Caitlin Creel and Davinci at the American Invitational in Miami. Photo by Sportfot.

Blue Ribbon Winners From the Pony Division to the Junior Jumpers

Elgin, IL – April 24, 2014 - Lynn Jayne’s Our Day Farm tallied up their blue and tri-colored ribbons as they wrapped up twelve weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.  Jayne, of Elgin, IL and her customers have made it a tradition to escape the Chicago winters and call Wellington “home” for three months.  Jayne’s preparation at home prior to the circuit allowed customers to hit the ground running, wasting no time acquiring the blues.

 
Lynn Jayne celebrates the Circuit Championship with daughter, Natalie and Malibu.

Ten-year-old Natalie Jayne was Circuit Champion in the Small/Medium Children’s Pony Hunters on Malibu. Malibu is a 13-year-old New Zealand warmblood owned by Camille Trimble of Westlake, TX. Young Jayne also won the Children’s Pony Classic one of the weeks and won the WIHS Pony Medal the same week with a high score of 88. During the circuit, Jayne and Malibu jogged in the top two spots in multiple classes and were Champion and Reserve Champion several times, earning them the high score in the division for the circuit.

 
Steve Martines and Bitelli accepting their Championship in the Low Adult Hunter Division, pictured with son Clayton and daughter Julie. Photo by Anne Gittens Photography.

Steve Martines of Lafox, IL earned a Championship in Low Adult Hunter division on his Oldenburg gelding, Bitelli. Martines has been a customer of Jayne’s for years and has been a winner with multiple horses in Jayne’s program.  Martines’ son, Clayton, participated as well. Riding Clovercroft Show Me the Bunny, the younger Martines was 6th in his first pony medal class and won ribbons on Jumping Jack Flash in the Small/Medium Children's Ponies.

 
Kaitlyn Calamos and Tuxedo in the Parade of Champions at WEF. Photo: Anne Gittins Photography

Another adult rider, Kim Calamos of Batavia, IL also brought home several top ribbons and a blue in the Low Adult Hunter division aboard Washington Square. Keeping it in the family, daughter Kaitlyn Calamos and Tuxedo, walked away with the Championship in the Low Adult Jumpers 18-35 and won the $1,500 Low Adult Jumper Classic in week two.  Continuing the winning streak, Calamos, 20, of Batavia, IL, also won the classic again in week 3 and the Reserve Championship in the division.
 
Junior rider, Olivia Lawton, 16, of Burr Ridge, IL also found her way to the winner’s circle. It was Lawton’s first time moving up a division from the Children's Hunters to the 3'3 Junior Hunters and she proved she was ready by bringing home a blue along with other top prizes. Lawton’s mount, Granit, a seven-year-old Warmblood, was imported from Europe in 2012 as a Grand Prix prospect. Lawton is new to the Our Day program but has had her horse since last March and says he is a horse that loves his job.

 
Olivia Lawton and Granit pose with Lynn Jayne after earning a blue in the 3'3" Junior Hunters. 

“I love how organized and "non-chaotic" the barn is,” said Lawton of Jayne’s program. “I know where I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to do at all times. If I feel uneasy about something, she supports me. If I make a mistake in a round, she asks me what I thought I could do better so I can learn from my mistakes. During my first week with her, she taught me more than I learned in my entire career. We really connected.”

Caitlin Creel, 17, of Kildeer, IL, one of Jayne’s big winners, clinched the blue in the $10,000 Low Junior Jumper Classic in week three of the series aboard DaVinci, owned by Cavallo Farm of San Diego, CA. Creel and the 12-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding also took home the Reserve Championship in the division. Junior rider, Creel had a very successful WEF winning ribbons in the very competitive ASPCA Maclay Medal and the USEF Medal on Confession. The highlight of the circuit for Creel was getting to ride in the American Invitational in Miami at the home of the Miami Dolphins in Sun Life Stadium. Riders are invited to compete based on prize money won.
 
“It was a beautiful venue and a beautiful course,” said Jayne. “It was a great experience for Caitlin (Creel).”
 
“It was so cool to get experience in that kind of environment,” said Creel. “It was cool because I could tell my horse could feel it too! He usually doesn't whinny a lot but as soon as we walked onto the field he did! I definitely hope I get the chance to do it again. I love that they added that class because it allowed us to have a little taste of the Grand Prix action and for me it gives me more motivation to work towards that level of riding!”
 
Jayne owns and manages Our Day Farm on Nestler Road in Elgin, IL and gives back to the industry by supporting and serving on some of the organizing boards.  She is President of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Foundation, which provides aid for equestrians in need. Jayne is also a founding member of Chicago Equestrians for a Cause, which holds the prestigious Chicago Hunter Derby each year in Antioch, IL, benefiting the USHJA Foundation, University of Chicago Cancer Research Center and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
 
In addition, Jayne also serves on the Board of Directors of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) and is a part of the National Hunter Committee.
 
Jayne and her customers will continue to show at both local and national horse shows in the Midwest during the summer.
 
For more information on Our Day Farm, email Lynn Jayne at lynnjayne@comcast.net or phone 847-721-8595. For more information on the Chicago Hunter Derby, please visit www.Chicagohunterderby.com

Photos may only be used in relation to this release.