Kelley Farmer and On Q
"The stallion was great. We think he is going to be very special," she bubbled. "We're very excited about him."
The day was warm and cloud-free as the riders mounted up surrounded by the green, rolling hills of Wild Air Farm owned by Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Johnson. Striped tents dotted the landscape and spectators and riders alike enjoyed the gleaming horses and blue skies.
Caroline Weeden snagged second place in the Green Working Hunter class with a smooth performance on Lucky Times, owned by Emma Heise of Northfield, IL. The competitors benefitted from the well-maintained and excellent footing of the show and had great rounds. Freddie Vazquez rode Quintero's Silhouette, owned by Kira Telford of Chicago, to an impressive third.
In the Green Working Hunter Hardy class, Kelley Farmer and On Cue once again won blue with smooth rhythmic rounds and perfect distances. Freddie Vazquez came in second with a lovely ride on Quintero's Silhouette and Sophie Wilson, of Winnetka, IL, won third with flowing, rhythmical trips on her own Del Mar.
Kelley Farmer and Dancing Solo, owned by Kenneth Garber and Larry Glefke of Kewsick, VA, cantered away with the blue in the Green Working Hunter Under Saddle class. Then, she won second in the same class aboard On Q. Elizabeth La Piere and Spoken For, also owned by Larry Glefke, came home with the third place ribbon.
"We have a wonderful group of babies here," Farmer said.
Glefke agreed. "It really works out well to show the babies and you can get them some experience. It really helps them tremendously. Then they can be ready when they go to Florida next year."
In the High Performance Hunter class, Holly Orlando aboard Spoken For, a chestnut with golden highlights owned by Larry Glefke, landed a first. The course required patience and precision with accurate distances between the jumps and Orlando was able to deliver with aplomb.
"We bought him in Arizona three weeks ago," Glefke said. "And he was Circuit Champion in Michigan just last week."
Freddie Vasquez had a lovely go to win second on Presently, owned by Jill Vanatta of Evanston, IL, and Kelly Farmer came home with a third after her magical ride on Mythical, owned by Kenneth Garber and Larry Glefke.
Then, in the High Performance Handy class, the top three swapped places and Mythical, Spoken For and Presently earned a blue, red and yellow ribbon, respectively.
Kelley Farmer was pleased when she dismounted from Mythical after the winning ride, as was co-owner, Larry Glefke. "He's one of the best young horses I have ever had," Glefke said proudly. "He's an amazing high performance horse and promising in the Derby." The $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby will be held Saturday on the Grand Prix Field and promises to be a hotly contested class.
In the High Performance Hunter Under Saddle class, Kelley Farmer was victorious again riding Mythical, Holly Orlando cinched second on Spoken For and Freddie Vasquez trotted out with a third on Presently.
The Performance Hunter 3'6" class, Erica Quinn rode Chit Chat, owned by Centennial Farm of Palmetto, FL, to a first with smooth, rhythmic paces over the jumps.
"I'm so lucky to have gotten to ride him," Quinn said while Chit Chat mugged for a treat. "He's a fabulous horse and I've shown him probably seven times this year and we've been Champion or Reserve every time."
Kelley Farmer and Cavalier Forever, owned by Joanna Delman of Greensboro, NC, nabbed second place in the class while Megan Murray piloted Paramount owned by Rebecca Price of Glencoe, IL, to a sweet third.
In the Performance Hunter 3'6" Handy class, Caroline Weeden and The Spy and owned by Ila Lemonis of Lake Forest, IL, came in first with flawless rollbacks and smooth sailing jumps.
Weeden was pleased with their win. "I had a great time today," she said. "This is actually the horse I'm doing the Derby with. He's a super horse." Weeden went on to say that Trader's Point is one of her favorite horse shows. "We've been coming here for 25 years," she added. "We love it. It's an excellent old-time horse show and I love Mrs. Johnson's farm."
Also pinning in the class, were Kelley Farmer who was once again in the ribbons with Cavalier Forever, owned by Joanna Delman of Greensboro, NC, and a second place, while Megan Murray handily headed home with a third place ribbon on Paramount.
The Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show and Country Fair is held on the beautiful 250-acre grounds of Wild Air Farms in Zionsville, IN. The show offers top prize money with two Grand Prix events and a USHJA International Hunter Derby. Exhibitors at Traders Point enjoy fun family activities and events while participating in a competitive, high-quality show. For more information or a prize list, please visit www.traderspoint.org/exhibitors.html