Lexington, Ky. – Aug 17, 2022 – Young horses set the tone for a positive week of jumper competition at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show Wednesday morning in Lexington [KY]. The Rolex Arena played host to a different field of riders this week, welcoming the country’s top jumper riders to confidently pilot their promising young mounts around the grand stadium. The chilly morning in Lexington asked the developing horses to jump carefully and quickly, testing their maturity and talent. Soehnke Theymann piloted Flora De Riverland to the top, paving the way for an auspicious future.
Peter Grant (CAN) set a large track in the Table II, Sec. 2(d) format. Grant’s 12-obstacle track challenged riders to carry their horse in a gallop to avoid time faults, while also carefully collecting their canter around each turn. The course was technical but inviting for the young jumpers, allowing them to showcase their brilliance while also gaining confidence in the show ring.
Theymann led the way aboard the Selle Francais mare owned by York Story Limited. Entering the Bluegrass state after multiple winning weeks at the Tryon International Equestrian Center [Tryon, NC], she took to the pressure with ease, maintaining composure and a pleasant expression. Theymann guided the mare through the toughest parts of the track as she jumped up and covered the ground beautifully, finishing in a time of 34.097 seconds. The spotlight is certainly in the young mare’s future as she was unphased by the challenge and won the class like a seasoned-professional.
Jonathon Millar and Doonaveeragh Balou were not far behind; holding the lead for a majority of the class, they were ultimately bested by Theymann. QBS Equestrian’s Irish Sport Horse gelding allowed his natural footspeed to carry Millar through the timers at 34.421 seconds. The duo has found their stride this summer, as they claimed the tri-color in the 7-year-old Jumper division at the Split Rock Hunter Jumper Classic here in Lexington in June. With Millar in the irons, the gelding has been guided to great success and continues to add to the list.
Rounding out the podium was Rebecca Bruce Glynn aboard Faline. The Irish Sport Horse mare owned by Forever Horses LLC was quick and careful, leaving all of the rails up inside of the time allowed, posting a clear round. Though Glynn rode a more conservative, collected canter in the turns to ensure a fault-free round, they fell short of the winning time at 35.21 seconds. Accumulating multiple ribbons out of large fields on the West Coast, including the Temecula Valley National Horse Show [Temecula, CA] and the Blenheim June Classic [San Juan Capistrano, CA], the pair is developing a long and successful record.
The 5-year-old and 6-Year-Old jumpers also took to the Rolex Arena early this morning. Christopher Coberley piloted Fox Meadow Farms Zangersheide gelding, Tinka’s Way Z, to the blue ribbon in the 5-Year-Old Jumpers. Rural Juror SCF, the Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by Spy Coast Farm, topped the leaderboard in the 6-year-old Jumpers with Ciaran Thompson in the irons.
Show jumping competition will continue in the Rolex Arena on Thursday morning at 8:00 AM EST with the 5-Year-Old Jumper II, Sec 1. Highlights of the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show are the Platinum Performance USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships, USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships, and the Bluegrass Grand Prix.
Results:
5-Year-Old Jumper II, 2(d)
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Faults / Time
Tinka’s Way Z / Christopher Coberley / Fox Meadow Farm / 0 / 0 / 35.308
Rural Juror SCF / Ciaran Thompson / Spy Coast Farm, LLC / 0 / 0 / 37.286
Rising Diktator HE / Lauren Hester / Hester Equestrian LLC / 0 / 0 / 38.296
Magic Mike ZG / Celso Ariani / Ricardo Romero / 0 / 0 / 38.589
Motueka / Jonathan Millar / Angela Pritchard / 0 / 4 / 32.621
A La Bonneur Z / Lauren Hester / Hester Equestrian LLC / 4 / 53.588
Riddle Cracker HE / Ciaran Thompson / Hester Equestrian LLC / 8 / 65.072
6-Year-Old Jumper II, 2(d)
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Faults / Time
Fire Fly / Kelly Soleau-Millar / M. Michael Meller / 0 / 0 / 33.053
Quantimera / Sarah Hubbard / Hubbard Horses LLC / 0 / 0 / 34.528
La Belle Coral HX / Lauren Hester / Hester Equestrian LLC / 0 / 0 / 40.440
Vandinos GZ / Ethan Maye / Skymaster LLC / 0 / 5 / 44.205
Quintano TF / Colin Syquia / Virginia Strauch / 0 / 25 / 60.445
Flowerbomb / Sarah Meier / Sarah Meier / 4 / 52.207
Ringleader / Kristy Herrera / Sharon O’Neill / 8 / 54.517
La Bonne Vie / Shaina Macduffee / Catherine Gosz / 8 / 56.779
7-Year-Old Jumper II, 2(d)
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Faults / Time
Flora De Riverland / Soehnke Theymann / York Story Limited / 0 / 0 / 34.097
Doonaveeragh Balou / Jonathan Millar / QBS Equestrian LLC / 0 / 0 / 34.421
Faline / Rebecca Bruce Glynn / Forever Horses LLC / 0 / 0 / 35.21
Pick Wick Van De Kruishoeve / Victoria Colvin / BMT Partners / 0 / 0 / 36.452
Fair Play / Nick Haness / Bernadette Mulliken / 0 / 0 / 37.297
Facundo De La Nutria / Celso Ariani / Rocardo Romero / 0 / 0 / 43.505
Cinderella 770 / Mia Mannis / Beat Mandli / 0 / 4 / 34.965
Cokidoo / Rachel Lindsey / Rachel Linsdey / 0 / 36 / 71.469
Patience Van Den Dries / Victoria Ketchum / Copperline Farm LLC / 4 / 52.281
Parlando De Roulard / Mia Mannis / Mia Mannis / 4 / 53.392
