Wellington, FL – March 7, 2010 – Equitation winners were named today at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Thirty-eight riders vied for the blue ribbon in both A and B sections of the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class, sponsored by Laura Hanson Virginia.

Paulena Johnson rode Paulexi LLC’s Prosecco 24 to the win in Section A of the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class this morning. The 17-year-old Virginia native thought that today’s course in Ring 6 was very inviting, and noted, “The course was really nice. It was really flowing, with a lot of lines, and not a lot of turning. It was really nice for (Prosecco 24) because it was more like a hunter course, and he has a really nice stride. The lines were a little bit forward, and that’s what he’s best at.”

Paulena Johnson on Prosecco 24

Johnson described her mount, “Pete,” as her “favorite horse that I have. I know him so well. He tries to win every time he goes in, and he never tries to be bad. I love him and I’m never selling him,” she smiled.

The jumping phase, designed by Bobby Murphy, was followed by a flat phase in which riders were asked to walk, trot, and canter both directions, while they were judged on their seat, hands, and guidance and control of the horse.

Johnson, who trains with Ken and Emily Smith at Ashland Farms, recently graduated from Tennessee High School in December of 2009, so she has been able to remain in Wellington to focus solely on riding. “It’s helped a lot. I can stay at the barn and ride as many horses as Ken and Emily need me to all day. It’s just really good for your riding when you can ride different horses all day,” Johnson explained. Johnson plans to attend Florida Atlantic University in the fall, so that she can be close to the barn and continue to ride.

Johnson also competes in the Hunter and Jumper ranks, and is looking forward to competing in the $25,000 G&C Farm Young Riders Grand Prix on Thursday, March 11, at 7 p.m. with her High Junior Jumper. “I want to thank Ken and Emily (Smith) and my mom for all of their help,” Johnson commented.

Excerpt from article by Clara Lindner for Equestrian Sport Productions.

Photo Credit: Paulena Johnson and Prosecco 24 won the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class at the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.© 2010 Randi Muster/Mustphoto, Inc., www.mustphoto.com. Official Sport Photographer of the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. This photo may only be used in relation to this press release and with full photo credit.

Wellington, FL- February 21, 2010 – The Bainbridge AHJF/WCHR Hunter Spectacular Week concluded today with Pony and Adult Amateur Hunter classics. The classics took place in the E.R. Mische Hunter Field and the Rost Arena.

The Peggy Cone Memorial Adult Amateur Hunter Classic took action in the E.R. Mische Hunter Field this afternoon. The top 30 scores from the first over fences round in the three different Adult Amateur Hunter age groups advanced to the second round of the classic.

Sandra Epstein rode Taylor Sutton’s Little Blue Box to victory this afternoon in the Peggy Cone Memorial Adult Amateur Hunter Classic. The duo had a combined score of 174 for the win over Jeanne Fogel, who rode Avery Waite’s Game Point to the second place, and Sarah Sturges aboard Melissa Ott’s Nicole, who received the third place honors.

This was only Epstein’s second weekend in the show ring aboard Little Blue Box, and the pair earned scores of 84 and a 90 to secure the win today. “I’ve only gotten a 90 one other time, so it was very exciting to get that 90,” said an elated Epstein.

Epstein is undefeated with Little Blue Box so far, and took the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over Championship last week, as well as being awarded the co-grand championship today.

“After the first round I felt I did well, but the first fence was a little quiet. My plan (in the second round) was to pick up a nice canter and hunt down to the first jump, keep it even, keep the pace, and let her do her job, which she does so well,” Epstein noted of her performance today.

Sandra Epstein on Little Blue Box

Epstein was thrilled with her mount, and was very thankful for the ride on the nine-year-old mare this weekend. “She is very straightforward. I just keep steering her straight and make sure she’s straight for her lead changes, and then she’s right there. She’s an amazing mare to ride,” Epstein explained.

