The 127th National Horse Show was a great success this year with top hunter and equitation competition. The hunters ran their classes on Tuesday through Thursday. The highlight event, the ASPCA Maclay National Championship, was held on Sunday, November 7. The 127th National Horse Show is featured at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament in the War Memorial at the Oncenter Complex in Syracuse, NY.

Riders worked all year to qualify for the ASPCA Maclay Championships and after three phases of competition and it was 17-year-old Hayley Barnhill of Collierville, TN, leading the victory gallop and taking home the championship honors.

In the first round of competition, 153 riders were tested on a course designed by the judges, Scott Hofstetter and Melanie Smith Taylor in cooperation with course designer Richard Jeffery. The fences included a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination, a natural fan jump off of a sharp left turn and then a sharp right turn to the ASPCA fence. Riders then continued to a tall vertical on the left lead before making their way to a triple bar double combination. While some riders had difficulties during the first round, the course was very inviting overall and gave riders many opportunities to show-off their horsemanship.

The riders who rode the course smoothly, out-of-stride, and with style were the ones called back in the top 30 to test on the flat. Three groups of 10 were tested, and from there the judges called back the top 18 riders for a second round over fences, with Barnhill called back on top.

The second round of today’s competition began over a large triple bar followed by a bending line. Riders then continued to three fences next to one another where they had to make a figure-eight shape before a bending double combination. One of the final tests was a three-fence line that riders had to canter in and then trot the middle fence before cantering the third fence. After watching all 18 riders compete the judges did not require further testing.

Barnhill was aboard Podest today, owned by Emily Gardner of Carmel Valley, CA. The pair had a solid first round despite a one lead swap and the judges invited her back to the flat where she truly shinned. Barnhill was called back on top for the final round and despite the pressure that was on her she remained calm and flowed through her course with ease.

“It was a great course for my horse and it came out exactly how I wanted it to,” explained Barnhill, who was also victorious at the USEF/Pessoa Hunter Seat Medal with Podest. “You can’t ever expect to win but you always hope you can. After the first round I wasn’t sure and we had to work a little harder to get there.”

Judge Scott Hofstetter added, “Hayley was very close in the first round but the swap was why she was called back second. She chose to hold the right lead, and then her horse shifted slightly off the ground. Other than that it was a solid course; we liked her style and her position around the course. She moved up to the top in the flat because we thought she looked really strong. Under the pressure we really liked the second round because she came in on top and that seemed to be their best round.”

Earning the reserve championship honors during today’s event was 13-year-old Michael Hughes of Morristown, FL. He was aboard Co Co Pop owned by Brigadoon Shaw of Ridgefield, CT. The duo stayed soft and consistent throughout the day, showing maturity beyond Hughes’ young age.

Placing third during today’s championship event was Catherine Tyree of Chicago, IL, with her own Triple Lutz. The pair was very elegant during all three phases of the competition and quickly rose to the top of the rankings.

For her win today, Barnhill was presented with the ASPCA Horsemanship Trophy, donated by the late Alfred B. Maclay, Esq. Barnhill’s mother was on hand to be presented with the Gordon Wright Perpetual Trophy, donated by the late Mrs. Kenneth Wheeler to the family of the winning rider. Barnhill’s trainers won the ASPCA Maclay National Championship Trainers Award, as well as the Maclay Trainer Award, a perpetual trophy donated by the family of John Y.G. Walker Jr. in memory of Victor Hugo-Vidal.

Final Results: 2010 ASPCA Maclay National Championship 1. HAYLEY BARNHILL -PODEST 2. MICHAEL HUGHES – CO CO POP 3. CATHERINE TYREE -TRIPLE LUTZ 4. TAYLOR ANN ADAMS – FENWAY PARK 5. LILLIE KEENAN – UNO 6. THEODORE BORIS – W.C. SWING 7. SCHAEFER RAPOSA – ASTEN 8. LUCY DAVIS – PATRICK 9. AMBER HENTER – TRIUMPH 10. SYDNEY SMITH – CALIMERO

Hunter Competition: Tuesday through Thursday

The first day of competition on Tuesday with Atlas Fence Local Day. Held at the Oncenter complex in downtown Syracuse, local riders had the opportunity compete at the prestigious horse show in the hunter, equitation, and jumper divisions. Class winners included Jennifer Dalhman-Gurney, Addison Evans, and Chris Mitchell.

