BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search-East Finals

Late Start Doesn't Keep Amy Lowrey From The Silver

Amy Lowrey was a little stunned to find herself vaulted in the reserve championship spot after the 20-year-old college student made only her second attempt in the finals.

The Armonk, N.Y., woman was the only one of the finalists not to drop a rail in the ride-off, but a half stride put her kept her from taking the victor's prize. In the elimination round, "my mount (Courtney McKay's Rhumbline) sort of drifted off toward the end and I tried to support him off the jumps so I didn't have any down. I knew I had to shape that bending line in six strides because I had ridden it on the other horses to the combination."

Despite her efforts, the chestnut gelding got to the in and out "a little early and we did it five and one-half strides." When he chipped in there, "I tried to ride the rest of the course as smoothly as I could," said the University of Massachusetts/Amherst sophomore, who rode in the finals last year but did not get a ribbon. This year, she and the other top three, used the flatwork portion of the test to try some daring moves to not only impress the judges, but also to acquaint their horses with the movements they would perform in the gymnastics portion that was to follow.

"I am so lucky to have such a great horse," Lowrey said of Donatello , a Dutch-bred son of Amythyst. Amy borrowed the bay gelding from owner Annie Starke. She is abroad with her mother, actress Glenn Close, who is playing a lead role in "A Streetcar Named Desire" on a London stage.

A late entry into the equitation fray, Amy was no stranger to horses, having ridden at the barn of her aunt, Kim Jones of Bedford, N.Y. A quiet but likable Amy began riding with and working for trainer Peter Lutz two years ago, and "does everything around the office and barn," said Lutz. "She just entered this level. She was third (in equitation) at the Hampton Classic and rode against all of these girls at one time or another," continued Lutz, who won the USET medal in 1991 when he was a student of Andre Dignelli, the 1985 medalist. "I'd love for her to come work for me, but the next thing for her is to finish school" where she is majoring in business.