Posts tagged Shawn Casady
May 9th, 2012
Spencer Smith on Track for Grand Prix Competition in 2012
Spencer Smith - WEF 2012
MAY 8, 2012 – WELLINGTON, FL – For fifteen year old equestrian, Spencer Smith, riding has always been a big part of his life. Growing up in Wellington, Florida, Smith has developed into a well rounded show jumper that juggles a busy training schedule along with a full timetable at Wellington Christian. The month of April was an eventful month for Smith, with a win at the WEF Junior Classic aboard Skara Glen’s Voltan H, as well as a double clear round at the Open Stake, taking 8th place honors from a field of over 40 riders.
Smith has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to grow up in a show jumping family where he has been able to develop his skills under the tutelage of both his parents, Ken and Emily – each notable trainers within the equestrian world. Their influence on their son started at a very early age and each lend specific inputs into the preparation that goes into every trip in the competition ring.
Smith relayed the differences between each of his parents’ approaches: “Both of my parents are very competitive by nature, my dad works a lot on developing my riding position and is very focused on maintaining a calm approach on the horse. My mom is a fantastic motivator that is great at getting me mentally prepared to enter the ring and keep me set on what I need to do to win.”
The one-two tandem approach to Smith’s riding has paid dividends over the past year. As a fourteen year old, Smith competed last year in his first Grand Prix in Lexington, Kentucky, and has high aspirations of competing in at least a couple more during the summer of 2012. Smith added, “Voltan H is an exceptional horse, and we have been building on a great rapport in the show ring this season, I really think we have a shot at competing in a couple of Grand Prix events this season, particularly when we show in Cleveland during the summer. I would also like to build up some more experience at the higher levels with another horse I’m excited about, an 11 year old Zangersheide mare named Charme Z.”
The pressure will be elevated this summer, as the young rider will compete towards qualifying for the Maclay Zone IV Regionals, a demanding series that attracts the top junior riders from the sport. Smith will begin his qualification pursuit at the end of May at the Devon Horse Show, which takes place in Pennsylvania. Smith will face off this season against some of his fellow riders, Caroline Spogli, Leylan Gleeson and Shawn Casady – all riders that train with his parents at Ashland Farms. On the friendly rivalry, Smith remarked, “we have all been riding together now for the last few years and all get along as friends, but when it comes to getting in the ring – we all want to compete at the highest level we can.”
During the spring season, Smith has added a new influence to his riding development, with the addition of trainer Andres Rodriguez. “I find that Andres and I share similar frame types, and I’ve learned a lot from him over the last few months. Sometimes it’s easier to receive instruction from an additional point of view and Andres has been a huge help in getting me prepped to compete this year.”
The team at Ashland Farms will soon embark on the spring and summer tour across the East Coast, with stops in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York. With a strong team of supporters and a pair of athletic horses, Smith is optimistic about his chances to meet and exceed some of the goals he has set for himself in 2012.
Apr 14th, 2012
Howel, Casady, Spogli and Schwartz Earn 2012 WEF Championships
Georgia Spogli
Over the course of the past few months, Ashland’s riders have competed in the WEF series, in Wellington, and we are pleased to announce our list of Season Final Champions, Reserve Champions and Finalists for 2012. Congratulations to all our riders on your outstanding achievements.
Mar 25th, 2012
Casady Earns Top Ten Finish in 5th Annual George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championships
MARCH 25, 2012 – WELLINGTON, FL – The 5th Annual George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championships were held on Friday evening in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. A feature event for the junior riders at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.
The evening’s class was held in three rounds with thirty-four riders competing in round one, the top 13 coming back for round two, and the top four returning for the third and final round. The course walk and schooling were the sole responsibility of the riders. Competitors were allowed no contact with their trainers during the class and were responsible for time management, warm up, and schooling of their own horses with the assistance of one groom.
The course was designed by Richard Jeffery, of Bournemouth, England, in conjunction with the judges. The riders were judged by two panels and also received a score in the schooling area after the first and second rounds. Judging Panel 1 included George Morris and Kirsten Coe; Panel 2 included McLain Ward and Kent Farrington.
Out of the 34 young riders that competed in the Equitation Championships, Ashland Farms’ Shawn Casady had a strong showing, finishing just outside the final four with a 6th place finish.
Mar 7th, 2012
Shawn Casady Named Show Jumping Hall of Fame Rider of the Month for February
Shawn Casady
Casady competes in the East Conference Junior division of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series aboard Zubantos. The month of February was a success for Casady and his riding partner, as they earned 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 11th place finishes during the fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth weeks at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, earning 260 points.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series honors one rider each month as the Rider of the Month. The honor goes to the one rider who earns the most points on one horse in Series competition that month.
“We would like to congratulate Shawn Casady on being our Rider of the Month for February,” said George Morris, President of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame. “Shawn has shown great ability during competitions at WEF and we look forward to seeing more successes in the future from this talented junior.”
