Parker, CO – July 25, 2017 – The 2017 Summer In The Rockies Series (SIR) concluded at The Colorado Horse Park (CHP) on Sunday, July 23, after the seven successful weeks of top hunter, jumper, and equitation competition. Mandy Porter of Encinitas, CA, and Coral Reef Follow Me II captured a win in the highlight class of the week on Saturday, July 22, in the $100,000 Adequan® Grand Prix, the largest grand prix of the season.
Porter and the 2005 Westphalian stallion (For Pleasure x Sandrina) owned by Coral Reef Ranch, climbed to the top of the 22 horse and rider start list, completing the short track in 39.162 seconds to secure the win. Katharin Gualtieri of Morrison, CO, guided Castalano, owned by Sandwillow Farm, to second place after completing the jump-off in 40.997 seconds, while third place was awarded to Chenoa McElvain of Lemitar, NM, piloting Wallstreet RC, owned by Guy McElvain, who finished the jump-off in 43.237 seconds.
“Olaf [Petersen] set a very nice track, one that asked a couple of questions for the rider,” said Porter. “It happened to work out pretty well for us. I was delighted with Follow Me and how he jumped tonight. He was nice and relaxed and that’s a big deal for him, because sometimes he gets tense and nervous when there is a larger crowd like this. Tonight, though, he was very focused and I was very happy about that.”
The jump-off called back five horse and rider combinations, three of which finished double clear for the night. “I was quite pleased with the whole first half of the jump-off,” exclaimed Porter. “I lost a bit of focus to the last fence. I just got overly conservative and left the door wide open. I really thought that others were going to speed past me, because I did slow down a lot. I got really lucky today. Follow Me did all of the work and I was just along for the ride.”
Porter continued, “I’ve been riding him for over a year and he’s a really nice horse. We’ve just been taking this time to get to know one another and I feel like we’ve really come together in the last few months, so I can ask more challenging things of him. For example, I can go a little faster in the jump-off and he’s comfortable with it. I feel really fortunate to be able to ride the horses that I ride right now. They all have wonderful owners that let me work with them and enjoy them.”
Earlier in the week, Alex Granato of Wellington, FL, won the $35,000 Adequan® Welcome Stake aboard Carlchen W, a 2008 Mecklenburg gelding (Chacco-Blue x Celline-W) owned by Page Tredennick. Eric Navet of Rancho Sante Fe, CA, slid into second place after completing the jump-off in 43.807 seconds with Basimodo, owned by Signe Ostby. Third place was captured by Katharin Gualtieri of Morrison, CO, and Sandwillow Farm’s Castalano, with a jump-off time of 44.353 seconds.
The first round took place on Thursday, but the jump-off had to be moved to Friday morning, due to inclement weather conditions.
Granato commented, “Yesterday in the first round I was very happy with him. I’m working with a bit of a disability right now,” he explained. “I broke my hand last week, but riding hasn’t bothered it too much and Carlchen was great yesterday. It was a great course and I was bummed that because of the lightning we didn’t get the jump-off in last night. But overall, he’s been great out here in Colorado. I’m very pleased with the win. I’m looking forward to moving on with him and seeing more of his success.”
Jumper Highlights
The $2,000 Holiday Inn Parker Low Children’s Jumper Classic was won by Julia Chartier of Overland Park, KS, and Blink Of An Eye, owned by Hannah Dodd, completing the jump-off in 33.16 seconds. Ashley Buchanan of Sedalia, CO, slid into second place after the jump-off with 34.503 seconds, aboard Quickly, owned by Kristin Buchanan. Third place was awarded to Kiley McCullough of San Tan Valley, AZ, and For Your Eyes Only F, owned by Suzanne McCullough, after a jump-off time of 36.096 seconds.
