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Archive: Hunterdon Equitation Cup Classic 2006-2012
2012 - Genevieve Zock
July 26, 2012 - 17 year-old Genevieve Zock of Scarsdale, NY is enjoying her final junior year of competition
and she can now add the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Equitation Cup Classic Champion to her list of accomplishments.
Zock bested 63 of the sport's top junior equitation riders to clinch the victory.
Held during the East Coast Junior Hunter Championships, the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup is a rare equitation
event that embodies equitation's fastidiousness with the handy skills of the hunters. The Hunterdon Cup is open to active
USHJA junior members who have won a USEF Medal, ASPCA Maclay, USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, or WIHS Classic event between
July 2 through July 1 of the qualifying year. The competition consists of three rounds over fences; the Hunter phase, the Handy ride, and the Work Off round in
which returning riders change horses and repeat all or part of previous courses. Course designer Bobby Murphy of Lexington,
KY was tasked with creating challenging 3'6" layouts which included two fences with no ground lines and tested each competitor's
horsemanship skills. At the conclusion of the second round judges Scott Williamson of Wellington, FL and Bob Braswell of Ocala,
FL had narrowed the field to four riders for the Work Off; Genevieve Zock, Hasbrouck Donovan, Lillie Keenan, and Meredith Darst.
Genevieve last competed in the Hunterdon Cup in 2008, but decided to make the most of her last junior year by making
the trip to Kentucky for this event. Joining her was beloved mount Confession owned by Double H Farm, whom she's been
riding for the past year and half. "He hadn't done any equitation when we got him, so we sort of did it together and he
learned so fast. I really trust him. It was so cool being in this stadium [the Johnson Arena known as the Rolex Stadium
and being able to gallop around in that big ring! He [Confession] has a huge stride, so it's nice to be able to get him
to open up because he's so beautiful and can really go. The first round I was relaxed, and he is so scopey and adjustable
that I felt I would be able to do any stride or any distance—he is amazing." Genevieve shared. However, she did confess to
getting a small case of the jitters by the Handy round, "I was a little more nervous- I don't really get nervous so it was
weird trying to check myself."
Heading into the Work Off round, Genevieve was .50 points behind the current class
leader Lillie Keenan of New York, NY who held a 178.50 score over Genevieve's two round combined total of 178. The final
round found the top four riders facing more than a technical layout; they were required to switch mounts. "I was actually
doing some breathing exercises, but once I started going I was good." Genevieve laughed. She partnered with Monterrey, the
mount of Lillie Keenan, and it didn't take but a moment for the pair to fall in sync. "I just tried to be as neat as possible,
I tried to adjust more and on the last jump I tried to open up a little. I loved his cantering! I just tried to do the best I
could." Genevieve said. That positive attitude and effort landed her a 90 score and clinch the championship.
Presenting awards for the 2012 Hunterdon Cup winners were Cathy Sacher, Owner and President of Essex Classics, Shelby French,
CEO of USHJA, Sarah Milliren, 2011 Hunterdon Cup winner and Nancy Jones, Zone 7 Committee representative.
Title sponsor, Essex Classics, provided each of the 64 exhibitors with a gift certificate for a riding shirt.
As Champion, Genevieve was awarded a bevy of goodies that includes a custom cooler, a Charles Owen helmet, a Grand Prix
riding jacket, one pair of Pikeur Breeches and Konigs tall boots provided by the official Awards Sponsors Grand Prix,
Pikeur and Konigs, plus a keeper trophy to celebrate the perpetual trophy donated by Diane Carney and Lynn Jayne.
Reserve Champion Hasbrouck Donovan trots away with an array of gifts that included a Charles Owen helmet, SG-Stretch
Leather Gaite half chaps and Grand Prix Aquasport Zip paddock boots provided by Grand Prix/Pikeur/Konigs.
Genevieve's name will also be added to the USHJA Hunterdon Cup Equitation Class perpetual trophy. While she isn't
eligible to compete again, Genevieve will be invited to return in 2013 to present awards to the new winner.
