Vale pilots E.S. Finou 4 over an obstacle in the Olympic Arena in the Horseflight Open Welcome Thursday
Thursday's $15,000 Horseflight Open Welcome saw 21 horse and rider teams compete for the cash in the Olympic Arena over a course designed by Manuel Esparza of Mexico City, Mexico. The first round time was set at 79 seconds and only six turned in clean first rounds.
Aaron Vale of Morriston, Florida and Sarah Turner's Acolina R were second to go in the class and the first to go clean in a time of 70.307 seconds. Their second round effort in a time of 41.442 seconds was also clean and well within the time allowed of 57 seconds which put them in the lead. But with 19 to follow, it was still anyone's class.
Michael Kocher of Tryon, North Carolina and Ri Arm Farm's Fair Enough were the next pair to turn in a clean first round in a time of 73.824 seconds. Their second round effort resulted in four jump faults in a time of 46.896 and would see them finish in fifth place overall.
Mauricio Guevara of Bogata, Columbia and his own Capano Z were the next pair to go fault-free in their first round and second rounds in times of 76.044 and 45.960 seconds, respectively, which put them in contention for a ribbon.
Colleen Acosta from Roanake, Texas and Anastasia Stewart's Diamond were the next to turn in a clean first round in a time of 73.002 seconds. Eight jump faults in their second round in a time of 53.664 seconds, would see them finish in sixth place overall.
Forgiven, owned and ridden by Derek Petersen of Archer, Florida was next to turn in double clear rounds in times of 69.798 and 39.434 seconds, respectively, which put them into the lead.
Equi-Sport LLC's E.S. Finou 4, piloted by Vale, was the next and final pair to turn in double clean rounds in times of 69.301 and 39.050 seconds, respectively, taking the lead away from Petersen.
The class wrapped up with Vale and E.S. Finou 4 taking the win followed by Petersen and Forgiven in second. Vale returned for third's with Sarah Turner's Acolina R and fourth place went to Guevara and his own Capano Z. Kocher and Ri Arm Farm's Fair Enough secured fifth place and Acosta and Anastasia Stewart's Diamond took home the sixth place ribbon.
Seventh was awarded to Quidam's Good Luck, owned by Troy Glaus and ridden by Vale while eighth place was awarded to Haley Gassel of Lenoir City, Tennessee in the irons of Westwind Equine Training Center's Quite Dark 2.
Vale continued his winning streak right into Friday when he captured the win in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby in the irons of Donald Stewart's Dress Balou with a first and second round total score of 179.
Ashton Alexander rode Stewart's Cold Case to a second place finish with a combined score of 176.5 and followed with a third in the irons of Mindy Whitman's Carmo after earning a combined score of 173. Daniel Geitner rode Brenda Mackay's Champagne to fourth place honors with a combined score of 171.5 and Vale returned for fifth place with Fairfield Farm LLC's Just Sayin with a combined score of 171. Alexander came back for a sixth place ribbon this time aboard Stewart's Lilly Wood with a combined score of 168 and Elizabeth Boyd rode Tracey London's Smile to seventh place honors with a combined score of 167.5. Liddy Strickland wrapped up the class with Wendy Arndt's Valentine with an eighth place and a combined score of 167.
Aaron Vale also received the Kastel Denmark Style of Hunter Riding Award, sponsored by Kastel Denmark. Kastel Denmark is the Official UV shirt of the Atlanta Summer Classic and The Great Magnolia Show Jumping Tour. Kastel Denmark is known for its sporty, active wear and its beautiful UV protectant shirts in a range of colors inspired by the Danish landscape. Kastel Denmark's shirts come in both men and women's sizes and is available at finer tack stores everywhere.