Competing first in the evening, the Beacon Hill Horse Transportation 3′ Hunter Classic was held in a two round format. Jennifer Dalhman-Gurney and her horse The Other Brother were presented with the ‘Meg Ninos’ Memorial Perpetual Trophy thanks to Mrs. Peggy Ninos and her son John. Gurney earned scores of 81 and 80 to top both rounds of competition and win the class with a two round total of 161. Michele Kreimeyer and Sings the Blues finished in second place with a two round total of 159. Melissa Rowe earned third place with a score of 156 riding Union Bay.

Jennifer Dalhman-Gurney is from Cazenovia, NY, and trains with Gary Duffy. She has had The Other Brother, a 14-year-old Hanoverian, for three years “He’s just an absolute pleasure,” the rider smiled. “When you have him prepped right you basically just sit there and enjoy the ride; he’s pretty reliable.”

The Central New York (CNY) Equine 3′ Open Equitation class was held next with top honors awarded to Addison Evans aboard Telluride. Nicole Twardzik and Just Dessert finished in second, Chelsea Babcock and Caiza finished in third, and Evellyn DeMitchell rode Step ‘N’ Fetch It to the fourth place honors. The winning rider Addison Evans was presented with her award from CNY Equine thanks to Nicolle Madonna and her escort, Mike Cerio.

The 127th National Horse Show continued with its second day of competition on Wednesday with the start of the professional, amateur-owner, and junior hunter divisions. Horses and riders showed two rounds over fences and went under saddle in the day’s competition. Horses with multiple top ribbons included Red Panda, Superman, Goosebumps, Last Call, Taken, Fabricio and Back in the Game.

The Green Working Hunter division began the day with a win over fences for Amanda Steege and Majestic, owned by Lisa Arena. Cookie Beck rode Last Call, owned by Lisa Cudahy, to the blue ribbon in the flat class and the win in the handy hunter class.

The Green Conformation Hunters followed with their first class over fences with a victory for Cookie Beck and Goosebumps, owned by Lisa Cudahy. The pair also topped the division’s model first thing this morning and won the handy hunter class. Bob Crandall rode Casallo to a win under saddle.

Back in the Game, owned by Paris Sellon and ridden by Molly Ashe-Cawley, earned first place honors in the Regular Conformation Hunters model, under saddle, and handy classes today. For their model win, the pair received the “Stocking Stuffer” Challenge Trophy, donated by the late Mr. August A. Busch, Jr. and for their win under saddle they were presented with the “Eleanora R. Sears” Memorial Challenge Trophy, donated by Madame Marie V. Gendron.

Kelley Farmer rode Nancy Amling’s Taken to victory in the division’s first class over fences to receive the “Yvonne Schulthess” Memorial Challenge Trophy donated by Miss Lynn Schulthess and Mrs. Lane Schulthess Douglas.

The Regular Working Hunters showed next presented by Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Wheeler. The division began with an over fences victory for SBS Farms’ Jersey Boy and Jennifer Alfano for the “Captain Flash” Challenge Trophy donated by Mr. E.S. Kardon and the late Mrs. Kardon. The under saddle winners Kelley Farmer and Betty Oare’s Rosalynn were presented with the “Bararia” Challenge Trophy, donated by Stoney Hill, and the handy class saw a blue ribbon win for Jennifer Alfano aboard Meredith Lipke’s The Specialist to earn the “Edyth B. Lindner” Challenge Trophy, donated by Craig and Frances Lindner.

The Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division followed with an over fences win for Trifecta, owned and ridden by Melissa Feller. Wesley Newlands and Pure Abundance earned the blue ribbon under saddle, and Robert Lee and Shock Top topped the handy class. The division is presented by Virginia Fout in honor of Paul and Eve Fout.

