Hannah Isop and Red Ryder (The Book LLC)

North Salem, NY – May 16, 2015 – Hannah Isop of Pawling, NY, won her first-ever hunter derby at The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows today in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by The Gochman Family aboard Tracy Freels' Red Ryder. Highlighting the action from The Grand Prix Field, Quentin Judge and Double H Farm's HH Dark De La Hart took blue in their second speed derby of the two-week circuit, the $20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem, presented by Miller Motorcars.

The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows are in the second week of competition and run through Sunday, May 17, at the picturesque Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. The shows feature over 130 hunter and jumper classes each week, bringing together top competitors, including Olympic show jumpers, from all corners of the country to compete for more than $500,000 in prize money.

Isop checked a major box on her riding bucket list taking top call in both rounds of the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. But, the win also completed a goal she set at the beginning of her riding career. “It's always been my dream to do this,” said Isop. “Red Ryder came from the jumper ring, so this last year we've been doing the High Performance Hunters and working on more derbies. Derby Finals is our goal with him.”

Isop jumped her first derby at Old Salem Farm on a First Year hunter several years ago, and Red Ryder made his derby debut during last year's Spring Horse Shows. The pair came full circle this year, boasting a high score of 90 in the first round and again topping the field with a 92 against the top 12. Scores from two panels were combined in each round and then totaled for a final score with Isop finishing on 387.

Jennifer Bauersachs and Spring Hill Farm, Inc.'s For Love finished both rounds with a total score of 374.5 for second. Victoria Colvin and Vaillero were third for Heritage Farm with a final tally of 373.50. Colvin was also fourth aboard Heritage Farm's Agsburg on 366. Jimmy Torano rounded out the top five with Isalou, Inc.'s Argentus with a final combined score of 364.

Red Ryder is a 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned and trained by Tracy Freels, and he drew from his jumper roots in today's USHJA International Hunter Derby. “The handy was one of my harder handy rounds,” said Isop. “I like an open, galloping course, but this was a little more technical like a jumper course and he handled it great.”

With plenty of gallop and scope, Isop claims she is always having fun when in the tack of Red Ryder. “He just springs off the ground, but my favorite thing is how light he is and that he always tries,” she said. “It's a great feeling going in the ring knowing your horse is going to to give 110%. I just have to remind myself to breathe.”

Featured in the Hunter Ring, Barbara Spizzirro of Mamaroneck, NY, rode Hundred Acre to the championship in the Amateur-Owner 36 & Over 3’3” Hunter division. By placing third under saddle and winning three out of four over fences classes, they also captured the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion award.

The reserve championship in the division went to French Kiss and Tina Allen, who won the under saddle and earned two third-place ribbons over fences.

Spizzirro has ridden Hundred Acre for three years, and having progressed through the Pre-Green and Adult Hunters, he is settling into his role. “He took time off over the summer and ended up staying home for the winter and showed here [at Old Salem Farm]. He grew up a little bit more,” she acknowledged. “Whenever he comes into a new space, he gets a little nervous. But the older he’s getting, he’s just settling really quick. He’s getting older and learning his job.”

With Hundred Acre learning and getting easier to ride, Spizzirro is relaxing too, leading to success in the show ring. “He’s getting really easy. You still have to hold his hand every now and again, but more often than not you can just be soft and float the reins at him a little bit,” she explained. “He likes it that way. I’m able to trust him a little more, to have him go that way. It’s feeling good.”

Barbara Spizzirro and Hundred Acre accept awards from Gretchen Hunt of Hunt, LTD with trainer Brooke Baldwin-deGrazia and Keirstin Johnsen.

Spizzirro trains with Brooke Baldwin-deGrazia and with their barn “right around the corner” from Old Salem Farm, winning here is like winning at her hometown show. “[These] shows are getting better and better and more and more beautiful every year. I like the competition it draws. It feels good to show here. When you do have a good day and you do win, they make you feel really good about it. It’s an accomplishment; it feels good to win here,” she expressed.

