Fifteen-year-old Elli Yeager of New York, NY, won the $5,000 Equitation Challenge on Saturday, May 12, at the 2018 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, running May 8-13 and May 15-20 at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY.
Elli Yeager and longtime partner Copperfield 39 jumped to scores of 92 and 91 to take a commanding lead in both rounds of the $5,000 Equitation Challenge and finish with a total score of 183.
Elli Yeager won the $5,000 Equitation Challenge riding Copperfield 39 on Saturday, May 12, during the 2018 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Photo by The Book
“It was a really fun class and a good way to top off the week,” said Yeager, who trains with Stacia Madden at Beacon Hill Show Stables in Colts Neck, NJ. “It’s an awesome feeling and I could not have asked for my horse to be any better. He knows when it’s serious and he really performed his best today. We’ve gone through everything together and we have a special relationship.”
Yeager got the ride on Copperfield 39 when she was ten years old and grew up on the mount. For two years she has been riding him under the tutelage of Madden, who received a $2,500 Trainer Bonus, sponsored by Old Salem Farm, for her part in Yeager’s victory.
“Before the second round, Stacia told me to really keep him straight, collect in the four stride, and not lose track of the last line,” said Yeager, who is aiming towards a top performance in the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final this year.
Elli Yeager and Copperfield 39 are presented as winners of the $5,000 Equitation Challenge by ringmaster Alan Keeley at the 2018 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Photo by The Book
Behind Yeager, Caroline Bald took second on scores of 84.5 and 84 for a 168.5 total riding Vondel DH Z for owner Maarten Huygens Horse Sales Inc. Tessa P. Brown and Davide, owned by Equipearl, LLC, finished third with scores of 83 and 85 for a total score of 168. Annabel Revers finished fourth after combining an 85.5 and 81 for a total score of 166.5 riding Quax for owner Beechwood Stables, LLC. Madison Goetzmann rounded out the top five on Resonate, owned by West Hill, with scores of 80 and 84 for a 164 total.
Final Results: $5,000 Equitation Challenge
1 Elli Yeager
COPPERFIELD 39, Elli Yeager
92+91=183
2 Caroline Bald
VONDEL DH Z, Maarten Huygens Horse Sales Inc.
84.5+84=168.5
3 Tessa P. Brown
DAVIDE, Equipearl, LLC
83+85=168
4 Annabel Revers
QUAX, Beechwood Stables, LLC
85.5+81=166.5
5 Madison Goetzmann
RESONATE, West Hill
80+84=164
6 Nina Columbia
CHECKLAND, Nina Columbia
86+75=161
7 Alexandra Pielet
COMMON SENSE, Co-Pielet, LLC
84+76=160
8 Alice Kass
CAPITINO, Nina Columba
76+83=159
9 Daisy Farish
CAPITAL HAMILTON, Daisy Farish
78+80=158
10 Katrina Tiktinsky
AUGSBURG, Katrina Tiktinsky
77+76=153
11 Ellie Ferrigno
RF REMARKABLE, Ellie Ferrigno
85+53=138
12 McKayla Langmeier
SKYFALL, Linda Langmeier
75+0=75.00
Chablis Crowned Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion
Kelly Tropin of New York, NY, rode Chablis, a ten-year-old Wurttemberger gelding by Camparino to the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion title during the first week of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. Tropin rode to three first-place ribbons over fences, as well as a third and fourth under saddle.
Tropin works as an economist at Graham Capital Management in Norwalk, CT, and rides under the direction of Peter Lutz and Mary Manfredi just five minutes from Old Salem Farm.
Chablis, ridden by Kelly Tropin, was named Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion on Saturday, May 12, during the 2018 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Photo by The Book
“Everything about the show is top notch and I like everything about being here,” she said. “Chablis was his usual self, which means he was perfect. He is so remarkable and I was really trying to show off his beautiful gallop and be bold. He knows what he’s supposed to do so well that he goes in the ring and behaves perfectly. Whenever I’m showing, I’m always trying to maintain a high batting average and have every round be a really good round. When you’re Grand [Champion] it speaks to that consistency.”
The Amateur-Owner Hunter division was split into two sections with Set To Music, ridden by Laura Sexton, sharing the championship, and Rocklyn, ridden by Katie Robinson, and Chicago, ridden by Callie Seaman, taking reserve.