Emily Hertz and Outspoken (Alison Hartwell)
The course was designed by Glenn Moody, renowned hunter course designer. Moody has designed and built the courses for Upperville, the Middleburg Classic, the Washington International Horse Show, the Legacy Cup and other top competitions throughout the United States. In addition to his work as a course designer, Moody also is known as an outstanding trainer of hunter and hunter seat equitation riders, having trained for The Barracks in Charlottesville, Virginia for more than two decades.
Outspoken, owned by David Pellegrini and ridden by Emily Hertz of Eads, Tennessee won the class with an overall score of 175. "I thought the course rode really well," commented Hertz. "I especially liked that in the Handy round we were able to show off the inside turns and really be handy and then he [Moody] gave us the opportunity to gallop as well," she said.
"I love the new Kruse Cushion Ride footing. I feel the horses really travel across it well and don't get bogged down," commented Hertz, "and they all seem to perform well in it," she added.
Conner Hinckley of Argyle, Texas and his own Seamless received an overall score of 172 and a second place. Tim Maddrix of Birmingham, Alabama and Missy Nolen's Life is Good finished in third place after earning an overall score of 168.
Michael Kocher of Tryon, North Carolina and Abigail Beaty's Third Day earned an overall score of 167.5 and a fourth place ribbon. Kocher returned for the fifth place ribbon with Cynthia Hallman's Fig Street's Duchess after earning a combined score of 167. Heather Geller of Akron, Ohio and her own Pommegranate earned an overall score of 166 and a sixth place finish.
Maddrix returned for the seventh place ribbon this time in the irons of Cheryl Rubenstein, LLC's Capisce; the pair earned a combined score of 165. Durgin Park, owned by Henrietta Hall and ridden by Sarah Invicta Williams of Santa Fe, New Mexico finished in eighth place with an overall score of 158. Maddrix and Andrew Kocher's Cabriole earned ninth place honors with their overall score of 157 and Unikat, owned by Amy Yoder and ridden by Carlos Aramburo of Red Bank, Mississippi finished in tenth with an overall score of 156. Eleventh and twelfth places were awarded to Indy, owned and ridden by Sarah Doster of Lantana, Texas and Can't Buy Me Love, owned by Beluga, LLC and ridden by Mathieu Rein of Milton, Georgia.
Hertz showed at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic Pensacola Circuit before heading to the second leg of the shows at the Gulfport grounds. According to Hertz, Outspoken, also known affectionately as 'Lana Lou' has not done much this year but has had top ribbons in the National Derbies over the past couple of years. "She's been champion numerous times in the pre-greens 3' and 3'3"and went to the USHJA Pre-Green National Championship and earned some very good scores in 2013," she said.
Lana Lou is eight this year and Dave Pellegrini has owned her since she was a 2 year old. "Lana Lou is a part of the family," commented Hertz. "Dee Pellegrini was champion with her in the older adults last week and we're hoping to move her up into the First year division over the next couple of weeks here," she added.