Professional Hunters Get Underway at 2018 National Horse Show

The country’s top hunter horses and riders arrived at the Kentucky Horse Park for the highly anticipated 2018 National Horse Show and kicked off the professional hunter divisions in the Alltech Arena on Tuesday. Green Hunter competition saw Victoria Colvin and Holly Orlando take home blue ribbons in the 3’9” and 3’6” divisions, respectively, ahead of Wednesday’s championships.

Liza Boyd and Tradition, owned by Maggie Hill, earned the win in the first over fences round of the Oare & Adikes-Hill Green 3’9” Hunter division, with Colvin finishing close behind in second place with Private Practice, owned by Brad Wolf.

Returning for the handy round, Colvin claimed the win with the 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding, who she won the 2018 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship with in August at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Victoria Colvin and Private Practice earned a first and second place in the Green 3’9″ Hunters. Photo by Phelps Sports

“He actually feels really good,” Colvin said of her mount. “He was a little spooky and a little fresh, but I think that helped him out today. He went around perfectly.” Boyd and Colvin are currently tied heading into Wednesday’s final phases of the division after Boyd also took home second place in the handy round.

Prior to the Oare & Adikes-Hill Green 3’9” Hunter division, Amanda Steege and Lafitte De Muze, owned by Cheryl Olsten, rode to the top of the leaderboard in the initial over fences round of the Goshen Hill Green 3’6” Hunter division, presented by Ms. Caroline Moran, while the handy round went to Holly Orlando and the 7-year-old Hanoverian mare Whisper, owned by Privet Farm, LLC. Back-to-back second place finishes went to Chris Payne and Still Water Farm LLC’s Fibonacci.

Holly Orlando and Whisper. Photo by Phelps Sports

“Whisper was amazing,” shared an elated Orlando. “In the first class, she held her breath a little bit. She has gotten better [in the handy] at every horse show we’ve gone to. I can start making the turns and really take a shot at it. We are so proud of her.”

The Suzanne Thoben Marquard Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunter division also got underway on Tuesday with Dudley MacFarlane and Roland Park, owned by Mount Fair Equine, LLC, claiming the win and the “Automation-Model Cadet” Memorial Perpetual Trophy for her performance in the first over fences round.

Becky Gochman and Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Catch Me, an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding, impressed the judges and scored the win in the handy round as well as the under saddle class, while Clementina Brown and her own Eagle took home second place in both over fences classes.

Becky Gochman and Catch Me. Photo by Phelps Sports

“The National Horse Show always has a special place in everybody’s heart,” commented Gochman. “It is one of the original, big-time indoor shows and having it in Kentucky is fitting because Kentucky is such a horse-loving community. I think that it’s really been great. It’s a great show to come to, the hospitality is wonderful and the town is the coolest. I love it.”

The first hunter champions of the 2018 National Horse Show will be crowned Wednesday in addition to the coveted Grand Champion Professional Hunter and the Leading Hunter Rider Award titles. Jumper competition will also commence Wednesday with the $35,000 Free x Rein International Open Jumpers Welcome Speed CSI4* for the Cavcote Welcome Trophy at 6:30 p.m.

Place / Rider / Horse / Owner

Goshen Hill Green 3’6” Hunter, presented by Ms. Caroline Moran (class 52):
1. Amanda Steege / Lafitte De Muze / Cheryl Olsten
2. Chris Payne / Fibonacci / Still Water Farm LLC
3. Jeff Gogul / Just Ask / Roberts Stables, LLC

Goshen Hill Green 3’6” Hunter, presented by Ms. Caroline Moran – handy round (class 53):
1. Holly Orlando / Whisper / Privet Farm, LLC
2. Chris Payne / Fibonacci / Still Water Farm LLC
3. Scott Stewart / Sports Page / Krista & Alexa Weisman

Oare & Adikes-Hill Green 3’9” Hunter (class 62):
1. Liza Boyd / Tradition / Maggie Hill
2. Victoria Colvin / Private Practice / Brad Wolf
3. Scott Stewart / Luster / Dr. Betsee Parker

Oare & Adikes-Hill Green 3’9” Hunter – handy round (class 63):
1. Victoria Colvin / Private Practice / Brad Wolf
2. Liza Boyd / Tradition / Maggie Hill
3. Geoffrey Hesslink / Baranus / Lindsay Maxwell

Suzanne Thoben Marquard Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunter (class 92):
1. Dudley MacFarlane / Roland Park / Mount Fair Equine, LLC
2. Clementina Brown / Eagle / Clementina Brown
3. Katie Robinson / Rocklyn / Robinson Ridge, LLC

Suzanne Thoben Marquard Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunter – handy round (class 93):
1. Becky Gochman / Catch Me / Gochman Sport Horse LLC
2. Clementina Brown / Eagle / Clementina Brown
3. Lynn Seithel / Walk The Moon / Lynn Seithel

Suzanne Thoben Marquard Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunter – under saddle (class 91)
1. Becky Gochman / Catch Me / Gochman Sport Horse LLC
2. Ellen Toon / Mirror Image / Ellen Toon
3. Katie Robinson / Rocklyn / Robinson Ridge, LLC