Wellington, FL - February 9, 2006 - At the Winter Equestrian Festival, there are horses of every age, shape, and skill level. In the hunter divisions, there are multiple divisions offered for young horses that are in their first year of showing. One of these divisions is the Pre-Green 3’ Hunters, which are defined by the height of the jumps and by the experience of the horse.

The Pre-Green 3’ Hunters were split into three sections this week, and the winner of two out of three sections was Wellington resident Holly Orlando. In section B, she piloted the charming Bolero to the tricolor. Reserve champion in the division went to Glory Road, ridden by Tim Goguen and owned by Carol Cone.

Bolero, owned by Mary Evangelista, won both over fences on Wednesday and jumped to a third place ribbon today. Orlando won the third over fences class with Vespucci, owned by Scott Hakim. “I think we got the recipe right this week,” Orlando concluded. About Bolero, she said, “He jumps all of his jumps the same. He picks up a lick and goes. You don’t ever have to touch the reins. He jumps great, and he’s just appealing.” Orlando believes that she and the dapple grey have at least one thing in common. “He’s green and young and has a little bit of attitude, so he and I go well together,” she said with a smile.

In Section C, Orlando and Pin Up received the championship. Pin Up, owned by Hilary Scheer Gerhardt, was fifth and first over fences on Wednesday and fourth under saddle today. Pin Up racked up a win in the final jumping class. Reserve champion in Section C was Nori Lietz’s Say It and James Lala.

“She’s green but has a great attitude,” Orlando explained about the dainty bay mare. “She likes to gallop along a little bit, which is good for me. She’s my kind of ride; she’s soft in the mouth and you just keep going forward. She’s just very consistent.” Orlando believes that Pin Up has something special that people notice. “She’s adorable,” she noted. “She’s a good mover with a cute little head. The judges just like her. As soon as she trots in the ring, you notice her.”

DeLovely lived up to his name in Section A. Ridden by Ken Berkley and owned by Pala Mostoller, the young horse has also lived up to early success. As the overall winner in the under saddle for Young Hunters at Devon last year, Berkley had high hopes for the 16.3 hand five year old gelding. “It’s literally his second show jumping ever,” Berkley mentioned. “He’s just a lovely five year old. He’s got a wonderful mind and is easy, straight, and direct. He walks the lines and doesn’t spook. He rides like an old pro.”

Over the years, Mostoller has been one of Berkley’s most supportive clients. “She’s had horses with me forever. DeLovely spent the summer in Vermont. She shipped him to Vermont and trail rode him,” Berkley said. “He’s come down for his education in Florida and is for sale now.”

Tied with DeLovely for the Pre-Green 3’ Section A champion was Chop Chop, ridden by Morgan Thomas and owned by Norgan Inc. They received first, third, and fourth place ribbons. Chop Chop is a seven year old that just recently arrived in the United States after an early education in dressage. “I bought him in partnership with my business partner in Europe,” Thomas clarified. “We left him with her in Germany up until three weeks ago. This is his first show and he won his first class, so it’s always exciting when that happens.”

Although Thomas has not had a long partnership with Chop Chop, he is confident in the horse’s ability. He described, “I’m just getting to know him, but I really like him. He did the 3 foot so easily and comfortably. He has very good balance and is a very athletic horse. He’s a very uncomplicated horse.”

Chop Chop’s more extensive dressage background has also prepared him for the show ring. While the ride may be very different, Thomas believes that the experience of going to shows (no matter what discipline) helps. “They at least have a sense of what pressure is at the horse shows,” he said. “It’s a very different kind of balance though. When I drop his head and go forward, he’s a little bit lost. He’s so used to being contained and compressed. But, the one real advantage of [the dressage] is that he’s had a lot of mileage getting in the trailer and going to horse shows. It’s just a different type of horse show. He’s easier than the average Pre-Green horse because he’s got a very good foundation in terms of basics of being put together and understanding what leg and hand is all about.”

“I keep waiting for him to get more difficult, but he’s not,” Thomas concluded. “He’s just very easy and very straightforward. My business is importing horses, making them up, and reselling them, so I really thought he would be a very commercial horse. He may even be nicer than I thought initially.”

The hunter divisions at the 34th Annual Winter Equestrian Festival continue tomorrow with championships in the First Year Green Hunters. Junior and amateur riders will also start their competition tomorrow.

Photo Credit: Bolero and Holly Orlando, section B champions in the Pre-Green 3’ Hunters. Photo by Randi Muster.