The World Championship Hunter Rider week at the FTI WEF is one of the most prestigious hunter competitions in the country. “WCHR week is special because everybody tries to bring their best horses, and they all come. There are more horses, more riders, and the competition is fierce. The prizes are very good, and it’s just special that way,” Epstein acknowledged.

The Peggy Cone Memorial Adult Amateur Hunter Classic is in memory of equestrian Carol Cone’s, late sister, Peggy. Epstein said of her classic win, “It’s very special because I’m friends with Carol Cone, and (this class) is dedicated to her sister. It’s a very special class. There are a lot of people that ride in it, and a lot of people who would like to be on top, so I feel very fortunate to be there.”

Little Blue Box is trained by Ken and Emily Smith at Ashland Farm, and when Epstein rides him she is assisted by her trainer, Lyman T. Whitehead. Epstein complimented Little Blue Box, and said “I’d like to thank that horse for being so good today. She’s really an awesome ride, she’s a lot of fun.”

Excerpt from article by Clara Lindner for Equestrian Sport Productions.

Photo Credit: Sandra Epstein Captures the Peggy Cone Memorial Adult Amateur Hunter Classic Aboard Little Blue Box. © 2010 Randi Muster/Mustphoto, Inc., www.mustphoto.com, Official Sport Photographer of the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

Lauren Fisher for PhelpsSports.com
Reporting from Winter Equestrian Festival, PBIEC, Wellington, FL

Wellington, FL – February 14, 2010 – The 2010 Winter Equestrian Festival concluded its fifth week of competition this afternoon as the Large Junior Hunters 16-17 awarded championship honors in the Rost Arena and the Amateur-Owner Hunters 36 & Over completed the day in the E.R. Mische Hunter Arena. Following two days of challenging competition with many of the best horses and riders in the country, Paulena Johnson and Eastwood topped the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division, while Jane Gaston took home both the championship and reserve honors in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 36 & Over with her horses Listen and Lumiere.

The chilly Florida temperatures continued this morning as the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division got underway in the Rost Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.  Although cold, it was a beautiful, sunny morning and the 22 competitors each showed two rounds over fences and rode under saddle to complete their division. After winning both classes over fences yesterday and placing fifth over fences and second under saddle today, the classes concluded with the championship presentation for Paulena Johnson and Eastwood, owned by Paulexi LLC. Samantha Schaefer rode Fiyero, owned by Molly Gardner, to the reserve honors with third and fourth place ribbons in today’s classes over fences, and two second place ribbons yesterday. Another top competitor throughout the two days of competition was Kelsey Thatcher, who rode Gianni to the win in today’s first class over fences, and Early Applause to the win in the second class over fences.

Paulena Johnson explained that seven-year-old Eastwood is a young horse that her family has owned for two years. Johnson’s sister shows the gelding in the Children’s Hunters, and this is only his third or fourth show competing in the Juniors. “Eastwood is my sister’s Children’s Hunter, but he is really green, so we decided to move him up,” Johnson stated. “He has a really big jump, so he jumps better over 3’6”, and he is really brave.”

“He is really fun to ride; he has a great jump, great rhythm and for how young he is, he is doing so well and I am really happy with him,” Johnson continued. “He is easy; he has a really nice canter and he gives you the best feeling over the jumps.”  Eastwood showed his greenness in the first course today, stopping at a vertical coming off the top end of the ring. Johnson explained that he did not see the jump coming off of the turn and got a little scared. “He went around perfectly in the main hunter ring yesterday and I think it was spookier in there, but he came around the short turn today and he wasn’t trying to be bad, he just didn’t really know the jump was there until he got there. The second round today he jumped around fine,” she stated.

Johnson trains with Ken and Emily Smith of Ashland Farms and also competes in the equitation and junior jumpers. This will be her last year competing in the junior divisions however, and she will move up to the amateurs next year when she ages out. Until then, Johnson will continue showing Eastwood in the Junior Hunters. She plans to show him next week for the World Champion Hunter Rider Spectacular and then he will get a few weeks off. Other goals for the year are to compete at Devon and Indoors. Johnson hopes to make it to the North American Junior/Young Rider Championship over the summer and would also like to ride on the Prix de States team in Harrisburg this fall.

