Bowers Harbor Vineyard. Recess, a monthly after-work party hosted by the Traverse City Business News also kicked off the week at Horse Shows by the Bay, watching the class from the Special Events Tent overlooking the Grand Prix Ring.

Prior to the Welcome Prix class competition got underway in the morning with the 1.25m and 1.30m Jumper classes held in a power and speed format in the Grand Prix Ring. The $1500 1.25m Jumper class started things off, generously sponsored by Antares Sellier France. Four entries went clear in the power round and earned the opportunity to advance to the speed course, and it was Erin Haas and All of a Sudden who had the fastest time to take the victory. Hagyard Equine Medical Institute of Lexington, KY, sponsored the $2,000 1.30m Jumper class, and the top finishers were David Beisel and Berkley with the fastest time of only two entries that made it to the speed round.

Erin Haas of Ann Arbor, MI, rode her horse Chianti 67 to the victory in Friday’s $3,000 NAL Open Jumper Speed class. The victory was the second of the week for Haas after also topping the $1,500 1.25m Jumper class with her horse All of a Sudden on Thursday.

There were only two clear rounds in Friday’s NAL Open Speed class, which was held in a timed first round format over a course set by Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC. Adrienne Iverson was the first to clear the course with Aviendna in a time of 75.682 seconds, but ended up in second place after Erin Haas and Chianti 67 beat her time, galloping through the timers in 63.536 seconds to earn the win.

David Beisel followed to take the third and fourth place honors with two different mounts. Beisel rode Irish Hunt to third place with a four-fault round in 62.385 seconds, and piloted Chocolate Martini to the fourth place honors with a four-fault round in 63.477 seconds. Erin Ferguson had the only other four-fault round with Royal Prestige, and the pair came through the timers in 71.679 seconds to earn fifth place.

Things got off to a rainy start Sunday morning for the final day of jumper competition at the 2009 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. The rain stopped by the afternoon, but left some very muddy horses at the end of the $10,000 NAL/WIHS Children’s Adult Jumper Classic to conclude the day, as Lisa Baker rode King Tobias to victory in the class for the second year in a row.

Sunday’s Classic was held in the Grand Prix Ring with a course designed by Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC. The class not only featured great competition, but also had a special VIP Luncheon sponsored by Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant and Brewery in the tent over looking the ring. Seventeen entries showed over the first round course and nine went clear to advance to the jump-off. The top four entries went double clear and it became a race against the clock as the riders vied for top honors.

After completing the jump-off course in the fastest time of 32.888 seconds, Lisa Baker and King Tobias took home the blue ribbon for the second year in a row. Anna Levy rode Noranta to second place with her time of 34.578 seconds, Kelsey Brown galloped through the timers with Leopold in 35.513 seconds to earn third place, and Lisa Kent had the only other clear jump-off round in 37.085 seconds to finish in fourth place. The fastest four-fault round belonged to Debbie Beebe and Lenox, who completed the course in 35.567 seconds to place in fifth

The $5,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix started off the competition in the Grand Prix Ring on Sunday. Karin Flint of Wellington, FL, sponsored the class, and Amanda Dinsmore of Cincinatti, OH, jumped to victory in the pouring rain with her eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Brisco. Two entries went clear in the first round to make it to the jump-off, and Katherine Frame ended up in second place with Spitfire W.

Later in the day the $5,000 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic was held, and Erin Haas of Ann Arbor, MI, got her third victory of the week. Haas rode All of a Sudden to the win in a two-horse jump-off over Chelsey Coulter and Amaretto.

Along with the classes on Sunday, there was also a presentation for the Ovation Leading Rider Awards, sponsored by English Riding Supply of Scranton, PA. Laura Pfeiffer was named the Ovation Leading High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Rider and was honored with a $500 gift certificate from English Riding Supply.

Hunter Highlights – Thursday through Sunday

The Horse Shows by the Bay Series III got underway on Thursday at the scenic Flintfields Horse Park, following Wednesday’s cancellation of the horse show due to rain and thunderstorms throughout the day. Thursday’s top hunter prize was awarded to Peter Pletcher, who earned the Ovation Leading Hunter Rider Award after three weeks of competition. Laura Pfeiffer took home the Ovation Leading Junior Hunter Rider Award for her excellent performance over the last three weeks.

