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Top Hunter Riders Compete for World Championship Hunter Rider Points at Trader’s Point Hunt Charity Horse Show
The Trader’s Point Hunt Charity Horse Show is celebrating its 36th year. As one of the best horse shows in the Midwest, the show and it’s Chairman, Elizabeth Johnson, have contributed to various charities during those 36 years including this year’s charity, the Riley Hospital for Children of Indianapolis.
The horse show kicked off its spacious main hunter rings this week with the professional hunter divisions. Judges Linda Andrisani, Sue Ashe, Scott Hoffstetter and Jimmy ‘Walter’ Lee also gave scores this week for the World Championship Hunter Rider Program.
Professional Hunter Divisions
Leading the way in the First Year Green Working Hunters was By The Way, owned by Ruth Kanner of Cleveland Heights, OH, ridden by Jeff Gogul. Gogul won the under saddle and two over fences classes, a second and third to take home the Championship. Reserve went to Shadow, owned by Rendezvous Farm in Whitefish Bay, WI, and ridden by Cookie Beck. Ruth Kanner also earned The Edward J. Wiest Perpetual Trophy, donated by Edward J. Wiest. The trophy is awarded to the owner of the horse who is champion of the First Year Green Working Hunter section.
The Second Year Green Working Hunter Champion was On The Hour, owned by Jessica Stitt of West Palm Beach, FL, ridden by Kelley Farmer. Farmer won two over fences, the handy, a second and a second in the under saddle earning the most points. Reserve went to Presently, owned by Mark Senn ridden by Freddie Vazquez. Presently earned the blue in the under saddle, won an over fences and took home three seconds. The Mr. & Mrs. Robert Seastrom Perpetual Trophy went to Jessica Stitt, as the owner of the horse who is champion of the Second Year Green Working Hunter section. The trophy is donated by Mr. & Mrs. Robert Seastrom.
Finishing the division in a misty rain, the Green Conformation Hunter Championship went to Quotable with Reserve going to Verbatim, both horses owned by Kenneth Garber and Larry Glefke and ridden by Kelley Farmer
Farmer’s long day of riding continued as she took the Championship in the Regular Working Conformation Hunters with SkoreKeeper, owned by L. Glefke and Quail Run Partners. SkoreKeeper won the model, under saddle, and three of the four over fences classes. Reserve went to Ferrari owned by Alexis Cohen of Highland Park, IL, with Russell Frey aboard. Frey rides for Olde Welbourne Farm and trainer Denise Lenn in Mettawa, IL.
Champion in the High Performance Working Hunter was Prologue, another mount owned by Rendezvous Farm and ridden by Cookie Beck. Beck won two over fences and the under saddle, took a second and a third for the division win. Reserve went to Taken, owned by Jessica Stitt and ridden by Kelly Farmer.
Tory Burch owned by Victoria Plott and ridden Emily Williams took the Champion ribbon home in the Performance Working Hunter 3’6”. Williams won the under saddle, two over fences classes including the handy, and took second and fifth. Reserve in the division went to Cavalli, owned by Taylor Johnson and ridden by Catherine Rinehart of Westfield, IN.
Champion in the Performance Working Hunter 3’3” was Aragorn, owned by Richard Rinehart and another ride for wife, Catherine Rinehart. Aragorn took second in the under saddle and a first, two seconds and a fifth over fences. The Reserve Championship went to Ruben, owned by Julia Nagel and ridden by Russell Frey.
The Pre-green Working Hunter 3’ Champion was HH Copyright, owned by Nancy Gordon ridden by Erin McCabe. HH Copyright also won the $1,000 Pre-Green Incentive Stake Class with McCabe’s second mount, Remy Martin, taking second. The Reserve Championship went to Clim Bim, owned by East Wind Farms and ridden by Tiffany Cornacchio Morissey.
Amateur Owner Working Hunters
The Amateur Owner Working Hunters 3’3” were lucky to miss the downpour on Thursday and finished with overcast skies on Friday. Earning the tricolor was Farralon with Whitney Kent of Zionsville, IN aboard. Kent won three over fences and the under saddle to earn the Championship. Reserve in the division was Woodrun’s Slap-N-Tickel with Laura Linback aboard.
Condanas and Lacey Gilbertson of Lake Forest, IL, took the silver plate and the Championship in the Amateur Owner Working Hunters 3’6”. Gilbertson won three of the over fences including the handy round.
