Ovation Leading Rider Awards Presented at Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival

by: Rebecca Walton

Traverse City, MI – July 31, 2009 – The Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival completed its final day of hunter/jumper competition on Sunday at the scenic Flintfields Horse Park. During the three weeks of competition the riders accumulated points in their respective divisions, and the top exhibitors were honored with the Ovation Leading Rider Awards, generously sponsored for the fifth consecutive year by English Riding Supply of Scranton, PA.

Each leading rider received a gift certificate from English Riding Supply for $500, which is good towards any English Riding Supply catalog purchase; Ovation is one of the many brands they represent.

The leading riders were honored in the following categories: Leading Professional Hunter Rider, Leading Junior Hunter Rider, Leading Amateur Owner Hunter Rider, Leading Children’s Hunter Rider, Leading Adult Hunter Rider, Leading Pony Hunter Rider, Leading Professional Jumper Rider, Leading Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Rider, Leading Children’s Jumper Rider, Leading Adult Jumper Rider, and Leading Equitation Rider.

Three-time World Champion Hunter Rider Peter Pletcher, of Magnolia, TX, earned the Leading Professional Hunter Rider Award for the second year in a row. During the final week of competition Pletcher earned the Grand Champion Working Hunter title with Argentum, just one of the many mounts he competed with during the three weeks of the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival.

“Winning this award is an honor,” noted Pletcher. “The hunters at Horse Shows by the Bay were very strong again this year. I think the certificate to English Riding Supply is very useful; they carry a lot of high quality, name brand products.”

Laura Pfeiffer took home the award in two categories, earning the Leading Junior Hunter Rider title and the Leading High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Rider title. Pfeiffer rides at her family’s Fox Meadow Farm in Temperance, MI, and has a number of horses that she successfully competes in the different divisions. Pfieffer was the winner of the $5000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic with Patricia Haine’s Elliot during Week Two.

The Leading Amateur-Owner Rider Award was presented to Becky Gochman, who rides with Peter Pletcher and Heather Hays. Gochman had an excellent final week, earning the Grand Champion Amateur-Owner Hunter title with Sonduetta, and earning three tricolor ribbons.

Lulu Farish, from Lanes End Farm in Versailles, KY, was named the Leading Children’s Hunter Rider. Farish trains with Andre Dignelli of Heriatge Farm in Katonah, NY, and she hopes to continue her success as the year continues.

The Ovation Leading Adult Hunter Rider went to Sue Hehl. Hehl and her mount, Something’s Cookin’, were very successful during all three weeks of competition at the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival.

Rounding out the top hunter riders was Victoria Press, who took home the Leading Pony Hunter Rider Award. Press started the show with an exciting win during the first week in the $1000 Pony Hunter Classic aboard her medium pony, Hands Up.

David Beisel topped the jumper divisions, earning the Leading Professional Jumper Rider Award for the second year in a row. The rider/trainer rode several horses in every class that he competed in during the three weeks of competition, working hard to earn the title. Biesel was the winner of the $10,000 Welcome Prix during the first and third week of competition.

Tiffany Hammack galloped home with the Leading Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Rider Award. Hammack earned the division’s championship award two weeks in a row with Bull’s Run Carrera Z. During the second week she earned the reserve championship award with Rebound.

The Ovation Leading Children’s Jumper Rider Award was presented to Ashley Reed. Reed was victorious in the $2,500 NAL/WIHS Children’s Jumper Classic during the first two weeks of competition aboard Fast Break.

Elizabeth Perry, of Kalamazoo, MI, garnered the Leading Adult Jumper Rider Award. During the Horse Shows by the Bay Series II Perry won the $2500 NAL/WIHS Adult Jumper Classic with Leroy.

Wrapping up the Ovation Leading Rider awards was Tina DiLandri, who was the Leading Equitation Rider. DiLandri also trains with Andre Dignelli and rode R.S.V.P to multiple wins during her stay at Horse Shows by the Bay.

The Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival is currently underway with its final week of competition, featuring exciting dressage and polo action. The show will come to a close on Sunday, August 2.

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 click here and select ‘Competition Zone 5.’

For more information, visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.

Photo Credit: After three weeks of competition, Peter Pletcher took home the coveted Ovation Leading Hunter Rider Award at the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. Photo C Rebecca Walton/PMG. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.