Nicole Lyvere and All In (Phelps Media Group, Inc.)
Lyvere and her hunters earned many top placings at Summer in the Rockies in 2013, and they have maintained a busy horse show schedule since then, traveling with Cindy Cruciotti's Serenity Farm. Lyvere has seen her horses make great strides forward while competing in Kentucky, at indoors, and at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Now she's putting that progress to the test this summer at the Colorado Horse Park.
"My horses have really grown up," Lyvere, of Lakewood, CO, said. "I've always called them my babies because I started with them when they were really green, even though they're 9 and 10 years old now. They have come so far."
She guided Wink and All In through smooth, flowing rounds over Scott Starnes' courses in the Olson Family Main Hunter Arena. Wink collected three blue ribbons over the two days of the division, while All In claimed the other two, resulting in a clean sweep for Lyvere. She also finished one-two in the $1,000 Amateur Owner Hunter Classic, with All In edging out Wink for the top spot.
While Wink made winning look easy this weekend, Lyvere said he hasn't always been straightforward to bring along.
"I'd say 'Nifty' has been the biggest challenge out of all my horses," she commented. "He knows he's good, and he has such an attitude."
She recalled that he used to run out and would pull her too deep to the base of the fences, but with help from Cruciotti, he's become a reliable partner in the hunter ring.
"Nifty has finally come around," she said. "Every once in a while he'll still test you - he'll spook at something or not want to jump a jump - but you put your leg on and he's fine. He knows his job now, and he'd rather be at a horse show than anywhere else. He's turned into a magnificent show horse."
Lyvere also has a soft spot for All In or 'Tyson.' She originally purchased him as a project for Cruciotti, who later suggested she take over the ride.
"He's the sweetest horse ever - he would not hurt a fly," Lyvere said. "He'd be the one I'd have live in my bedroom if I could."
With all the progress Lyvere and her horses have made together, their focus is now on fine-tuning and finding just a little bit extra to help them compete with the best.
"Tyson has always wanted to be very, very good in everything," Lyvere said. "Both Nifty and Tyson have become very good this summer, and I've been able to work on their jumping styles more. I can push myself that much farther to ride that much better."
Amateur Owner 3'3" Hunters
Will and Lindsey Roberts with Storyline (Phelps Media Group)
Lindsey Roberts of Pine Hollow Farm in New Caney, TX, and Storyline collected two wins over fences and a second place under saddle today to add to their win in the handy on Saturday. Their impressive results earned them the section A championship.
Storyline, a newcomer to Pine Hollow, is already bringing in his share of top ribbons. He was reserve champion in the Performance 3'3" Hunters earlier this week with Will Roberts, Lindsey's husband, in the irons, and he and Lindsey were Amateur Owner Hunter reserve champions at Summer in the Rockies I the week before.
"He's new and really green, and this year we're just trying to get mileage and consistency," Lindsey said of the horse they purchased in February. "He's got a great demeanor. He has a huge stride, huge scope and a freaky jump that we're really excited about. He is just overall a really special horse, and we're very excited."
She has been getting accustomed to Storyline and figuring out what kind of ride he prefers.
"Because he's got such a great stride and scope, you can go so slow," she explained. "When you get to the base of the jump, he likes to be dropped and that's when he explodes and does his thing. It's a process of us getting to know each other. He's come a long ways just in the couple of weeks that he's been here."
Lindsey is a native of Littleton, CO, and is enjoying competing at the Colorado Horse Park while also visiting with friends and family.
"This is my home - this is where I grew up," she said. "I know a lot of the other professionals, including some I rode with when I was a kid. It's great to come back and see all those familiar faces. I get to do the horses and visit with family and friends."
Earning the section B championship was Nicole Lyvere, this time on Promo. They earned blues in Saturday's over fences and handy classes and followed up that performance with third and fifth places over fences today, as well as a third in the hack.
Lyvere said she hit a rough patch with the horse for a little while, but with Cindy Cruciotti's help, their partnership is better than ever.
"I have finally come far enough in my riding and he's come far enough in his training that we've been able to click together," she said.
Shannan Gossman of Castle Rock, CO, rode Chelios to strong finishes throughout the division to earn the section A reserve championship. They were fourth over fences and second in the handy on Saturday, then stepped it up today with wins over fences and in the hack as well as a fifth place over fences. Gossman trains with Randy Henry.
Chelios is just 6 years old but showed his maturity with the series of solid performances. Gossman has had him for three years and has also competed him in the jumpers, but the hunters are the end goal for the promising young horse.
"We did the jumpers last year for a bit to keep his mind busy," Gossman explained. "He's always been a hunter - he moves really well and jumps really well. But when he was so young, he got bored in the hunters, and the jumpers kept him entertained with the twists and the turns. He's matured really well this year."
"This week he's been really consistent and a lot of fun to ride," she added. "He really came into his own. He's very smart and he knows his job, probably a little too well. He was great today and the courses rode really well."
Christen Tuxworth of Elbert, CO, rode Rio's Firefly to the section B reserve. Highlights for the pair included two over fences wins, one on Saturday and one today. Tuxworth trains with Laurie Jueneman.