“I just want say to thank you to my trainers and my mom for supporting me,” Johnson concluded. After graduating from high school early, Johnson will be attending FAU in the fall so that she can continue to ride and show in Florida as an amateur next winter.

http://www.phelpssports.com

Article by Rebecca Walton for PhelpsSports.com
Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Ken and Emily Smith discuss their history, their current plans, and the equestrian industry.

You name it, they’ve won it… Ken and Emily Smith are the two top trainers in equestrian business. Their students and horses have won top awards all over the country at the leading horse shows, including Devon and at Indoors.  This power couple opened Ashland Farms in 1993 after they got married, with just a few horses, and now they have a over 70 horses competing under their tutelage. Their most recent accomplishment was coaching Jennifer Waxman at the NAYRC where she won Individual Gold aboard Venturo. They have also coached riders to Medal Final wins and USEF Pony Final wins. This week the Smiths took the time to discuss how they met, what they are doing now, and the current state of the equestrian industry.

Where were you born and raised and how did you get started riding?
Emily: I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale. My dad is a vet and everyone in my family rode, so I started on a pony.

What about Ken?
Emily: I’ll answer for him because he’s so quiet (laughs). His parents are professionals in New York in the Rochester area. His dad was a professional and he started riding for his dad when he was about 13 years old.

What were your junior careers like?
Emily: Mine was ponies and a few junior hunters. Then I quit for a while and went to college. Eventually I started riding for Ohio State and I ended up teaching a team; that’s how we met, at a horse show in Ohio.
Ken: I had some Junior Hunters and I did a little bit of equitation. Not too many jumpers.

Did you both always know you wanted to be professionals?
Emily: I was a journalism major for a while and I thought I wanted to do that, but when I started riding again, I knew I wanted to get back into it and be a professional.
Ken: I decided to be a professional when my dad’s professional rider left and went out on his own. I said I’d take over that job and ended up doing it.

You mentioned meeting at a horse show, can you talk more about that and how your relationship progressed?
Emily: We met at a horse show in Cleveland, I was up visiting from Ohio State, and we started dating after that. We worked for Howard Lewis at the Hunt Club in Cleveland together, and moved to Florida right after we got married in 1992.

How did you decide to start Ashland Farms?
Emily: Because I lived in Columbus, Ohio, and he lived in Cleveland, and the middle point was Ashland, Ohio, and that’s how we got our name. After we got married we came down to Florida with some of Ken’s father’s horses, one of my parents’ horses, and one other client’s horse and started our own business.

Did you ever imagine it would be as successful as it is?
Emily: We had hoped and planned and given ourselves a timeline that it would be; that was the dream.

What’s it like, owning a business together, and working together every day?
Emily: Because we have a big business we all help with each other’s people, but in general we each have our own people that we teach and horses that we do. Even though we’re working together all day we’re sort of together, but doing our own thing.

Your operation is very large. Can you tell me how many horses and riders do you have right now? What’s your day-to-day routine like?
Emily: We probably have about 70 horses right now. We have Ken, who shows and teaches. I don’t ride anymore, but I teach. David Nation rides and teachers. Carly Kaber is our manager and keeps everything under control and organized and Melissa Murphy rides and shows. We also have a new addition, Jorge Zamudio, who shows and rides. We have a lot of junior kids as well as adults and pony kids and they are all a great group of people.

How do you keep everything so well scheduled and make sure everyone gets to the ring on time?
Emily: Carly is very good at that. We have big barns here that have their own staff, but she organizes them as well. She puts one girl at the South Grounds, one at the Main Grounds and organizes it that way. Our barn manager for 15 years is Geraldo; he is amazing and organizes all the guys.

