Make My Day and Ande Farish Celebrate Win in Medium Pony Hunters at Winter Equestrian Festival

Wellington, FL- March 13, 2005 - It was a special day for Ande Farish and her adorable grey pony, Make My Day, as the CN Finale closed out competition for the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington. The pair celebrated their one year anniversary this week. They were also champion during this week last year.

Farish rode for the Lanes End Pony Stables and finished third in the under saddle and the over fences class yesterday. They also won one of the remaining over fences classes, which gave them the tricolor over Everwood and Kristen Lutz, who rode for Evelyn Whelan. Farish was very happy about her win, and said, “He’s usually really good. He doesn’t swap or anything, you just have to find your distances and he’ll jump it.”

Although Make My Day is not as brave as Clint Eastwood- “He’s scared of everything on the ground,” commented Farish- he is as sweet a pony as you’ll ever find. The pair finished their circuit here and will continue to show when WEF moves to Tampa.

Make My Day’s stable mate garnered championship honors for the second week in a row in the other section of the Medium Pony Hunters. Tuscany and Jennifer Waxman won four out of five classes to win the championship over Tammy Provost’s Nemo and Katherine Newman. Waxman acknowledged that the pony tends to swap leads, so they worked hard this week to improve that part of their performance. “He was much better about that this week,” said Waxman.

In the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters, the champion was Jazz and Megan Schall. When Schall recently purchased Jazz, she knew they would be a good match. “This is my fifth week showing him. When I rode him the first time, it just worked out really well. It was just the right horse and it kind of worked out,” she commented, and added, “I knew he was the one.” Schall and Jazz were first over fences yesterday and won the under saddle class. They also won an over fences class today to win over Fanfare and Sloane Coles, riding for Nancy Amling.

Schall was very pleased with her win, and stated that Jazz’s easy-going nature is a benefit in the ring. “He’s really simple and soft to ride. He’s got a really nice rhythm and a big step and is really fun.” Jazz is also even-mannered in the barn. Schall said with a smile, “He’s always got his head out in the barn and says hi to everybody and has a lot of personality.”

Unlike Schall, it was not love at first sight for Alesandra Perna and her handsome bay gelding, Kindred Spirit, who were champions in the Small Junior 16-17 Hunters. The pair have been together for three years, but Perna revealed, “Actually, the first time I tried him, I didn’t even like him. He used to be funny about other horses around him and I didn’t like him the first time I rode him. But my trainer kind of pushed it, and I’m very glad he did. It ended up being an awesome ride for me.”

Perna and Kindred Spirit have since worked out their differences and were spectacular this week, as they won all four over fences classes and posted a high score of 88.5. Reserve champion in the division went to Brianne Goutal and Lucky Strike, owned by the Cloverleaf Farm.

Perna also said that Kindred Spirit has a unique personality and loves treats. “I have to carry around a package of Mentos wherever I go with him, because I have to give him one before I get on, before I go in the ring, when he comes out of the ring. He’s extremely spoiled, but he deserves it!”

Competition in Wellington is finished, but WEF will continue in Tampa, FL, on March 23-27, with the Tampa Bay Classic. The final week of WEF is the Tournament of Champions on March 29- April 2. The WEF Circuit Champions will be awarded in a special ceremony before the Budweiser American Invitational on April 2 at the Raymond James Stadium.

Photo Credit: Kindred Spirit and Alesandra Perna, champions in Small Junior 16-17 Hunters at Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo by Randi Muster.