Riding to success in the Amateur-Owner Hunter Over 35 division, sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Earnest M. Oare, was Ellen Toon with Invincible. The pair won in the first class over fences and earned a special award for the best amateur-owner round of the morning. For the third year in a row, Toon and Invincible were presented with the “Automation-Model Cadet” Memorial Perpetual Trophy donated by Mr. Stephen C. Clark, Jr. and the late Mr. Clark, Jr. Lisa Williams rode Sanmorino to victory in the under saddle class and also earned the second victory over fences in the handy.!”

On winning at The National Horse Show, Toon said, “It is a huge deal and I am fortunate to have done well. They make a huge effort here in Syracuse to do a great job. The stabling here is great now, the footing is wonderful and the jumps are beautiful. They do a good job and each year they try to come up with new things to make it better.”

The Junior Hunter divisions were next to compete with wins for many of the country’s top horses and riders. Caitlin Ziegler began the morning with a win aboard Fellini in the Small Junior Hunter 15 and Under. Hasbrouck Donovan and Confidential earned the blue ribbon in the division’s under saddle class, and Shawn Cassidy and Wild Rose finished at the top of the handy class.

The Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division was sponsored by Greentree South, Inc. and presented Hayley Barnhill and John Ingram’s Red Panda with the first place award in the first class over fences and the top ribbon in the hack. Holly Labry rode her horse Ruby to top honors in the handy class.

Hasbrouck Donovan rode Don Stewart Jr.’s Quality Time to victory in the first over fences class of the Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under. Morgan Geller and Katie Kelso’s Fabricio won the under saddle and topped the division’s handy class.

Concluding the day’s divisions, Hannah Goodson-Cutt rode Superman to a win in the first over fences class and the under saddle of the Large Junior Hunter 16-17, presented by Suzanne Marquard. That win was followed by a victory for Leah DeMartini and Vida Blue in the handy class.

Hunter divisions at the 127th National Horse Show concluded on Thursday afternoon with the presentation of championship awards followed by a special $50,000 National Horse Show Hunter Classic, held to honor Charlie Weaver. Hannah Goodson-Cutt rode Caretano to victory in the $50,000 Hunter Classic and was also named Best Child Rider on a Horse for her excellent success over the two days of hunter competition. Lisa Williams rode Sanmorino to the prestigious National Horse Show Grand Hunter Championship and Jennifer Alfano received the Leading Hunter Rider prize.

The $50,000 NHS Hunter Classic was held in a two round format with the top twelve horses and riders competing over a second round handy course to determine top standings. With a two round total of 177 points, junior rider Hannah Goodson-Cutt and Caretano came out in first place, just half a point ahead of second place finishers Molly Ashe-Cawley and Back in the Game with a score of 176.5. Maggie Boylan and Poetic finished in third place, Hasbrouck Donovan and Quality Time earned the fourth place prize, and Jennifer Alfano rode Jersey Boy to fifth place.

After also earning a junior hunter championship and Best Child Rider award this afternoon, Goodson-Cutt was very excited to get her first big open classic win. “This is the first overall classic that I have won and it feels pretty amazing because I am not just competing against juniors,” she stated. “You are competing against a whole slew of riders that have been around for a really long time so you really have to show yourself and ride very well. It is definitely the most exciting award that I have gotten this entire indoor season.”

The Open, Junior and Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions all presented their championship awards today after the horses and riders showed over their final stake course. The Green Working Hunters were the first to compete and awarded their championship tricolor to Last Call, owned by Lisa Cudahy, and ridden by Cookie Beck. Beck and Last Call won the day’s stake class with a high score of 92. Kelley Farmer and Taken earned the reserve championship.

Following her victory in the Green Working Hunters, Beck then earned a second tricolor riding Lisa Cudahy’s Goosebumps to the championship in the Green Conformation Hunters and was awarded the “Call You Raise You” Challenge Trophy donated by Mrs. Stephen Clark and Cismont Manor Farm. Bob Crandall and Casallo earned the division’s reserve championship, and Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy were the stake winners with the high score of 85.

