Blythe Taylor and Cheryllow Z Claim USEF/Pessoa Medal Victory at Dallas Harvest Horse Show

Tyler, TX – October 31, 2009 – The best junior riders in the south vied for top honors in the equitation classes during the fourth day of the Dallas Harvest Horse Show. Held at the scenic Texas Rose Horse Park, the show runs through November 1, 2009, and benefits Habitat for Horses. The top call during today’s USEF/Pessoa Medal went to Blythe Taylor and Cheryllow Z, who had an excellent first round and then went on to master the test. The ASPCA Maclay class was next, and the blue ribbon was presented to Megan Bifano for her rider aboard CR Andiamo.

For today’s USEF/Pessoa Medal, riders began by completing an over fences portion that included bending lines, tight rollbacks, and a two stride. The top four competitors were then called back to complete the test. For the test, riders cantered a vertical, completed three simple changes down the quarter line, counter cantered a vertical on the diagonal, and made a tight rollback to a large oxer.

Blythe Taylor, of Tulsa, OK, and Cheryllow Z had the best overall performance and earned the blue ribbon. Kathryn Thompson placed second during today’s competition with Thelwell, owned by Brita Wallace of Austin, TX. The third place prize was presented to Paige Brodbeck, of Carrollton,TX and Lavasco, while Dani Beavers and Benjamin Moore, owned by Claire Hyde of Dallas, TX, took home the fourth place honors.

Blythe Taylor and Cheryllow Z

 

Blythe Taylor and Cheryllow Z

“It feels good,” smiled Taylor after the victory. “During the first round he was a little fresher than I expected; I thought he would be tired after showing in the hunter derby last night. The first jump was a little rough, but then we settled in and it felt good. During the test I was nervous about the three simple changes because those are not always perfect, but he responded really well to it.”

Taylor has owned the 7-year-old German Warmblood for a year and has had the opportunity to compete with him in the equitation, as well as three hunter derby classes. “Last night’s hunter derby was our best so far,” she noted. “He used to be a jumper, so he’s maneuverable and he’s good about the strange elements that are in the classes. He’s been braver than I expected him to be in the classes.”

Taylor traveled from Oklahoma to compete at the Dallas Harvest Horse Show with her trainer, Laureen McKenzie. “I like that everything is close and the arenas are big,” she explained. “They had the hunter derby in this arena yesterday because there is a lot of room, so I really like it here.”

The ASPCA Maclay class was the next to compete in the Main Hunter Ring. Riders began by competing over a difficult course that included 10 obstacles and many tight turns. They were then invited back to complete a flat phase and were awarded prizes.

The top call during the ASPCA Maclay class went to Megan Bifano, of Austin, TX, who was riding her top mount, CR Andiamo. Taylor Reid, of Pilot Point, TX, took home the second place prize with Ovation, while the third place ribbon was awarded to Thompson and Thelwell.

Megan Bifano and CR Andiamo

 

Megan Bifano and CR Andiamo

“Today my plan was just to go forward,” said Bifano. “CR Andiamo is actually my jumper, but we’re turning him into my equitation horse because he’s really comfortable and handy. I kind of rode my course more like a jumper trip, but it worked out really well.”

Sixteen-year-old Bifano hopes to qualify for next year’s finals with the 15-year-old gelding that she bought over a year ago. “He was doing the jumpers, and I used him as a Children’s Jumper to teach me the ropes,” she commented. “He’s an older horse though, so we decided to take him out of the jumpers and switch him to the equitation. He’s great because you just have to relax and keep pushing him forward.”

Tomorrow will mark the final day of competition at the Dallas Harvest Horse Show. The Junior Hunter divisions will wrap-up their second day of competition, awarding championship and reserve championship ribbons to the top horse and rider combinations. This week’s highlight event, the $25,000 Harvest Grand Prix, will also be held tomorrow in the Grand Prix Ring.

For more information on the 2009 Dallas Harvest Horse Show and to view the prizelist, please visit www.southboundsshows.com.

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

Photo Credit: Blythe Taylor and Cheryllow Z were named the winners of the USEF/Pessoa Medal at the Dallas Harvest Horse Show. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.

Photo Credit: Megan Bifano and CR Andiamo earned the top call and blue ribbon during the ASPCA Maclay class at the Dallas Harvest Horse Show. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.

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