Lexington, Ky. – Aug. 17, 2021 – The Bluegrass Festival Horse Show kicked off in the Walnut Ring Tuesday morning with the first round of the Platinum Performance USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship. 126 of the nation’s top hunter equestrians took center stage as they rode to try and take an early and commanding lead during day one of the competition. The Incentive Championship will take place over three days, as the horses are judged on their form and style throughout each round. Victoria Colvin leads day one after placing first on Doctor’s Orders and second on Mastermind, while Hunt Tosh and Twain round out the top three.
The Green Hunter Incentive Program is open to horses eligible to compete in the Green Hunters 3’0″, 3’3″, 3’6″, and 3’9″ heights. The program is designed to encourage the development of green horses and is multifaceted to include the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships, regional championships, and stake classes throughout the year and across the country. The Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship brings forth some of the top hunter athletes across the country who compete over three days at their designated height. All horses compete in the first two rounds, in which they receive numerical scores. The top 30 horses, including those tied for 30th, with the highest combined scores from the first two rounds, advance to the third round, where they start with a clean slate.
Victoria Colvin and Doctor’s Orders, an 8-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Brad Wolf, layed down a seemingly flawless round, showcasing the young horse’s maturity and athletic ability through the 8-obstacle course. Colvin and Doctor’s Orders caught judges’ eye with their presence and the form and style that they showcased throughout the round. Once all of the factors were considered they were able to secure a total score of 278, which would help keep them in the lead throughout the remainder of the class. This talented young horse has proven himself time and time again in the Green Hunters and the National Derby’s as he has placed at the top of competitive fields all summer.
In addition to her first-place finish, Colvin piloted her fourth mount, Mastermind, a 6-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Karen Bruce, to a second-place finish, after earning a combined score of 272, just six points behind Doctor’s Orders. The pair are no strangers to the winner’s circle as they have swept through the Green Hunter divisions and the Green Hunter Incentive classes at the Winter Equestrian Festival, Aiken, Tryon Spring, and the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival.
Hunt Tosh and Twain, a 6-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Ceil Wheeler, claimed the third-place honors after earning a first-round combined score of 265. Twain most recently won the USHJA Green Hunter 3′ Incentive Stake at Blowing Rock Charity I with Tosh. Scott Stewart and Fine Art tied with Tosh and Twain, with a combined score of 265, after a near-flawless first round that impressed the judges by showcasing fluidity, scope, and style.
Green Hunter Incentive competition will continue Wednesday at 8 am in the Walnut Ring with the continuation of the Platinum Performance USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Challenge. If you are interested in streaming the Platinum Performance USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship or the International Hunter Derby, visit horseandcountry.tv. Use code USHJA15 for 15% off a year’s subscription.
Regularly scheduled Bluegrass Festival hunter and jumper, will begin at 8am. Livestream links are available on the home page of www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Victoria Colvin – Winner of the Platinum Performance USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship Round 1
On Doctors Orders:
“He is very fun and loves a big venue. I have been riding for around a year or a year and a half. I do him in the National Derby’s and he loves those. This class has that kind of feel so I was confident that he would go out there and love this ring.”
On Mastermind
“He has been doing the 3’3” Pre-Greens and I have had him for about the same time. He is part of my barn so I have ridden him more and know him better. Like Doctor’s Orders, he also has a spectacular jump and is a lot of fun.”
On her plans for her rounds today:
“They both don’t particularly spook at anything. They have both done the National Derby classes so they have the same flow around the ring and I had the same plan and track in mind for both.”
On her plans for the week:
“I am hoping tomorrow that they will both be great, just like they were today. I want to qualify both for the final round. I have had it happen before, where the first day is amazing and then the second day you have a rail and don’t make it back, so we are going to try and make sure that does not happen! I have three in the Derby Finals and am hoping that everyone gets lined up and relaxed early and then we have a good week.”
On the USHJA Incentive Championships:
“I love the Incentive Championships for the Pre-Green horses because it has a Derby feel. I think that both of the horses that I rode today have the potential to be great Derby horses and this is the perfect introduction to that for them. It is also great to have money opportunities and a big ring feel.”
RESULTS – Green Hunter Incentive Challenge
Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Points
1. Doctor’s Orders / Victoria Colvin / Brad Wolf / 278.0
2. Mastermind / Victoria Colvin / Karen Bruce / 272.0
3. Twain / Hunt Tosh / Ceil Wheeler / 265.00
3. Fine Art / Scott Stewart / Caroline Ratigan / 265.00
5. Waverly / Holly Orlando / R & R Hunter Horses, LLC / 264.00
6. MTM La Vita / Dorthy Douglas / MTM Farm / 263.50
6. Carousel / Elizabeth Boyd / Ashley Neudorff / 263.50
8. Adler / Holly Orlando / James Anderson / 263.00
9. Creekside / Elizabeth Boyd / Finley Farm, Inc / 262.50
10. Dialouet / Scott Stewardt / Rivers Edge / 262.00
11. Mr. Manhattan / Daniel Geitner /Martin Schlappi / 259.50