Today Was La Dolce Vita for Fellini & Stewart and Saline & Weaver in First Year Green Hunters at Winter Equestrian Festival

Wellington, FL- February 25, 2005 - The gloomy weather at the Zada Enterprises, LLC Wellington Masters at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) did not keep the champions of the First Year Green Working Hunters down. Fellini and Scott Stewart and Saline and Charlie Weaver saw blue, as they both won all four over fences classes in their respective sections.

Fellini, who is owned by Molly Ohrstrom, was fantastic today, despite the muddy footing and large puddles. “He’s a mudder!” exclaimed Stewart with a smile. Fellini had two beautiful rounds today and added two blue ribbons to the two he won yesterday for the tricolor.

The handsome dapple grey gelding has been in the ribbons every week and won a reserve championship in week two of WEF. “He’s very consistent,” stated Stewart. “It’s so great to have an easy horse where you just get on and go to the ring.” This ease in preparation led Fellini and Stewart to the winner’s circle, while Remedy and Danny Robertshaw, who rode for Margaret Edge, won the reserve championship.

Saline and Charlie Weaver were also stellar in the sodden Grand Hunter Field. Saline, owned by Marigot Bay Farm and Stormy Good, won their over fences classes today with high scores of 88 and 90. The pair also won both jumping classes yesterday and were second under saddle. Even without the sun, they outshined the rest of the field. Reserve champion went to Afterglow and Peter Leone, who rode for Lionshare Farm.

Saline and Weaver are a new partnership, as Good only bought the striking bay mare last week. Their first time in the show ring was Thursday, and Weaver was not really surprised with the results. “I knew that at some point she would be this good, but I didn’t know it would come right out the first time and that we would do so well,” explained Weaver. “I didn’t know her well enough to predict it.” Weaver did know, however, that she had the capability to win. “She’s a really special horse,” Weaver expressed. “You just present her with the jump and leave it up to her and she just does it right. She’s what a hunter is meant to be.”

The top junior riders competed in the Washington International Horse Show Equitation Classic, and Sloane Coles came away with the win in the jumper phase over Jessica Speiser. The hunter phase was cancelled, due to the inclement weather.

Coles was also second in Section B of the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search to Blythe Marano. Brianne Goutal won Section A over Whitney Weeks.

The hunters will be in action tomorrow, as the championship is decided in the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunters. The junior hunters will also start tomorrow, as everyone at WEF hopes for better weather.

Photo Credit: Fellini and Scott Stewart, champions in Section A of First Year Green Working Hunters. Photo by Randi Muster.