Wellington, FL – August 16, 2012 – The US Pony Finals is the much-anticipated, celebrated annual event held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. The finest ponies and young riders earn the opportunity to compete at the event, which showcases our country’s future top equestrians.
Parker Wright and Anisette (Photo by Shawn McMillen)
US Pony Finals proved very successful for trainer, Elizabeth Pandich, and her Lionshare Farm clients and ponies. The plan was to have the riders and ponies performing at their peak for the coveted competition. Pandich’s focused strategy worked like a charm.
In the Medium Green Ponies, Parker Wright expertly piloted Lionshare Farm’s Anisette to second place overall, earning the red ribbon in both the under saddle and over fences out of 66 of the top medium green pony and rider teams from around the country. The pair was awarded the Reserve Championship of the Division.
“I’ve been riding Anisette since March,” said Wright, who recently moved to Bedford, NY. “I really like her because you have to wrap your legs around her and ride. She likes the way I ride and I like the way she goes. She has a lot of personality and she loves attention. We’ve developed a bond.”
Isabella Russekoff generously gave Wright the ride on Rose Hill Farm’s Hallelujah, or “Louie,” as he’s known at the barn, in the Pony Medal, where the pair earned sixth place out of 183.
“Elizabeth Pandich has given me some of the best lessons I’ve had−basically in my whole life,” confided Wright.
Parker Wright and Hallelujah with Elizabeth Pandich (Photo by Shawn McMillen)
In the Small Ponies, Isabella Russekoff and Rico Suave placed 14th in the model class out of huge field of 105. Then, Russekoff put in solid performances that landed her 11th under saddle and fifth over fences. The pair won third place overall with their high scores.
According to Pandich, “Isabella and Parker have been working very hard, I am so proud of their achievements.”
While Pandich and the ponies experienced their success at US Pony Finals, Olympian Peter Leone and the rest of the Lionshare Farm team headed to The Jumper Classic in Hampton Falls, NH, for a very successful week of showing.
Leone sped to victory in the $3,500 DG Ventures Speed Derby, aboard Tuvalu, owned by Alison Finger, putting in the fastest clean round. In the same class, Leone piloted Lionshare Farm’s Wayfarer to fifth place. Leone and Wayfarer were fifth, as well, in the $15,000 Equine Insurance Speed Stake.
With Lincourt Gino, owned by Monica Carrera, Leone was third in the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix and were sixth in the 1.45m Welcome Stake. The team of Gino and Leone has had consistent top ten placings in grand prix events and jumper derbies since last winter.
Finger rode her own, Tuvalu, to third place honors in the $1,000 1.05m Masters Jumpers.
Leone also had a win and second place in the 1.10m Jumpers with Matti Fisher’s San Souci, which landed them the Reserve Championship of the division.
Monica Carrera and her own Tiffany garnered a good prize in the $3,500 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers.
Isabella Russekoff and Rico Suave (Photo by Shawn McMillen)
This week, look for the Lionshare Farm team at Fairfield Hunt Horse Show in Westport, CT.
Peter Leone is an Olympic equestrian, trainer, producer of hunter/jumper instructional DVDs and author. He owns and operates Lionshare Farm in Greenwich, CT. His clients successfully compete in the pony, equitation, hunter and jumper divisions. He is one of three brothers, internationally known as Team Leone, for their success in the show ring. Leone was a member of the 1996 Silver Medal United States Olympic Show Jumping Team and winner of numerous national and international Grand-Prix show jumping competitions.
For more information about Peter Leone and Lionshare Farm go to:
To purchase the book, Peter Leone’s Jumping Clinic: Success Strategies for Equestrian Athletes by Peter Leone and Kimberly S. Jaussi, PhD or Peter Leone’s Ride the Body: Select Insights of Peter Leone DVD go to:http://www.lionsharefarm.com