Official Top Ten Results for the 2012 USHJA-Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup:
Champion - Genevieve Zock -Trainer Val Renihan with overall score of 268
Reserve Champion - Hasbrouck Donovan - Trainer Donald Stewart with overall score of 262
3rd – Lillie Keenan - Trainer Andre Dignelli with overall score of 261.50
4th – Meredith Darst - Trainer Mindy Darst with overall score of 254.75
5th –Victoria Colvin - Trainer Peggy Gehman with overall score of 171
6th –Kelcie Brophy - Trainer Allison Sweetnam with overall score of 170
7th – Barbara Ann Merryman - Trainer Andre Dignelli with overall score of 165.25
8th –Abigail McArdle - Trainer Frank Madden with overall score of 164.50
9th – Kalvin Dobbs - Trainer Abigail Blankenship with overall score of 163
10th – Lizzie Vanderwald - Trainer Aaron Vale with overall score of 161
Also concluding Wednesday were the East Coast Junior Hunter Championships, with Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL
clinching the overall Champion title aboard Inclusive. Overall Reserve Champion honors went to Vivian Yowan of Lexington,
KY and Whatever.
Additional East Coast Junior Champions include:
Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under - Vivian Yowan riding Whatever
Small Junior Hunter 16-16 - Shawn Casady riding Glass Castle
Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under - Victoria Colvin riding Inclusive
Large Junior Hunter 16-17 - Meg O'Mara riding Walk the Line
The West Coast Junior Hunter Championships concluded Tuesday, July 24, at the Del Mar Horse Park in Del Mar,
CA with Olivia Esse of Calabasas, CA taking the overall Champion and Reserve Champion spots with Small Affair
and Illusion, respectively.
Other West Coast Junior Champions include:
Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under - Kelli Cruciotti riding Targo
Small Junior Hunter 16-17 - Olivia Esses riding Illusion
Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under - Kelli Cruciotti riding Bayside
Large Junior Hunter 16-17 - Olivia Esse riding Small Affair.
USHJA congratulates all the Junior Hunter Champions and competitors on a great showing!
2011 - Sarah Milliren
August 3, 2011 - In her first USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup appearance, 16 year-old Sarah Milliren of Sapulpa, Okla., bested 51 of the nation's top junior equitation riders to claim the victory. Her first reaction: "I was surprised!"
Now in its sixth year, the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup is a unique equitation event that encompasses both the meticulousness of equitation and the handy skills of the hunters. Held at the East Coast Junior Hunter Finals, the event is open to active USHJA junior members who have won a USEF Medal, ASPCA Maclay, USEF Show Jumping Talent Search or WIHS Classic during the qualifying period. The competition consists of three rounds over fences: the hunter phase, the handy ride, and the work-off round, in which returning riders change horses and repeat all or part of previous courses. Designer Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Fl., had the task of creating distinctive 3'6" layouts that tested the competitor's horsemanship skills. By the end of the second round, judges Russell Frey and Hap Hansen had chosen six riders for the work-off round: Sarah Sarah, Samantha Schaefer, Lillie Keenan, Victoria Colvin, Meg O'Mara and Allison Toffolon.
Coming into the work-off round, Sarah had been nipping at the heels of class leader Schaefer, of Westminster, Md., who held a 180 score over Sarah's combined total of 175. "It was really fun. I've never done anything like that before, and I got paired with a really awesome horse," Sarah commented. She partnered with VIP Z, the mount of Colvin, while her own horse, War Eagle, owned by trainer Donald Stewart, was paired with Colvin.
Sarah's show schedule has been mainly in her home area until a connection was made at this Spring's Devon event, where she met trainer Donald Stewart of Ocala, Fl. After Pennsylvania Sarah never looked back and has spent the summer competing with Don Stewart Stables throughout the eastern US. "Joey [Brumbaugh - Sarah's trainer in Okla.] sent her with us for the summer to come back East and ride some of these Equitation horses. Sarah's quite a talent and easy to work with and has a wonderful attitude." Stewart said. His high praise of the young rider was rewarded with a nearly flawless Work Off ride, earning a score of 89 and an overall total of 264 to secure the win.
Title sponsor, Essex Classics, provided each of the 51 exhibitors with a gift certificate for a custom riding shirt of their choice. Awards sponsor Grand Prix presented the top two finishers with hunt coats. Sarah won a bevy of goodies including a pair of Pikeur riding breeches, embroidered saddle pad, custom cooler, the Grand Champion ribbon and special embossed Medal. Sarah's name will also be added to the USHJA Hunterdon Cup Equitation Class perpetual trophy, and a special keeper trophy was presented to her as well. While she isn't eligible to compete again, Sarah is invited to return in 2012 to present awards to the new winner. "I've never won anything like this before, so this is awesome!" Sarah concluded.
