Lexington, Ky. – Oct. 31, 2017 – The 2017 CP National Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park got back underway on Tuesday with the professional hunter divisions kicking off an exciting week of top sport. The nation’s best hunter horses and riders came together once again to kick-off their respective divisions at the historic event on Halloween.
The morning commenced with the High Performance Conformation Hunter division, sponsored and presented by the Wheeler Family, where Kathryn Haley and Outshine, owned by Alexandra Worthington, won the first over fences class and the Yvonne Schulthess Memorial Challenge Trophy. Scott Stewart and Lucador, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, won Tuesday’s handy round as well as the model class in addition to the Baroness of Locheil Perpetual Trophy and the “Henry the Hawk” Memorial Trophy.
In the Green Conformation Hunter over fences class, Havens Schatt and Playmaker, owned by JT Farm, claimed the blue ribbon. Schatt and the Holsteiner gelding have only been competing together for two months but show winning potential after their debut at the National Horse Show on Tuesday. Both the handy and model classes of the division once again went to Stewart, this time aboard Private Life, owned by Dr. Parker. Stewart and the 6-year-old gelding have had a very successful indoor season, winning the Green Conformation Hunter championship at the Washington International Horse Show, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and Capital Challenge Horse Show.
Next up in the Alltech Arena was the Goshen Hill Green 3’6″ Hunter division, presented by Ms. Caroline Moran. Last to go in the classic round was Stewart and Luster, owned by Dr. Parker. They impressed judges Susan Schoellkopf and Robert Bielefeld to win the first class, while Stewart also claimed third place with Wonderly, owned by Dr. Parker. In the handy round, Daniel Geitner and Walk The Moon, an Oldenburg gelding owned by Lynn Seithel, took home the win.
The Oare & Adikes-Hill Green 3’9″ Hunter division, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare and Ms. Patricia Adikes-Hill, saw Stewart grab back-to-back blue ribbons in the over fences and handy rounds with William Hill, owned by Gochman Sport Horse LLC. The pair have experienced great success this indoors season, winning the Green 3’9″ Hunter championship at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, and will vie to secure the same championship at the National Horse Show on Wednesday. Megan Young is also in the hunt for a tricolor ribbon in the division after riding to a second place finish in the classic round aboard EHM Equestrian LLC’s 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Kenan.
In the Judith Murch High Performance Hunter division, presented by the Corrigan family and Winners Circle Trailer Sales, Jennifer Hannan and Olympic Fire, owned by Roger Smith, clinched top honors and the “Captain Flash” Challenge Trophy in the classic round. Stewart also maintained his winning ways, besting the competitive field to take the top three spots and the Edyth Lindner Trophy in the handy round with Catch Me in first, owned by Gochman Sport Horse LLC, A Million Reasons in second and Cameo in third place, both owned by Dr. Parker.
In the classic round of the Woodland Way, Inc. Amateur-Owner 18–35 3’3″ Hunter division, presented by Ms. Margaret O’Meara, Stephanie Danhakl rode to a one-two finish on her own Warmblood geldings Enough Said and Quest, respectively. Third place classic round finisher, Kendall Meijer, claimed the handy round victory aboard Moonwalk, owned by Copper Fox LLC.
The Meralex Farm and Hunt Ltd. Amateur-Owner Over 35 3’3″ Hunter division, presented by Ms. Bryan Baldwin and Ms. Gretchen Hunt, saw Seithel and her own 18-year-old gelding Walk The Line claim both the over fences and handy rounds.
The first hunter champions of the National Horse Show will be crowned as competition resumes Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. with the Goshen Hill Green 3’6″ Hunter division under saddle class in the Alltech Arena. The professional hunter divisions will wrap-up on Wednesday with the awarding of the “Isgilde” Challenge Trophy to the grand champion professional hunter as well as the Leading Hunter Rider Challenge Trophy.
The 2017 CP National Horse Show will highlight the $250,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Lexington CSI4*-W on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. followed by a concert by the Original Wailers. Sunday, Nov. 5, will also feature the final round of the ASPCA Maclay National Championship with the flat phase beginning at 1 p.m.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Havens Schatt – Green Conformation Hunter over fences winner
On Playmaker:
“[Playmaker] is 7 years old. I was really proud of him. He was really, really good in the first over fences class. In the handy, he’s usually good but he hit the second jump really hard and I think that just undid him a little bit. I think he’s just a little bit green. He’s a very young horse and I’ve only had him for two months so he’s new to us too. He was very consistent through Harrisburg and now he has become a contender. Going into tomorrow, I just want to give him a good, confident ride and have consistent rounds.”
Daniel Geitner – Goshen Hill Green 3’6″ Hunter handy round winner
On Walk The Moon:
“[Walk The Moon] is a 7-year-old and he also does the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunters so we left him a little fresh today. I think that might have shown in the first class but by the time the handy came around he was on. He was jumping a foot over the jumps and really showed off in the handy.”
On his plan for Wednesday:
“His owner, Lynn [Seithel], will show him tomorrow but we’ll probably just leave him a little fresh again. My plan is just to give him an easy ride in the morning, and hopefully a hack ribbon, and then his owner will give it a whirl in the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ stake class in the afternoon.”
On the National Horse Show:
“It’s fantastic. This ring is amazing to ride in. You don’t see a more decorated ring anywhere and the horses really just shine. You need a brave horse, I’m not going to lie, but if you have a brave horse they can really shine. The footing is also spectacular.”
Megan Young – Oare & Aikes-Hill Green 3’9″ Hunter over fences second place
On Kenan:
“I started riding him at the beginning of this year. He does double duty in the equitation and has done a great job going back and forth between the hunters and the equitation. I thought he was great today. You can always count on him. He’s big, scopey, has plenty of step and is very brave. Tomorrow, we will just hope for the best and go in there with the same game plan as today.”
On the National Horse Show:
“Having the National Horse Show here in Kentucky is lovely because there’s plenty of room to lunge, ride and get the horses ready. The ring is beautiful and they do such a nice job with the exhibitors’ lounge.”