Early Winter Named Grand Junior Hunter Champion at Old Salem Farm

Aubrienne Krysiewicz-Bell and Early Winter. PC: The Book LLC

Highlighting awards in the hunter rings at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, Early Winter, owned and ridden by Aubrienne Krysiewicz-Bell, was named Grand Junior Hunter Champion. Krysiewicz-Bell and Early Winter, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding, won all three classes over fences, were first in the handy, and second under saddle to earn champion honors in the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 Division, and their first Grand Junior Hunter Championship together.

Krysiewicz-Bell, 16, is a sophomore at Marymount School of New York at when she isn’t training with Andre Dignelli and Patricia Griffith at Heritage Farm in Katonah, NY. She added Early Winter to her string as an equitation mount, but competes him in hunter and jumper classes as well.

“He can do anything,” she said. “We won the handy at Junior Hunter Finals together two years ago, went to Pessoa Medal Finals last year, and I have done schooling jumper classes with him. He is the perfect horse.

“He is probably the horse that has improved my riding the most,” continued Krysiewicz-Bell. “He is so versatile, and I can get so much experience on him. He helps me learn and is the reason I moved up to the bigger equitation classes and the junior hunters.”

While earning a grand championship is a highlight for Krysiewicz-Bell, her focus now turns to qualifying for year-end equitation finals with Early Winter.

Aubrienne Krysiewicz-Bell and Early Winter. PC: The Book LLC

The reserve champion tricolor in the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 Division was presented to Lorenzo, owned by Karen Hao and ridden by Caroline Dance. Dance and Lorenzo collected third, fourth, and sixth-place ribbons over fences, were second in the handy, and won the under saddle.

The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows continue on Tuesday, May 16, with another week of hunter, jumper, and equitation competition featuring the $130,000 Empire State Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by The Kincade Group, on Sunday, May 21.

Spectators are welcome at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. General admission to Old Salem Farm is free Wednesday through Friday. On the weekend of May 20-21, admission is $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and children under 12. Tickets are available at OldSalemFarm.net.

Stay informed on the happenings at Old Salem Farm this spring with live streaming of the Grand Prix Field Friday through Sunday during the Spring Horse Shows at www.oldsalemfarm.net. Old Salem Farm and Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows are also on Facebook, as well as on Twitter and Instagram as @oldsalemfarmny. Follow for an exclusive and behind-the-scenes look at the Old Salem Farm experience.