Who’s Who in Maryland Hunters & Jumpers

by Katherine O. Rizzo

These results are based on the United States Equestrian Federation Zone 3 ranking lists for 2009.

Winning Working Hunters
The highest placing Working Hunter in Maryland for 2009 was Infinity’s End, a Dutch Warmblood owned by Allegra McLaughlin and shown by Timothy Maddrix in the Regular Working Hunter division. With wins at multiple Swan Lake competitions, the Maryland Horse and Pony Show, State College Classic and several other shows, Maddrix and Infinity’s End secured the USEF reserve championship for the Regular Working Hunter division.

Maddrix also rode McLaughlen’s Cardiff Bay to a seventh place ranking on the Green Working Hunter-First Year USEF list.

_IJK_WinterfeldPerfect Pre-Greens
Ken Krome rode LuAnne Novello’s Winterfeld (pictured) to the ninth spot on the 3’3’’ Pre-Green Hunter list. The young horse had top placings in 2009 at Country Hill Farm, the Upperville Colt and Horse Show and the Maryland National Hunter/Jumper show, just to name a few.

Conformation Hunter Champs
Nora Jodrey’s Wizard earned 636 points this past year with Miranda Scott in the irons. The gelding won at the Maryland Horse and Pony Show, racked up five blues and the championship title at the Virginia Intermont Classic and placed well at the Lexington National Horse Show. All this adding up to a fifth place spot on the USEF Green Conformation Hunter list.

Awesome Amateurs
Many Free State adult amateurs found themselves at the top of several USEF lists.

Elizabeth Sponseller rode her own Dubya to the championship spot on the USEF Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3’’ division. Sponseller piloted the Dutch Warmblood at 14 shows in 2009, racking up 818 points. Wins for this pair include Swan Lake’s Indoors Before the Indoors, Bay State Classic and the Halcyon Farm Winter Finale. Sponseller and Dubya also placed well at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

SurfsUpCindy Schmidt (pictured) rode her own Surfs Up to win year-end championship honors for the USEF Adult Amateur Hunter 35+ division. The pair completed 25 competitions in 2009 to earn a whooping 2010 points. The highlight of Schmidt’s season has to be the 2009 Washington International Horse Show where she and Surfs Up swept the Adult Amateur Hunter Over 35 divisions, claiming the championship for Local Weekend.

Not far behind Schmidt is Patricia Schindler with 1825 points and the reserve championship for USEF Adult Amateur Hunter 35+. Schindler had a great Indoors season, winning at both Indoors Before the Indoors shows and placing third at both the Pennsylvania National and WIHS with LuvBug.

The number one Adult Amateur Jumper in the country is Maryland’s own Ray Coutley. Coutley rode his own Appendix Quarter Horse Navier Stokes to wins at the North Carolina State Fair, PJA Jumper Classic and the Lexington National Horse Show, among others. His most prestigious win of the year was leading the victory gallop for the Adult Jumper High division at the 2009 U.S. Grand Prix Finals in Culpeper.

SamSchaefer_picLaurenFisherJumping Juniors
Samantha Schaefer (pictured) and Lauren Cortellessa had a stellar 2009 season and each ended the season ranked third in the USEF Junior Hunter lists. Cortellessa rode her own Theodore in 24 shows to earn 1004 points. She was a top finisher at the Quentin Riding Club Fall Show, the Maryland Summer Classic and the Showplace Spring Festival, just to name a few. At the end of the season she earned the third place spot on the USEF Junior Hunter-Small 15 and Under division.

Schaefer won several championships throughout the season on several horses in a variety of divisions. But it was with Garfield, a Holsteiner owned by K & S Show Services, that she was ranked third on the USEF Junior Hunter-Large 15 and Under division. The pair earned division championships at several shows in 2009 including the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and the Maryland Horse and Pony Show. Schaefer and Garfield were also reserve champions at the Upperville Colt and Horse Show, among others.

Kylie Wright is no stranger to championship accolades and 2009 was no different. After a fabulous season in the Junior Jumpers, Wright earned 7880 points aboard Charlie Brown 72 for Silver Glen Farm, LLC. Wright and Charlie Brown 72 won the $1000 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper High (1.4M) at the USGPL Finals, placed second and fifth at the Winston National Show and fifth at the Pennsylvania National Show. She also won at the Lexington Spring Premiere and placed in the top ten at the Devon Horse Show. The success earned her the USEF Junior Jumper championship for 2009.

