The first day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show welcomed hunter horses to the Stonelea Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park to kick off competition. The Green Hunter division combined competitors from the 3’6” and 3’9” heights where Katherine Newman and Dandelion rose to the the top with a victory in the Green Hunter Incentive Stake.
Photo by Phelps Sports
Newman and the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, owned by Allwyn Court and The Dandelion Group, bested the other entries with a score of 85 to claim the win just ahead of Geoffrey Hesslink and High Society with a score of 84.5 in second and Christopher Payne and Ovo with a score of 84 in third.
“She has a lot of personality,” Newman shared. “She’s super sweet and definitely a people horse. She’s not a typical chestnut mare. She’s game and she has a great attitude. She’s super fun to ride.”
With a first place ribbon in the second Green Hunter over fences, serving as the Green Hunter Incentive round, and the under saddle, as well as a third place finish in the first Green Hunter over fences, Newman leads the combined green 3’6 and 3’9 Green Hunter division ahead of Thursday’s championship crowning.
“She was second last year,” said Newman of the Green Hunter Incentive Championship. “I’m trying to go in with no expectations just because it’s hard coming after having success last year. Last year, I went in with no expectations and I’d never done the class before. I think I’m going to have a few more [horses] this year – last year I had two in it and this year I think I’ll have four total, so I’m pretty excited. I’m just trying to peak her for that week, but we’ll just see what happens. I think it’s a great program. It’s really cool to do something that big with the green horses.”
This year, the Green Hunter Incentive Program introduced the option for athletes to compete at the 3’6’’ and 3’9’’ height. The top placing horse and rider combinations will be invited to return to the Kentucky Horse Park to compete at the the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show, from August 14 – 19, which will include four fence height options upon adding the 3’6” and 3’9” to the existing 3’ and 3’3” fence heights.
Hunter competition will begin Thursday, July 25, at 8 a.m. in the Stonelea Ring with the Green Conformation Hunter division.
RESULTS
Green Hunter Incentive Stake 3’6”/3’9”
Place / Horse / Rider / Score
1. Dandelion / Katherine Newman / 85.00
2. High Society / Geoffrey Hesslink / 84.50
3. Ovo / Christopher Payne / 84.00
4. Just Ask / Jeff Gogul / 83.00
5. MTM Do Right / Didi Mackenzie / 82.00
6. Perhaps / Tim Goguen / 77.00
7. Arturo / Jeff Gogul / 75.00
8. Take Two / Keri Kampsen / 62.00