Peter Pletcher started the day off right by earning both the championship and the reserve championship tricolors during the morning’s Working Hunter division. Pletcher rode Argentum to the championship prize after earning two first place ribbons, a second place ribbon, and a third place ribbon. Pletcher captured the reserve championship honors aboard Portofino, after the pair earned a first place ribbon, two second place ribbons, and a third place ribbon.

Pletcher and Argentum then went on to earn the Grand Champion Working Hunter title. This week’s Grand Champion awards are sponsored by Equestrian Endeavors, of Holly, MI. Pletcher’s excellent performances throughout the three weeks at the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival earned him the Ovation Leading Hunter Rider Award, generously sponsored by English Riding Supply of Scranton, PA.

The next division to compete in the Polk Family Main Hunter Ring was the Green Conformation Hunters. Greg Crolick took home top honors, obtaining the championship award with Profound and the reserve championship prize with Vinsetta. Crolick and Profound were also honored with the Grand Champion Conformation Hunter award and the Susan Wallace Memorial Trophy.

The Large Junior 16-17 Hunter division got underway next, and this time Laura Pfeiffer and Elliot were presented with the championship prize. The pair earned two first place ribbons and two second place ribbons. The reserve championship award went to Alissa Norris for her ride aboard Lanshark, who garnered a first and a second place ribbon.

Pfieffer and Elliot later went on to win the $1000 Junior Hunter Classic, sponsored by Foxtail Farm, of Lake Leelanau, MI. Kelsey Wickham and Just Because followed with the second place award, while Norris and Lanshark earned the third place honors.

Following the $1000 Junior Hunter Classic Pfieffer was presented with the Ovation Leading Junior Hunter Rider Award. “This is a wonderful accomplishment; it feels great,” she noted after the awards ceremony.

During the day’s Small Junior Hunter division Pfieffer earned the reserve championship prize aboard Hamilton, following Anna Levy who rode the Grand Champion Conformation Hunter, Profound, to the championship win.

Earlier in the day the Large Junior 15 and Under Hunter division competed in the Polk Family Main Hunter Ring. The championship tricolor was awarded to Eliza Frankel and Luagno, while Ali Nicole Naugle and Glow took home the reserve championship honors. Frankel and Lugano earned three first place ribbons and a fourth place ribbon. Naugle and Glow earned a first place ribbon, two second place ribbon, and a fourth place ribbon.

Friday marked the third day of competition during the Horse Shows by the Bay Series III at the Flintfields Horse Park, where junior riders competed in the Pessoa/USEF Medal and the ASPCA Maclay. Laura Pfieffer had the blue ribbon ride during the day’s Pessoa/USEF Medal class aboard the eight-year-old mare Cassay. Heather Frymark and Eli were named the winners of the ASPCA Maclay class, held in the Polk Family Main Hunter Ring.

Twenty-one riders competed over Friday’s Pessoa/USEF Medal course, which included a sharp bending line, a rollback, a two-stride, and multiple inside options. The top four riders were called back to test and asked to hand gallop an oxer, counter canter a single vertical, canter the two stride line, and perform an extended sitting trot down the center of the ring.

Laura Pfieffer and Cassay performed a beautiful test to garner the blue ribbon and a Pessoa bridle, sponsored by English Riding Supply of Scranton, PA. Emily Abbruzzi and Keep It Simple followed with the second place prize, while Heather Frymark and Eli took home the third place award. Sydney Schaeffer rode VBS Hannink Atlantis to the fourth place honors.

Earlier in the day the Polk Family Main Hunter Ring hosted the ASPCA Maclay class, sponsored by RSB Farms of Wellington, FL. This time Heather Frymark and Eli walked away with the blue ribbon. The pair was the first to perform a tight inside turn to the course’s difficult rollback. Gabrielle Thornton and Captivate captured the second place prize, and Kelsey Wickham and Fesno were presented with the third place award. Cara Monforton and Justin took home the day’s fourth place ribbon.

The fourth day of competition at the Horse Shows by the Bay Series III at the Flintfields Horse Park featured three Hunter Jumper Association of Michigan (HJAM) Medal Final events in the Grand Prix Ring beginning at 1pm. Rachel Kuhn and I’ve Been Thinking led Saturday’s first victory gallop following their excellent performance during the HJAM Limit Junior Medal Final. The HJAM Adult Medal Final was next, where Lindey Sibel and Imprimis earned the top call and blue ribbon. Laura Pfeiffer and Cassay took home another exciting win during the last event, the HJAM Open Junior Medal Final.

Riders competing in the HJAM Medal Final events began by competing over a course designed by Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC. All riders without major faults were then asked to return for the flat phase, and finally the top eight riders were asked to perform a test.