Final Results: $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by The Gochman Family
1   RED RYDER    HANNAH ISOP     TRACI FREELS
R1/J1   90.00         4.00
R1/J2   87.00         4.00 185.00
R2/J1   92.00  7.00   4.00
R2/J2   88.00  7.00   4.00 202.00
387.00
2   FOR LOVE     JENNIFER BAUERSACHS     SPRING HILL FARM INC.
R1/J1   88.00         4.00
R1/J2   84.50         4.00 180.50
R2/J1   87.50  7.00   4.00
R2/J2   85.50  6.00   4.00 194.00
374.50
3   VAILLERO     VICTORIA COLVIN      HERITAGE FARM INC.
R1/J1   83.00         4.00
R1/J2   85.00         4.00 176.00
R2/J1   88.00  7.00   4.00
R2/J2   86.50  8.00   4.00 197.50
373.50
4   AGSBURG      VICTORIA COLVIN      HERITAGE FARM INC.
R1/J1   84.00         4.00
R1/J2   82.00         4.00 174.00
R2/J1   87.00  8.00   4.00
R2/J2   82.00  7.00   4.00 192.00
366.00
5   ARGENTUS     JIMMY TORANO      ISALOU, INC.
R1/J1   73.00         4.00
R1/J2   83.00         4.00 164.00
R2/J1   89.00  9.00   4.00
R2/J2   86.00  8.00   4.00 200.00
364.00
5   CLEAVELAND   JENNIFER BAUERSACHS     MERITAGE STABLES LLC/SPRING HILL FARM, INC.
R1/J1   87.00         4.00
R1/J2   81.00         4.00 176.00
R2/J1   82.00  5.00   4.00
R2/J2   87.00  6.00   4.00 188.00
364.00
7   BLACK LABEL  PATRICIA GRIFFITH     MAXWELL LEVY
R1/J1   81.00         2.00
R1/J2   86.00         2.00 171.00
R2/J1   83.00  6.00   2.00
R2/J2   81.50  7.00   2.00 181.50
352.50
8   REVELSTOKE   HANNAH ISOP     CHRISTINE WATKINS
R1/J1   82.00         4.00
R1/J2   75.00         4.00 165.00
R2/J1   86.00  6.00   4.00
R2/J2   81.00  5.00   4.00 186.00
351.00
9   LOXLEY       AMANDA STEEGE     FINALE PARTNERS LLC
R1/J1   86.00         4.00
R1/J2   81.50         4.00 175.50
R2/J1   81.00  5.00   4.00
R2/J2   74.00  5.00   4.00 173.00
348.50
10  SKOREKEEPER  CALLIE SEAMAN       CALLIE SEAMAN
R1/J1   85.00         1.00
R1/J2   83.00         1.00 170.00
R2/J1   73.00  2.00   1.00
R2/J2   70.00  4.00   1.00 151.00
321.00
11  BONEPARTE Z  ELLIE FERRIGNO      KRISTI C. SIAM
R1/J1   80.00         1.00
R1/J2   81.50         1.00 163.50
R2/J1   70.00  5.00   1.00
R2/J2   72.00  5.00   1.00 154.00
317.50
12  COCO         SOPHIE MICHAELS     FURTHER LANE FARM
R1/J1   77.00         4.00
R1/J2   79.00         4.00 164.00
R2/J1 – Did not return
R2/J2
164.00

$20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem, presented by Miller Motorcars

After winning last week's $15,000 Speed Derby with HH Dark De La Hart, Judge quickly set his sights on this week's $20,000 offering from Miller Motorcars. Winning by nearly four seconds, Judge and his 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion (by Kashmir van Schuttershof x Nonstop) showed off with effortless gallops between fences and turns unmatched by any of the other challengers to finish in 71.889 seconds.

"He knows when it's time to turn it on and be good," said Judge of the horse he can't deny he's has grown quite fond of. "I like everything about him – he's so smart."

Peter Lutz and Katherine Gallagher's Carneyhaugh Manx were closest to threatening Judge's speed, crossing the timers in 74.209 seconds for second place. Third was awarded to Sydney Shulman and BCF, LLC's Warmira. In the last go of the class, they posted a time of 74.677 seconds for a top ribbon.