You’ve produced so many great riders and so many great horses, what has that been like and what have some of the highlights been?
Emily: There have been so many horses, kids, and adults that have been with us over the years. I would say a big highlight lately was winning the gold medal at Young Riders with Jennifer Waxman and Venturo. We’ve had some really great wins, Grand Champions at Devon and Indoors, Horse of the Year with Ken. We’re always looking forward to the future and always looking back on all the great ones that we’ve had and trying to duplicate that.

Jennifer Waxman was awarded the Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy this weekend at the USET Road to Kentucky Gala. How did it feel to be a part of that and know that she is joining such an elite group of riders?
Emily: It was such an honor to have George [Morris] there to present it to her, and she was completely grateful. It was such an honor to be a part of her career since she was eight years old. We were just proud, very proud.

I know you are helping organize the Six-Bar Competition for Challenge of the Americas this year, can you tell me a little it about that?
Yes, we’re looking forward to that. Our son Spencer is going to do that with his new horse, and Jennifer is coming down that week to do that event. We are deciding between a couple of the other students, which ones are going to compete, but we’re looking forward to the evening. It will be under the lights and it will be in front of a group of people, so it’s nice pressure for the riders to get used to.

Let’s talk a little bit about the industry, especially the hunter and equitation industries. What do you think is working right now?
Emily: We love the hunter derby classes; we think it’s such a new avenue for a lot of people and horses. There is something to look forward to with the Final in Kentucky, which was so beautifully done last year. I think it’s a goal for juniors, amateurs, and professionals to work towards. The equitation, with the George Morris class down here and all the exciting Finals are great steps. It’s such a good basis for the kids to do that and continue with their jumper careers.
Ken: I agree, I think the equitation divisions seem very strong right now. I’ve noticed a lot of younger kids in it this year, which is good. A lot of the Children’s Hunter divisions are big this year, the Pony Hunter divisions are
strong, so I think that’s good for the economy that the younger set is coming along. We feel very good about the business. This year especially, we feel like it’s come back a little bit from what it was last year.

What do you think are some issues our industry is facing?
Emily: Well the economy, which seems to be getting stronger as Ken just mentioned. Before, maybe a lot of kids could have hunters, jumpers, and equitation horses, but maybe they can’t have as many horses right now, which is difficult.

It’s expensive to campaign your horses and your kids, but compared to last year the economy seems so much better and people are shopping and buying horses. It seems to be a much brighter future right now.
In the summer when we travel, we base out of Kentucky more, so that it’s a little bit less expensive and we’re not traveling constantly. We have a base now and we used to be traveling every two weeks and that helps with costs.

Talk a little bit about 2010, what are you looking forward to most and what are some of your goals?
Emily: We have a few new clients that we’re excited about and getting them going. We are excited for some of the junior riders to go to Young Riders and be on the Prix de States jumper teams. We are excited about our son who has moved up to the Low Juniors with his new horse. We have some very exciting equitation kids and horses that we are looking forward to taking to Finals this year, and some new younger hunters that we have. We’re also excited about our new jumper for Jorge.

Can you talk a little bit about your son and his involvement with Ashland Farms?
Emily: Spencer was a little more involved with polo until last year. But now he’s getting very excited about the jumpers and he won a lot last year, so we’ve been looking for a new, nice horse for him to ride. He rides every day and he seems quite dedicated. I think that is exciting for both of us and both of our parents since both families are in the horse business.
Ken: For the family to all be involved in the same thing is great. Our daughter rides a little bit too, so it’s nice to have the same interest when we all go to the shows.

What is the future for Ashland Farms?
Emily: We want to continue being successful with the adult and junior riders that we have and that are up-and-coming pony riders. We are in partnership with some jumpers, and we’re excited to have those and be in the grand prix ring.