Jennifer Wallen of Parker, CO, won the $2,000 Holiday Inn Parker Low Adult Jumper Classic with Lindsay Gersoff’s Maybelline, after stopping the jump-off timers at 34.244 seconds. Second place was claimed by Caroline Ravenel of Parker, CO, aboard Remonta Mexico ’86, owned by Ravenel, finishing with a jump-off time of 37.709 seconds. Lisa Roskens of Omaha, NE, took third place with Citori, owned by Roskens, with a jump-off time of 32.58 seconds and an additional four faults.
The $5,000 Ariat® NAL Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic was won by Brooke Cudmore of Omaha, NE, and Southern Rose, owned by Blair Cudmore, with a jump-off time of 42.432 seconds. Second place went to Emily Thomas of Dallas, TX, aboard I- Mai Tai OHF, owned by Thomas, after finishing the jump-off in 42.688 seconds. Rounding out the third-place position was Kelsey Thatcher of Bluffdale, UT, and Beja, owned by Pony Lane Farm, who completed the short course in 43.11 seconds.
The $2,000 Front Range Kubota Modified Child/Adult Jumper Classic awarded first place to Joshua Baird of St. Charles, IL, and Sonas Douglas, owned by Heidi Schaefer, after completing the jump-off in 29.731 seconds. Lily Hackbarth of Scottsdale, AZ, rode Camilla, owned by Guy McElvain to second place after completing the jump-off in 33.012 seconds. Third place was captured by Joanne Janson of Denver, CO, and her own Pequena, finishing the jump-off in 33.254 seconds.
The $4,000 Modified Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic was won by Brooke Peterson of Plano, TX, riding Fast Flo, owned by Nicole Peterson, with a jump-off time of 39.238 seconds. Second place saw Shala McConnell of Elizabeth, CO, riding Southern Eyes, complete the jump-off in 40.93 seconds to finish in the top two. Third place went to Lisa Roskens of Omaha, NE, aboard Right This Way, after a jump-off round that stopped the timers in 41.478 seconds.
The $4,000 Osphos® NAL/WIHS Adult Jumper Classic was won by Kristina Matthews of Denver, CO, aboard Neolisto Van Het Mierenhof. The pair completed the jump-off track in 40.328 seconds to secure the win. Second place was awarded to Carol Tucker of Elizabeth, CO, and Cha Cha Cha, owned by Tucker, with a jump-off time of 40.873 seconds. Cynthia Moore-West of Sedalia, CO, placed third with a jump-off time of 44.565 seconds aboard Zalig MG, owned by Moore-West.
Brandon Howard of Flower Mound, TX, and HF Costa Rica, owned by Homeward Farms, captured a win in the $10,000 Griffis Residential Med/High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic with a jump-off time of 40.676 seconds. Brooke Cudmore of Omaha, NE, captured second place aboard Igor, owned by Blair Cudmore, with a jump-off time of 41.332 seconds. Third place was also awarded to Brooke Cudmore and Cassin, owned by Blair Cudmore, with a jump-off time of 44.424 seconds.
Hunter Highlights
On Friday, July 21, Maggie Jayne of Elgin, IL, earned victory in the $25,000 USHJA International National Hunter Derby presented by Adequan® riding Standing Ovation, owned by Pony Lane Farm, to a total score of 395. Jayne also took the second and third place victories, aboard Like I Said, owned by Pony Lane Farm, with a score of 377 and Frosted Blue, owned by Pony Lane Farm, who finished the class on a 377 respectively.
Of her top three sweep, Jayne said, “All of these horses have won derbies before and that feels so awesome to say!”
She continued, “Ovation was wonderful today. He was really relaxed in the first round and then he kind of woke up in the handy with the turns, which only made him jump better. I was really pleased with him. He’s a first-year derby horse. He’s won the last three derbies he’s been in. He’s going to show at Equi-Fest and then we will go right to USHJA Derby Finals.”
Of her other two rides, Jayne continued, “Like I Said is a second-year derby horse. She’s a really brave girl and has a great jump in her. She was super for both rounds today. Frosted Blue is a horse that I own with my dad and he won a derby last year. He hasn’t done too many this year and I’m still deciding on whether or not we’ll take him to USHJA Derby Finals. He’s great though. He’s very brave and has an easy jump with a big stride.”
