Samantha Cohen riding Clover, winners of Section B of the ASPCA Maclay during Week Five of the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival.
Wellington, Fla. – Feb. 12, 2017 – The ASPCA Maclay and Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal marked the end of equitation competition for Week Five of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Sunday. Both classes were divided into two sections and awarded two blue ribbons.
Kicking off competition at 8 a.m., Anthony D’Ambrosio designed Sunday’s challenging courses set at a robust 1.10m with 34 competitors in Section A and 31 riders competing in Section B of the ASPCA Maclay.
Emma Kurtz and Carl
Emma Kurtz and her new mount Carl, a 12-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Redfield Farm of Califon, New Jersey, placed first in Section A after a fluid and confident round over fences and an equally smooth performance in the undersaddle portion of competition. Week Five was the first week the pair had shown together, and the two athletes appear to be a perfect match after a successful day in the equitation ring on Sunday.
Judge Mark Jungherr of Amesbury, Massachusetts, had nothing but praise for Kurtz.
“[Emma] had a really solid connection with her horse and did vey well with the course,” said Jungherr. “She also showed good control on the more challenging aspects. On the flat, she was both stylish and effective with the horse. I think she showed the highest level of horsemanship. We had many places where the riders had to show good control, and the top group all executed the course really well.”
Samantha Cohen and Clover
Samantha Cohen and Clover, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Sail Horse Investments, won the blue in Section B of the ASPCA Maclay and also placed second in Section A of the Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal. In their first year of partnership, the pair have already ribboned in every equitation class they have competed in throughout the 2017 WEF circuit thus far.
“I just got him at the end of finals so this is my first year with him,” said Cohen. “This is my third time showing him and he does his job well. There were many options when it came to the lines. [Clover] is so responsive and adjustable in bending lines and his stride is so big so we chose the leave-out rather than the add when it came to the bending lines.”
Although Clover is a very experienced mount in the equitation ring, he has a different personality at home.
“Clover is a little quirky,” said Cohen. “At home he can be really fresh and he spooks often, but when he is in the show ring he is the most reliable show horse and won’t look at anything. He definitely knows his job at shows and he means business.”
Annabel Revers and Quax
Annabel Revers and Quax, a 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Beechwood Stables LLC, won Section A of the Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal in addition to placing second just prior in Section B of the ASPCA Maclay.
“I like to think we’re a good team,” laughed Revers. “I’ve had him for two years now and we have been to all of the finals together. He is very funny and can be a little crabby in the barn, but he is a really sweet horse.”
After a challenging first round over fences in Section A of the Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal, nine riders were selected to return for further testing. Exhibitors were asked to counter-canter to a vertical, perform a simple change of lead following a combination and execute a trot jump.
With the smoothest ride of the test, Revers was awarded the top spot in the final standings.
Annabel Revers and Quax
“I thought the first course was really nice and it required a good amount of adjustability,” said Revers. “When it came to the test, my main goal was to put in a solid round. My plan was to take things slow and take each element one at a time. The simple change worried me because I was concerned that my horse wouldn’t land left; if he landed right, it would have made the simple change difficult.”
Kaitlyn Lovingfoss and Hasta La Vista
Wrapping up equitation competition on Sunday, Kaitlyn Lovingfoss, riding her own 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Hasta La Vista, claimed the victory in Section B of the Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal.
Results: ASPCA Maclay Section A
1. Emma Kurtz, Carl
2. Ellie Ferrigno, RF Remarkable
3. Emma Callanan, Jarinka
4. Abigail Brayman, Charmeur
5. Paige Matthies, Blurred Lines
6. Gia Vizzone, Camora
7. Eva Fisherman, Top Saint Aubin
8. Giavanna Rinaldi, Lollipop S
Results: ASPCA Maclay Section B
1. Samantha Cohen, Clover
2. Annabel Revers, Quax
3. Sophie Gochman, Contelido
4. Ellyn Fritz, Campari
5. Kaitlyn Lovingfoss, Hasta La Vista
6. Klee Hellerman, Checker
7. Coco Fath, Santa Rosa Camelot
8. Tess Lenihan, Wayfarer
Results: Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal Section A
1. Annabel Revers, Quax
2. Samantha Cohen, Clover
3. Hannah Doherty, Future Fiddler
4. Ellie Ferrigno, RF Remarkable
5. Taylor St. Jaques, Invincible
6. Giavanna Rinaldi, Lollipop S
7. Alexandra Pielet, Common Sense
8. Allie Durkin, Endeavor CBF
Results: Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal Section B
1. Kaitlyn Lovingfoss, Hasta La Vista
2. Sophia Pilla, Poprocks
3. Emma Kurtz, Carl
4. Mckayla Langmeier, Calberon B
5. Emma Callanan, Jarinka
6. Grace Jordan, Willem
7. Raleigh Hiller, Cantoblanco
8. Coco Faith, Santa Rosa Camelot