Top Children’s Hunters
Alexandra Benjamin and Katie Groomes finished out 2009 in first and second place on the USEF Children’s Hunter Pony-Large ranking list. Benjamin rode Molly Wolfe’s Hakuna Matata in 14 shows to a total of 590 points. She competed mainly in Maryland and Pennsylvania at shows such as the Maryland National Hunter/Jumper Show, Showplace Spring Festival and Mt. Nittany Classic. The pair finished out the season with a fifth place during WIHS’s Local Weekend.

Groomes earned 492 points aboard the Welsh/Quarter Horse Sea Breeze, owned by Lee Fischer. Groomes and Sea Breeze earned the reserve championship at Heritage Acres Summer III and snagged the championship at Hollyhurst.

Other notable Marylanders competing in the Children’s ranks are Kayla Deyarmin aboard her own The Life of Riley and Lauren Ginsbug riding Streett Moore’s Crimson Star. Deyarmin earned 873 points to be named USEF reserve champion in the Children’s Hunter Horse 15-17 division and Ginsburg scored 888 points for the USEF Children’s Hunter Pony-Small/Medium reserve championship.

KellieReganNumber One Children’s Jumper
Kellie Regan (pictured) and Alison Fisher’s Circus Maximus were almost unstoppable in the Children’s Jumper classes, winning the USEF Children’s Jumper championship. The pair sped its way to wins in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. After placing in the top five all winter, Regan earned her first win at the Swan Lake Spring Show. She followed that up with another win, this time at the Summer Kick Off “AA” Show and then again at the first and last Ashley Meadows Farm July shows. Regan finished the season winning the Child/Adult Jumper II 2C NJPHA division at the Snowbird Acres Farm Show in November. There she also placed second in the Child/Adult Jumper II 2.1 division and third in the M/S/NAL Child/Adult Classic.

Pony of the Year
Wilder Mountain Farm, LLC won the USEF Medium Pony Hunter championship with Sugar Cookie, a paint pony ridden by a few different Free State juniors. Sugar Cookie won championship honors and blue ribbons up and down the East Coast, starting at the Barracks January II Show where Sydney Wilder piloted the pony to first place in the Medium Pony Conformation Hunter division.

Brianna Sims took the reins at the Virginia Intermont Classic in February to earn the Medium Pony Hunter reserve championship. Mary Elizabeth Cordia placed third with Sugar Cookie at the Maryland National Hunter/Jumper Show in the Small/Medium Pony Hunter Model class. At the Commonwealth National, Sugar Cookie was reserve champion Medium Pony Hunter again, this time with Ashley Foster in the irons. With Foster, Sugar Cookie also won the Medium Pony championship at St. Christopher’s Hunter/Jumper Show and the Keswick Pony Hunter Classic at the Keswick Hunt Club.

Peyton Smith took over the ride at the Loudoun Benefit. Her highest placing at that show was eighth, but at her next show, Deep Run in Virginia, Smith won the Deep Run Pony Hunter Classic and earned the Medium Pony Hunter reserve championship. Smith added another championship tricolor to Sugar Cookie’s banner with a win at the NCHJA Annual show in Raleigh, North Carolina. The pair also finished 20th out of 131 entries in the Medium Pony divisions at the USEF Pony Finals in Lexington, Kentucky. Smith and Sugar Cookie also had top 10 finished at both the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and WIHS.

The following ponies earned USEF year-end reserve championship awards: Frances Merryman’s Woodlands Lil Bill (Medium Pony Hunter) with Barbara Merryman onboard, Anna Rossi’s One More Time (Large Pony Hunter) and Gay Peterson’s The Loan Roan (Large Green Pony Hunter) who was ridden by Jacob Pope.

Sophia Gali piloted Will Kennedy’s Only Option to the USEF Pony Jumper championship. Sarah Mills claimed the reserve championship riding her own Meadowood’s Oreo No Cream.

TracyMagness_LilWPicOutstanding Open Jumper
Baltimore’s Tracy Magness (pictured) made the top 50 USEF Show Jumping Ranking List. In 2009, she earned 1049 points and $187,300 to be ranked 27th.

Important Rule Change!

The United States Hunter Jumper Association announced on February 17th that a rule change has been made regarding the use of NSAIDs (i.e. Bute, Banamine, etc) during competition.

