Scott Stewart took home two championship wins today aboard Catch Me, owned by Gochman Sport Horses LLC, in the Antares Sellier France High Performance Working Hunter division, and aboard Lucador, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, in the High Performance Conformation Hunter division.
14/02/2018 ; Wellington FL ; Winter Equestrian Festival - Week 6
Scott Stewart and Catch Me.
Catch Me, an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding, was champion last week in the WEF 5 Amateur Owner Hunter Over 35 with Becky Gochman, and continued to impress the judges into week six as Stewart piloted the grey to first place in the High Performance Working Hunter under saddle. The pair were first, first, and 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.”
Jennifer Hannan aboard Olympic Fire took the reserve championship win with a fourth in the under saddle and a first, second, and third over fences.
When asked about his winning rounds in the High Performance Conformation Hunter, Stewart commented that today marked a bold 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 [The Devon Horse Show] 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.”
14/02/2018 ; Wellington FL ; Winter Equestrian Festival - Week 6
Scott Stewart and Lucador.
Stewart’s notable mount took the top scores of the week aboard the 10-year-old Oldenburg with two 92s and a 90.
Stewart was crowned reserve champion with his other mount in the division, Private Life, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker. The duo were first in the under saddle and first, first, third, and seventh over fences.
Kelley Farmer and Shameless Crowned Champion in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Green Hunter 3’9”
Kelley Farmer continued her winning streak into week six of the Winter Equestrian Festival with a championship win in the Equine Tack & Nutritional Green Hunter 3’9” division aboard Shameless, owned by Aizlynn Radwanski & Autumn View. Farmer jumped the eight-year-old gelding to a first, fourth, and sixth over fences with a first place win in the under saddle.
14/02/2018 ; Wellington FL ; Winter Equestrian Festival - Week 6
Kelley Farmer and Shameless.
“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 only two weeks ago here in the International Arena and have continued to prevail in the challenging ring.
“So far, he’s been a dream,” said Farmer.
Reserve honors went to Patricia Griffith and Chicago, owned by Callie Seaman, with a second in the under saddle and a first and second over fences.
As hunter competition continued into the early evening on Friday, Caroline Ratigan, aboard Trust, and Ella Bostwick, riding Ecko, prevailed as champions in the UHealth Junior Hunter 16-17 3’3” division.
14/02/2018 ; Wellington FL ; Winter Equestrian Festival - Week 6
Caroline Ratigan, aboard Trust.
Ratigan and her mount of two years, Trust, claimed the tricolor in Section A with a second in the under saddle and two first place finishes over fences. The rider, of Berwyn, PA, is a WEF regular and continues to blaze trails in the hunter ring with the nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding for their third consecutive circuit together. Today’s win followed an impressive high score of 90 for the duo from last week.
“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.”
Ella Bostwick, a Wellington, FL, native, was named champion in Section B with an eighth in the under saddle and a first, first, and second over fences aboard Ecko, owned by Muller Sport Horses LLC.
14/02/2018 ; Wellington FL ; Winter Equestrian Festival - Week 6
Ella Bostwick, riding Ecko.
