Hunt Tosh and Casanova (Emily Riden)

Lexington, KY - "It was a pretty easy decision considering both horses were coming from the same barn," Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA, owner of Casanova said. "They have both been so good, there really was nothing else to ask of them. They were fantastic both days."

Tosh added: "The great owners made a good decision. That was my gut instinct, but I never even had to say anything. They both came into the schooling ring and said neither one of them are jumping again today. That was great."

The highly well received USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program has crowned its inaugural first place winners. That is right - first place winners, plural. In an exciting and competitive final round of competition tonight at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show, Hunt Tosh rode both Crisp and Casanova to a tied blue ribbon victory.

USHJA rules dictate that in the result of a tie, riders will 'jump off' for the winning spot, but with the same rider on both sides of the tie, Dr. Parker and Douglas and Kenneth Wheeler of Keswick, VA, owners of Crisp, made the honorable decision to split the prize money and forgo the tiebreaker.

The USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship awarded a grand total of $157,990 in prize money over the past two days. In tonight's championship round, Casanova and Crisp earned a combined $34,757.80, which was divided equally between the two leading owners.

Wednesday 107 entries competed in two preliminary rounds, following which the top 30 horses qualified to advance to Thursday's championship final in the Stonelea Ring of the Kentucky Horse Park. Tosh kicked things off yesterday as the winner of the first round aboard Casanova and the second round aboard Crisp. Tosh and Crisp then finished the day atop the overall leader board on the strength of their second round win and a second place finish in the first round.

While score slates were wiped entirely clean to start anew in the championship final, Crisp and Casanova's impressive rounds yesterday made them definite ones to watch tonight, and they did not disappoint.

Casanova was Tosh's first mount of the evening, and the talented rider of Milton, GA navigated him to scores of 89 and 88 from the two judging panels for a combined 177 over the Patrick Rodes designed course.

Casanova's score would remain untouched throughout much of the evening until Tosh returned again with Crisp. The pair earned scores of 87 and 90 for the second 177 total of the night, putting them in a tie with Casanova and cementing the dual first place finishes. Kelley Farmer and Scripted, owned by Larry Glefke and Kenneth Garber of Keswick, VA, rounded out the top three with an overall score of 170. To watch both of Tosh's winning rounds, click here.

"Those are both truly really special horses, and I'm really lucky to have them," Tosh said. "It's neat that the stars all lined up right. For them to be so right at the right time and on the right day is special. Especially because they went so well yesterday, to be able to come back and do it again two days in a row was really neat."

Tosh continued: "The fact that they were tied - that's just special. Douglas and Betsee are both such wonderful owners and so good to me. It's actually really cool to be able to have a horse for each of them and have them tie."

Tosh is extremely appreciative of Parker and the Wheelers, and they are equally appreciative of Tosh and his abilities. 

"He has just done a phenomenal job with the young horses," Douglas Wheeler said. "I couldn't be more proud of Hunt. I cannot say enough. He's been a great professional to work with and obviously just an incredible talent." 

Wheeler continued: "The horses really stepped up tonight. It was a beautiful class. I was telling Betsee earlier that it really was exquisite hunter types - beautiful jumpers, beautiful movers - and just superior hunter types and quality, quality horses. All the credit in the world goes to Colleen McQuay and the entire USHJA Incentive Program for a wonderful two days."

USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship Results

Rank Horse's Name            Rider's Name                Score
1  CASANOVA   HUNT TOSH   177.00
1  CRISP   HUNT TOSH   177.00
3  SCRIPTED   KELLEY FARMER   170.00
4  SEDONA   SHAWN CASADY   167.00
5  HUNDRED ACRE KEIRSTIN JOHNSON 166.75
6  LEGATO   PETER PLETCHER   165.50
6  KAEPERNICK   HAVENS SCHATT   165.50
8 STAND ALONE CHRISTOPHER PAYNE 165.00
8 MERITAGE LOUISE SERIO 165.00
10 BRIGADIER   HUNT TOSH   164.75
11 FIRST DANCE   ELIZABETH BOYD   164.00
12 CLARITY   CHRISTOPHER PAYNE   162.75
13  BOMBAY   PATRICIA GRIFFITH   162.00
14  TRYONITE   ELIZABETH BOYD   159.50
15  AUTUMN RHYTHM   SLOANE COLES   155.00