Continuing the day, Kelley Farmer rode Betty Oare’s Rosalynn to the championship tricolor in the Regular Working Hunters, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler. Farmer and Rosalynn earned the high score of 92.00 in the division’s stake class to receive The “S. Craig Lindner Family” Challenge Trophy donated by Craig and Frances Lindner. For the championship, the pair was awarded The “Ashford Castle” Challenge Trophy, also donated by the Lindners. Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy finished in reserve, and Alfano was presented with the Leading Hunter Rider award. Alfano earned The Leading Hunter Rider Challenge Trophy donated by Scott Stewart in Memory of Mrs. Kenneth Wheeler, originally donated by Mr. and the late Mrs. Kenneth Wheeler.

Molly Ashe-Cawley and Back in the Game, owned by Paris Sellon, earned the Grand Open Hunter Championship following their tricolor win in the Regular Conformation Hunters. For their grand championship win, the pair received the “Isglide” Challenge Trophy donated by Mr. and the late Mrs. Kenneth Wheeler. For their conformation win they were presented with The German Challenge Trophy donated by The Consol General of the Federal Republic of Germany. Kelley Farmer and Taken earned the Regular Conformation Reserve Championship.

The Small Junior Hunter 15 and Under division showed next, awarding championship honors to Shawn Casady and Wildrose. For the championship, Casady and Wildrose received The “Blue by You” Memorial Challenge Trophy donated by Miss Elyse Novick. Caitlin Ziegler and Fellini earned the reserve championship and also won the day’s stake class with a score of 90.

Best Child Rider on a Horse, Hannah Goodson-Cutt won the championship award in the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 with Caretano prior to the pair’s exciting Classic victory. They were presented with the “Follow Me” Challenge Trophy donated by Miss Carrie Lane. Holly Labry and Ruby received the reserve championship tricolor in the division, which was generously sponsored by Greentree South, Inc. Hayley Barnhill and Red Panda won the stake with a score of 90.

Grand Junior Hunter Champions Morgan Geller and Fabricio were the next pair to earn a championship tricolor after topping the Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under. Geller and Fabricio won the “Nevertheless and Pappy Clifford” Challenge Trophy donated by Turtle Lane Farm for the division championship and also received the “Theodorus Van Wyck Cushny” Memorial Challenge Trophy donated by Cora C. Cushny and Family for the Grand Championship. Hasbrouck Donovan rode Don Stewart Jr.’s Quality Time to the reserve tricolor, and Meg O’Mara and Walk the Line topped the stake class.

The Large Junior Hunter 16-17 was the final junior division of the day, sponsored by Suzanne Marquard. The division presented top honors to Maggie Boylan and Poetic in the stake class to win the “Whiskey Before Breakfast” Memorial Challenge Trophy donated by Turtle Lane Farm. They were then awarded with the championship tricolor and the “Cantitoe Farm” Challenge Trophy donated by Mr and Mrs. Bruce Sokoloff. Leah DeMartini and Elm Rock LLC’s Vida Blue finished with the reserve championship.

The Amateur-Owner Hunters 18-35 showed next with a stake win and championship victory for Wesley Newlands and Pure Abundance. For the championship, Newlands won the “Scot To Do” Challenge Trophy donated by Ellen Van Dyke. Sponsored by Virginia Fout, the division awarded its reserve championship to Trifecta and Melissa Feller.

Completing the afternoon’s hunter championships, Lisa Williams and Sanmorino rode to victory in the Amateur-Owner Over 35 Stake class with a score of 88. The stake win secured the pair the division’s championship tricolor as well as the Amateur-Owner Grand Championship and finally, the overall National Horse Show Grand Hunter Championship. The Grand Amateur-Owner award included the “Ruxton and Scot To Do Challenge Trophy” donated by Ellen Van Dyke. The National Horse Show Grand Hunter Championship award earned Williams and Sanmorino the “Overdressed” Challenge Trophy donated by David H. Clarke Family in memory of Robert Lee Henry.

Ellen Toon and Invincible received the Amateur-Owner Hunter Over 35 reserve championship after their success in yesterday’s competition. The division was generously sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Earnest M. Oare.

The 2010 National Horse Show would like to thank the many generous sponsors that supported this years classes and a special thank you to Gary and Donna Duffy for providing the championship awards.

For more information on the National Horse Show, please visit www.nhs.org.