HH Dark De La Hart came to Double H Farm three years ago destined for the grand prix ring with Judge in the irons before they noticed an undeniable talent on the derby field. "He was my number-one grand prix horse when I was just starting to jump the bigger classes," said Judge. "He was really great at that, but a little more comfortable as a 1.50m horse, so we stepped him down. He's really great at that height and he's been a winner, so I can always call on him in special classes like this."

Last year, Judge decided to try HH Dark De La Hart in a derby at Spruce Meadows and the stallion's job quickly shifted. "We entered not really knowing what was going to happen, and he was an ace," said Judge. "He galloped around like he had done it his whole life and I knew if he could do it there, he can do it anywhere."

Judge admits that HH Dark De La Hart has earned his complete trust over derby courses and he sits back and enjoys the ride. "I just let him go. He knows where his legs are, he knows how to slow down, and how to go fast," he said. "I really just keep clucking, stay out of the tack, gallop long and he does the rest."

Judge's win continued a hot streak of top placings for Double H Farm at what they consider their home show. Currently, fellow Double H Farm rider Mclain Ward leads the $20,000 Leading Jumper Rider Challenge with Judge tailing in second.

Kicking off competition for jumpers earlier in the day, Rosalie Biedron and Gretchen Biedron's Buttercup VD Heffinck won the $2,500 Child Jumper Classic, presented by Beacon Hill Transportation, while Tegan Elizabeth Treacy and Starlight Farms, LLC's Catalyst took top honors in the $2,500 Adult Amateur Jumper Classic, presented by Aden Brook. Following the Speed Derby, Madison Charlton and Sorensen Stables' Wenda AK jumped to blue in the $5,000 Junior Jumper Low Classic, presented by Der Dau, and Cheryl Scott closed out the day with a win in the $5,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Low Classic aboard her own Thaddeus.

Competition at The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows wraps tomorrow with the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group on The Grand Prix Field. Junior and amateur Jumpers will also jump for substantial prize money with a $7,500 Medium and $15,000 High Classic. For hunters, Grand Pony, Children's and Junior Champions will be crowned.

Final Results: $20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem, presented by Miller Motorcars
1 HH DARK DE LA HART QUENTIN JUDGE DOUBLE H FARM 71.889
2 CARNEYHAUGH MANX PETER LUTZ KATHERINE GALLAGHER 74.209
3 WARMIRA SYDNEY SHULMAN BCF, LLC 74.677
4 LENNOX LEWIS 2 LESLIE HOWARD ANNIE PHILLIPS 75.730
5 ADELE MCLAIN WARD TEQUESTRIAN FARM & MCLAIN WARD 76.751
6 EMMA OLIVER MC CARTHY MCLAIN WARD 78.707
7 OREADE DES DAMES ADRIENNE STERNLICHT STARLIGHT FARMS, LLC 79.311
8 LIRATUS DEVIN RYAN DEVIN RYAN 79.330
9 RAFINO LINDA LANGMEIER BEL FARMS, LLC 79.467
10 HANNAH DANA ESCALES JOSE SALGADO NEGRETE 79.638
11 COMMISSARIO MICHAEL HUGHES NUVOLARI HOLDINGS, LLC 9.771
12 COOL Z MICHAEL HUGHES CHRISTINA FRIED 80.416

To enjoy what is still to come at The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, tickets can be purchased HERE. Live streaming of all events is also available Friday-Sunday at www.oldsalemfarm.net.

Major events on the live stream include (times are subject to change):

Week 2
“ShowNet Time Allowed” Pre-Game Show, on Sunday, May 17, 2 pm
$100,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, on Sunday, May 17, 2:30 pm

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Full horse show results can be found at www.horseshowsonline.com.

Photos by The Book, LLC

Old Salem Farm, located just one hour north of New York City, is one of the best equestrian competition venues in North America, as rated by the North American Riders Group in 2011-2014. Host of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, the prestigious American Gold Cup CSI-W 4*, and year-round competitions, the facility offers a state-of-the-art turf grand prix field, indoor riding arena, and two all-weather footing rings. As a boarding and training facility, Old Salem Farm is second to none and home to top trainer Frank Madden. For more information, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net or call 914-669-5610.