Lexington, Ky. – August 18, 2022 – Jumper action continued at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show in the picturesque Rolex Stadium Thursday morning. A total of 36 horse-and-athlete combinations tried their hand at Peter Grant’s (CAN) 14-effort track set at 1.40m. Upon completion of the single-round format, it was Ashley March and MTM Unicorn’s Love Me Tender at the top of the leaderboard, Mattias Ekeroth and Stamm in second, and Jimmy Torano aboard Hilaire to round out the top three.
The first clear round of the day was by Soehnke Theymann and his own Claretta. The pair started the class out strong by posting a clear effort and crossing the timers at 77.638 seconds. The seventh combination to contest, Ekeroth and his own 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Stamm, blazed a trail to take over the top spot, jumping a clear round and galloping through the timers at 76.212 seconds.
Ekeroth and the bay gelding held the lead for six rides until March and Robert Milas’ 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding took the arena 14th in the order. The duo proved their partnership by laying down the fastest clear round at 72.660 seconds. Immediately following, Torano, and JET Equestrian Group LLC’s Hilaire, contested for the top of the leaderboard. The 10-year-old KWPN mare was careful and fast, but ultimately could not overtake Ekeroth or March, settling for a third-place finish with a clear round and time of 76.705 seconds.
MTM Unicorn’s Love Me Tender and March have had their fair share of success together this past winter at The Winter Equestrian Festival [Wellington, FL] and into the spring and summer while competing at Lamplight Equestrian Center [Wayne, IL]. The pair earned top ribbons in the 1.30m, though 1.40m divisions and grand prixs, most notably, taking home a win in the $2,500 CabanaCoast 1.35m during WEF 12.
Jumper competition continues Friday morning, August 19th, with the Open Jumper 1.20m in the Walnut Arena. Hunter horses and athletes will take center stage in the Rolex Stadium at 8:15 am with the first round of the highly anticipated USHJA International Hunter Derby. The stadium will welcome jumpers back into the arena that evening with the first feature class of the week, the $25,000 Bluegrass Classic, taking place at 7 pm.
RESULTS
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Faults / Time
1. MTM Unicorn’s Love Me Tender / Ashley March / Robert Milas / 0 / 72.660
2. Stamm / Mattiasw Ekeroth / Mattias Ekeroth / 0 / 76.212
3. Hilaire / Jimmy Torano / JET Equestrian Group LLC / 0 /76.705
4. Maestro Van De Volkaert / Ty Simpson / Copperline Farm LLC / 0 / 77.140
5. Isaac 22 / Victoria Ketchum / Copperline Farm LLC / 0 / 77.304
6. Claretta / Soehnke Theymann / Soehnke Theymann / 0 / 77.638
7. Extasy / Victoria Ketchum / Copperline Farm LLC / 0 / 79.107
8. Justice / Colin Syquia / Eurasia Inc. / 0 / 79.745
9. Fiper / Colin Syquia / Eurasia Inc. / 0 / 80.041
10. Haydee M / Mattias Ekeroth / Mattias Ekeroth LLC / 0 / 82.850
11. Vanturo / Thaisa Erwin / Michael Smith / 0 / 84.960
12. Comander 16 / Rachel Lindsey / Rachel Lindsey / 1 / 86.274