Effective April 1, 2010 through November 31, 2011, “USHJA members will be permitted to give two NSAIDs in accordance with current rules regarding the administration of NSAIDs, provided an NSAID Declaration Form is filed with the show office prior to the horse competing.” The amount will be reduced to one NSAID starting December 1, 2011.

Under current USEF rules, no more than two of the seven approved and quantitatively restricted NSAIDs are permitted in a horse while competing at a USEF licensed competition. The one exception to this rule however, is that phenylbutazone (bute) and flunixin (Banamine) are forbidden in combination and are never permitted together in a horse at the time of competition.

McDonogh School’s Eagle’s Nest Grand Opening a Huge Success

by Fran Maddrix

FirstShow

McDonogh School, located in Owings Mills,hosted their first Maryland “B” Rated Horse Show on Saturday December 12, 2009. The “Eagle’s Nest,” their brand new indoor, was very festive and bright for the season and its grand debut! The 120’ X 240’ring is filled with mixed sand and stone dust, the perfect setting for course designer Streett Moore and the hunter classes offered. Many exhibitors attended the debut in spite of the cold weather forecast. Entries had to be limited due to the huge number of pre-entries. In order to keep the show running smoothly and in a timely manner no post entries were accepted. Everyone in attendance seemed to enjoy the new addition of the Eagle’s Nest Indoor, the festive surroundings and hospitality of the McDonogh staff. McDonogh School will be hosting a number of “A” and “B” rated U.S. Equestrian Federation and Maryland Horse Show Association shows throughout the winter and summer months.

The Children’s Pony divisions dominated the show with the number of entries. The Small/Medium Children’s Pony champion was Emily Todd and her pony Summerset’s Glory. The reserve champion was Kira Paterakis’s Hillstreet Blues with Tess Schaftel aboard. Jackie Watts riding John Skinner’s Rembert took the champion honors in the Large Children’s Pony with Aoife Manger aboard Mia Hopkin’s Midnight Snack to the reserve ribbon.

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Champion Short Stirrup rider Ellis Addleman aboard Dot Com

The MHSA Pony Medal was split due to the number of entries with Jackie Watts winning the Large Pony section and younger sister Lauren Watts taking the Small/Medium Pony section. Both riders are trained by Katie Cooper of Caves Farms.

The Older Children’s Hunter Horse championship title was a tie until Savannah, owned by Emily Gallo and ridden by Jacob Pope, won the under saddle class to earn the championship honors. Luxorious, ridden by Sydnee Alms and owned by Devon Walther, received the reserve title. In the Younger Children’s Hunter Horse division, Cassandra Gergely with her own Urlala won the champion tricolor and Alexandra Singer and her Without Warning took the reserve ribbon.

The DiPietro sisters dominated the Junior Hunters with Dani riding her Davenport to the championship and Catherine taking the reserve with Somebody’s Hero. Dani also took the blue ribbon in the Gittings Horsemanship class with sister Catherine placing second in the MHSA Hunt Seat Medal. Hannah Williams of Woodbine captured first place honors in the MHSA Hunt Seat Medal.

Lisa Kristiansen rode her Fallido to the top of the 3’3” Amateur Owner Hunter Division winning the tricolor. Dr. Debbie Kelly aboard her own Lukas won the reserve honors. Courtney Somers took the Adult Amateur division championship with a clean sweep of the division by winning all three classes on her Ecco Domani. Loverboy ridden by Alexandra Volta and owned by Emily Williams won the reserve championship.

EaglesNestIn the Pre-Children’s Pony division, Grace Boston rode Stacey Schaefer’s Almost Magic to the championship while Amy Walls and her own Cavalier’s Kiss N Tell received the reserve. Short Stirrup riders Ellis Addleman on Dot Com and Edward Pope on Ashland’s Puzzle, both ponies owned by Streett Moore, earned the championship and reserve titles, respectively.

The competition in the Pre-Children’s Horse division was very close in points toward the championship with Gossip Girl and owner/rider Taylor Curry taking the top honors and Passiano with owner/rider Courtney Cameron being named reserve champion. Maria Novick riding April Rain, endured the long hours and dropping temperatures to win the reserve champion in the Pre-Adult division, the last division of the day.