I’m sure you have very little free time, but when you do, what are some non-horse related things you like to do?
Emily: We usually have lunch together on Mondays, and hang out with our kids doing fun things at the farm. We play tennis a little bit, but we haven’t had much time lately. If we get aweekend we like to go away to the beach or do something with the kids.

http://www.phelpssports.com

Wellington, FL – February 9, 2010 – On Sunday, Paulena Johnson of Bristol, VA, rode “Anyway” to a victory in the Winter Equestrian Festival’s High Junior Classic.

The demanding course presented a number of difficulties to the field of competitors, with only a pair of riders making it around the course without jumping faults. In particular, an open water obstacle presented the biggest challenge; however, Johnson felt assured that her horse was up to the task. Johnson added, “My horse is always better as the jumps increase in size. After the course walk, I felt pretty good that Anyway could handle the height, and having an open water jump in the course definitely worked to our advantage as the horse has always been brave over the water.”

The 17 year old is coming off a successful 2009 campaign, which saw her travel with Wellington, Florida’s Ashland Farms and her coach, Emily Smith, across the country competing at a number of high profile events, including the National Horse Show in Syracuse, NY.

Johnson will continue to campaign “Anyway” this winter season in Florida, while traveling back and forth from her home in Virginia.

Gladstone, NJ – December 7, 2009 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation (USET) is pleased to announce that 18-year-old Jennifer Waxman of Chagrin Falls, OH, has been awarded the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy, recognizing a Junior/Young Rider who exemplifies the USET Foundation’s ideals of sportsmanship and horsemanship.

The award was established in 1983 by Patrick Guerrand-Hermès in memory of his son Lionel, an Olympic hopeful trained by U.S. Eventing Coach Jack Le Goff, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident at the age of 18.

Waxman had a successful year in all aspects of the hunter/jumper discipline, but her success in the jumpers was outstanding. She and her horse Venturo won the individual gold medal and team silver medal at the North American Junior Young Riders Championships (NAJYRC) in Lexington, KY. Waxman made the step up to the grand prix level too, and she and Venturo placed second in the $50,000 Country Heir Grand Prix, second in the $25,000 FEI Prix de Lexington, first in the $5,000 Open Welcome in Kentucky, and sixth in the $35,000 Merrill Lynch Grand Prix. Waxman was also competitive in the High Junior Jumpers with Shakira, who won a $10,000 classic in Lake Placid.

Jennifer Waxman on Venturo

What makes Waxman’s achievements more amazing is that it was her first time ever competing at Young Riders and in grand prix classes this year. She said that Venturo “loves the excitement, and we thrive off of stuff like that.” She added, “When the pressure’s on, he’s a great horse to be on. It was exciting to be part of the Zone 5 team at Young Riders, to help and get a silver medal. It was just as exciting as winning individually.”

Of being honored with the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy, Waxman stated, “I was really surprised to hear that I won. To be recognized and have my name on the trophy with the past winners is really an honor. Everyone that has won it previously has gone on to such big things. Also, the individuals that sit on the committee that decide the winner of this award are true icons in the equestrian world, and that’s really an honor to be recognized by them.”

Waxman wants to continue riding in grand prix classes next year and is preparing to enter college. “Riding for the United States team would be my ultimate goal,” she said.

“I’ve seen her for a long time, and I’ve taught her at different times. She is a very good rider,” said U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe George H. Morris. “She’s had big success despite the fact that she hasn’t had everything on a silver platter. She had to work for it and had to ride green horses and not sometimes the best horses. Of course, that in the long run is an advantage. She’s made it to the top despite not having the easiest road. She is a very, very sweet girl.”

Waxman gave thanks to her parents, Gary and Diane Waxman, her trainers, Ken and Emily Smith, dressage trainer Gretchen Singleton, her grooms, Gail Shepherd and Chantal Van Dyne, veterinarians Dr. Genovese, Dr. David Miller, Dr. Emily Miller, and Dr. Traphagen, and farrier Shane Allen.

