Chris Nelson and Inside Out Win $3,000 Nordic Lights Welcome Stake at the 2009 Dallas Harvest Horse Show

Tyler, TX – October 29, 2009 – Jumper competition at the 2009 Dallas Harvest Horse Show kicked off today with the $3,000 Nordic Lights Welcome Stake at the Texas Rose Horse Park. The most prestigious ‘AA’ rated horse show in Texas, The Dallas Harvest Horse Show features three star jumper competition. The show is a very active supporter and contributor for Habitat for Horses, one of the largest equine protection organizations in the country, and will feature some of the top horses and riders in the country in competition through November 1.

Conrad Homfeld is the course designer for the week and set a challenging track in the jumper ring for today’s classes. In the $3,000 Nordic Lights Welcome Stake, four entries jumped clear over the first round course to jump-off, and it was Chris Nelson and Inside Out who cleared the shortened course in the fastest time of 40.694 seconds for the win. Kari Martin rode Solinus to second place with double clear rounds and a jump-off time of 41.987 seconds. Frank Owens rode Lucio 18, owned by DS Holdings LLC, to third place with the only other double clear in 42.838 seconds. Chris Nelson also took the fourth place honors after riding Argentina, owned by Hays Investment Corp., to an eight-fault jump-off round in 39.574 seconds.

Welcome Stake winner Chris Nelson is a 19-year-old rider and trainer from Flower Mound, Texas. Nelson’s mount in the class, Inside Out, is an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Lazy Creek Ranch Holdings, LLC.

Nelson explained that Inside Out began competing at the grand prix level as a five-year old, and has since won six grand prix, all with Nelson in the irons. “He is a little bit of a German ride because he is a big horse and you have to collect him, but he has such a big stride that it helps you out in the turns,” Nelson stated. “With this horse I had to be careful at the verticals because he can get kind of flat, but luckily I had a turn to all of the verticals to slow me down. He can be a little bit of a freight train sometimes, but other than that it was pretty good and it was a great course for him.”

“I thought it was a very nice course,” Nelson continued. “It was very flowing. I thought it was great that we had just a couple clear in the jump-off and he (Homfeld) did a great job of making it comfortable for all of the horses.”

Nelson competes all over the country throughout the year including California, New York, and Florida, but noted that he enjoys having a great horse show in his home state of Texas. “I have shown here a lot; I am here just about every horse show,” he said. “I like the facility. I like that it is big and it has lots of places to ride. They have nice barns and they take good care of us here.”

Earlier in the afternoon, the 1.25m Jumpers competed with the top honors going to Martien Van Der Hoeven and his mount Rosaria, owned by Cassandra Shipp of Guelph, Ontario. Four of the original entries went clear over the first round course to jump-off, and Van Der Hoeven and Rosaria went double clear in the fastest time of 41.697 seconds to win the class. Van Der Hoeven also took home the second place honors riding Uno, owned by Maggie Hines of Wichita Falls, Texas, to a double clear in 46.164 seconds. Jordan Seigel had the only other clear jump-off round in 47.152 seconds riding Thomas 12, owned by Nicole Stufflebeme of Colleyville, Texas, to earn third place. Russell Frey and CR Aryenne, owned by Gage Brett of Dallas, Texas, finished in fourth.

Class winner Martien Van Der Hoeven has shown in Tyler several times this year and has already had a great start to the Dallas Harvest show. “I think this is our fourth show here this year and it is a great place to be,” he smiled. “It is horse friendly, Patrick (Rodes) does a great job, everything seems to run well, and the horses like it.”

Van Der Hoeven explained that he got the ride on eight-year-old Rosaria when her owner, Shipp, began college this fall. Shipp showed Rosaria in the Amateur-Owner Jumpers all summer, and Van Der Hoeven noted that today’s course was perfect for the mare, describing her as “a fun speed horse to have in the barn.”

“Conrad is one of the best,” he added. “His courses are always good. He always looks out for the horse’s welfare and his courses always seem to improve throughout the week. He was at Fleur de Lis for their grand prix last week and he is always a joy to get here in Texas.”

Competition will continue tomorrow at the 2009 Dallas Harvest Horse Show with the beginning of the Junior/Amateur-Owner and Adult Amateur Jumper competition. A $5,000 1.25m Jumper Classic will be the feature class of the afternoon. For more information on the 2009 Dallas Harvest Horse Show, please visit www.southboundsshows.com .

For more information on Habitat for Horses please visit www.habitatforhorses.org .

RESULTS $3,000 Nordic Lights Welcome Stake

1. Chris Nelson and Inside Out

2. Kari Martin and Solinus

3. Frank Owens and Lucio 18

4. Chris Nelson and Argentina

5. Whitney Owens and Santina H

6. Jordan Siegel and CR Fantasia

$500 1.25m Jumpers

1. Martien Van Der Hoeven and Rosaria

2. Martien Van Der Hoeven and Uno

3. Jordan Siegel and Thomas 12

4. Russell Frey and CR Aryenne

5. Matt Cyphert and Commander in Chief

6. Frank Owens and Peggi Sue