The Sapphire Riding Academy 2017 winners with trainer Doug Boyd (left).
 
Mettawa, IL – December 18, 2017 – As the 2017 show season comes to an end, Sapphire Riding Academy honors numerous year-end winners from their team of fantastic horses and talented riders. Producing champions year after year since the farm’s grand opening in 2015, is proof that trainer Doug Boyd’s program is working. His philosophy of a custom program for every horse and rider, gives each of them the confidence needed to perform consistently at the top of their game.  The Sapphire team recently collected their 2017 laurels at the Illinois Hunter Jumper Association’s (IHJA) Award Gala, adding the prizes to their HITS Chicago Circuit Awards. Sapphire Riding Academy owner, Mimi Rothman, along with Boyd and assistant trainer Ashley March, would like to congratulate their riders on another successful show season and look forward to a great 2018.
 
Special Awards
Top honors this year went to Mimi Rothman’s Calido’s Son, who was the IHJAGrand Junior Hunter Champion thanks to Sydnie Ziegler and Gia Rinaldi.

 
Mimi Rothman's Calido's Son - IHJA Grand Junior Hunter Champion. Photo ESI

Rothman and her At One’s Word captured the Susan R Kelly Memorial Trophy as the high point Modified/Novice Adult Hunter and also won the Little Black Dress Perpetual Trophy as the high score Novice Adult Hunter.


 Champions Mimi Rothman and At One's Word. Photo Chicago Equestrian

2017 Illinois Hunter Jumper Association Champions
 
Division                                             Horse                          Owner/Rider
Performance Hunter 3'6"               Calido's Son               Mimi Rothman/Doug Boyd

Small Jr. Working Hunter              Calido’s Son               Mimi Rothman/Sydnie Ziegler
                       
Low Working Hunter                     At One’s Word            Mimi Rothman/Doug Boyd
 
Novice Adult Working Hunter      At One’s Word            Mimi Rothman/Doug Boyd
 
Adult Jumper                                Secretive                     Clara Ciancuillo/Clara Ciancuillo
 
 
Adult Jumper Champions Clara Ciancuillo and Secretive. Photo Andrew Ryback

Other IHJA Ribbon Winners:

Division                                             Horse                         Rider
4^th Performance Hunter 3’3         At Ones Word                  Doug Boyd
4^th Adult Jumper                           Nicholas                          Clara Ciancuillo
Junior Working Hunter 3’3          Green Eggs & Ham         Sydnie Ziegler
Novice Children's Hunter             Clandestine                      Kaitlyn Reynolds
Short Stirrup                                 Clark Kent                        Abigail Hayes
                                                                                                Stephanie Hansen/
                                                                                                Grace O’Connell/
Low Adult Jumper                          Nicholas                         Clara Ciancuillo
 
 
2017 HITS Chicago Circuit Awards
 
Low Hunter Champion        At One’s Word            with Doug Boyd
HITS Hunter Champion       At One’s Word            with Mimi Rothman
Junior Hunter Champion    Calido’s Son                Sydnie Ziegler/Gia Rinaldi
Novice Adult Hunter CH.     At One’s Word            with Mimi Rothman
Maiden Adult Champion      Marschlilie                  with Mimi Rothman
1.20m Jumper Champion    Calvigo                        with Doug Boyd
1.30m Jumper Champion    Tarmac De Bloye         with Doug Boyd/owner Andy Kocher                                                                                                      
                                                                                               
 
HITS Chicago Circuit Reserve Champions
 
Performance Hunter 3’3    At One’s Word           with Doug Boyd
1.20m Jumper                    Tarmac De Bloye       owned by Andrew Kocher
                                                                                                ridden by Doug Boyd

For more information on training with Sapphire Riding Academy, visit their website at www.SapphireRidingAcademy.com and contact them at the numbers listed below for your personal tour.