For more on the dedication ceremony for the Eagle’s Nest, see the January issue now in stores!

What was your favorite 2009 Maryland show?
E-mail editor@equiery.com or post a comment here to let us know what was your favorite Maryland show in 2009 and why.

Howard County Medal Finals

by Fran Maddrix

The Howard County Horse Shows Association held their annual Adult and Junior Medal Finals on Sunday, September 27 at Gretchen Mobberly’s Summerhill Farm in Cooksville. Bird Mobberly was the chairperson and organizer of this prestigious show. Hard working members of the HCHSA set a beautiful fall themed jumping course and in spite of the torrential rains the day before, the show went off without a hitch.

To qualify for the finals, the rider must participate in at least five HCHSA shows during the current season and receive one win, or accumulate at least 14 points.

After excellent performances by all riders over fences and additional testing on the flat by judge Glenn Moody, four adult riders were called back to jump a second shortened course. Tiffany Ofenstein was announced the Adult Medal Champion and was presented a beautiful monogrammed dress sheet donated by the Gray Pony Saddlery. Jennifer Wilner captured the Reserve Champion title. Rounding out the top six were Terry West in third, Anna Anderson in fourth, Nicole Wakefield in fifth and Kelsey Church in sixth.

After a catered lunch from Becks Restaurant in Sykesville and provided by the HCHSA, the juniors took the stage.

Again, after some pretty competitive jumping and testing on the flat, four juniors returned for another shortened course. Taylor Rose was announced the Junior Medal Champion and awarded a monogrammed dress sheet donated by the Gray Pony Saddlery. Paige Ensor received the Reserve Champion honors with Carrie Hundley taking third, Sophie Bednarik in fourth, Maddie Valenzuela in fifth and Madison Stephens in sixth.

Congratulations go out to all the competitors for their great performances!

More from the Columbia Classic

The Columbia Classic Grand Prix took place on September 20 at a new location this year. The show, which has raised more than $2.5 million for the Howard Community College Educational Foundation over the past 20 years, moved to Marama Farm in Clarksville. The farm is owned by George and Marilyn Doetsch and the move was done in response to requests from competitors.

Here are just a few photos of the Grand Prix action! For more photos of spectators, riders and officials, pick up the November print edition, now in stores.

TracyWeinberg
Tracy Weinberg of Bel Air was one of only two fault free riders to finish at this year’s Classic. She rode Linda Z to second place. She also rode Cromwell to 13th.

TracyMagness
Tracy Magness of Hughesville and Tarco Van Ter Moude finished in fifth place, dropping just one rail.

MaryLisaLeffler
Mary Lisa Leffler of Brookeville also dropped one rail to finish sixth aboard Gerona 92.

BenMeredith
Benjamin Meredith of Frederick rode Talent to 11th.

Were you at Washington?

The Equiery wants to know if you made it to the Washington International Horse Show this year. If so, what days/nights did you attend and what did you think?

Send your comments and photos to: editor@equiery.com by November 4.

WIHS Word Find Answers

The answers to the Word Find found on page 7 of the Washington International Horse Show special edition Kids Equiery are now up on The Equiery’s archives. Click here.

Don’t know what we are talking about? Then don’t forget to come to next year’s WIHS World of the Horse on the last day of the show!

Did you attend WIHS this year? Let us know what you thought. E-mail editor@equiery.com or post a message here. Send us your photos as well.

WIHS Starts Today!

The 51st Washington International Horse Show kicks off this morning with the Regular Conformation Hunters. Hunter competition for professionals and amateur owners will fill up most of the day and tonight will showcase the Children’s Hunter Championships and the Adult Hunter Championships.

Hunter competition will continue into Wednesday. The WIHS Children’s Jumper Championship is also scheduled for Wednesday. The Adult Jumper Championship will take place that evening.

Ponies invade the Verizon Center on Thursday with the Small and Large Junior Hunter divisions. That evening will feature Open Jumpers and the Gambler’s Choice Costume Class.

On Friday, spectators can watch the WIHS Equitation Classic and Ambassadors Cup in the afternoon and then more Open Jumpers and the Puissance that evening.

Saturday has more pony competition and the WIHS Hunter Classic Derby as well as the Senators Cup and Pair Relay. The evening competition will include the Equitation Final and the President’s Cup Grand Prix.

