After taking home a WEF week one reserve championship in the Green Hunter 3’3” division, Haylie Rolfe and Queen Celeste, owned by Pony Lane Farm, returned for week 5 determined to capture another tri-color ribbon in the division. The pair prevailed as the Green Hunter 3’3” champion on Thursday with a third in the under saddle and a first, first, second, and second over fences.
Haylie aboard Queen Celeste. Photo by SportFot Photography
“Her jump is a ten,” said Rolfe. “She loves going slow and poking her nose, and she is always helping you find a nice distance. She makes my job so easy.”
Rolfe, of Wellington, FL, added that the seven-year-old mare, by Cassini I x Sammy Joe, has moved up effortlessly from the 3’ height since her purchase from Christoph K. Schroeder in September and has made a smooth transition from the jumpers into hunter competition.
“She was born to be a hunter,” said Rolfe. “I can’t even picture her in the jumpers. I don’t know how you would make her go fast!”
Although the current goal for Queen Celeste is the Green Hunter Incentive Program at the end of the year, the young mare’s long-term plan is to be a star amateur owner hunter horse for her owners.
Photo by SportFot Photography
Reserve honors went to Tara Metzner aboard Lion, owned by Tammy Williams, with a first, first, and a second over fences.
The fifth week of WEF continues on Friday, February 9, with the $35,000 Bainbridge 1.45m Jumpers CSI 5*, $35,000 Equiline 1.45m Jumpers CSI 2*, and the Marshall & Sterling/USEF Pony Medal.