The Green Hunter divisions took center stage under the oaks during the second day of the Upperville Colt & Horse Show (UCHS), presented by St. Bride’s Farm, on Tuesday. After nearly sweeping the division, Hunt Tosh and Baroness Betsee Parker’s Bordeaux claimed the Green 3’3’’ Hunter division championship, while the Green 3’’ Hunter division went to Scott Stewart riding Parker’s Charlemagne. Tosh and Bordeaux also rode to a first place finish in the USHJA Green 3’3’’ Hunter Incentive Stake, while Holly Orlando and Waverly, owned by Waypoint Farm, LLC, nabbed the blue ribbon in the USHJA Green 3’ Hunter Incentive Stake.
Hunt Tosh and Bordeaux. Photo by Phelps Sports
Tosh and Bordeaux received scores of 88 and 87 to earn a first and second place over fences, respectively. The pair clinched the championship with a first place finish in the under saddle class.
“He is fabulous,” Tosh said of Bordeaux. “We started showing him last year and he’s shown a handful of times. I actually think he has been champion every time we’ve shown him! He was great all year last year. It was great to come here and win again! It’s a great venue to show pre-green horses. They put on such a special event here at Upperville and it’s fun to show here.”
The reserve championship honors in the division were awarded to Jimmy Torano aboard Moonlight, owned by Isalou Inc. Torano and Moonlight received a first place over fences with a score of 88 and rode to a third place finish under saddle to earn the runner-up rosette.
Hunt Tosh, Betsee Parker and Bordeaux. Photo by Phelps Sports
In the Green 3’ Hunter division, Stewart and Charlemagne earned the championship after receiving a first and second place over fences as well as a first place finish on the flat. The reserve champion tricolor was awarded to Orlando and Waverly. In the USHJA Green 3’ Hunter Incentive Stake, Stewart and Charlemagne nabbed the second place finish behind Orlando and Waverly.
The Green Hunter Incentive Program was created by the USHJA in the hopes of increasing participation at the green level. The program offers the option for athletes to compete at the 3’6’’ and 3’9’’ height. At the end of the year, the top placing horse and rider combinations will be invited to the Kentucky Horse Park to compete in 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.