During the test for the HJAM Limit Junior Medal Final and the HJAM Adult Medal Final riders were asked to canter into a line and trot out, canter a two stride line, hand gallop a single oxer, halt, back three steps, and sit the trot back to the line-up. During the HJAM Open Junior Medal Final riders were asked to canter into a line and trot out, halt, counter canter a single vertical, and canter a two-stride combination.

The HJAM Limit Junior Medal Final was the first to take place Saturday in the Grand Prix Ring. Rachel Kuhn and I’ve Been Thinking had an excellent performance during the first round over fences and received the top call during the test. They proceeded to execute each task that the test asked beautifully and earned the blue ribbon.

Aleena Bobich was presented with the day’s second place award for her ride aboard Imprimis. Mackenzie Hagen and Caroll Z also excelled during the competition and received the third place prize.

The HJAM Adult Medal Final was the next to compete, and Lindey Sibel and Imprimis took home the top prize. Kenda Vicary and Real received the second place prize, while Abigail Wujek and Magic Mana earned the third place honors.

The HJAM Open Junior Medal Final was the last event and Laura Pfeiffer and Cassay earned their second big win of the week. Following their victory during Friday’s Pessoa/USEF Medal, the pair led Saturday’s HJAM Open Junior Medal Final victory gallop. Marissa Monforton and Petit Pierre captured the second place award, while Emily Abbruzzi and Keep It Simple took home the third place prize.

Sunday marked the final day of hunter/jumper competition during the Horse Shows by the Equestrian Festival at the Fintfields Horse Park. The Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions wrapped up their second day of competition in the Polk Family Main Hunter Ring, and it was Becky Gochman that took home the day’s top prizes. Gochman was awarded the Ovation Leading Amateur-Owner Hunter Rider award for her excellent performance during her three weeks at Horse Shows by the Bay. She then proceeded to earn the Grand Champion Amateur-Owner Hunter title with Sonduetta after earning the championship prize in the Amateur-Owner 36 and Over Hunter division.

Gochman and Sonduetta began competing in the Amateur-Owner 36 and Over Hunter division Saturday, and during the two days of competition earned two first place ribbons, two second place ribbons, and a fourth place ribbon. Lynn Walsh and Ocean Park followed with the reserve championship award after earning two first place ribbons, two second place ribbons, and a fourth place ribbon. Gochman and Sonduetta’s excellent performance earned them the Grand Champion Amateur-Owner Hunter title. Gochman also earned the Ovation Leading Amateur-Owner Hunter Rider Award.

Following her victory in the Amateur-Owner 36 and Over Hunter division, Gochman claimed the $1000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic win aboard Arabella. She followed with the red rosette for her ride on Sonduetta, while Elizabeth Perry and Londeur took home the third place award.

The next division to compete was the Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunters, where Gochman again took top honors. Gochman garnered the championship tricolor with As Always after the pair earned three first place ribbons, a second place ribbon, and a fourth place ribbon. The reserve championship award was also presented to Gochman for her ride aboard Urlala. The pair took home a second place ribbon, three third place ribbons, and a sixth place ribbon.

Earlier in the day the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter division also competed for top prizes. Sunday’s championship award was presented to Cassandra Shipp and Celano after the pair earned two first place ribbons, two second place ribbons, and a fourth place ribbon. Elizabeth Perry and Londeur took home the reserve championship ribbon after earning a first place ribbon, two second place ribbon, a third place ribbon, and sixth place ribbon.

The Adult Amateur Hunters competed next, and this week the Grand Champion Adult Amateur Hunter title was awarded to Abigail Wujek and Magic Man. The pair had an excellent performance during the Adult Amateur 36-49 Hunter division, earning a first place ribbon, three second place ribbons, and a third place ribbon. Wujeck and Magic Man took home the division’s championship award and won the Grand Champion title.

The Ovation Leading Adult Amateur Hunter Rider Award for the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival was presented to Sue Hehl. Hehl rides Something’s Cookin’ in the Adult Amateur 50 and Over Hunter division and the pair have been very successful throughout their three weeks competing at this year’s horse show.

The final class to get underway in the Polk Family Main Hunter ring Sunday was the $1000 NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic. Anne Kanner and Robinson earned the top call and won the blue ribbon. The second place prize was awarded to Carrie Fleishhacker and Manitou, while Sue Hehl and Something’s Cookin’ received the third place honors.