Champion- Sarah Milliren -Trainer Donald Stewart with overall score of 264
Reserve Champion- Lillie Keenan - Trainer Andre Dignelli with overall score of 261
3rd - Victoria Colvin - Trainer Scott Stewart with overall score of 260.5
4th - Meg O'Mara - Trainer Donald Stewart with overall score of 258
5th -Allison Toffolon - Trainer Andre Dignelli with overall score of 255
6th –Samantha Schaefer - Trainer Andre Dignelli with overall score of 254
7th - Schaefer Raposa - Trainer Andre Dignelli with overall score of 168
8th –Emma Kennedy - Trainers Donald Stewart and Bibby Hill with overall score of 165
9th - Brittany Hurst - Trainer Emil Spadone with overall score of 162.25
10th - Julia Fowler - Trainer Andre Dignelli with overall score of 156
2010 - Catherine Tyree
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Shawn McMillen Photography |
August 4, 2010 - Lexington, KY- Catherine Tyree bested the top junior talent in the nation by winning the 2010 Essex Classics/USHJA
Hunterdon Cup Equitation Class, held for the first time at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.
Entering the third round in second place with a score of 173.5, Catherine of Chicago, IL., secured her victory in
the prestigious equitation class, which boasted a record total of 75 entries, after switching mounts with reserve
champion Hayley Barnhill, who was leading the competition with a 176.2 entering the last round.
The final scores between Catherine and Barnhill were 263.5 and 263.25, respectively.
"Going into the first round, I just wanted to start off smooth and keep moving. It was a really open course,"
said Catherine, who has been riding the 9-year-old Westphalian Triple Lutz since November 2009. "In the second round,
I just thought of it as another class and did what I did in the first round and it worked out well."
Catherine admitted to being nervous going into the third round, "I didn't really know how this horse (Podest) went,
but I had seen him show a lot with Hayley so I went in and trusted my eye. He is a little slow and has a huge
stride, so I kept him in front of my leg. He jumps great and turns wells."
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The 16-year-old Catherine has been with trainer Katie Kappler of Barington, IL, for about eight years. "She did
great and I was really happy with her first round," Kappler said. "Then she went in and really went for it
in the second round and did all of the hard options. (In the third round) I was very impressed with how she
got on a horse she has never been on before and have the test of her life. It was beautiful."
The top 15 riders were called back to compete in the second round handy course. Course designer Bobby
Murphy set a challenging course that tested the riders' horsemanship skills. The course consisted of 10
jumps in the first and second round, with eight jumps in the third and final round.
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Shawn McMillen Photography
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At the end of the second round the judges Scott Fitton and Jimmy Torano called back the top six competitors
—Catherine Tyree, Hayley Barnhill, Katherine Schmidt, Lillie Keenan, Chase Boggio, and Shawn Cassidy for the third
and final round work off. Each of the riders switched mounts for the final round and were given two minutes to
prepare in the schooling ring. Then all six riders were called back into the ring where they had their final work off.
The class began in 2005 and was developed as a unique equitation class that combines the precision of
equitation and the handiness of hunters.
Title Sponsor, Essex Classics, provided each of the 75 riders their choice of a complimentary riding
shirt. Awards sponsor Grand Prix provided the top two finishers hunt coats. The champion also received
Pikeur riding breeches and a GPA Helmet as well as a saddle pad, trophy, cooler, and a ribbon and medal.
