Andrea Bennett and Caliente earned double victories at the 66th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show, capturing the blue ribbons in the Children's/Adult Jumpers and Children's/Adult Jumper Speed Class. (Kendall Bierer/PMG)
The morning got underway with the Amateur-Owner Hunters, where Katie Robinson and Rock Steady captured the championship. The duo impressed the judges yesterday with two first place ribbons, and added an additional blue ribbon to their accolades this morning. Not only did they win the division championship, but they were also awarded the overall Amateur-Owner Grand Champion. Penelope Ayers and her mount Cezanne were named the reserve champion for the division.
If Jennifer Gurney had déjà vu today, it would be understandable. Last year, she and The Other Brother rode to the Amateur-Owner 3'3" Hunter Championship, and this year they repeated their victory in the Adult Amateur Hunter division. Gurney piloted The Other Brother to three blue ribbons over fences, as well as the second place award in the under saddle. She was dually awarded the division's championship tricolor.
Gurney has owned The Other Brother for nearly four years, and she described it as "love at first ride." The pair had to take a break after The Other Brother had colic surgery in March 2012. This is only his second horse show back since the surgery, and Gurney admitted that she had feared the worst.
"We had a great year last year, and after he had his surgery, I thought that maybe he would be a lawn ornament for the rest of his life. We showed him at the State Fair a couple weeks ago, and low and behold, he did great. We are going to ease him back in show to show and see what happens," Gurney explained.
Continuing the day, Gurney navigated The Other Brother to the highest scoring first and second classic rounds of the day in the $500 'Shogun' Adult Amateur Hunter Classic. Her impressive rounds garnered the scores of 84 and 85 for a cumulative score of 169 points. Jessica Singer and Point Taken, owned by the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center of Buffalo, NY, earned scores of 80 and 75 in the classic, riding to the red ribbon with an overall score of 155 points.
"One of my biggest things is that I get a little conservative on the left lead, so I definitely had a flaw, but an 85 is an 85, I couldn't be more thrilled. He just started back under tack in July, and just started jumping again in August," Gurney described. "Each round he does it gets easier and more consistent."
Gurney was presented with the Adult Amateur Grand Championship for her near sweep of the division. Jessica Litfin and Imparco, owned by Felice Drabkin of New Haven, CT, took the reserve championship honors with their consistently high ribbons.
"This is such a wonderful facility and a well-run show. There is such good competition here, and winning here at Buffalo is just so nice because you are challenged. Last year was our first year here, and I have decided that I am going to come back every year," Gurney smiled.
The $1,000 Johnson Horse Transportation Silver Stirrup Classic closed the afternoon session, and consisted of Pre-Adult and Pre-Children's Hunters. Shauna Lee of Orchard Park, NY, and Gossip Girl earned the high first round score of 84 points, and combined with the second round score of 75, they took the blue ribbon prize with a cumulative score of 159 points. Anya Schulman and Wasabi, owned by the BTRC, took the second place honors, while Emma Walters and Sir James, owned by Bonnie Ann Glica of East Aurora, NY, rode to the third place finish.
"I have had her for about two years now, and we have formed a great relationship. She just sits there and does her job, she is a real babysitter," Lee laughed. "I was really nervous out there, but she took such good care of me. I am hoping that as we continue, we can move up into the derbies."
The show was alive with excitement as the afternoon welcomed preparations for the cocktail party and Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC) demonstration. Sponsors and spectators alike gathered inside the Indoor Arena as Executive Director of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, Susan Schoellkopf addressed the crowd and gave her thanks to the amazing sponsors, volunteers and competitors who make the Buffalo International Horse Show a success each year. The show, in its entirety, benefits the therapeutic riding programs at the BTRC. Ninety-seven percent of the students can only afford the physical therapy due to scholarships from gracious sponsors as well as the money raised from the BIHS.
"My parents used to run a children's day camp, and there were always one or two kids who you could really see progress throughout the summer. This program, on a bigger scale, related a lot to what I had witnessed growing up, I saw a change in the children," Board Member and Treasurer of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center Arthur Bronson explained. "When I saw what the horses actually do with these kids, I thought it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. There is something between the kids and the horse-some kind of connection that exists between the two."
Bronson continued, "This is one of Buffalo's hidden treasures. This is one of the only urban riding centers in the nation, and something like this needs to be promoted and supported in order to survive. The Buffalo International Horse Show is such a unique fundraiser, and it is for such a wonderful cause."
The demonstration featured three children and horses from the BTRC. They walked around a small course of obstacles, demonstrating the physical therapy that is used when on a horse. The therapeutic riding program has become known for the therapy it has in both physical and emotional ways. Not only does it work with the physical strength, but also the mental, working to improve reading and math skills with verbal therapy throughout the program.
Concluding the third day of the Buffalo International Horse Show was the Children's/Adult Jumpers and the Low Children's/Adult Jumpers. Andrea Bennett went fourth in the order, posting the target time of 40.519 seconds. Aboard Caliente, she was the only rider to post a double-clear effort. Lilly Ulrich and Nureev Du Houssoit, owned by Up the Creek Farm of Rochester, NY, left all rails intact during the jump off; however, her time of 46.234 seconds cost her. She eventually earned the second place finish with two time faults. Bella Cramer and Lanzer took the third place ribbon with the fastest four-fault jump-off in a time of 42.901 seconds.
Bennett also completed the Children's/Adult Jumper Speed Class in an unsurpassed time, riding to the top of the leader board. Using Caliente's ability to complete tight turns, Bennett shaved seconds off her time at nearly every opportunity, breaking the beam in 45.500 seconds. Ulrich was awarded the second place ribbon for her time with Up Stream, owned by Up the Creek Farm, finishing the track in 48.509 seconds. Cramer and Lanzer did it again, taking home the third place award for a clean time of 52.087 seconds.
"When we first started out with her, she wasn't a jumper, she was a rescue horse from an auction. We were so lucky to be able to find her," Bennett smiled. "She is such a trusting horse, and our relationship in the ring is really based on a two-way street. She needs a little leg to open up, but once she does open up, she is perfect."
Bennett continued, "Caliente is not naturally the fastest horse out there, but she definitely is one of the most agile. She turns almost instinctively over the jumps, and she loves being out there. The truth is that her heart is as big as her jump, she is a wonderful mare, and I look forward to what the future brings."
The Low Children's/Adult Jumper Speed Class victory was awarded to Evening News with Elizabeth Emerson in the irons. She posted a time of 53.189 seconds, and one of only two clear efforts. Megan Joyce took the second place finish aboard Truman, owned by the BTRC, with a clear round in 61.971 seconds. In the Low Children's/Adult Jumpers it was Sherri Terhaar and Clousseau who walked away the winners. Luke Olsen and Dream Team nabbed the second place with a speedy double-clear effort, while Jaclyn Steele and Oh My, owned by Christine Jeppeson of New Paltz, NY, took the third.
The five-day schedule features highlights for everyone to enjoy, including $25,000 in class prize money with $13,000 worth of hunter and jumper classics for children, adults, juniors, amateur-owners, ponies and professionals. The main highlights include the $3,000 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA 3' National Hunter Derby, the $2,500 Stephen A. Comunale Children's/ Adult Jumper Classic and the $1,000 Stephen A. Comunale Low Children's/ Adult Jumper Classic. For more information regarding the 66th Annual Buffalo International Horse Show, please call (716) 877-9295 or visit www.thebtrc.org.