May 17, 2017 – North Salem, New York – Fetching, ridden by Patricia Griffith, was named Grand Hunter Champion during the second week of the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows – which run through May 21 – at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY, on Wednesday, May 17. Highlighting Wednesday’s jumper action on the Grand Prix Field, Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) topped the $10,000 Open Jumper 1.40m riding Lady Maria BH.
Griffith of Heritage Farm in Katonah, NY, piloted Fetching in the High Performance Conformation Division and earned two first-place and a second-place ribbon over fences, and won the model, handy, and under saddle to be named champion. The nearly perfect performance clinched the Grand Hunter Championship for Fetching and owner Lexi Maounis, who also competes Fetching in the Amateur-Owner Hunter Division.
“He has been a great horse for us,” said Griffith of the eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Catoki that she characterizes as a big stuffed animal in the competition ring. “He is so cute, and he always looks happy to do his job.
“He is so brave,” continued Griffith of Fetching’s strengths in the ring. “Any time you go in any ring, he pricks his ears and does his job.”
Heritage Farm groom Humberto Valadez is responsible for the care of Fetching, and Griffith was quick to give him credit for his hard work in preparing the horse for competition.
“I think with the conformation horses especially, the grooms get really competitive,” she said. “Humberto’s goal was to win the model and was very excited when he did. He is very particular about Fetching and takes pride in the horse doing well.”
Heritage Farm is well represented at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows with riders competing in hunter, jumper, and equitation rings. The event is a highlight for Griffith, who looks forward to the show each year. She said, “We love this show because it is so close to home, but also because the facility is such a wonderful place!”
Reserve champion honors in the High Performance Hunter Conformation Division were presented to As Promised, ridden by Louise Serio of Kennett Square, PA, and owned by Bryan Baldwin & Meralex Farm, Inc. As Promised jumped to two second-place ribbons and a win over fences, in addition to placing second in the handy, second in model, and winning the under saddle.
Amanda Derbyshire and Lady Maria BH Win $10,000 Open Jumper 1.40m
Amanda Derbyshire bested a field of 48 horses over courses set by this year’s Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final designer Alan Wade (IRL) to win the $10,000 Open Jumper 1.40m riding Lady Maria BH for owners David and Becky Gochman of Gochman Sport Horse, LLC.
Derbyshire and the 11-year-old Holsteiner mare (Cartani x Corrado I) were one of 15 double-clear rides and crossed the jump-off timers in a blazing 27.712 seconds for the win. Nearly two seconds slower, Peter Wylde (USA) placed second riding Aimee for Aram Ampagoumian, LLC in 29.163 seconds.
Quentin Judge (USA) was third riding Street Legal, owned by Annie Phillips, with a time of 29.850 seconds, and Alberto Michan (MEX) took fourth aboard GC Chopin’s Bushi for Iron Horse Farm in 30 seconds flat. Rounding out the top five, Peter Lutz (USA) rode Coberlina to a time of 30.661 seconds for owner Orchard Farm.
Derbyshire got the ride on Lady Maria BH nearly two years ago and has piloted the mare to success in a range of classes from speeds to grand prix events.
“There is nothing not to like about her,” said Derbyshire. “She’s fast, careful, easy, and she never does anything wrong. She has the sweetest personality, and we all love her. She is one of the nicest horses I have ever had.”
While Derbyshire will pilot Lady Maria BH throughout the spring season, the mare will soon transition to be the ride of Sophie and Mimi Gochman in the High Junior Jumper Division.
“It is a little sad for me, but very exciting for the girls,” said Derbyshire, who is currently focusing on FEI competition to boost her world ranking points and will compete in CSI3* classes this week at Old Salem Farm. “I love showing on grass, and this is only of the only places we get to do that. It is so nice to come back [to Old Salem Farm] each year for these shows.”
Open Jumper competition continues on Thursday with the $10,000 1.45m before FEI competition kicks off with the $35,000 Welcome Stake of North Salem CSI3* on the Grand Prix Field. In the Main Hunter Ring on Thursday, the Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Champion will be crowned.
Spectators are welcome at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. General admission to Old Salem Farm is free Wednesday through Friday. On the weekend of May 20-21, admission is $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and children under 12.
Stay informed on the happenings at Old Salem Farm this spring with live streaming of select events during the Spring Horse Shows at www.oldsalemfarm.net. Old Salem Farm and Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows are also on Facebook, as well as on Twitter and Instagram as @oldsalemfarmny. Follow for an exclusive and behind-the-scenes look at the Old Salem Farm experience.
Final Results: $10,000 Open Jumper 1.40m
1 LADY MARIA BH: 2006 Holsteiner mare by Cartani x Corrado I
AMANDA DERBYSHIRE (GBR), Gochman Sport Horse, LLC: 0/0/27.712
2 AIMEE: 2005 KWPN mare by Solitair x Silvio II
PETER WYLDE (USA), Aram Ampagoumian LLC: 0/0/29.163
3 STREET LEGAL: 2005 Honnoverian gelding by Escudo II x Graf Sponeck
QUENTON JUDGE (USA), Annie Phillips: 0/0/29.850
4 GC CHOPIN’S BUSHI: 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Contendro II x Nairobi
ALBERTO MICHAN (MEX), Iron Horse Farm: 0/0/30.000
5 COBERLINA: 2007 Dutch Warmblood mare by Carolus II x Corland
PETER LUTZ (USA), Orchard Farm: 0/0/30.661
6 ELTHAM: 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Unaniem x Goodwill
PETER WYLDE (USA), Kathleen Kamine: 0/0/30.842
7 ONIRA: 1996 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Nimmerdor x G.Ramiro Z
BRIANNE GOUTAL (USA), Remarkable Farms LP: 0/0/30.986
8 CICERO’S ELECTRIC: 2009 Warmblood gelding by Cicero Z x Mistral
PETER WYLDE (USA), Aram Ampagoumian, LLC: 0/0/31.185
9 CANAMERA 2: 2009 Holsteiner mare by Clarimo x Carthago
PETER WYLDE (USA), Kathleen Kamine: 0/0/31.470
10 TIZIMIN LS: 2006 Caballo Deportivo La Silla gelding by Dollar de la Pierre x Polydor
MEGAN MCDERMOTT (USA), Megan McDermott: 0/0/31.800
11 CAN CUN 2: 2008 Holsteiner gelding by Casall x Concerto II
MARIO DESLAURIERS (USA), Mario Deslauriers: 0/0/32.139
12 CASPAR’S LASINO: 2009 Holsteiner gelding by Caspar x Lasino
ANNE KURSINSKI (USA), Market Street, Inc.: 0/0/32.222
Edited press release courtesy of: Jump Media LLC