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, riders accumulated points in their respective divisions, and the top exhibitors were honored with the Ovation Leading Rider Awards. The awards were generously sponsored for the sixth consecutive year by English Riding Supply of Scranton, PA. Winners received a $500 gift certificate to the English Riding Supply Catalog, which includes some of the most recognized equestrian apparel and equipment brands, including Ovation.

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

Three-time World Champion Hunter Rider Peter Pletcher, of Magnolia, TX, earned the Leading Professional Hunter Rider Award for the third year in a row. Pletcher earned multiple tricolor ribbons throughout the three weeks of competition with many talented young horses.

Laura Pfeiffer took home the award in three categories, earning the Leading Junior Hunter Rider title, the Leading High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Rider title, and the Leading Equitation 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. Pfeiffer was the winner of the $10,000 SJHOF High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix during week one and two competition with her mare Anberlin.

The Leading Amateur-Owner Hunter Rider Award was presented to Lynn Walsh, competing under the training of Peter Pletcher. Walsh earned top ribbons with her horses Ocean Park and MacArthur Park throughout the horse show.

Carly Jones rode her way to the Ovation Leading Children’s Hunter Rider title after earning championship tricolors and Grand Children’s Hunter awards aboard her horse Orient De Laume with the help of trainer Mindy Darst.

Eva Bisso, who trains with Peter Pletcher, earned the Ovation Leading Adult Hunter Rider award after placing at the top of the Amateur Adult Hunter 36-49 division with her horses Nicole and Westview.

The Ovation Leading Pony Hunter Rider award was presented to Meredith Darst after the young rider earned championship tricolors in the small, medium and large pony hunter divisions throughout weeks one and two. Darst also earned the Grand Champion Pony Hunter Award during week one.

David Beisel topped the jumper divisions, earning the Leading Professional Jumper Rider Award for the third year in a row. Biesel was the winner of the $10,000 Welcome Prix with Moet Walk during the first week of competition and earned many other blue ribbons throughout the month.

The Ovation Leading Low JR/AO Jumper Rider title was awarded to Erin Haas after the rider won several classes with her experienced horse All of a Sudden throughout the competition.

Training with David Beisel, young rider Kady Abrahamson was named the Ovation Leading Children’s Jumper Rider, and rounding out the list, Gay Sykes earned the award for Ovation Leading Adult Jumper Rider riding with Polly Howard.

The 2010 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday. Up next, Horse Sports by the Bay will have the prestigious honor of hosting the 2010 Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 2 Dressage Championships & Dressage by the Bay Fall Classic in September. For more information, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.

Laura Pfeiffer