Hunters Take Part in Derbies on Kentucky Derby Weekend at Ledges Sporting Horses

Cindy Triscari and Jennifer Welhouse's Deuce won the Chicago Equestrian Hunter Derby at Ledges Sporting Horses. Photo Chicago Equestrian.

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Roscoe, IL – May 6, 2017 – It was a busy weekend at Ledges Sporting Horses in Roscoe, Illinois as Showplace Productions hosted both an A and local B horse show for a chilly but sunny spring warm –up.

Ledges Sporting Horses is a Chicago facility that has been running horse shows for decades and any top rider from the area can attest to showing at Ledges at one time or another. Ages ago, the facility boasted only one outdoor ring but now has three show rings and three schooling rings. During the winter, the facility has heated stabling and a heated indoor arena all under one roof to hold shows during the cold winter months while exhibitors stay warm and cozy.

This weekend consisted of a full schedule of classes along with some feature hunter classes such as the Chicago Equestrian Hunter Derby for the local B circuit riders. The class gives local level riders a chance to experience a derby at appropriate learning heights. Three fence heights set at 2’, 2’6” and 3’ allow riders to try the derby at their regular division height. Showplace Productions holds a Derby Finals at the end of the season as well with series awards for Leading Junior Rider, Leading Amateur Rider, Leading Horse and Leading Professional. There is a derby each month at the Showplace B shows.

Andiamo, ridden by Siena Craigie took second place in the Chicago Equestrian Hunter Derby. Photo Chicago Equestrian.

The big winner on this Kentucky Derby day was Cindy Triscari of Waukesha, Wisconsin and the six-year-old, appendix Quarter Horse, Deuce. Triscari rides with trainer Jennifer Welhouse, who has been riding the horse in the derbies until this weekend when Triscari took over. Welhouse was the Leading Professional in the Chicago Equestrian Hunter Derby Series in 2016 and encourages her riders to try the derby.

“I love it!” said Triscari of the class. “It’s a great opportunity to do something different, not just outside line, diagonal.”

“You have to think,” added Triscari. “You can ride the bending lines different ways and you have trot jumps - its really fun.”

Just for Fun and Ashley Scofield rode to the third place spot in the Chicago Equestrian Hunter Derby. Photo Chicago Equestrian.

Triscari had the highest score of the two rounds with Andiamo, ridden by Siena Craigie finishing in second, Just For Fun and Ashley Scofield took third place with Cindy McElligott and Platinum Future in fourth.

Cindy McElligott and Platinum Future finished in fourth in the Chicago Equestrian Hunter Derby. Photo Chicago Equestrian.

The A show held the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, where trainer Molly McAdow rode to the top prize with Quattro 39 for owner Lanie Bricker. The ten-year-old gelding was also Champion in the Green Working Hunters. The horse was imported in November of 2016 and quickly learned the ropes to place fourth this winter in the Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala after competing in the 1.40m jumpers in Europe. The win this weekend was Quattro’s first derby win.

Lanie Bricker's Quattro 39 won the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography

“He is unbelievably willing to do anything you want and never gets upset about it,” raved McAdow. “He’s exactly the same no matter what.”

Abbie Dvorak-Peat and Southwest Charmer, owned by Kathleen Nichols, took home the blue ribbon in the $1,000 USHJA Green Incentive class. Peat is a regular at Ledges, bringing their Breakaway Farm customers from Madison, Wisconsin to participate. Nichols will show the horse in the Amateur Adult Hunters 18-35 for the rest of the show.

Owner Kathleen Nichols accepts the award for Abbie Dvorak-Peat, who rode Southwest Charmer to win the $1,000 USHJA Green Incentive class. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography.

Competition will continue tomorrow at Ledges Sporting Horses to produce more division champions in both the hunters and jumpers. Showplace Productions heads to the new HITS Balmoral Park next week for the opening week of competition at the new facility. Showplace has a complete schedule at Balmoral Park, including some local B shows.

For a complete schedule of Showplace Productions’ shows, visit their website at www.showplaceproductions.com.

Photos may only be used in relation to this release.

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