WELLINGTON, Fla.--Scott Stewart of Flemington, N.J., was awarded two championships on Feb. 15, first on Catch Me, owned by Gochman Sport Horses LLC, in the High Performance Working Hunter division, and then on Lucador, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, in the High Performance Conformation Hunter division.
Catch Me, an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding, was champion the previous week in the WEF 5 Amateur Owner Hunter Over 35 with Becky Gochman.
Stewart rode the grey to first place in the High Performance Working Hunter under saddle and to two firsts and a second over fences.
“He had two 94s and an 89,” said Stewart. “I don’t think he could go any better. I did show him one week in High Performance here, and he hasn’t done that division much. I plan on using him on Saturday night [for the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular]. He feels better than ever and he has really matured.”
STEWART said that this was a good start to Lucador’s return from some time away from the show ring.
“He hasn’t shown since the National Horse Show, where he was champion,” said Stewart. “He was champion at Devon as well. He is super, a beautiful mover, and he has won at every horse show. He is definitely one of the best horses I have ever had.”
Lucador had the top scores of the week with two 92s and a 90.
Stewart was also reserve champion with his other mount in the division, Private Life, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker.
Private Life was first in the under saddle and first, first, third, and seventh over fences.
KELLEY FARMER of Keswick, Va., continued her winning streak into WEF week six with a championship win in the Green Hunter 3’9” division on Shameless., who
was first, fourth and sixth over fences and first under saddle.
“This is my third week with him,” said Farmer. “We were a little rusty the first week here, but he was champion in both divisions last week, and he walked out here and was champion again. He has done nothing but progress and be a great horse. He is big-strided, scopey, light, and he’s easy.”
Farmer and Shameless won the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Hunt and Go in week 4 in the International Arena and have continued to win in the challenging ring.
“So far, he’s been a dream,” said Farmer.
MARGOT PERONI of Califon, N.J., rpde her Orlon to win the championship in the Amateur-Owner 36 & Over 3’3” division.
The 8-year-old gelding had two wins over fences.
Peroni brought Orlon along herself after purchasing the mount for $7,000 as a 2-year-old, saying, “We found him near where my husband grew up in Germany and broke him ourselves and thought he would be a great project to have around. He has exceeded every single one of our expectations time and time again.
“He was brave and game, so coming into the International Ring on him is really fun because I know he’s going to relax and do his job, and I can go out there and do mine,” said Peroni, who trains with Amanda Steege. “It feels pretty unbelievable to walk out of here with a tricolor this week at this show!”
In the Amateur Owner, 35 and over 3'6" division, Clementina Brown of Kennett Square, Pa., just missed the reserve championship in both week 5 and week 6.
"In week 5, Eagle won a class and got a third," said Brown. "He won with a score of 88. He got other scores of 86 and 87. He was third both weeks in the hack. I was really happy with him.
"Cupido got ribbons both weeks, but low down ribbons," said Brown, who also just missed the reserve championship in week 2 and didn't show in weeks 3 and 4. "But with Eagle, too many times a bridesmaid."
"I'll skip the next two weeks and then show again in weeks 8 and 9," said Brown.
CAROLINE RATIGAN of Berwyn, Pa., on Trust was champion in the Junior Hunter 16-17, 3’3” division, section A.
Trust was second in the under saddle and had two first place finishes over fences.
Ratigan is a WEF regular and rides the 9-year-old gelding for their third consecutive circuit together.
“He has been a superstar from the beginning,” said Ratigan. “It was very exciting to get to go in the International Arena, and I thought that the course was set nicely. It left a lot of space between the jumps to let you gallop and be nice the whole way around. He was unreal.”