Mollie Kowalchik and Uccello
The 16-year-old Loveland, Ohio native captured top honors in both featured equitation classes by winning the USEF Talent Search Medal and the WIHS Jumper Phase.
Aboard her 11-year-old warmblood Uccello, Kowalchik expertly guided the big gelding around the first of JP Godard's challenging courses in the USEF Talent Search Medal, sponsored by Fox Meadow Farm and the Howard Family. Attempting to "fix" mistakes she watched from contenders before her, Kowalchik was able to hold her rhythm while executing tight, neat turns around Godard's test. When the flat phase was complete, Kowalchik captured the blue, earning 30 points toward qualification efforts for the coveted East Coast Finals held each year at United States Equestrian Team headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey.
Having ridden to the top of the standings in the Talent Search, Kowalchik immediately competed in the next equitation class, the Ogilvy Equestrian-sponsored WIHS Jumper Phase. With the first major equitation win under her belt, Kowalchik did it again. Continuing where she left off minutes before, Kowalchik went early in the order and demonstrated how the course should be ridden.
After the double win, Kowalchik grinned ear-to-ear, exclaiming, "I can't believe this! This is my first major equitation win of my life, and it feels great!"
"I'm inexperienced in the bigger equitation classes. This is only the fifth pair of major classes I've entered since deciding that I want to learn and compete more in the bigger equitation ranks," she said. "I had trouble last week here and have worked incredibly hard to learn from my mistakes. I'm starting to reach my goals step-by-step and strive to one day qualify for all of the Finals--USEF Talent Search, Pessoa USEF Medal and ASPCA Maclay."
As the final week commenced for the professionals in the R.L. Polk Family Main Hunter Ring, there was much back and forth in the First Year Green Working Hunter division. The Rattlewood Farms entry, Cascina, ridden by Greg Crolick, and Black Label, Martien Van Der Hoeven riding for Augusta Pines, took turns at first- and second-placed honors in the over fences classes. Edged out for the blue in the under saddle by Spoken For with Kelley Farmer aboard, they did the same but this time for second and third places, respectively.
In the Second Year Green Working Hunter action, it was a satisfying day for Freddie Vazquez as he piloted Mark and Dana Senn's Sweet Spot to top honors in both over fences classes and the second spot in the under saddle. The perfectly matched pair have consistently been ones to beat during the past three weeks of Second Green Working Hunter competition in Traverse City, Michigan.
Vazquez credited Horse Shows by the Bay for bringing out the best in his string of horses. "Last year I came for the first time with only one horse, and this year I'm here with a 30-horse contingent!" he said. "My horses have never jumped better, both in the hunter rings and Grand Prix Arena...which, by the way, is singularly the best footing in the world! It's not often that management listens and cares to listen. I feel that as an exhibitor I have a voice, and that's all you can ask for."
Featured events for the Horse Shows by the Bay Festival hunter/jumper finale include:
* Red, White and Blue Day, a tribute to the U.S. Show Jumping Team competing at the 2012 London Olympic Games, will take place Saturday, July 28. Video and electronic messages of support will be transmitted to members of the U.S. Show Jumping Team--Rich Fellers, Reed Keesler, Beezie Madden and McLain Ward. All gate proceeds for the day will be donated to the USET Foundation by Horse Shows by the Bay and matched by Karin Flint/Flintfields Horse Park.
Additionally, Red, White and Blue Day will conclude with the $30,000 D-BRAIDER Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix and Meijer CANTER Fundraiser.
Full results can be found by visiting www.horseshowing.com. For more information on the Horse Shows by the Bay Series, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.