Rock Harbor, ridden by Louise Serio, was named Grand Hunter Champion at the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. Photo by The Book LLC
Louise Serio of Kennett Square, PA, piloted Rock Harbor to the Grand Hunter Championship for the second consecutive year at the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY, on Wednesday, May 10. Highlighting jumper action on the Grand Prix Field during the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, running May 9-14 and May 16-21, 2017 Longines FEI World Cup winner McLain Ward topped the $10,000 Open Jumper 1.40m riding Balando.
Serio and Rock Harbor, a ten-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Jennifer Burger, pulled off a clean sweep of the High Performance Hunter Division to clinch the division championship as well as Grand Hunter Champion honors. The pair won two classes over fences and the under saddle on Tuesday before returning to win both the over fences class and the handy.
“It’s a hard thing to do,” said Serio of her five blue ribbons over two days. “I am just really proud of him. He always tries hard and has been a great horse for me.”
Serio started riding Rock Harbor five years ago in the pre-green hunter division and trains the mount at her own Derbydown Stables in Kennett Square, PA.
“He loves it here, and he always performs well,” said Serio. “He loves the footing in the Sand Ring. He comes here every year, and I have to say that last year he had some of his best performances ever and he went equally as well this year.
“I like the rings here because they are big and open,” continued Serio, who includes the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows on her show schedule each year. “The courses are nice, and the footing is awesome. It is a great way to get your horses outside after the winter and ready to go for the season.”
Reserve champion honors in the High Performance Hunter Division were presented to The Exchange, ridden by Holly Orlando and owned by Over The Top Stables, LLC. Orlando and The Exchange earned two second places and a third place over fences, were third in the handy, and fifth under saddle.
Hear Louise discuss Rock Harbor, clean sweeps, and being back
at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHy4-IND5PU&t=1s
