Cassie Kahle and Tequila Girl (Lauren Baker/Phelps Media Group)

Littlestown, Pa. - After cruising to a grand championship in the hunter ring, Cassie Kahle hopped in the irons aboard Tequila Girl to tackle the $5,000 Open Welcome Stake at the Swan Lake Horse Shows' Blue Rock Classic.

The last horse-and-rider combination to attempt the Oscar Soberon-designed course, Kahle and Tequila Girl laid down a clear first round, advancing immediately to the short course.

Kahle and Tequila Girl joined the 12-horse jump off and narrowly edged out the standing leader, Mary Lisa Leffler, tripping the timers in a mere 38.234 seconds, leaving Leffler and Carlot in second with a time of 39.515 seconds. 

"Tequila's a great horse," Kahle said. "She's definitely got a bit of blood, but she's got a beautiful mouth. She's very responsive, which makes it easy to go forward in the jump-offs, but still make those turns. She's got lots of heart. She's got a little bit of her own style, but she wants to be careful and fast."

Tequila is 12-year-old Warmblood mare owned by Redfield Farm of Califon, New Jersey. "She was a brood mare until she was 9 years old, so she doesn't have as much experience in the show ring," Kahle explained. "Emil Spadone found her in Europe and brought her over last year. I started riding her this time last year. She jumped her first grand prix in Raleigh in November, and she's been going strong since. She's a great horse!"

Brittany Hurst and Quidathago Z claimed third place with their time of 41.465 seconds, and Cian McDermott rode Newcastle to fourth in 42.289 seconds. The fifth and final double clear went to Brian Shook and Didgereedoo VDL, who clocked in at 43.088 seconds.

Earlier in the day, Leffler had her turn in the spotlight, where she claimed both first and second place in the 1.30m Open Jumper. Leffler's first ride, Amon De Diamante, beat out his barn mate, Bling Bling, by three-tenths of a second.

"Amon De Diamante is a 9-year-old that I brought along - this is my second year on him," Leffler explained. "He's phenomenal. He needs a little bit of leg, but my niece has ridden him, so he's learning that he needs to be amateurized.

"Bling Bling is my grand prix horse who I didn't want to go fast on," Leffler said, despite almost winning the class. "I was just doing it as a warm-up - she is really fast!"

Leffler and Kahle will both be returning to the ring later this week, and have been enjoying their time at the Blue Rock Classic. "I really love this show," expressed Kahle. "My favorite thing is probably the staff - everyone is just so friendly here. Everything is very laid back, but the courses are challenging enough and it's a nice place to get experience and have a good ride with your horse."

Jumper competition in the main grand prix ring continues Friday morning concluding with the $2,500 Blue Rock Classic Speed Derby.

Exhibitors and spectators can also enjoy Swan Lake Horse Show's generous hospitality during Saturday night's karaoke party. The karaoke party kicks off at 6 p.m. after Saturday night's $25,000 Blue Rock Classic Grand Prix.

Cassie Kahle Captures Grand Hunter Championship at Blue Rock Classic Horse Show
 
It was a great day for Cassie Kahle and Fandango HX at the 2016 Blue Rock Classic. The duo scored the First Year Green Working Hunter Championship, and their performance also secured the Grand Hunter Championship and Grand Green Hunter Championship at Swan Lake Stables Horse Show.
"He's got the look," Kahle said about Fandango HX. "He's beautiful and he's got the jump. He's definitely fun to ride and a pleasure to watch."

The winning pair swept the over-fences classes and placed fifth under saddle. The two have been working together since January at Redfield Farm under the instruction of Emil Spadone.

"Fandango is naturally quiet and sweet," Kahle added about her 6-year-old mount. "He's got an amazing jump. It's fun to get into those handy rounds, drop the reins and trust that he's going to jump a good jump."

Reserve Champion of the First Year Green Working Hunters went to Megan Young, who also earned the Second Year/High Performance Hunters.

Young rode Rockaway to a first place finish in the First Year Green Working Hunter under-saddle class and placed second, fourth and fifth over fences, adding another fourth in the over-fences handy class.

"This is my first-time showing here," Young said. "It's been a very nice horse show. The footing is great and today, the weather is nice."

Young's second mount was Comanche, who earned two firsts and two second place ribbons over fences, as well as an additional second in under saddle. Their beautiful rounds in the Second Year/High Performance Hunters were good enough to claim the division's championship tricolor.

"He takes a pretty quiet ride," Young said about Comanche. "He doesn't like you to be too busy. He does his job. He just wants you to stay out of the way and hang on."

The Green Conformation Hunter division led the day, as did rider and trainer Catherine Ellis, who rode Lady Stella to four blue ribbons and one second to earn the championship title, while Chad Keenum and In the News picked up the reserve championship.

Ellis spoke highly of the Swan Lake Stables Horse Shows saying, "I like the fact that I can bring baby horses here, too. There are a lot of places to ride, and a lot of different rings to get in. The footing is really good. It was tested this week with all the rain, and I think it held up beautifully."

The 2016 Blue Rock Classic will continue through the weekend, and will feature the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby on Friday, May 20.

Find more about the Blue Rock Classic online at www.SwanLakeHorseShows.com.