Shannan Gossman and Ever So Clever (AnLi Kelly-Durham/Phelps Media Group)
Consistency in the show ring has been a challenge for Shannan Gossman of Castle Rock, CO and Ever So Clever. However, after turning in four impressive and nearly flawless rounds this morning, things have finally seemed to click for this duo. They swept all three classes today, in addition to their first and fourth over fences from yesterday, good for the Amateur Owner 3'3" Hunter Championship. Taking reserve was D'Amour and Hillary Jean of Castle Rock, Colo.
"It is wonderful to end the circuit that way," said Gossman. "He has been doing the Low Amateur Owners for four weeks. Friday we started out the weekend a little rough but this was a great way to end. Today he finally felt very relaxed and rideable and slow. It was a wonderful feeling and a great way to end."
Gossman continued, "He was very consistent. Today he was very soft, you have to be very confident and he has to trust you. He is 11 and he is still very green, I've had him for almost three years. He had 18 months off and he just started showing again this year. It's been a long road to here and it's taken a lot of patience but it has obviously paid off."
Gossman and Ever So Clever also won the $1,000 Amateur Owner Hunter Classic with scores of 84 and 80.
"Those two scores were nice to hear," Gossman said. "Usually in the classic these past few weeks we have not done so well so I feel very fortunate that they were very good today."
In the Amateur Owner 3'6" Hunter division, the championship tricolor went to Amy Gallagher and Zion, a Betty Beran entry of Scottsdale, AZ. The pair picked up a second and third over fences yesterday. Today, they stepped up their game to win, riding away with a first and second over fences and a win under saddle. Riding is a family affair for Gallagher, who trains with her mother and has a young daughter showing in the Short Stirrup. Finishing in reserve was Walter and Sherri Kahn of Bucyrus, KS.
"The horse that I am riding is new to me. I just started riding him last week, so last week was my first show on him," said Gallagher. "We really made some great progress this week in our consistency, just working together as a team. We had a lot of fun. Being patient, counting, and making sure I start off with a good pace in the beginning is important when riding a new horse. He was a very good boy. He is a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood and I believe he's been in the barn for less than two years. He is doing the First Years and has been very successful this last year. I just started riding him in the Amateurs."
Gallagher continued, "My favorite part about this show is the scenery, the mountains, the jumps. Everyone is also very friendly. People are very patient, and they are very accommodating with all the different rings and everything that is going on."
Results: Summer in the Rockies VI - Sunday, July 20, 2014
272. Am Owner 3'3" Htr
result/entry/horse/owner/rider/prize
1/576/Ever So Clever/Shannan Gossman/Shannan Gossman/80.00
2/501/On The Money/Caitlin Burns/Caitlin Burns/55.00
3/482/D'Amour/Hillary Jean/Hillary Jean/40.00
4/802/Happenstance/Stonebridge Farm/Sue Takata/30.00
5/706/Maverick/Kara Kahn/Kara Kahn/15.00
6/470/Bellagio/Kelsey Connaghan/Kelsey Connaghan/5.00
7/575/Talan/Meg Gehron/Meg Gehron/0.00
8/838/Banderas/Nancy Lewis/Nancy Lewis/0.00
273. Am Owner 3'3" Htr
result/entry/horse/owner/rider/prize
1/576/Ever So Clever/Shannan Gossman/Shannan Gossman/80.00
2/501/On The Money/Caitlin Burns/Caitlin Burns/55.00
3/470/Bellagio/Kelsey Connaghan/Kelsey Connaghan/40.00
4/482/D'Amour/Hillary Jean/Hillary Jean/30.00
5/802/Happenstance/Stonebridge Farm/Sue Takata/15.00
6/838/Banderas/Nancy Lewis/Nancy Lewis/5.00
7/706/Maverick/Kara Kahn/Kara Kahn/0.00
8/575/Talan/Meg Gehron/Meg Gehron/0.00
274. Am Owner 3'3" Htr U/S
result/entry/horse/owner/rider/prize
1/576/Ever So Clever/Shannan Gossman/Shannan Gossman/40.00
2/706/Maverick/Kara Kahn/Kara Kahn/30.00
3/838/Banderas/Nancy Lewis/Nancy Lewis/20.00
4/482/D'Amour/Hillary Jean/Hillary Jean/10.00
5/501/On The Money/Caitlin Burns/Caitlin Burns/0.00
6/802/Happenstance/Stonebridge Farm/Sue Takata/0.00
267. A-O 3'6" Htr
award/entry/horse/owner/rider/prize
1/503/Zion/Betty Beran/Amy Gallagher/160.00
2/803/Parrot Bay/Emily Ryan/Emily Ryan/110.00
3/705/Walter/Sherri Kahn/Sherri Kahn/80.00
268. A-O 3'6" Htr
award/entry/horse/owner/rider/prize
1/705/Walter/Sherri Kahn/Sherri Kahn/160.00
2/503/Zion/Betty Beran/Amy Gallagher/110.00
3/803/Parrot Bay/Emily Ryan/Emily Ryan/80.00
269. A-O 3'6" Htr U/S
award/entry/horse/owner/rider/prize
1/503/Zion/Betty Beran/Amy Gallagher/80.00
2/803/Parrot Bay/Emily Ryan/Emily Ryan/60.00
3/705/Walter/Sherri Kahn/Sherri Kahn/40.00
705. $1,000 Amateur Owner Hunter Classic
result/entry/horse/owner/rider/prize
1/576/Ever So Clever/Shannan Gossman/Shannan Gossman/300.00
2/501/On The Money/Caitlin Burns/Caitlin Burns/220.00
3/705/Walter/Sherri Kahn/Sherri Kahn/150.00
4/482/D'Amour/Hillary Jean/Hillary Jean/100.00
5/802/Happenstance/Stonebridge Farm/Sue Takata/70.00
6/838/Banderas/Nancy Lewis/Nancy Lewis/60.00
7/575/Talan/Meg Gehron/Meg Gehron/50.00