Sarah Spire and RF Rovano Rex (Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group)
Russell and Nikita, owned by Ashley Foster, kicked things off with the win in the highly competitive $1,000 Low Child/Adult Classic. From a starting field of 26 horses and riders, 12 advanced to the jump-off, where four riders were able to produce double clear efforts. Of all of the 12 qualified entries, Russell and Nikita laid down the fastest time over the short course, finishing on 33.439 seconds and nearly four seconds ahead of second place finishers Ashley Rabon and Kilrodan Ambassador.
Following the $1,000 Low Child/Adult Classic, it was the High Child and Adult Jumpers turn in the ring for the $1,500 NAL/WIHS/M&S Child Classic and the $2,500 NAL/WIHS/M&S Adult Classic.
The High Children's division was new territory for the eventual winners of the $1,500 NAL/WIHS/M&S Child Classic, Sarah Spire and RF Rovano Rex. For Spire, it was a move up from the Low Children's division, and for RF Rovano Rex it is all part of his new career path. The 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding is owned by Marilyn Little and was previously a top eventing mount for Little, competing successfully in numerous CCI3***.
Spire began leasing 'Rex' in January, and the pair just made the move up to the High Children's division with Sunday marking only their second time competing in a High Children's Classic. And now the pair is two for two on victories.
Katherine Miller and Nicholas (Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group)
The 17-year-old rider is a regular at Swan Lake and enjoys showing there as often as possible.
"I always came here with my first hunter and my first jumper, and now Rex," Spire said. "I love the show grounds; they're beautiful. I love the footing, which is great. Everything is quick and efficient. It's one of my favorite shows to come to."
21-year-old Katherine Miller also greatly enjoys coming to Swan Lake - and on Sunday she had good reason. She and her mount Nicholas, bested a field of 14 entries to take the victory in the $2,500 NAL/WIHS/M&S Adult Classic.
"I got him three years ago from a sales barn around Kennett Square. I was told that he was hard to handle and sitting in a field. He used to do cross country, jumpers and a little bit of everything," Miller explained.
Now, paired with Miller, the 18-year-old gelding is an extremely strong contender in the Adult Jumpers, which they demonstrated on Sunday afternoon.
"He felt great," Miller said. "He was getting a little anxious in the second round. He loves to go fast. He loves to just run and gallop."
Gruschenka Mojica Sanchez and Hollywood's Eleven (Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group)
After the Child and Adult Jumper Classics, the Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumpers closed out the day with the $3,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic and the $5,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic.
In the $3,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic, the victory went to Gruschenka Mojica Sanchez and Hollywood's Eleven, and in the $5,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic, the first place honor was awarded to Sandra Zimmerli and Calido's Treasure.
Similarly to Spire, Zimmerli has just made the move up a division and is already seeing great success. She earned the victory just last Sunday in the $10,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic at HITS Culpeper, and she and the young Calido's Treasure did it again on Sunday at Swan Lake.
"He's a 7-year-old, and I just got him in March," Zimmerli explained. "We started doing the 1.40m this past month. We did our first 1.40m together a month ago, but it was just one class, so we just moved up to the High Junior/Amateurs together. I'm really happy with him."
Zimmerli continued, "It took a little time. I haven't jumped a young horse this big ever, so it took some time. His ride is quicker. He has a big jump. He's just really scopey and so much fun to ride. He's really talented."
Sandra Zimmerli and Calido's Treasure (Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group)
On the final day of the Swan Lake Fall Festival, the Main Hunter Ring wrapped up the $1,000 3'3" Amateur-Owner Hunter and $2,500 3'6" Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions starting at 8:30 a.m.
With two over fences classes completed on Saturday, Sunday called for a first round classic and handy over fences class, as well as under saddle classes to determine the champion and reserve champion and complete both divisions.
Gerald Camera and his 10-year-old Hanoverian Exakt, trained by Jeffrey Ayers, took champion in the $1,000 3'3" Amateur-Owner Hunter division with a total of 34.0 points. The pair also won the $1,500 3'3"/3'6" Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, which was combined between exhibitors from both the 3'3" and 3'6" Amateur-Owner divisions, with a score of 160.
"My horse's name is Exakt, we call him Zak for short," said Camera. "I've had him for about three years, and I show him in the 3'3" amateur-owners. He's a blast to ride.
"Exakt was perfect this weekend," continued Camera. "I won two classes [in my division] and got the highest score in the classic. He's really good. He's been champion in Florida many times, and he's qualified for the indoors - he's a nice horse. I haven't shown him much this summer, so I wanted to get him going before the indoor shows."
Camera, who has been competing at Swan Lake Horse Shows for a number of years, adds, "The facility is good; I really can't say anything negative about it."
Reserve champion went to Victoria Flagg and Luigi, trained by Thomas Brennan, with 24.0 points.
Gerald Camera and Exakt (Taylor Renner/Phelps Media Group)
The conclusion of the $2,500 3'6" Amateur-Owner Hunter division was next and saw Lindsay Mutschler and her American Hanoverian, Fielding, come out on top as champion with a total of 44.0 points. The pair won four out of the five classes in their division between Saturday and Sunday.
"I've had Fielding for six years, since he was 5," said Mutschler. "He got here on Friday; I did the derby on Friday night as a warm up for the amateurs, and he was third. This is his first show since Vermont. He was very good."
Nicole Wood and Cello were awarded reserve champion with a total of 30.0 points.
With a busy season of indoor shows approaching for many, exhibitors such as Camera and Mutschler were happy about the addition of the Swan Lake Fall Festival to the Swan Lake Horse Shows calendar, providing them with a chance to show outdoors one more time at a top notch facility before the fall season.
"I've been coming to Swan Lake Horse Shows for as long as I've had Fielding, probably even before then so for a long time," recalled Mutschler. "It's convenient here. The shows are run well; the footing is good, and the jumps are pretty. I liked the addition of the Fall Festival this year because there's not a lot of shows leading up to indoors that you can kind of practice at, so it was nice to get here one last time - one last outdoor show before you move inside."
Lindsay Mutschler and Fielding (Taylor Renner/Phelps Media Group)
Swan Lake Horse Shows Fast Facts:
Where:
Swan Lake Stables
381 Flatbush Rd
Littlestown, PA 17340
Horse Show Contact:
For information prior to shows:
E-mail: [email protected]
Call: (603) 748-1027
For information during shows:
Call: (717) 359-5357
Media Contact:
Emily Riden
Phelps Media Group
[email protected]
(717)368-8102
12012 South Shore Blvd., Suite 201
Wellington, FL 33414
www.PhelpsMediaGroup.com
Website:
www.swanlakehorseshows.com