Scott Stewart Wins Multiple Hunter Championships at WEF Week One

© Morgan McClelland: Catch Me and Scott Stewart
Scott Stewart and Catch Me kicked off the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival, claiming championship honors in the High Performance Working Hunter division on Thursday.

Wellington, Fla. – Jan. 12, 2017 – The 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) kicked off this week, and the hunter rings showcased top talent of both horse and rider. After a stellar 2016 year, Scott Stewart continued his winning ways by claiming the High Performance Conformation and High Performance Working Hunter divisions on Thursday.

© Morgan McClelland: Fun ridden by Scott Stewart
Scott Stewart and Fun

On the first day of WEF, Stewart and Fun, owned by Gochman Sporthorses LLC, won all blues in the High Performance Conformation hunter classes, and the pair returned on Thursday to clinch the championship tricolor.

“Fun was great — this is his first time doing the High Performance Conformation division,” Stewart explained. “I was really happy with him and we are preparing him to do the 3’3″ amateur’s with Becky [Gochman] this weekend.”

© Morgan McClelland: Quirino and Peter Pletcher
Peter Pletcher and Quirino

Peter Pletcher and Quirino took home reserve champion after placing first in the second High Performance Conformation over fences round and second in the High Performance Conformation Stake on Thursday. Jennifer Bliss and Beso rounded out the top three in the division.

In the High Performance Working Hunter division, Stewart returned with his well-known mount, Catch Me. After earning many prestigious championships in 2016, the Holsteniner gelding started the 2017 season off on the right foot by claiming the championship.

© Morgan McClelland: Catch Me, Champion of the High Performance Hunters
Catch Me

Owned by Gochman Sporthorses LLC, the champion hunter truly lived up to his name, as none of the other competitors in the High Performance Working Hunter classes could catch up to the duo after earning all blues between both Wednesday and Thursday.

Tori Colvin finished the division as reserve champion on RiverCross Farm’s Onyx RCF.

© Morgan McClelland: Tori Colvin riding Onyx RCF
Tori Colvin and Onyx RCF

“Tori and Onyx’s first show was in July at Kentucky, so this has been our first six months working with her and it has been amazing,” said Kellie Anne Langton, barn manager at RiverCross Farm. “He will be an amazing derby horse, and we are thinking that he will participate in the upcoming Deeridge Derby Weekend.”

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