Traveller and Cartel Lead Goshen Hill Green 3’6” Hunter and Green 3’9” Hunter Divisions at 2021 National Horse Show

Lexington, Ky. – Nov. 2, 2021 – The 138th annual National Horse Show (NHS) resumed competition Tuesday, November 2 at its home in the Alltech Arena of the Kentucky Horse Park. As one of the most esteemed horse shows in the country, hunter and jumper athletes from around the country flocked to the venue for its second week of sport. Kicking off professional hunter competition in style, Laena Romond rode Catherine Cowie’s Traveller to the leading position in the Goshen Hill Green 3’6” Hunter division, and Jeffrey Ayers piloted his own Cartel to the top of the leaderboard in the Green 3’9” Hunter division heading into Wednesday’s crowning of each division’s respective champions.

Jeffrey Ayers and Cartel

Bobby Murphy (USA) set the first round hunter track equipped with beautifully decorated natural fences that mimicked the traditional hunt style. The long-set lines made for the perfect course that required a forward pace and open stride throughout. In the second of the Green Hunter divisions, the Goshen Hill Green 3’6” Hunter division, 13 horse-and-rider pairs put their names forward. Of the 13, it was Scott Stewart and Dr. Betsee Parker’s For Always, a 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding, who topped the ranks in the first over fences with a score of 91 from hunter judges Jennifer Bauersachs and John French. Taking second place in the competitive field was Romond and Traveller, putting them neck-and-neck with Stewart and For Always heading into the handy. 

Laena Romond and Traveller

Murphy’s unique handy course, which featured two trot fences and a variety of inside turn options to showcase horses’ adjustability, proved to be a challenging one. Tight rollbacks and transitions were no problem for Romond and the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding, Traveller. The pair rode a seamless handy track, scoring an 89 from the judges to take the win. With a second place and first place finish under their belts, Romond and Traveller would lead the 13-horse pack going into Wednesday’s wrap up of the Goshen Hill Green 3’6” Hunter division.

Laena Romond and Traveller

Immediately following, Green 3’9” Hunter horses took to the ring for their first round over fences. Of the 12 partnerships, Ayers and Cartel jumped to the first place prize on a score of 88. Ayers and the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding would continue their success in the division, improving their second round score to an 89 for their handy course and securing them the red ribbon out of the strong group of contenders. Ayers was thrilled with the young horse’s performance, noting his excitement to finish out the division Wednesday morning with the under saddle.

Jeffrey Ayers and Cartel

The remainder of the week will showcase hunter and jumper action that includes Thursday’s $72,900 International Welcome Stake, as well as Friday’s $36,600 T&R Development International Two Phase and National Horse Show $50,000 Hunter Classic. Saturday’s highlights will include the $213,300 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Lexington and the $25,000 SJHF Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Grand Prix, and Sunday will conclude the show with the highly-anticipated ASPCA Maclay National Equitation Championship, presented by Chansonette Farm. To learn more about the 2021 National Horse Show, click here

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Laena Romond – Goshen Hill Green 3’6” Hunter leader

On Traveller:
“Traveller is a 9-year-old gelding owned by Catherine Cowie. She also shows him in the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunters. We have had him for three years and we know each other pretty well at this point.”

On her rounds today:
“The courses were really fun today. The jumps were beautiful and the handy round was a really fun track, and I thought that Traveller just jumped better and better as he went.”

On her plans for the future with Traveler:
“He is going to continue to do the Amateurs with Catherine. That will be his main focus going forward.” 

On competing at the National Horse Show:
“This is an awesome horse show! The ring is special and the competition is so much fun. We start the week doing hunters and end the week with Maclay Finals! Beginning to end it is an action-packed week!”

Jeffrey Ayres – Green 3’9” Hunter leader

Jeffrey Ayers and Cartel

On Cartel:
“Cartel is 10-years-old. He just keeps getting better and better each year. He won some derbies in Florida this year and I am really excited to have him place first and second at the National Horse Show.”

On his trips today:
“Cartel was beautiful in his first trip and got a score of 88. He did not touch a jump and went right around. The second class, I was concerned about some of the turns but he did them all beautifully and he got an even better score of 89, so I could not be any happier. ”

On the future for Cartel:
“He is either going to do the four-foot division next year or possibly do the Junior Hunters with a junior rider. He could end up getting sold and possibly doing the Amateur Hunter divisions.”

On competing at the National Horse Show:
“The show is lovely and it is always an honor to show here. I have not shown here in three or four years and it is really neat to be back here in 2021. This year I had my own horse to show and I was happy to take advantage of it. I had a great day and I am super happy. I hope that tomorrow is just as good!”

RESULTS

Place / Horse / Rider / Owner

High Performance Conformation Hunter Model:
1. For Always / Scott Stewart / Dr. Betsee Parker
2. Gabriel / Victoria Colvin / JT Farm
3. Diatendro / Havens Schatt / Kelley Corrigan

Green Conformation Hunter Model:
1. Gratitude / Christopher Payne / Still Water Farm LLC
2. Charlemagne / Scott Stewart / Dr. Betsee Parker
3. MTM Le Cadeau / Holliday Ryals / Lindsay Bensimon

High Performance Conformation Hunter Over Fences:
1. For Always / Scott Stewart / Dr. Betsee Parker
2. Diatendro / Havens Schatt / Kelley Corrigan
3. Kuore / Greg Crolick / Renaud Farm, LLC

High Performance Conformation Hunter Handy: 
1. For Always / Scott Stewart / Dr. Betsee Parker
2. Diatendro / Havens Schatt / Kelley Corrigan
3. High Society / Evan M. Coluccio / The Lignelli Family

Green Conformation Hunter Over Fences:
1. Charlemagne / Scott Stewart / Dr. Betsee Parker
2. Gratitude / Christopher Payne / Still Water Farm LLC
3. Insightful / Maria Rasmussen / Sunset View Farm LLC

Green Conformation Handy:
1. Charlemagne / Scott Stewart / Dr. Betsee Parker
2. Traveller / Laena Romond / Catherine Cowie
3. Insightful / Maria Rasmussen / Sunset View Farm LLC

Goshen Hill Green Hunter 3’6” Over Fences:
1. For Always / Scott Stewart / Dr. Betsee Parker
2. Traveller / Laena Romond / Catherine Cowie
3. Silver Lining / Patricia Griffith / Callie Seaman

Goshen Hill Green Hunter 3’6” Handy:
1. Traveller / Laena Romond / Catherine Cowie
2. Reign / Christopher Payne / Still Water Farm LLC
3. Silver Lining / Patricia Griffith / Callie Seaman

Green Hunter 3’9” Over Fences:
1. Cartel / Jeffrey Ayers / Jeffrey Ayers
2. Miller’s Cover / Victoria Colvin / Roaring Fork Farms LLC
3. Cabrio / Scott Stewart / Bikoff Equestrian LLC

Green Hunter 3’9” Handy:
1. Love Note / Scott Stewart / Richard Prant
2. Cartel / Jeffrey Ayers / Jeffrey Ayers
3. Guggenheim / Evan M. Coluccio / The Lignelli Family

Judith Murch High Performance Hunter Over Fences:
1. Private I / Michael Britt-Leon / Kelly Sims
2. S & L Exxon Hedonist / Patricia Griffith / S & L Farms
3. True Blue / Caitlin Venezia-White / Jennifer Combs

Judith Murch High Performance Hunter Handy:
1. Private I / Michael Britt-Leon / Kelly Sims
2. Bacchus / Michael Britt-Leon / Kelly Sims
3. Cascartini / Havens Schatt / Ken & Amy Wexler LLC

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