Kyle Muckler of Windsor Heights, IA, won the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Adequan® aboard Mary Wickman’s Ciribati. Second place was awarded to Amberlee Wentz of Colorado Springs, CO, riding Davidson, owned by Dana Vollbracht, while third place was captured by Jaden Olson of Parker, CO, and her own Conradical.
The $1,000 Marshall & Sterling NAL/WIHS Children’s Hunter Classic awarded first place to Ellie Aronson of Atlanta, GA, riding RS Levitation, owned by Sydney Beamon. Second place was captured by Jaden Olson of Parker, CO, piloting Natalia De Vencenty’s Golden Opportunity. Third place went to Anna Lawrence of Englewood, CO, aboard her own Sirius Black.
The $1,000 Marshall & Sterling NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic saw a victory for Carol Tucker of Elizabeth, CO, and her own Totem Pole. Second place was captured by Madeline James of Scottsdale, AZ, riding Berlin, owned by Sydney B. Carr, while third place was awarded to Aleyna Garcia of Castle Rock, CO, piloting Kristen Mauck’s Pinch Hitter.
Siena Webb of Nowmass Village, CO, won the $1,000 GumBits Pony Hunter Classic riding Dennis The Menace, owned by Webb. Second place was presented to Eva Grissom of Cantonment, FL, riding Picturesque Catch My Drift, owned by Aubrey Hill Equestrian ahead of Maggie Huffman of Mountain Bark, AL, piloting Touch The Sun who collected third place accolades.
Cassanda Ragsdale of Castle Rock, CO, topped the Pre-Adult Hunter Classic aboard Margo, owned by Ragsdale, while second place went to Aura Ayler of Castle Rock, CO, and her own Obviously. Third place was presented to Ann Hopfenbeck of Castle Rock, CO, and In Concert, owned by Mesa View Stables, LLC.
The Children’s Pony Hunter Classic saw a victory for Sara Simpson of Parker, CO, piloting Elizabeth Simpson’s Rollingwoods Q And A. Second place was awarded to Kayla Dunzinger of Springdale, UT, and Night Games, owned by Mason Johnson ahead of Ellie Aronson of Atlanta, GA, and Casanova owned by Britney Jarman, who rounded out the top three finishers.
The Modified Children’s Hunter Classic presented the blue ribbon to Evie Mokarow of Dallas, TX, and Asbury Park, owned by Steve Weder. Second place was captured by Gentry Beresford of Cherry Hills Village, CO, aboard her own Steel Me Away. Third place honors also went to Beresford, this time aboard Silver Lining.
Kyle Muckler of Windsor Heights, IA, won the $1,000 Green Hunter Incentive aboard Mary Wickman’s Ciribati ahead of Alex Granato of Wellington, FL, and Haribo, owned by Nicole Lyvere. Granato also rounded out the top three finishers aboard Lyvere’s My Everything.
The $1,000 CWD Junior Hunter 3’6″ Classic saw a victory for Jaden Olson of Parker, CO, riding her own Conradical. Mackenzie Altheimer of Defiance, MO, clinched second place, piloting Escondido, owned by ABA Hunter Ponies, while third place was collected by Preslee Tringas of Fort Walton Beach, FL, aboard her own Calvaro.
The $1,000 Mile High Golf Carts Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3″/3’6″ Classic saw a top finish for Mary Dunahay of Littleton, CO, and her own Bailando. Second place was awarded to Nicole Lyvere of Denver, CO, and her own Certainty. Susan Busse of Wildwood, MO, and Big Shot, rounded out the class with a top three finish.
The CHP management team would like to thank all of the exhibitors, spectators and staff for a fantastic 2017 season and look forward to seeing everyone in 2018!
The 2018 Summer In The Rockies Series will return next summer to The Colorado Horse Park. For more information on The Colorado Horse Park, please visit www.coloradohorsepark.com.
Press release: Kim Beaudoin for CHP
Photos: ©Horse and Ryder Photography