Freehold, NJ – 111th Monmouth County Horse Show returns to East Freehold Park in New Jersey on August 16th - 20th, 2006, and exhibitors will see a number of upgrades both in prize money and continued improvements to the facility. The show, first held back in 1895, is one of the nation’s longest running and most prestigious horse shows and will again feature the Ride for Riverview to benefit Riverview Medical Center.
Carol Stillwell returns as Show Chairman, and the show is run under the guidance of long time New Jersey horseman, Leo Conroy.
For the first time ever, the show will offer a Thursday Grand Prix competition.
“We’re excited about Thursday,” smiled Show Manager Leo Conroy. “Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Paul Miller Automotive Saab/Land Rover of Woodbridge, we will now have a $25,000 Grand Prix on Thursday. This is in addition to the $30,000 Stillwell Hansen Grand Prix on Sunday. With this new class, we feel we’ve really upgraded our jumper division at Monmouth this year.”
For the Chapot family, and especially for Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, the Monmouth County Horse Show is one of those special and highly anticipated stops on the year long, multi-state equestrian tour. Last year, her visit to the Monmouth County Horse Show proved especially rewarding when she finished first and second in the $30,000 Stillwell-Hansen Grand Prix on Sunday with her two gray mares, Sprite and Samantha. Her victory followed a very special and touching ceremony honoring her father Frank Chapot for his years of dedicated service to the United States Equestrian Team.
“The Monmouth win was very special to me, especially in the last few years with so many classes using the FEI one horse per rider rule,” said Chapot. “I did finish first and second in one other grand prix a number of years ago, but the Stillwell Hansen Monmouth Grand Prix win was very, very special. The show has so much tradition, and the people involved in that horse show have worked very hard over the past couple of years to bring the level of competition back to where it was when it was first started.” And she added, “It was a great win for Sprite.”
Chapot detailed the differences between her two gray mares. “They’re similar in a lot of ways,” she admitted. “They are both extremely careful, and they are both very fast. Sprite is probably more studious. She pays attention, and for sure she’s a little bit more relaxed. Samantha is a stronger horse and approaches each jump that way. They each take a different type of ride. Samantha is a little more of a bully, and Sprite is more clever and catty.”
She went on to discuss the family aspect of her showing career and the pluses and minuses of riding with Mom and Dad. “I think the biggest advantage is that I have two of the very best trainers, and they don’t cost me anything,” Chapot said with a laugh. “That, for sure, is a huge advantage. But not only can I take advantage of their great talent, but it’s also wonderful to have that great family support and understanding at the same time. It’s a real team effort.” Chapot went on to reveal that there is little downside to this family plan. “I think there are very few disadvantages. Even when things don’t go well, the support is still there. They are both experienced horsemen and trainers and know what goes on in the ring, and they know the ups and downs of the sport,” she said.
Chapot explained that the closeness of the family helps accentuate each victory. “I’ve been very fortunate in my life to have had a number of super horses, and I think each win is special in its own way,” she admitted. “Each win holds a very special place in my heart. Because we do this all as a family and because my parents are so involved, I feel it’s a significant achievement when we win any grand prix. To win in New Jersey and at Monmouth makes it that much more special,” she added.
Chapot advised that her nerves, prior to last year’s Stillwell-Hansen Grand Prix, are part of every class she competes in. “I get nervous anytime I go in the ring,” she laughed. “I think it might be more anticipation that nerves, really. And not so much a worry for anything that might go wrong, but rather because I just want to go in and do a good job.” Chapot acknowledged that she uses visualizing as a helpful technique to prepare for her ride. “I think about the course and what I’m going to do on the course. Not just where you’re going to go, but how are you going to get there, how you’re going to ride it. I think visualizing is a good exercise,” she said. “I think about the course without looking at it and visualize exactly how I’m going to ride it. I think that’s a big help.”
Dealing with newcomers to the sport, Chapot offered up this advice, “I think if you can ride as many horses as you can and get in the ring as many times as possible, that’s always an advantage. I think it’s important to understand that there are a lot of highs and lows in this sport,” she said. “One minute you can be on top of the world and the next all the way at the bottom. You’ve got to learn to not get discouraged by that. You’ve got to persevere and never give up.”
While she will be on the sidelines for this year’s World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, Chapot expressed a desire to return to the United States Equestrian Team in the future and possibly follow in her mom and dad’s footsteps. “This is a year that we’ll stay home and bring some young horses along. Obviously, down the road, I’d love to compete on the team again. Riding at the Olympic Games or World Championships would be phenomenal.”
Chapot confirmed that the young horses that she will be bringing along hold a very bright future. “I’m not going to call them superstars because I don’t want to jinx them. But, for sure I have a couple of young horses that I’m really excited about. In Florida I bought Samantha’s daughter. I didn’t even know she existed,” she revealed. “Apparently Samantha had her before we bought her. She’s four years old and very, very much like her mother. I have very high hopes for her.”
“I also have at home a two year old Royal Kalibur baby out of Star Twist,” she said. Royal Kalibur was the stallion that U.S. Olympian Chris Kappler rode to Team Gold and Individual Silver at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece in 2004. “She already jumps around a little course. She jumps like Royal Kalibur form wise and goes to the fences like Star Twist. Hopefully she’s the perfect combination of both of those great horses,” smiled Chapot. “Let’s hope they can keep themselves together until they get old enough to do something for real, but I’ve got to say that I’m very excited.”
Is Chapot glad to be returning to the 2006 edition of the Monmouth County Horse Show? “I think they’re doing a great job with Monmouth,” she said. “Every year we see a few changes; as the show continues to grow, it gets better every year. I think it is very important to thank the great sponsors at Monmouth, and the people that support the show year after year and have faith in the show. Those are the people that have allowed Monmouth to return to being a great show like it once was.”
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