The Local Hunter Finals for ponies and horses takes place Sunday morning. And then, the afternoon is devoted to kids with the new Washington’s World of the Horse! Starting at 1pm, kids under 12 get in free. There will be plenty of equine entertainment and demonstrations as well as a special edition Equiery just for those who attend (while supplies last!). See you there!

Cleveland Bays at Howard County Fair and Warrenton Horse Show

by Marcia Broody

CB_head

Howard County Fair
The second leg of the Mid-Atlantic Cleveland Bay Show Series was held at the Howard County Fair on 11 August. Classes featured Purebred and Part-bred Cleveland Bays shown in-hand, on the flat and over fences. The series will conclude at Hunt Night at Warrenton on Labor Day weekend.

CB_2riders
Sarah Morgan on Christina and Laura Barbour on Idlehour Firefly at the Howard County Fair.

Eighteen impressive Cleveland Bays participated, and in the under saddle class, the top 5 placings were all PUREBREDS. Judge Kim Rachuba-Williams (R) was unaware of the significance in her placings. “I picked the quality” was the essence of her judging philosophy, and evidently the quality was truly there.

Idle Hour Stud’s impressive stallion Idlehour Yorktown took the day’s top honors. Piloted by New Market – Middletown Valley Joint MFH Jennifer Webster, the stallion was impeccable in his manner and performance. Reserve went to Virginia-based Idlehour Muthaiga,owned by Steffanie Burgevin and ridden by Karen Nutt.

CB_inhand
Bob Alexander and Idlehour Gawain at the Howard County Fair

Marylanders who showed well included Martha Klasing and her two purebred mares Idlehour Naivasha and Idlehour Safari; Sarah Morgan riding Christina and Laura Barbour riding Idlehour Firefly. Young horses were shown in-hand by Bob Alexander (Idlehour Gawain), Kristi McKinley (Luthien) and Marcia Brody (Magnific Cheshire).

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Idlehour Naivasha – Warrenton Horse Show Cleveland Bay Champion

Warrenton Horse Show
The Warrenton Horse Show hosted nineteen purebred and part-bred Cleveland Bays as part of its Labor Day weekend show. This show marked the third in the Mid-Atlantic series, which comprised of Upperville, Howard County and Warrenton. Horses are shown in-hand, under saddle and in a hunter hack class format. This year, it was interesting to note that a majority of the horses competing were rare purebreds, rather than the more common part-breds.

The 2009 Warrenton Cleveland Bay championship went to Idlehour Naivasha, a purebred mare owned by Martha Klasing, ridden by Sandy Lytle and trained by Susan Porter. Naivasha also won the CBHSNA Best of Breed rosette for Warrenton.

Reserve champion for the show was won by Liberty, owned by Michelle Novack and ridden by Janice Binkley Cole. The series reserve champion was the purebred Cleveland Bay stallion Idlehour Yorktown, owned by Marilyn Webster and ridden by mostly Marylander Jennifer Sponseller Webster.

CB_bwpic
Jennifer Webster and Idlehour Yorktown at the Howard County Fair

Other Marylanders participating in the series included Dickcy Gibson, Michelle McKenna, Sarah Morgan, Merry Fowler, Bob Alexander, Jennifer Webster and Marcia Brody.

Series organizers Michelle Douglas, Jennifer Webster and Marcia Brody want to thank all of the sponsors, participants and spectators who came to make these three shows such a special event this year. The series will be expanding for 2010, as the organizers have a few additional events simmering…

The results for each class are listed below as: horse name ( owner’s name, rider’s name, trainer’s name)

PUREBRED IN-HAND (10 Entries)
Idlehour Naivasha (Martha Klasing, Sandy Lytle, Susan Porter)
Belladonna Nexxus (Hunter Wilson, Lauren Poisal)
Idlehour Muthaiga (Steffanie Burgevin, Karen Nutt)
Idlehour Safari (Martha Klasing, Martha Klasing, Susan Porter)
Idlehour Yorktown (Marilyn Webster, Jennifer Webster)
Cholderton Circe (Hunter Wilson, Trina Gomez)
Belladonna Xtravagance (Hunter Wilson, Hunter Wilson)
Idlehour Oleana (Marilyn Webster, Marilyn Webster)
Forest Fancy Girl (Hunter Wilson, Jill Spangler)
Earlswood First Edition (Peter Green)