“I’ve had this horse since I was 12,” said Gilbertson, “so I know him really well. He used to be Rush’s (Weeden) jumper and we made him a hunter.”
Gilbertson plans to go to Kentucky for two weeks with trainers Rush and Carl Weeden and then to the Chicago Hunter Derby and back to school. Gilbertson attends Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH.
Taking the Reserve Championship in the Amateur Owners was Kenya with Michelle Durpetti of Chicago, IL. Kenya won the under saddle and one over fences plus took three seconds.
“The nice thing for me now is I’ve had him a year and a half and I am just coming back to riding in the 3’6”,” remarked Durpetti. “I’m starting to feel really confident again. He’s a great teacher and he’s very patient with me. I’m very lucky to have him.”
Kenya is going to do the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Finals in Saugerties, NY with professional Patty Stovel riding. The pair is currently 11th in the rankings.
“We bought the horse from Patty and she has been a great friend and mentor for me,” added Durpetti. “I’ve had a really fun year with Greg Franklin and his team. I’m just taking it all in. I’ve had a great moment to enjoy at every horse show.”
Junior Working Hunters
Nineteen junior hunters took their turn at a chance to win a Trader’s Point medallion, given to all the first place winners. The leader of the pack turned out to be Reid Patton of Nashville, TN, aboard Acortair. Patton won two of the over fences classes and the $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic. Patton blew away the competition with scores of 86 and 83 for the win.
“We got him two WEF’s ago,” laughed Patton, revealing her interpretation of the calendar year! “He’s my equitation horse but we started showing him in the hunters so I could get to know him and he’s done really well.”
Patton, 18, has also qualified for the Maclay Finals and the Pessoa Medal on Acortair. Patton rides with Tom Wright and Hayley Barnhill but they could not be at this show so Cara and Donald Cheska filled in. Patton rides jumpers with the Cheskas and does the hunters and equitation with Wright and Barnhill. The team of trainers works well together to make the program work for Patton.
“I know they weren’t here to see her ride but I know they’d be really proud,” stated Cara Cheska.
Reserve in the Junior Hunters went to Shockwave, owned by Saddle Ridge, LLC and ridden by Vivian Yowan of Darien, CT.
More Events
Another weekday highlight was the Garden Party Luncheon held ringside of the jumper ring. The luncheon proceeds benefit the Riley Children’s Foundation. Guests of Traders Point Horse Show’s Elizabeth Johnson, enjoy the horse show, lunch, door prizes, and prizes for the “Most Glamorous Hat and Most Outrageous Hat”. Committee Chairperson Joan Voyles has been organizing the luncheon for 17 years to raise funds for many local charities. Winnie Ballard, wife of Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, also attended the event.
Horse Show Chairman Elizabeth Johnson is pleased to have Riley Hospital for Children of Indianapolis as the charity for
the 8th consecutive year; Riley Hospital for Children has been providing comprehensive care for children since opening in 1924. One of the nation’s top centers for pediatric research and care, Riley Hospital is dedicated to the critical care needs of children. Riley Hospital for Children treats patients from more than 200,000 Indiana families from every county every year.
Johnson is a key fundraiser in the Zionsville area. She last rode at the horse show in 2005 and since then welcomes guests, top riders and Olympians from the around the country. Riders such as Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut, Margie Engle, Aaron Vale and Charlie Jayne have come to show in the Traders Point Grand Prix. Johnson has had many of her own successes in the show world. She was featured in the August 1951 issue of Town and Country magazine and had a horse, Super Flash, inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame.
Show manager, Michael Morrissey of Stadium Jumping Inc. continues the week with spectacular prize money and grand events.
Highlights: The Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show has a Jumper 5 star rating, is Hunter rated AA and is a WCHR member event. 2013 highlight events include:
$75,000 Grand Prix of Indianapolis
$35,000 Mr. and Mrs. Russell Fortune Jr. Memorial Grand Prix
$15,000 PNC Bank Junior/Amateur-Owner SHF Jumper Classic
$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
$ 5,000 NAL Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic
$ 5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
$ 2,500 Adult Jumper Classic
$ 1,000 Adult Hunter Classic
$ 1,000 Children's Hunter Classic
$ 1,000 Junior Hunter Classic
Garden Party benefiting Riley Hospital for Children
A Taste For The Cure
Paws to Applause Dog Show
The Riley Children's Foundation Kid's Day and Country Fair
For more information please visit www.stadiumjumping.com.
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