The Green Hunter Incentive Program took place in the Stonelea Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park on May 9th. Twenty-one horse and rider combinations competed in the 3’6” and 3’9” sections of the Green Hunters for top honors and it was Scott Stewart and Fashion Farm’s Playbook that executed a flawless round at the 3’6” fence height. Second place was claimed by another veteran hunter rider, Kelley Farmer and Exceptional, owned by Todd Minikus. Havens Schatt and Diatendro captured third place in the class.
Scott Stewart and Playbook. Photo by Phelps Sports
Stewart is coming off of a successful season at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, Fla. with consistent champion titles in the High Performance Hunters and the Green Conformation Hunters. Stewart has also had great success in the Green Incentive Program, having won the championship title three times, most recently in 2017 with Playbook.
“He is really laid back and easy and just such a beautiful horse. He hasn’t shown since Week 10 of the [Winter Equestrian Festival] in Florida, so this is his first time back in the ring,” Stewart said of his mount. “He felt really good today. We’re going to show him the rest of this week and then we are going to take him to Devon. We are definitely also planning on going back to the [Green Hunter Incentive Championship].”
Scott Stewart and Playbook. Photo by Phelps Sports
The Green Hunter Incentive Program was created by the USHJA in the hopes of increasing participation at the Green level. This year, the program introduced the option for athletes to compete at the 3’6” and 3’9” height in order to attract even more entries. At the end of the year, the top placing horse and rider combinations will be invited to return to the Kentucky Horse Park to compete at the the Green Hunter Incentive Championships in August at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show, which will include four fence height options upon adding the 3’6″ and 3’9″ to the existing 3′ and 3’3″ fence heights.
Place / Horse / Rider
1. Playbook / Scott Stewart
2. Exceptional / Kelley Farmer
3. Diatendro / Havens Schatt
4. Ovo / Christopher Payne
5. Arturo / Jeff Gogul
6. Perhaps / Tim Goguen
7. Cordolensky / Scott Stewart
8. Just A Cobbler / Tim Goguen
9. Status / Scott Stewart
10. Just Ask / Jeff Gogul
11. Shameless / Kelley Farmer
12. Sports Page / Scott Stewart