The Amateur-Owner Hunters kicked off competition today at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show with beautiful weather throughout the divisions. Riders were fortunate to beat the rain that followed shortly after divisions came to a close. In the Stonelea Ring, the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunters, Amateur-Owner 35 and Over Hunters, and Amateur-Owner 3′ 3” Hunters all competed in the first over fences classes of their divisions.

Leading the way in the Amateur-Owner 18-35, Tracy Scheriff-Muser swept the competition with beautiful rounds aboard Absolut. The pair won both classes making it a day of double firsts for the Amateur-Owner rider. Kelley Corrigan also had excellent rides aboard Playmore, earning two second place prizes.

“Absolut felt awesome today, I was really happy with him,” expressed Sheriff-Muser. “The courses went really, really well. I love it here; it’s just so beautiful and the footing’s so nice. It’s just a lot of fun here.”

In the Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunters, Becky Gochman and Empire made a good entryway to the division winning their first class. This is the duo’s first competition competing at the 3’6″ level, and Gochman was thrilled with her mount’s performance.

Gochman stated, “This is my first day that I took him in the 3’6″ Amateurs, so I was a bit nervous, but he totally took care of me. He goes into the ring with such a presence and sophistication that he covered up my nervousness.” Fondly she added, “He’s a blast, he’s so beautiful and he’s getting so fat he’s looking almost like a pony, I just adore him.”

In the second class, Tiziano and John Ingram took top honors, while Ingram was also second with Costar in the first class of the Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunter division.

In the Amateur-Owner 3’3″, it was Good Call and Kelley Corrigan to take on the day with two blue ribbon prizes. The pair marched into the ring and dominated both trips.

Corrigan, who is a native of Lexington, Kentucky, grinned, “I was really happy how she went today, since she hasn’t shown since February. I thought she was perfect, she didn’t look at anything and went in and picked up a great canter and did her job.”

Hannah Stevens and Undercover also had a great show, taking home second and fourth place honors. Tracy Scheriff-Muser and Macallan garnered third and fourth place honors.

Tomorrow will conclude the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions with two over fences classes and an under saddle. Championship and reserve championship prizes will be awarded to the top horse and rider combinations. Saturday also marks the greatly anticipated $15,000 Hunter Derby in the Rolex Stadium beginning at 6:30 pm.

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

Amateur Owner Hunters

Photo Credit: Tracy Scheriff-Muser and Absolut earned two blues in the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunters at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Photo By: Holly Whiteman/PMG. Photo may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.