Champion - Catherine Tyree on Triple Lutz, owner Catherine Tyree
Reserve Champion - Hayley Barnhill on Podest, owner Emily Gardner
3rd - Chase Boggio on Massimo, owner Massimo
4th - Shawn Cassidy on Worlds Fair, owner Ashland Farm
5th - Katherine Schmidt on Cheyenne, owner Heritage Farm
6th - Lillie Keenan on Sir Neel, owner Madeline Turner
7th - Samantha Schafer on Pioneer, owner Heritage Farm
8th - Catlin Ziegler on Charleston Z, owner Artisan Farms & Catlin Ziegler
9th - Catherine Cowie on Icon, owner Addison Phillips
10th - Samantha Ramsey on Siroco, owner Farniente Equine LLC
2009 - Taylor Ann Adams
Taylor Ann Adams bested the top junior talent in the nation by winning the 2009 Essex Classics/USHJA Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic in Saugerties, New York. Taylor of Memphis, Tennessee secured her victory in the third and final round of the prestigious equitation class after switching mounts with reserve champion Quincy Hayes.
"Quincy helped me out in the schooling area before the final round," Taylor said.
"Her horse was a lot of horse for me to ride and completely different than what I'm used to,
but he did a great job."
Taylor is trained by Don Stewart of Ocala, Florida and won the WIHS Medal class the
day before. She trailed Hayes throughout the three-part class, finishing half a point behind the
17-year-old junior in the first round. "The first course was a lot of fun. I got a little lost,
but my horse helped me out," Taylor said of her equitation mount Debonaire. The Dutch warmblood
gelding is owned by Olivia Chowdry and has just recently been paired with Taylor.
The top 10 riders were then called back to compete in the second round handy course.
Course designer Jerry Dougherty set a challenging track that tested the riders' horsemanship skills.
Taylor rode the course well, showing off her horse's handiness. "He's always there when it counts.
There's not a better one out there," Taylor says of Debonaire. The pair finished the handy round
in second place behind Hayes who led the class with a total score of 172. Hayes, trained by
Andre Dignelli, rode Heritage Farm's Drumline, an 8-year-old Swedish warmblood gelding.
At the end of the second round, judges Karen Healey and Jimmy Toon made the decision to bring back Hayes, Taylor, Christina Lin and Katie Dinan for the third and final round work off. Each of the riders switched mounts for the final round and were given two minutes to prepare in the schooling ring. Then all four of the riders were called back into the grand prix ring were they had their final work off. The course consisted of eight jumps and included a trot fence and called for a counter canter to fence eight. Taylor' performance in the third round pushed her past Hayes and earned her overall champion honors. Each of the trainers of the top four riders received a share of a $10,000 check donated by Heritage Farm, Redfield Farm, SBS Farms, Don Stewart Stables and HITS.
record 68 entries rode in the fifth annual Essex Classics/USHJA Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic developed by the USHJA Junior Hunter Task Force. The class began in 2005 and was developed as a unique equitation class that combines the precision of equitation and the handiness of hunters.
Title Sponsor, Essex Classics, provided each of the 68 riders their choice of a complimentary riding shirt, and Awards Sponsor, Frantisi Incorporated, provided Grand Prix Joules and GPA product to the top 10 places.
Champion – Taylor Ann Adams on Debonaire, owned by Olivia Chowdry
Reserve Champion – Quincy Hayes on Drumline, owned by Heritage Farm Inc
3rd –Christina Lin on Icon, owned by Addison Phillips
4th – Katie Dinan on Borealus, owned by Katie Dinan LLC
5th – Danielle Cooper on Spencer, owned by December Dreams, Inc.
6th – Tina Di Landri on Cadeau, owned by Heritage Farm Inc
7th – Emma Johnson on Calvin 46, owned by Chase Meadows Farm
8th – Lauren Sogard on Concerto, owned by Linda Sogard
9th – Schaefer Raposa on Y2K, owned by Hap Hansen
10th – Leylan Gleeson on The Golden Compass, owned by Stepping Stone Farm.
Title Sponsor: Essex Classics
Trainers Award: $10,000 donated by HITS, Don Stewart Stables, SBS Farms, Redfield Farm and Heritage Farm
Award Sponsor: Frantisi Incorporated
2008 - Katherine Newman
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| (from left to right) Trainers
Kathy Doyle-Newman and Jennifer Alfano join Katherine Newman
on Double Diamond in accepting awards from USHJA staff members,
Whitney Allen and Kristyn Kay. Photo by Lili Weik
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The weather was near perfect on August 5, 2008 for the fourth annual
USHJA Hunterdon Cup Equitation Class. A record 45 competitors waited in Saugerties, N,
for this very special class to begin. Title sponsor Essex Classics provided each rider a
choice of a complimentary riding shirt. Essex Classics President Cathy Sacher was excited
to be able to reward these special riders.
