Shawn Casady Takes Home $10,000 Hallway Feeds Leading Professional Rider Award for 2013 USHJA National Hunter Derby Series

Lexington, KY – October 9, 2013 – After winning this year’s very first Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, Shawn Casady took over the top of the Leading Rider standings and never relinquished it. The talented professional went on to capture multiple top placings throughout the spring and summer. At the end of the Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series, Casady had accumulated 1175 points to take home the coveted $10,000 Hallway Feeds Leading Professional Rider Award.

The Hallway Feeds Series consists of seven national hunter derby events held throughout the 2013 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. During the final event at the Kentucky National Horse Show, Casady’s achievements throughout the year were recognized with the $10,000 Hallway Feeds Leading Professional Rider Award, which went to the professional rider accumulating the most points in the seven classes that make up the series.

 

“It is awesome to have this bonus available to the riders, and I am honored to have won it this year,” stated Casady. “This award recognizes consistency from the riders throughout the seven classes. I am very grateful to Hallway Feeds for their sponsorship of these events and to Marigot Bay Farm for always making sure I had a horse to compete with this year.”

 

In addition to the $10,000 Hallway Feeds Professional Rider Award, there were also awards for the amateur rider and junior rider accumulating the most points. Meredith Darst scored the $2,500 Hallway Feeds Junior Rider Award after winning the event during the Bluegrass Classic Horse Show with Lightning Z and placing second with Capstone. The winner of the $2,500 Hallway Feeds Amateur Rider Award was Didi Mackenzie for her consistent performances with MTM Inside Scoop.

 

With both a first and second place finish in the Bluegrass Festival’s $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby, Meredith Darst sat second overall with 800 points. Darst’s points also positioned her as the leading junior rider in the series.

 

“We were extremely pleased with the second year of the Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby,” expressed Morgan McQuerry of Hallway Feeds. “Hugh [Kincannon] and Robbie [Murphy] put on beautiful shows and we saw a tremendous increase in participation of the series.  We would like to thank all of the competitors, supporters and especially our supporting sponsors, without them this would not be possible.  We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!”

 

Hallway Feeds’ close proximity to the Kentucky Horse Park provides the opportunity to utilize the freshest feed, manufactured with time-honored commitments to high standards of quality and the latest scientific advances. Combining a premium nutrition package with a professional level of dedication in horsemen and women provides equine athletes with the Formula for Success.

 

For more information on Hallway Feeds please visit www.hallwayfeeds.com.

 

The Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series would not be possible without many generous sponsors including Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Central Equipment, Alfagreen Supreme, Sweet PDZ Horse Stall Refresher, Caddel Equine Therapy Center, KER Sport Horse Nutrition, The Tack Shop of Lexington, Turf Town Properties, Trouw Nutrition and PNC Bank.

 

For more information about the Kentucky Summer Series, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.