Veteran Riders Louise Serio and Danny Robertshaw are Champions on Rookie Horses in First Year Green Hunters at Winter Equestrian Festival

Wellington, FL- February 11, 2005 - The third day of showing in the Kilkenny/ICH Internationale was chilly, but the competition was quite hot in the First Year Green Working Hunter division today at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. The large division was split into two sections and the championships were fiercely contested.

The champion in Section A of the First Year Green Hunters was Costello, ridden by Louise Serio and owned by Shaw Johnson Price. The sweet bay gelding won two over fences classes and had another third place to pull ahead of Alexa Weisman’s Music Street and Scott Stewart, who received the reserve championship.

The ride on Costello is new for Serio, but he fits in well with her string of top hunters. “I’m pretty blessed with horses right now, I have a lot of nice horses to ride,” revealed Serio. Costello had a successful Pre-Green year with Robert Crandall, but Price moved and found herself closer to Serio’s barn. “I fortunately got to ride the horse,” said Serio. “One of the things that makes him special is his length of stride; He’s wonderful to ride and is so scopey.” Costello will compete for another tricolor ribbon with owner, Shaw Johnson Price, in the Amateur-Owner Hunters.

Island Heart and Danny Robertshaw were champions again, topping the First Year Green Working Hunter division, Section B this week. In the opening week of the Winter Equestrian Festival, the duo won five out of six classes to capture the Green Conformation Hunter championship, and won the reserve champion in the First Year Green Hunters.

Like Serio, Robertshaw’s ride on Island Heart is fairly new. Owner Betsy Fauntleroy bought the elegant bay gelding in October, and the horse did not have much mileage in the show ring. “We were a little nervous starting him in the First Years, since he didn’t have much show experience,” Robertshaw divulged. Robertshaw was not surprised, however, that Island Heart started winning right away. “He’s got a phenomenal mind and talent. With all of the outstanding talent at WEF, I was amazed he did so well in the ribbons, but I wasn’t surprised he went so well.” Scott Stewart was the bridesmaid again today, as he guided Fellini to the reserve championship in Section B for owner Molly Ohrstrom.

Indian Summer and Holly Caristo continued their winning streak this week in Section A of the Adult Amateur 51 & Over Hunters. The pair won one over fences class and received three second places to defeat Just Harry and Debbie Bass. Champions in Section B were Dialog L and R. Bruce Duchossois, who won two classes on their way to the tricolor over Sinatra and Gretchen Hunt Weiss.

Saturday will be busy for hunters, as the Amateur-Owner 36 & Over championship is decided, and the Amateur-Owner 18-35 classes, Junior Hunters, and Pony Hunters start competing.

Photo Credit: Louise Serio and Costello, Champions in First Year Green Working Hunters Section A. Photo by Randi Muster.