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series saw competition at 8 events during the month of February, and will see classes at more than 100 horse shows before the Series culminates in the Year-End Championships at the Alltech National Horse Show in November.
The Series hosts separate divisions for junior and amateur-owner riders in two Conferences—the East Conference and the West Conference. Series standings are used to help determine junior and amateur-owner entries for the Alltech National Horse Show.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame conducts the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, held under Grand Prix rules and specifications. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series is designed to give amateur-owner and junior riders an opportunity to compete at higher levels and serves as a proving ground for many riders who aspire to someday represent the United States in international competition.
Any horse show offering a class that meets all the criteria set forth in the 2012 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series specifications and has prize money of at least $1,000 is eligible to be part of the Series.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame was organized to promote the sport of show jumping and to immortalize the legends of the men, women and horses who have made great contributions to the sport. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame is located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Plaques honoring those who have been honored with induction into the Hall of Fame can be seen at the Horse Park’s Rolex Stadium. Mementos and artifacts from the sport’s history are on display as part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame collection at the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Wheeler Museum at the Horse Park.
Sponsorship opportunities for the 2012 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series are currently available. For more information, please contact Jonathan Bauman at Jonathan@classic-communications.com or call 508-698-6810 extension 12.
For more information about the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, including Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, please visit the Show Jumping Hall of Fame website at www.showjumpinghalloffame.net
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: Classic Communications
Image Credit: Victoria Clermont
Feb 26th, 2012
Shawn Casady Wins $10K Griffis Group High Jr Jumper & SSG Bonus
Shawn Casady & Zubantos - Photo by Sportfot
The SSG Riding Gloves bonus money had been building in the weekly $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic, increasing by $1,000 each week that it went unclaimed. Casady, who has been wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ each week, finally laid claim to victory after defeating Lydia Ulrich and Santos Utopia in a two-horse jump-off. His winning mount was Zubantos, a horse owned by Elm Rock that he began riding earlier this season.
“I love the idea,” said Casady of the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion. “It’s especially nice for the people who have to pay their own way.”
As for what the 17-year-old from Midtown, Tennessee, plans to do with $4,000 in bonus money, Casady answered, “I’ll put it in the bank. I’m a pretty big saver.”
After a moment of hesitation, he reconsidered. “But it also looks like I could have some fun with it!”
Exerpt from Jennifer Ward – Starting Gate Communications
Oct 28th, 2011
Casady and Ashland Farms’ Worlds Fair Receive Hunter Phase High Score at WIHS
Shawn Casady & Worlds Fair (Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography)
OCTOBER 28, 2011 – WASHINGTON, DC – The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) hosted the hunter phase of the WIHS Equitation Classic on Friday morning with an early lead going to Shawn Casady of Harriman, TN.
Casady rode Ashland Farms’ Worlds Fair to a score of 87.666 over the other thirty-four competitors. Elizabeth Benson and Hayley Barnhill each finished with scores of 87. Other top finishers included Charlotte Jacobs, Lauren Tyree, Chase Boggio, Meg O’Mara, and Victoria Colvin.
“I was really proud of Worlds Fair,” said Casady. “I was happy with the way he jumped; he was slow and smooth, and walked right up the lines. He’s really good in the jumper phase, but the top three are all really close.”
The WIHS Equitation Classic will continue tomorrow with all riders returning for the jumper phase. The hunter and jumper scores will then be averaged out to determine the top ten riders who will participate in the final work-off. The riders change horses by determination of a random draw by lot and then compete over the jumper course for final scores.
1 731 Shawn Casady 87.666
Scores : 88.00, 88.00, 87.00
2 748 Elizabeth Benson 87.000
Scores : 87.00, 86.50, 87.50
3 739 Hayley Barnhill 87.000
Scores : 86.00, 85.00, 90.00
4 740 Charlotte Jacobs 86.416
Scores : 86.50, 85.50, 87.25
5 755 Lauren Tyree 85.833
Scores : 82.50, 87.00, 88.00
6 735 Chase Boggio 85.333
Scores : 83.50, 86.00, 86.50
7 749 Meg O’Mara 84.500
Scores : 84.00, 83.50, 86.00
8 213 Victoria Colvin 83.333
Scores : 82.75, 83.25, 84.00
9 763 Allison Toffolon 83.000
Scores : 85.00, 84.00, 80.00
10 781 Sarah Milliren 82.250
Scores : 83.75, 82.50, 80.50
Oct 8th, 2011
Stars Go Blue Scores A Handy Win
Stars Go Blue and Shawn Casady - Photy by Mollie Bailey
“He rides so much through feel that I don’t even think he knows how he does it,” she said. “They are an incredible combination—nobody rides him like he does. They are made for each other.”
So when Emerson realized Casady was qualified for today’s WCHR Handy Hunter Challenge at Capital Challenge, she convinced him to ride Stars Go Blue in the class.
That decision paid off when Casady topped the class on a mark of 87.66. He beat out 17 other competitors in the single-round class, which pits the best junior, amateur and professional handy rounds against one another. Hope Glynn rode Roccoco to second and Meredith “Maddy” Darst tacked up equitation partner Copyright to take third.
