Thursday: Hunter Breeding: Spotlight on the Youngsters
By Nichole Osborne
Thursday morning began with Hunter Breeding. There was a plethora of yearlings, two year olds and three year olds present to contend for blue and championship ribbons. Arbor Day, owned by Brandon Gibson, was declared Best Yearling and Rappaport, owned by Sue and Chuck Grossman, finished in Reserve. The same pair, in the same order, was chosen as the Best Young Horses as well. Junior Johnson, with 15 total points accrued, won his way to the Leading Handler Award. Saida and Carol Gelinas topped the Amateur Handlers Class. HHors D’Oeuvre, Susan Casale, won section A of the Young Hunters Under Saddle and Rhecipe, Craig Eberbach, won section B. There are many winners not listed here, if you are interested check out the list of Champions located near the Show Office.
Arbor Day and Richard Taylor
To some Breeding day at the show may seem like hour after hour of watching young horses stand and trot in a single-file line (or, as near to single file as one can get when working with wiggly and anxious youngsters), but one must remember beyond their conformation and movement each horse has a story behind it. One such horse is a young filly, Remarkable, by Redwine (many of his babies were at or near the top of their classes today), a yearling from Maryland. Laurie McDowell, owner and breeder, bred “Juliet” as a replacement for her horse Mark (hence the name ReMARKable). It is a miracle that the filly is even alive, as when she was born she appeared lifeless. After several minutes of resuscitation attempts by Laurie Juliet revived. Laurie never quite expected to make it to Devon, let along sitting in first place following the jog. The judges pulled Arbor Day from second in the line-up, placing him in first, one spot ahead of Remarkable. A sad thing, but still an amazing win for a young horse that is already a miracle. Hunter breeding comes alive when one remembers that each yearling, two year old, and so on has its own story, in which showing at Devon is now a key feature.
Remarkable and Junior Johnson
A/Os Take over the Dixon Oval
By Halie Greening
The Amateur Owner Jumper class kicked off Friday of Devon 2012, with the A/O 18-35 year-olds following right after. The A/O’s over 35 years of age took the ring with countless clear rounds but an unfortunate fall for Cathy Morris-Schmitt.
The Amateur Owner Hunters are judged on performance and soundness as they aim for a clean, consistent round over the course of 3’6”. The horse and rider pair in the $3,750 Amateur Owner Jumper class to take the win from a field twenty-three competitors was Madeline Thatcher trained by Alex Jayne of Pony Lane Farms, where the winning horse Klotaire Du Moulin resides.
Heather Hooker on Castlekeep
As the Amateur Owner classes progressed, the younger division of the 18-35 year-olds next took to the ring. The 9 year old bay gelding Castlekeep ridden by Heather Hooker entered the ring graciously to accept her first place win of the Beeches Brook Challenge Trophy. However, Castlekeep missed a second consecutive win in the next round of the A/O Hunter 18-35 years of age sponsored by Courtyard by Marriot. The win went to the duo of Winnetoe and Jamie Auletto’s immaculate ride with the premium score of 88.
The older group took on the 3’6” course next. Sambalino, owned and ridden by Becky Gochman (previously ridden by Scott Stewart earlier in the week with great success) came out on top with the win over a long list of entries. Unfortunately in the next class, Sambalino and Becky’s score did not make the score cut-off. First place was swept up by John Ingram and Costar, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram LLC. John secured the top spot with his score that deemed untouchable.
John Ingram on Costar
The Amateur Owners would entered the ring for a third time today for the under saddle class for their division. Superman owned by John & Stephanie Ingram LLC shown by Tracy Sheriff Muser graced the ring and won the over 35 years of age Amateur Owner Hunter Under Saddle. John & Stephanie Ingram LLC’s Superman also won the Third Skirmish Hill Challenge Trophy. Next, the younger age division of 18 to 35 year-olds flowed into the ring for the Under Saddle class and took the rail for a competitive go around. Finishing on top with the win was Keri Guanciale on Thoughtful from Clarksburg, MD.
A/O and Open Jumpers
This afternoon the $3,750 Amateur-Owner Jumpers took their turn in the Dixon oval on Friday. The class opened with five clear rounds, appearing as though everyone in the 11 horse field might go clean. The last to go, Jessica Springsteen aboard Temmie, Stone Hill Farm, galloped his way into first place and possession of the Ward Sullivan Perpetual Memorial trophy. He was 3.458 seconds faster than the second place horse; maybe they do really save the best for last. Upstaire, Smithfield Farms LLC, claimed second, Total Touch, Kathleen Hope, third, and Klotaire du Moulin, Pony Lane Farm, fourth.Following a course change the afternoon of Jumpers continued with the $7,500 Open Jumper class. Laura Chapot won aboard Quointreau un Prince and placed fourth on Umberto. Springsteen rode Tinsday VDL to second and Christine McCrea piloted Victor E to third.
After an interlude, the jumping resumed in the evening with the $20,000 Open Jumper Gambler’s Choice, with the addition of rain. Many of the riders in the class competed in Thursday night’s Grand Prix and are on the long list for the London Games, so the competition was stiff and exciting. McLain Ward, winner of Thursday’s Grand Prix, rode Apple to a first place finish, followed by Chapot aboard Quointreau un Prince for second. Chapot also took fifth aboard Bradberry. Waterloo, ridden by Schuyler Riley, took third and Charlie Jayne on Aclette Z rounded out the top four.
I happened on the birth of the filly Remarkable because I had begun to look at her dam on MareStare, site for foaling cams. I knew nothing about her dam but was interested in the broodmares in general since I stopped breeding horses several years ago. I chose her dam at random because she was such a pretty horse. The night she foaled I was so excited; then something went wrong. I barely could breathe as the foal could not even be pulled from the birth canal. Finally her wise mama stood and turned around before lying back down. Evidently the filly’s shoulders had been locked in the birth canal and the movement freed them. She was born but lay lifeless on the straw. Laurie worked over her, doing CPR like a pro, breathing into her filly’s nostrils over and over until she breathed on her own. Remarkable “Juliet” is more than remarkable; she is a bonafide miracle! All that and so gorgeous too!!