The 2006 Winter Equestrian Festival awarded its first hunter championships today and the competition in the professional divisions was as tough as ever.
Rio Renoir, a Canadian Sporthorse owned by Brad Wolf, came away with the opening week championship in the Second Year Green Working Hunters with rider Holly Orlando of Wellington, Florida. After first, second, and third place ribbons yesterday, “Rio” returned today to capture first and second place finishes over fences.
This was Rio’s first time showing at 3’9”, but there seemed to be no difference in his fabulous style. “I think 3’9” is going to show him off even better,” Orlando confessed. “He’s such a good jumper that he doesn’t really have to try that hard, but I think it holds his attention a little bit more. He was great to ride around.” Reserve champion in the division was Mombo, ridden by Jennifer Bauersachs and owned by Maria Takacs.
While nerves play a small part in Orlando’s performance, the relief of winning in the first week of the circuit diminishes their role. “It started with a bang,” Orlando said with a smile. “It’s great to win the first week here. It starts you off on a positive note. You have a good attitude and get in the mode. When the first week goes that nice, it makes it easier to have a good attitude and do well.” She added, “Rio is a hard horse for me to ride. Not because of the way he goes, but because of the pressure that I put on myself. I get nervous when I ride him because he is such a winner. I know that he is one of the best horses out there; I just have to do my part.”
Although Rio has a new owner and trainer this year, Orlando feels that there is still a team spirit and it will improve their performance. She explained, “I haven’t ridden a horse with Tom Wright [Rio’s new trainer] before, but it’s great to get a different outlook. Joe Guzman [his old trainer] and I do so well as a team with Rio. Joe still comes to the ring, but maybe there’s something that Tom sees that Joe and I didn’t think about. It’s nice to have a new opinion on the horse and maybe we can make him even better than he already is.”
An older relationship played a big part in the championship for the Regular Working Hunter division. Beyond and owner/rider Scott Stewart have been together for three years now. After a win over fences yesterday, Beyond placed first and second over fences and second under saddle today. Reserve champion in the division was Word for Word and Tim Goguen, who rode for owner Janet Read of Wellington, Florida.
Beyond has adapted well to his new life as a hunter, despite having to tone down his jumping style. “He had done the five year old classes in Europe,” Stewart clarified. “He used to overjump too much and now he’s sort of leveling out. He was definitely an overachiever!”
Stewart was drawn to the handsome dark bay gelding for multiple reasons. “He’s really a thoroughbred type, which is nice to see. His jump was outstanding.” Beyond has not shown since the Washington International Horse Show in October, so Stewart mentioned his surprise, “Usually I’m not so good the first week, because my horses haven’t shown at all since Indoors. I was pleased. It was above my expectations for the first week.”
Champion in the Green Conformation Hunters this week was Compliment, ridden by Scott Stewart and owned by Molly Ohrstrom. This was Compliment’s first show in his life, so Ohrstrom was not expecting the amazing results that “Jimmy” achieved. “We named him that because we got him from Jimmy Torano,” Ohrstrom said with a laugh. “But I have to also give a lot of credit to Scott, because he has done a fantastic job with him.”
Compliment won the model and an over fences class yesterday and finished fourth under saddle. He came back even better today and won both over fences classes. The eight year old Oldenburg warmblood is “easy and sweet in the barn,” said Ohrstrom. “He’s the nicest horse you could ever want.”
For the second year in a row, the striking bay stallion Popeye K and rider Tommy Serio won the Regular Conformation Hunter championship for owner Elizabeth Spencer. Reserve champion in the division was The Good Life, ridden and owned by Scott Stewart.
The Adult Amateur 3’3” Hunter division happily welcomed back Caroline Clark Morrison today. Morrison just returned to the ring after having her first child nine months ago. “Having a child eases the tension of showing; it makes it seem a lot easier,” she said with a smile.
Morrison and her new horse Milan captured the championship ribbon in the division. Milan placed first and fifth over fences yesterday, and finished strong with a first and third place today to capture the title. Reserve champion went to Wendy Lewis and Forget Paris, a three time WEF circuit champion in this division.
Morrison trains with Jack and Liza Towell at Finally Farm, based in Camden, South Carolina. “The Towells found Milan and I had tried so many horses,” expressed Morrison. “I loved Milan the minute I rode him. He is so easy going and I have a smile on my face the whole time I’m on him. This is only my second show with the horse, so I am really happy with the result,” she effused.
Morrison and Milan are looking forward to a successful partnership, and are eagerly anticipating moving up to the Amateur-Owner division in the coming weeks.
The 2006 Winter Equestrian Festival continues tomorrow with more fantastic hunter competition. The championships in the First Year Green Working Hunter division will be decided.
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