PARTBRED IN HAND (8 Entries)
Belladonna Dutch Timber (Hunter Wilson, Hunter Wilson)
Heart O’Bruce (Michelle and Scott Douglas, Scott Douglas)
Belladonna Quasar (Marcia Brody, Marcia Brody)
On a Mission (Sharon Hanna, Sharon Hanna)
Christina (John Fager, Dickcy Gibson)
Epiphanybay Hamilton (Mike and Carlene Kerr, Carlene Kerr)
Epiphanybay Celebration (Mike and Carlene Kerr, Amy Hayden)
Idlehour Firefly (Dickcy Gibson, Michelle McKenna, Dickcy Gibson)

CLEVELAND BAY UNDER SADDLE (14 Entries)
Carter’s Run (Kate Simmeth, Kate Simmeth)
Idlehouur Naivasha (Martha Klasing, Sandy Lytle, Susan Porter)
Idlehour Muthaiga (Steffanie Burgevin, Karen Nutt)
Idlehour Yorktown (Marilyn Webster, Jennifer Webster)
Idlehour Firefly (Dickcy Gibson, Michelle McKenna, Dickcy Gibson)
Belladonna Nexxus (Hunter Wilson, Lauren Poisal)
Heart O’Bruce (Michelle and Scott Douglas, Dustin Craig)
Cholderton Circe (Hunter Wilson, Trina Gomez)
Liberty (Michelle Novack, Janice Binkley Cole)

CLEVELAND BAY HUNTER HACK (11 Entries)
Liberty (Michelle Novack, Janice Binkley Cole)
Naivasha (Martha Klasing, Sandy Lytle, Susan Porter)
Heart O’Bruce (Michelle and Scott Douglas, Dustin Craig)
On A Mission (Sharon Hanna, Sharon Hanna)
Idlehour Yorktown (Marilyn Webster, Jennifer Webster)
Idlehour Muthaiga (Steffanie Burgevin, Karen Nutt)
Idlehour Firefly (Dickcy Gibson, Michelle McKenna, Dickcy Gibson)
Idlehour Safari (Martha Klasing, Martha Klasing, Susan Porter)
Carter’s Run (Kate Simmeth, Kate Simmeth)

Cleveland Bay Division Champion: Idlehour Naivasha (Martha Klasing, Sandy Lytle, Susan Porter)
Cleveland Bay Division Reserve Champion: Liberty (Michelle Novack, Janice Binkley Cole)

CBHSNA Best of Breed Rosette (Registered Purebred): Idlehour Naivasha (Martha Klasing, Sandy Lytle, Susan Porter)
CBHSNA Best of Breed Rosette (Registered Part-bred): Liberty (Michelle Novack, Janice Binkley Cole

Mid-Atlantic Cleveland Bay Series Champion: Idlehour Muthaiga (Steffanie Burgevin, Karen Nutt) – Award Sponsored by Hunter Wilson and Margaux Tip Ranch

Mid-Atlantic Cleveland Bay Series Reserve Champion: Idlehour Yorktown (Marilyn Webster, Jennifer Webster) – Award Sponsored by Marcia Brody and Magnific Sport Horses

Marylanders Place at Inaugural International Hunter Derby Finals

submitted by Pam Saul

MaryLisaLeffler
Mary Lisa Leffler aboard Sam Adams

The $100,000 International Hunter Derby Finals were held August 21-23 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The first day of competition found 56 horses and riders vying for a spot in the top 25 to move to the finals on the following day. Mary Lisa Leffler and Rachel Kennedy, both of Brookeville, were among those who qualified in the top 25 to compete for the derby’s final two rounds.

The Hunter Derby has been a two-year process with the culmination of the finals in Kentucky. The Derby consists of natural elements found in the hunting field, with jumps ranging from 3’6” to 4’ in height. The course gave riders a chance to make decisions on options of which jumps to take and the path between jumps. Spectators enjoyed watching what each rider decided for their trip.

Mary partnered with Sam Adams, a warmblood owned by her niece, Ashley Foster. Rachel was paired with Holly Bossert’s Ebony for the finals. The top 25 then competed for the derby’s final round, where only the top 12 would be asked back to compete to share the $100,000 prize money. Mary Lisa placed ninth and Rachel placed 12th, an excellent showing for Maryland in the first annual International Hunter Derby.

RachelKennedy
Rachel Kennedy and Ebony