Bridgehampton, NY-August 28, 2013 – Children’s hunters, both horses and ponies, took over the hunter rings in Tuesday’s edition of the 38th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show.
Erica Ferreira, of Bridgehampton, N.Y., and His Way were named the Grand Champion Children’s Hunter after earning the Children’s Hunter Large Pony Championship.
Blu Venture, ridden by Hensley Humphries of Short Hills, N.J., and Simply Magical, ridden by Stella Propp of New York, N.Y., won the championships in the two sections of the Children’s Hunter Small/Medium Pony division.
Lilly, ridden by Lili Halterman of New York, N.Y., won the Children’s Hunter Horse, 14 & Under, championship.
Carmona, ridden by Paige Israel of New York, N.Y., won the Children’s Hunter Horse, 15-17, championship.
The day climaxed with four $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Hunter Classics, one each for the two pony sections and one each for the two horse age groups.
Caroline Cline, of New York, N.Y., rode Small Talk to victory in the $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Children’s Hunter Horse, 15-17 Years Classic. The 17-year-old junior at Riverdale Country School took the lead in the first round and achieved an even better performance in the second round.
“I have a great horse and a great trainer, so I didn’t really feel any pressure,” said Cline, who trains with Bonnie Cunniffe.
“Small Talk went really well in both rounds, but I thought I rode better in the second round. I thought it was more refined,” Cline added.
Cline said that Small Talk, a 16-year-old veteran of hunter shows, prefers larger, grass-covered rings like the Hampton Classic’s Anne Aspinall Ring. “He loves it on the grass field, so he’s even more fun to ride then,” she said.
Cline’s family usually spends the summer months on eastern Long Island, so the Hampton Classic is a special show for her. “I’ve always wanted to ride here, and winning this makes it even more special. It’s a great way to end the summer!” she said.
Coco Faith, of Fairfield, Conn., rode Monopolu to win the Marshall & Sterling Children’s Hunter Horse, 14 & Under Under, Classic.
Kathryn Pizzi of Port Washington, N.Y., rode Rhyme ‘N Reason to win the Marshall & Sterling Small/Medium Pony Classic.
Sabrina Livigni, of Shoreham, N.Y., rode Benlea Sea Wolf to win the Marshal & Sterling Large Pony Classic.
The 38th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show runs through Sunday, September 1 and features world-class show jumping competition, as well as magnificent shopping and a variety of entertainment attractions. The Classic features six show rings with more than 100 classes of competition for horses and riders of all ages. A wide range of jumper, hunter, equitation, short stirrup and leadline classes are all part of the Classic’s schedule, as well as competitions for riders with disabilities.
The Classic features an FEI-recognized Grand Prix on three consecutive days – the $50,000 Spy Coast Farm/Young Horse Show Series Grand Prix Qualifier Presented by Longines on Friday, the $40,000 Longines Cup on Saturday, and the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup™ Qualifier on Sunday. The world-class field of riders will also be looking to win the new Longines Rider Challenge that awards $30,000 to the rider who accumulates the most points in the horse show’s Open Jumper division.
The FTI Grand Prix is part of the Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge which awards a $200,000 bonus should the same horse-and-rider combination win the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon, $250,000 FTI Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic, and $250,000 Alltech Grand Prix at the Alltech National Horse Show. McLain Ward won the Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon on Rothchild in May and now stands to win the $200,000 bonus should he ride Rothchild to wins in the remaining two events in the Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge.
For those who can’t make it to the show grounds, WVVH-TV, the official Long Island television station of the Hampton Classic, broadcasts up to five hours of competition and highlights each day during the Classic. These telecasts can also be seen online atwww.WVVH.com.
Free live webcasts of all Grand Prix Ring competition will be available, courtesy of ShowNet, at www.HamptonClassic.com. Competition in other rings will be available on a pay-per-view basis at www.shownet.biz.
Further information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177. Hampton Classic Horse Show, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation.
Erica Ferreira and His Way were the Grand Champion Children’s Hunter at the Hampton Classic. (Shawn McMillen photo)
