Wellington, FL - January 28, 2016 – The Messenger Hill Farm team continued on their roll with success during WEF Week II with a championship for Jodi Vazquez and Modigliani, owned by Jamie Stryker, in the Open Hunters 3’3, with a sweep of three first place prizes for the pair. For the second consecutive week, Elodie Watrous and Sugarbrook Game Plan were crowned champions of the Cross Rail Hunters. Meg Gehron and her Talan won the blue ribbon in the Adult Amateur Hunters 18-35.
Modigliani, a bay Dutch Warmblood gelding, is a 19-year-old veteran of the show ring. Jodi Vazquez enjoys the ride on “Mo.” “He’s such a lovely horse,” she said. He’s a really good jumper. He’s a dream. We are blessed to have him and Chloe (Jhin) does really well on him, too.”
For Gehron and Talan’s blue ribbon ride in the Adult Amateurs 18-35, Jodi Vazquez said, “It was windy, freezing cold and extremely spooky conditions. I think Talan said, ‘Oh, yeah I’ve got this, no problem.'”
Chloe Jhin and Modigliani at WEF in 2015. Photo courtesy of Messenger Hill Farm.
Another Messenger Hill Farm rider, Ellery Taylor had a top five result going double clear with her horse Carlos Santana in the Children’s Modified Jumpers out of a competitive class of 28.
Elodie Watrous and Sugarbrook Game Plan, owned by Bill Schaub, maintained their domination of the Cross Rail Hunters. Watrous and Shimmer, owned by Lanes End also had a blue ribbon and a third in the division.
Freddie Vazquez had wonderful performances out of a huge field with both his Pan Am mount Esprit De Vie in the 1.40m Jumpers and with Bachelor 4 in the 1.30m Jumpers. With Bachelor, they had two top 10 performances out of a class of nearly 60 each. With Esprit De Vie they were 14th out of 157; right up there with some of the best horse and rider combinations in the world.
The icing on the cake was the award they received for their turnout, the “Best Presented” award from Equis Boutique.
Messenger Hill Farm returns to WEF Week III with hopes of continuing and broadening their success.
Freddie Vazquez received the “Best Presented” award from Equis Boutique. Photo courtesy of Jump Media.
“I always try to be well-presented and look the part,” he said. “You have to start by showing up looking right. I didn’t know the award even existed but I always braid my horses and have them looking perfect and beautiful for the jog.”
The Messenger Hill Farm Team is known for their attention to detail and turnout. The Vazquezes credit their top-notch grooms Arturo and Arnulfo Novoa for all their efforts in maintaining the standards of Messenger Hill Farm.
About Messenger Hill Farm
Located in Mettawa, Illinois, just north of Chicago, Messenger Hill Farm is a full-service hunter/jumper facility owned by head trainers Freddie and Jodi Vazquez. Offering training, lessons, showing and sales, every detail of the facility and the care of the horses is well-thought-out. The farm features all-weather turnout, heated barn and attached indoor arena, 200’x 285′ outdoor arena, five-acre grass jump field, excellent footing, treadmill, tack room with lockers and a lounge.
For experienced riders, Messenger Hill Farm offers a show schedule at all levels – local, national and international. The Messenger Hill Farm team competes at the Winter Equestrian Festival, the Kentucky Spring and Summer Horse Shows, Colorado Horse Park, Tryon, the Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show, Lamplight, Ledges and more. For those just getting started in the sport, Messenger Hill Farm offers a lesson program with quality, well-cared-for horses to help riders achieve their goals.
Click here to learn more about Messenger Hill Farm or call 847-573-1100.
Source: Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International