Michael Reinheimer built today’s track, which included plenty of opportunities for riders to show off their most efficient riding over rollbacks and broken lines. The course included a trot fence, hand gallop jump and a small obstacle at the end of the ring that riders had to walk over.
“I wasn’t sure about it,” admitted Casady, 17. “I let him step over it, then I picked up a canter and into the hand gallop.”
Casady, Midtown, Tenn., has been riding the horse on and off most of the year for owner Marigot Bay Farm LLC in the junior hunter ring, winning plenty of championships and USHJA National Hunter Classics.
“He’s just a blast,” said Casady. “He goes in the ring, and I believe he’s having fun with it. He listens to my body really well—he’s always listening to me. If we’re slipping inside or turning back he’s always one step ahead in a good way. You know like rolling back and inside turns he always tries to give me his all, over every jump.”
Emerson recruited Casady to ride the horse to help get the Selle Français by Riverman in the ring for owner Kelly Arani. According to her their success is thanks to their special relationship.
“She had so much fun watching him go and do that,” said Emerson. “He’s a horseman, and he has a complete relationship with the horse that I don’t even think he can explain. When I see him hanging around the horse show he’s out petting horses in the paddocks.”
Article by: Mollie Bailey – Chronicle of the Horse
Jun 12th, 2011
Casady and Skara Glen’s Basel win $10,000 Jr/AO Jumper Classic
Shawn Casady and Skara Glen's Basel - Photo by: Hadsall Photos
June 12, 2011 – LEXINGTON, KY – Competition at Lexington’s Country Heir I Horse Show concluded today with an exciting finish in the Jr/AO division, where riders competed in the $10,000 SJHOF Jr/AO Jumper Classic.
The win went to Shawn Casady, riding Skara Glen’s Basel competing over a course at a height of 1.37m. Rounding out the class in the second and third place spots were Samantha Senft on “Early Morning” and Sarah Sturges riding “Kick AZ”.
Casady has had a strong year thus far on the show circuit, beginning with success on the Florida Circuit in Wellington, Florida working with his coaches, Ken and Emily Smith of Ashland Farms.
Class Results:
Jan 17th, 2011
Elm Rock LLC Wins Small and Large 16-17 Junior Hunter Divisions during WEF I
Shawn Casady on Glass Castle (photo by Heather Bellock)
Casady secured the division championship in the Small 16-17 Junior Hunters with Glass Castle by earning first, second, fourth and fifth place ribbons over fences, and receiving second place ribbon in the under saddle. Casady was thrilled with his rounds aboard Glass Castle. “She is a wonderful horse and beautiful to ride, always jumps a great jump and really tries hard to win” commented Casady.
In the Large 16-17 Junior Hunter Division, Vida Blue and Casady were presented with the division’s top honors. The duo won both over fences classes on Sunday, and were second and third for their efforts in Saturday’s classes. “Vida tries to win every time she walks into the ring.” said Shawn with a smile. “I am really lucky to get to ride her.’
“I’m very thankful to Susie Humes, and to Elm Rock LLC for the opportunity to ride these great hunters, and also to Ken and Emily Smith for all of their help and encouragement everyday. I really appreciate their support,” said Casady. “I would be remiss to not thank Bill Schaub who gave me my start and made me a horseman.”
Written by: Alyson Sanderford
Jan 17th, 2011
Shawn Casady and Glass Castle Take the Tricolor in the Illustrated Properties Small Junior 16-17 Hunters
Shawn Casady and Glass Castle (Photo by Sportfot)
January 15, 2011 – WELLINGTON, FL -The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival saw a busy start to its first weekend in the 2011 season. Competitors will be awarded numerous championships throughout the season, which runs through April 3. Today, one of those championships was presented in the Illustrated Properties Small Junior 16-17 year-old Hunter division.
Shawn Casady of Midtown, TN, took the tricolor aboard Glass Castle. Elm Rock LLC owns Glass Castle, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare. “I’m very thankful to Susie Humes, Elm Rock LLC, and Ken and Emily Smith,” stated Casady.
Casady was more than happy with his results aboard Glass Castle, as this is only his second show on her. “She is a wonderful horse and beautiful to ride,” he beamed.
Casady secured the division championship in a field of 14 riders by placing first, second, fourth and fifth over fences, and placing second under saddle.
Shawn Casady and Glass Castle (Photo by Sportfot)
The points for champion and reserve were very close this week in the Illustrated Properties Small Junior 16-17 Hunters. Not far behind Glass Castle was reserve champion Caretano, owned and ridden by Hannah Goodson-Cutt. Goodson-Cutt won two classes in the division and also placed fifth and sixth over fences.
Casady stays in Wellington for the remainder of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. While here, Casady is home schooled, and said, “I am very serious about school.” Home schooling allows for more time to be devoted to riding.
Brooke Bidgood for Equestrian Sport Productions