“It really is a team effort,” she remarked. “I’m so involved with my horses, so I appreciate what everybody does. There are so many variables, and so much has to go right for things to go well. I’m so thankful that I have good people around. I’m honored that they chose me for this award.”

The presentation for the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy will be made during the USET Foundation’s “Road to Kentucky” Benefit Dinner Dance on Friday, February 5, 2010 at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.

Photo Credit: Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy winner Jennifer Waxman riding Venturo. Photo © Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com. This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release.

Press release by Jennifer Wood for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International.

http://www.ashlandfarmsfl.com

Red Panda NHS Small Junior Hunter Champion

SYRACUSE, NY – OCTOBER 30, 2009 – The 126th National Horse Show had a full morning of hunter competition, and they awarded special prizes and trophies to the winners. Jennifer Waxman of Chagrin Falls, OH, finished out her last show as a junior rider with plenty of success in the hunters. She rode Red Panda for John Ingram to the championship in the Small Junior 16-17 Hunters and Vida Blue for Elm Rock LLC to the top tricolor in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters, which was presented by Suzanne Marquard.
Waxman and Red Panda were awarded the “Follow Me” Challenge Trophy, donated by Miss Carrie Lane. Vida Blue and Waxman were presented with the “Canitoe Farm” Challenge Trophy, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Sokoloff.

Waxman and Red Panda have been paired for two years, and Waxman thinks they have a special relationship. That was put to the test for the indoor season when Red Panda injured his eye this summer. After three months off from showing, he returned to compete at the PA National Horse Show. Waxman felt that the time off helped him come back to the show ring even better.

“It was kind of good for him because it wasn’t a leg injury or anything, so he really felt good when we brought him back,” she said. “He didn’t start jumping until two weeks before Harrisburg. The first day here he was not quite into it, and yesterday he felt like his old self again.” This week, Red Panda finished third over fences on the first day, second in the under saddle, he won the handy hunter class, and was third in the stake.

She added, “I’m so thankful to Tom Wright, the Ingrams, and Ken and Emily Smith because there are only so many horses like that. I was pleasantly surprised here. He had as many excuses to do whatever he wanted, but he didn’t. He went right in here and clocked right around.”

Vida Blue NHS Large Junior Hunter Champion

Vida Blue is a new ride for Waxman, but she has made the most out of her time with the pretty grey mare. They were champions at the PA National Horse Show, the Washington International Horse Show, and here at the National Horse Show. Their ribbons this week included a third in the stake class and the blue ribbon in the over fences and the handy classes.

“Vida is so nice. This weekend, I was really just starting to get to know her,” she pointed out. “I’ve only been showing her, so at Harrisburg and Washington you just warm up in a small schooling area, and you don’t really know a horse that way. This week, showing over three days, she felt like she trusted me more.”

Waxman thanked Vida Blue’s new owners, the DeMartinis, as well as Vida Blue’s new trainers, Andrew Lustig and Susie Humes. This is Waxman’s last show as a junior rider, and she feels “bittersweet” about it. Waxman will miss being a junior, but she looks forward to attending college and focusing on her jumpers.

Exerpt from original article by Jennifer Wood of PMG

Video Clips From 2009 Syracuse NHS:

Jennifer Waxman on Red Panda in Small Junior Hunter Stake (16-17)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5anYcJjK7w

Jennifer Waxman on Vida Blue in Large Junior Hunter Stake (16-17)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRLMO4p2a_I

Vida Blue Awards Ceremony for Large Junior Hunter Championship
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSARqZXzlkw

WASHINGTON, D.C. – OCTOBER 25, 2009 – Today marked the conclusion of the Washington International Horse Show at Verizon Center, as the Pony Hunter divisions wrapped up their second day of competition. Meredith Darst had a banner day, claiming two of the championship tricolors, and going on to win the Grand Champion Pony Hunter trophy with Elation. She was also presented with the award for Best Child Rider on a Pony, sponsored by the Arute Family, for her excellent performance.