During the first round, all 45 riders attempted to wow the judges, but course
designer Jerry Dougherty made sure that they'd have their work cut out for them.
"I tested them stronger in the first round-a lot of bending lines. I love
bending lines with oxers. It allows those that are really slick to show how
slick they are!" he says. Only 10 riders could come back for the Round 2 handy
course. After the top 10 showed what they were made of, the judges had to decide
which riders to bring back for Round 3. The rules allow for a minimum of four
riders to return. Judges Geoff Teall and Ralph Caristo share some insight on
their decision to call back the top six. "We thought there were six that could
be in contention," they recall. "The fifth and sixth riders each had a very nice
round, and there was one in the top four that made an error in the first round.
Instead of laboring over it, we decided to bring back six. Each one of them had
a chance to win the class."
The third round required the riders to switch horses. Class winner Katherine
Katherine, 17, of Upperville, Virginia, talks about that experience: "I was nervous
before I got on, and once I jumped in the schooling area, I felt pretty
comfortable," she says. "It was actually really fun." Jennifer Alfano,
Katherine's equitation trainer, simply said, "Ride it to win it." And win it
Katherine did, taking the tri-color with a score of 264, and beating Caitlin
Hope by 10 points.
Champion - Katherine Newman on Double Diamond, owned by SBS Farms
Reserve Champion - Caitlin Hope on Carmackon, owned by Kathleen Hope
3rd - Samantha Schaeffer on Capitalio, owned by Katherine Press
4th - Victoria Birdsall on Cheyenne, owned by Heritage Farm
5th - Morgan Hale on Cavalier Forever, owned by Morgan Hale
6th - Paige Dekko on Sag Harbor's Lucky Star, owned by Paige Dekko
7th - Katherine Stewart on Diamond Rock, owned by Cassie Herman
8th - Laura King Kaplan on Stallone VDL, owned by Heritage Farm
9th - Katie Dinan on Borealus, owned by Katie Dinan, LLC
10th - Julie Weiss on Schubert, owned by Redfield Farm, LLC.
Title Sponsor: Essex Classics
Trainers Award: $10,000 donated by HITS and Heritage Farm
Award Sponsor: English Riding Supply
2007 - Maggie McAlary
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Champion - Maggie McAlary, Trainer: Andre Dignelli
Reserve - Victoria Birdsall
3rd - Emma Lipman
4th - Katherine Stewart
5th - Katherine Newman
6th - Laura King-Kaplan
7th - Kit Ritter
8th - Kate Salzman
9th - Jessie Kimmelman
10th - Molly Cokacz
Maggie McAlary and her mount,
Cheyenne, receive their due from, left to right, last year's
winner, Addison Phillips; Katha Harrison; USHJA staff member
Whitney Allen; and Maggie's trainer Andre Dignelli.
Photo by Lili Weik
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Maggie and Cheyene show 'em
how it's done en route to the Hunterdon Cup glory.
Photo by Lili Weik
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2006 - Addison Phillips
Champion - Addison Phillips of New York, NY, Trainer: Andre Dignelli
Reserve Champion - Kacey McCann of Palmyra, PA, Trainer: Susan Schoellkopf
3rd - Maggie Mcalary of Amherst, NH, Trainer: Andre Dignelli
4th - Kitt Ritter of Charleston, SC, Trainer: Andre Dignelli
5th - Catherine Pugliese of Darien, CT, Trainer: Valerie Renihan
6th - Katherine Stewart of Farifiled, CT , Trainer: Valerie Renihan
7th - Callie Seamann of Greenwich, CT, Trainer: Valerie Renihan
8th - Megan Massaro of Summerfield, FL, Trainer: Don Stewart, Jr.
9th - Tatiana Dzavik of Toronto, ON Canada, Trainer: Christina S. Schlusemeyer
10th - Isabella Luhrs of St. Augustine, FL, Trainer: Christina S. Schlusemeyer
(left to right) Jill Insko (USHJA Staff Representative), Addison Phillips riding Icon,
Louise Serio (USHJA Board Representative) and Lexy Reed (2005
USHJA Hunterdon Cup Champion)
Photo by Lili Weik
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