The 165th edition of the historic Upperville Colt & Horse Show (UCHS) kicked off on Monday with the Performance Hunters taking center stage in the Main Hunter Ring. Concluding the first day of competition was 20-year-old professional rider Tori Colvin of Loxahatchee, Florida, and Cuba, who claimed blue ribbons in both over fences classes, out of 25 entries, to win the Performance 3’6” Hunter championship and the Allen Smith Perpetual Trophy, donated by Mr. Bob Bell.
Tori Colvin and Cuba. Photo by Phelps Sports
Colvin and the 11-year-old Warmblood gelding, owned by John and Stephanie Ingram, LLC, have been partnered together for just over a year and claimed the prestigious USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship together in 2017.
“This is [John and Stephanie Ingram’s] first year here so I came because of them,” said Colvin of her return to Upperville. “I had previously come every year. I’m excited because I have one jumper to do in the FEI classes and I have a couple for the derby and for the [professional hunter classes]. I haven’t really shown in the professional hunters here so that is fun. The last time I was here was two years ago, but I just did the jumpers.”
Colvin described Cuba as a bit of a grouch, but says their partnership has developed over time. She now knows the gelding and all of his quirks pretty well and appreciates their bond. Thankfully, Cuba was on his best behavior for his classes at Upperville.
“I thought he might be a little tired because he just finished with John [Ingram] at Devon in the amateurs, but he actually was a little better than he was at Devon. He was really good. A lot of the horses thrive in this ring. They all go well here. I think there’s a new scenery with the trees and it’s kind of a different venue, so they all wake up a little bit.”
Tori Colvin and Cuba. Photo by Phelps Sports
The reserve championship in the Performance 3’6” Hunter division went to Samantha Schaefer and In The Know, owned by Madeline Schaefer, after finishing second to Colvin in both over fences classes.
Opening day of the 2018 UCHS began with the Performance 3’3” Hunter division, which was split into three sections due to a large number of entries. Throughout the division’s three sections, the very first professional hunter championships of the week were awarded to Amanda Steege and Cheryl Olsten’s Lafitte De Muze, Thomas Brennan and Victoria Clarke’s Uptown and Erica Quinn and Penelope Ayers’ Lancaster.
Professional hunter divisions at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show will continue on Tuesday with the Green Hunter divisions as well as the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Stakes classes, offered at the 3’ and 3’3” levels. Jumper competition will also pick back up in the Jet Linx Aviation Jumper Ring I and will highlight the 1.40m Jumpers.