Many of the country's top horses and riders will once again return to Chicago to compete at Showplace Production's horse shows this year as pursuit of the coveted $60,000 Showplace Leading Rider Series begins for the 2010 season. Returning for its fourth consecutive year, the Leading Rider Series has made an exciting addition to its lineup this year, adding six divisions of leading hunter awards along with the previous jumper honors.The 2010 Leading Rider Series will offer $32,500 in jumper money and $27,500 in hunter money.

The Showplace Leading Rider Series tracks riders through a series of nine events throughout the season and awards prizes to the top three riders in each category. The jumpers will award prizes in five different sections, including: $10,000 Leading Open Rider, $10,000 Leading Junior/Amateur-Owner Rider, $7,500 Leading Children's/Adult Rider, $2,500 Leading Modified Children's/Adult Rider, and $2,500 Leading Low Children's/Adult Rider. This year's series will also feature the Rolex Open Rider Challenge, in which a Rolex watch will be awarded to the winning rider if they win two of the three Grand Prix classes on the same horse.

The hunters will award prizes to the leading riders in six different sections, including: $5,000 Leading Professional Rider, $5,000 Leading Junior Rider, $5,000 Leading Amateur-Owner Rider, $5,000 Leading Amateur/Adult Rider, $5,000 Leading Children's Rider, and $2,500 Leading Pony Rider.

Rider and trainer Wilhelm Genn of Lebanon, OH, won the $30,000 Tapestry Farm Open Jumper Leading Rider Series for the third year in a row in 2009. Genn amassed an impressive $56,700 in prize money throughout the year to earn the division's gold medal and $15,000 bonus. Following behind Genn in the series was Kelsey Thatcher of Bluffdale, UT. She earned $33,600 during her first year showing at the open level to earn the silver medal. Maggie Jayne of Elgin, IL, won $33,200 for the bronze.

Alex Jayne of Our Day Farm is one of the top trainers in the country and is based in Elgin, IL. Jayne's children—Charlie, Maggie and Haylie—have shown at Lamplight for years and now young students Kelsey and Madeline Thatcher are making their mark. Jayne thinks that it is great for the young riders to have the bonus as a goal each year. "It is nice to win a little additional bonus money and get the riders a little extra recognition," he acknowledged. "The kids really seem to like it and we do enough of the horse shows that I think we will be competitive once again."

Jayne likes that the series awards riders from the highest to the lowest levels and allows the young up-and-coming riders to compete against some of the best riders in the world and really challenge themselves. "I think it is really a powerful thing for the kids that they are able to compete as equals and show in the grand prix ring and earn some recognition," Jayne stated. "It is very important for their development as a rider and to build their confidence to know that they can rub elbows with some of the best riders in the world and still hold their own."

Jayne appreciates the effort that Showplace Productions puts in to producing quality horse shows and noted that the excellent competition and hospitality keep them coming back year after year. "My kids have grown up showing at Pat Boyle's shows and we have been able to walk into any ring in the world and produce and do well. Pat really does an amazing job as far as upgrading his shows year after year and it keeps us coming back."

"They do a beautiful job as far as courses and keeping the footing nice," Jayne continued. "Pat continues to do a really top notch job and it is really nice. If we tell him something that we would like changed, it gets changed. He realizes that we are the customer and he really cares."

Diane Carney of Telluride Farm is another top trainer who brings her students to Showplace Production's events year after year and expressed how important it is for the promotion of all levels of competition. "It is always great to identify those that are excelling in the sport and certainly in the local area," Carney stated. "Pat Boyle has done a great job at not only promoting opportunities for different levels of rider, but also providing tremendous money that has been awarded in prizes. The leading rider series is very motivational to the kids, the owners, the parents, and it is also very good as far as drawing people to the series and making sure the people are coming, not just for one horse show, but for a couple of horse shows."

Carney's students Caitie Hope, Alex Carlins, and Virginia Bartholameau have previously been recipients of the awards in the Leading Rider Series, and this year her new student Samantha Oliva will most likely benefit as well. "The Leading Rider Series has been very popular because people start to make their plans according to what those horse shows are offering and what those opportunities are offering," Carney noted. "I think it is really good and we are really glad that Pat has done that."

Carney also greatly supports the growth of the hunter discipline and is thrilled at the addition of hunter bonuses. "We think that is fantastic; we are all for it," she stated. "The health of hunters is much better since the derbies started and participation is up, so now horse shows are back in to thinking that leading money and bonuses for the hunters is a good idea. I think that it is great for the horse shows to acknowledge the growth of the hunters and it is a great thing."

Riders in the series are ranked according to the prize money won by their top-placed horse in the Classic or Grand Prix for their division. The finale for the Showplace Leading Rider Series is at the Showplace Fall Classic Championship Horse Show on September 14-19, 2010. There, the top three riders in each section will win bonus money (first place-50%, second place-30%, and third place-20%), and the top 10 will receive awards.

Showplace Productions is one of the top horse show production and management companies in the United States, and is pleased to announce that the 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Shows will once again host qualifying classes for the $60,000 Showplace Leading Rider Series.

The Showplace Spring Spectacular will begin on Tuesday, June 8, and run through Friday, June 25, at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL. The horse show will offer more than $500,000 in prize money, in addition to hosting qualifying classes for the Showplace Leading Rider Series. The three weeks of top competition bring riders from around the country to the Chicago suburbs for great prize money, superb footing and course design, and a wonderful show experience. The Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Shows are rated "AA" and have a five-star jumper rating.

For further information on Showplace Productions and the Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Shows, please visit www.showplaceproductions.com.