The final day of the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park saw 32 athletes and their mounts vying for the top prize in the $40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. At the end of the competition, it was Kady Abrahamson and her mount, Charline 28, who finished strong with a clean and clear round to take home the blue ribbon. Additionally, Abrahamson walked away with the Envisian Leading Rider of the Week award thanks to accumulating the most points in the jumper divisions throughout the week.
Ken Krome’s 16-effort track proved tricky for the 32 horse-and-rider combinations, as only four produced a fault free round to advance to the jump-off. The time allowed for round one of competition was set to 84 seconds, however after some athletes struggled to make that time, it was adjusted to 88 seconds. The technical track not only caused time difficulties for many, athletes also struggled with the triple combination (vertical-oxer-vertical) in the final portion of the course, which resulted in many fallen rails.
Kady Abrahamson and Charlene 28. Photo by Phelps Sports
Abrahamson and Charline 28, a 13-year-old Mecklenburg mare, were the third to go in the jump-off round. Although she was not able to watch the first two competitors, Daisy Farish and Liza Finsness, go in the jump-off, she knew that she had to push her mare for a quick round, with the first two rounds going clear and only differing by a tenth of a second. Ultimately, Abrahamson was able to put in the winning round with a time of 43.228 seconds thanks to her mare’s quick step and quick jump.
“When I first got her, it took me a year to like her,” Abrahamson admitted. “She is a chestnut mare and she is absolutely crazy. She has shivers behind in both back legs, which makes it hard for her. In the barn she can’t lay down, she can’t back up. As you can see in the jump-off, with the turns she sometimes has trouble keeping her ground just because it is a neurological thing that she was born with. She is very careful, but with that she is a worried horse. She is brave so she is always going to go, but it depends on how she goes. A year ago we clicked and ever since then we have been on fire. She is the queen of the barn for good reason.”
Photo by Phelps Sports
Charline 28 and Abrahamson have been paired together for three years, and although they had a rocky start, the two now have an exceptional relationship that has led them to success. Last week, they won their first grand prix together.
“I actually just got my first grand prix win ever on her last week at the World Equestrian Center in Ohio,” she shared. “That was a 1.40m $25,000 class, so this was my first serious grand prix win. We are gearing up for the $250,000 championship in Saugerties, New York in two weeks. I go back to college next week, so we are ending on a high note.”
Daisy Farish and Great White. Photo by Phelps Sports
Coming in second place was Daisy Farish and her own Great White. Farish and her 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding were second to go in the first round of competition. While the pair left all the jumps standing, they accrued three time faults. However, after the following athletes continued to acquire time faults, the decision was made to adjust the time allowed which put Farish and Great White through to the jump-off. First to go in the jump-off, Farish set the bar high for the three remaining competitors with her swift time of 45.001 seconds.
RESULTS
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults / R2 Faults / Time
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix
1. Charline 28 / Kady Abrahamson / Abrahamson Equestrian LLC / 0 / 0 / 43.228
2. Great White / Daisy Farish / Daisy Farish / 0 / 0 / 45.001
3. Shiver / Liza Finsness / Liza Finsness 0 / 0 / 45.110
4. Con Top / Carlos Milthaler / Carlos Milthaler / 0 / 4 / 46.289
5. Jeckle / Nicolas Imschenetzky / Nicolas Imschenetzky / 1 / 88.404
6. Magnolia Mystic Rose / Juan Bolanos / RM Agronegocios Eirelli / 1 / 88.466
7. Glasgow De Muze / Jimmy Torano / Ilan Ferder / 4 / 76.850
8. Vesta De Lavardin / Daniel Geitner / November Hill / 4 / 83.339
9. Quattro / Daniel Bedoya / Daniel Bedoya / 4 / 85.057
10. Hot Shot Van De Hoendrikshoeve / Anna Christina Gansauer / Marcia Navia / 4 / 86.962