Later in the day, Darst continued her winning streak with Tuscany, owned by the West End Stables of Los Angeles, CA, in the Medium Pony Hunter division, sponsored by Bob Foosaner and Kris Gali. The duo took home The Shenandoah Sundowner Perpetual Trophy and the championship prize for their outstanding performance. The reserve championship honors went to Victoria Colvin and Promise Too, owned by Scott Stewart of Ocala, FL.

“Tuscany jumped well, especially yesterday,” noted 11-year-old Darst. “He’s a lot of fun.”

Darst began riding Tuscany this summer, and the pair was Grand Champion Pony Hunter at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show last week. “She absolutely loves him,” said Mindy. “He’s a wonderful pony and Harrisburg last week was a nice finish, and I’m very proud of what Meredith had accomplished here.”

This is the fourth year that Darst has earned a championship tricolor at the Washington International Horse Show. “I love Washington, it’s my favorite horse show,” she commented. “Waking up early is hard but I like the show. Yesterday we got to the spy museum and that was fun.”

Exerpt from original article by Rebecca Walton of PMG

Washington, D.C. – OCTOBER 21, 2009 – The 2009 Washington International Horse Show continued today with the best horses and riders in the country competing in jumper championships. There were three jumper classes in total, and the first class victory went to Spencer Smith and Markies in the $10,000 Children’s Jumper Championship.

Today was just the beginning of a week full of exciting jumper competition. The courses are designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. In the $10,000 Children’s Jumper Championship, 13 horse and rider combinations were clear from the first round to advance to the jump-off. The early lead was held by Lauren Tyree on Eurocommerce Rome, who was clear in the jump-off in 28.123 seconds. The lead changed hands when Rachel Brodsky and Elliot 92 lowered the winning time to 27.671 seconds.

But it was eventually Spencer Smith and Markies, who went second to last in the jump-off, that would find the winning ride in 25.935 seconds. For their win, they were awarded the H. Fenwick kollock Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Friends of Fen.

Smith and Markies, a 24-year-old veteran show jumper, were quick in the jump-off and left out strides where possible. Twelve-year-old Smith of Wellington, FL, trains with his parents, Emily and Ken Smith. He has been riding Markies for two years and said that the seasoned horse has taught him everything he knows about the jumpers.

“He is different. He switches his leads a lot and swaps a lot, but he is really good. At first I didn’t like him, but now I do a lot,” Smith said of Markies. “He has taught me speed, and he taught me how to ride really.”

“I love going fast and I like the bigger jumps,” he continued. “I think I made up time at (fence) nine, that turn back to the oxer.”

This was Smith’s first time competing at the WIHS and he said of his win, “This is probably one of the best that we have done together.”

Spencer Smith on Markies

For more information and full results, please visit www.wihs.org.
Jennifer Wood for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

HARRISBURG, PA – OCTOBER 13, 2009 – As the 2009 show season drew to a close, 237 of the Nation’s top equitation riders gathered in Harrisburg, for the Pennsylvania National Horse Show where the riders competed in the Pessoa / USEF Hunt Seat Medal Final. The competition took place over two rounds on a challenging set of courses by designer Steve Stephens.

Ashland Farms had worked throughout the season to prepare young riders Paulena Johnson and Jennifer Waxman for the challenge of competing for the Nation’s top equitation prize and the pair of riders came through, posting outstanding performances.

Johnson and Waxman both qualified for the second round of competition and earned a pair of top ten finishes. Johnson rode her horse “Prosecco 24” to a ninth place finish, while Waxman, aboard “Falcon” finished just out of the top four in fifth position.

Waxman rounded out the Pennsylvania National Horse Show with a championship and high points finish in the 16-17 year old large junior division, riding “Vida Blue”.

Ashland Farms will make the journey north to Syracuse for the final leg of the 2009 show season, before returning back to Wellington, Florida to begin training for the 2010 WEF circuit.