It's not like Rachel Boggus has time on her hands. In addition to riding and showing three horses across all the divisions, the amateur rider who trains with Michael Dennehy also is completing the last year of her anesthesiology residency at the University of Colorado Medical Center.
"I don't have a lot of free time," Rachel admitted. "When I do, I am riding and showing. It's really hard for me to stay away and sometimes that means very long days with very little sleep, but I wouldn't have it any other way."
Boggus' hard work paid off during the Colorado Circuit Opener, July 7-11, at the Colorado Horse Park where she competed in three rings. She earned good ribbons in the Adult Amateur Jumpers with her newest mount, Weidam. She also was champion in the Low Amateur Owner Hunter section aboard her Rhythmical and in the Adult Equitation 18-35 division riding Quinaro, who is owned by Nick Gegen.
"This is by far the nicest batch of horses I've ever had in my life," Boggus said. "They all are really talented at what they do, and I couldn't be happier."
When talking about Rhythmical, Boggus noted how low-maintenance he is. In fact, she marvels at how little preparation it takes to get the horse to the show ring, noting they only jump a little bit when at home.
However, Boggus' main goal for the season is to qualify for the Capital Challenge, which shouldn't be too hard considering she currently sits second in the national rankings. Achieving that goal, however, has meant a lot of lessons without stirrups on top of learning how to ride a "replacement horse" brought in when her horse hurt his suspensory in March. Finding Quinaro was a stroke of luck.
"When my horse got hurt, my friend suggested I contact Nick. Quinaro is the best equitation horse! He is simply wonderful and I am so glad that I am able to lease him through the Capital Challenge."
Another "three-ring competitor" during the Circuit Opener was Kristen Vanderveen who trains with Keith Vanderveen, and who not only rode to second place in the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search class, but also had some young horses going in the Pre-Green Hunters. However, the biggest thrill for the 21-year-old was winning the $7,500 Open Jumper Classic aboard Bull Run's Alpha & Omega, owned by Bull Run Jumpers One, LLC.
"We imported this horse from Germany two years ago and haven't looked back," Vanderveen said.
She admits she had an advantage in the class in that she had two chances for the win. Her other mount, Bull Run's La Bamba, also owned by Bull Run Jumpers One LLC, was clear both rounds. Knowing that Bull Run's Alpha & Omega was the faster of the two, she pushed hard in the jump-off to secure a more than two-second lead over the next fastest competitor.
"It was great," Vanderveen exclaimed. "And what a fun course! The ring was used very well with hard enough lines and a terrific use of the hills. The course designer (Jack Robson) did a very good job."
John Pearce took the top two slots in the $25,000 High Prairie Grand Prix. Chianto was first and Son of a Gun, both owned by Forest View Farm, finished second. Amateur rider Guy McIlvain, with John McConnell as trainer, came in third on Rancho Corazon's Waragi, and Kristen Vanderveen finished in fourth with Bull Run's Alpha & Omega.
"We were clean in the first round but pulled a rail in the jump-off," Vanderveen said. "Still, I was pleased with our finish."
Cowgirl, owned by Debi Connor, topped the $5,000 Speed Derby with Penny Brennon in the irons. Canguro, owned by Benchmark Stables, was second with Kris Killam taking on the riding duties.
Thirty-six horse-and-rider combinations contested the $2,500 USHJA National 3' Hunter Classic and in the end, it was Summer Fling, owned by Meridian Farms, taking the tri-color with James Lala in the irons. According to Tracye Ferguson of Meridian Farms, Summer Fling has been a star ever since coming to the farm a little more than two years ago as a Pre-Green horse. Now competing in the Second-Year Hunters, Summer Fling has been champion or reserve champion in every outing this year. He also placed second in two other big hunter classics earlier in the season.
"He is like a big lap dog," Ferguson noted. "I just love him. He's a beautiful mover with a beautiful jump. He's the whole package."
Ferguson hopes to get the horse qualified to show in the Second Year Hunters through Syracuse. Then next year, he will move up to show in the Regular Hunters and also become the Junior Hunter mount for Ferguson's student, Megan Macpherson.
Horse showing continues this week at the Colorado Horse Park with the Rocky Mountain Classic. All eyes will be on John Pearce and Chianto to see if they can win the $40,000 Rocky Mountain Grand Prix and claim bonus prize money awarded to grand prix riders who win two or more of the big classes throughout the circuit. John and Chianto stand to win $25,000 if they win two of the classes and $100,000 if they win all three.
Other classes to watch include another $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Classic, the $7,500 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic, the $5,000 Speed Derby and $2,500 Hunter Classics for Junior, Amateur Owners and Pony riders. California jumping fans can look forward to Gold Coast 5, July 23-25, at Los Angeles Equestrian Center.
For more information on the Colorado Circuit Opener, including complete results, visit www.langershows.com/colorado/show_details.php?show_id=139.