The Closer and Havens Schatt (Sportfot)
Le Reve Farm, Inc.'s At Ease and Christopher Payne finished in reserve with first and second place ribbons on Wednesday and a second place finish in Thursday's under saddle.
The Closer is a seven-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Sir Donnerhall. Owner, Kelley Corrigan, is from Lexington, KY, and bought the horse this past summer. He started showing in the Low Hunters there, and this is the third week that Schatt has shown him in the Pre-Green classes in his first trip to Wellington.
"He is green," Schatt described. "He was a dressage horse, so he is very keen on his lead changes. Sometimes he will do a lead change in the line or just by getting confused, but he has been super brave here. I showed him in ring 7, ring 6, and this ring. Kelley is doing him in the adults. She was first and second today. He is just a really good, brave guy."
Schatt explained that The Closer has beauty and consistency around the course that make him a winner. "His stride and his rhythm are always the same," she stated. "He is very big and he is black, so he is very pretty. He is very pretty to watch go around the course, and he jumps all of the jumps the same. You don't get a ten, but you don't get a four. He is pretty much an eight all the way around and for an amateur horse, which is ultimately what he is supposed to be -for me that is what it is supposed to be about - (it's about) consistency and nice rhythm and a nice way around the ring."
The Closer will now have a couple of weeks off before showing at the end of the FTI WEF circuit. Schatt sees a bright future for the horse and hopes to keep him happy and enjoying his job as he continues to learn and compete.