Temecula, Calif. — June 2, 2022 — Thursday rounded out the first set of hunter divisions at the Nilforushan Equisport Events’ Temecula Valley National III with a number of championships and reserve championships being awarded. Following the Performance 3’6”/4’ Hunter division was the conclusion of the Performance 3’3” Hunter Division in the Grand Hunter Arena where Julia Rossow was crowned the champion. Rossow was aboard the gelding, Saphir, owned by West Coast Equine Partners, LLC.
The pair on day one captured a first place and second place ribbon over fences and brought that winning momentum back on day two. Day two featured the third over fences class, as well as the handy hunter round and under saddle. The 8-fence handy round included two rollbacks and a trot jump where many riders opted to go inside the trees. Rossow and Saphir impressed the judge and earned a first and second over fences, along with a win in the under saddle over the two days of competition.
Nick Haness rode the Margaux Spitzer entry, Vagadam PSH, to the reserve championship honors. After not participating in day one of competition, they came out and impressed the judge to earn the win in the classic over fences round and the handy round. Those two wins alone lead the pair to a total of 20 points.
Several Young Hunter divisions in the Hunter 1 ring also crowned champions Thursday. Taking home the championship tricolor in the Young Hunter 5 & Under 2’9” division was Nick Haness aboard Kindred. Heinous piloted his own mount to the champion title by sweeping the division and winning the blue ribbon in every class, including the under saddle and earning a total of 50 points. Finishing in the reserve spot for the week was Jan Humphrey and Callabo. Humphrey, who also rode her own entry, earned their honors by capturing three second places, a third, and a six place over the two days of competition.
Following the 5-yr-old division was the Young Hunter 6 & Under 3’ division. It was Wonderful and Lindsay Ransom who took those championship honors. Ransom and Marilyn Miller’s Wonderful earned three first, a second and a fifth place ribbon over competition Wednesday and Thursday. Ending with the reserve championship was Courtney Horan and Versache, owned by Horan herself.
Concluding the Young Hunter competition Thursday in Hunter Ring 1 was the Young Hunter 7 & Under 3’3” division. Earning those championship honors was Brittney Maguire and Compelling. The Mia Sanders owned mount and Maguire impressed the judges both days and by earning three first place ribbons and two second to earn the most points. The reserve champion title ended up going to Philip Cillis and Peyten Seltzer’s Barnette. A full slate of hunter competition will continue at Galway Downs Friday morning at 8:00am highlighting the Junior and Amateur divisions, as well as several equitation classes.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Julia Rossow — Champion of the Performance 3’3” Hunter Division
On Saphir:
“Saphir is a long time West Coast Equine Partners horse. He’s been really successful under Nick Haness and then this year they generously let me start taking over the ride. He is just a superstar — he knows his job and he loves to do it. He always perks his ears and is happy — just a fun guy to go around and feel pretty on.”
On Saphir’s Performance:
“He was just stellar — he walked in and I think he liked the jumps, they gave him something to look at. The course was really fun and the handy course had some inviting turns inside and through the trees. He just always brings his best game. He likes to go in and show off and kind of just let him do his thing.”
On being at Temecula Valley National III:
“I love it — it’s so beautiful. The hunter ring is spectacular and the jumps are new every week and it is just fun to go through the trees, like I said and I think it gives the horses something new and exciting to look at. I think really just the whole feel of it is really exciting and welcoming to exhibitors and competitors and that you can just go out and walk around on the trails.”
