Posted March 27, 2006

Junior Hunters Rule at Winter Equestrian Festival in Tampa

Tampa, FL – March 26, 2006 – The eighth week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), the Tampa Bay Classic, wrapped up competition today. The highlights in the Main Hunter Ring included Amateur-Owner, Junior, and Adult Amateur Hunters.

In the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter division, Prove It and Krista Weisman earned the championship ribbon. Prove It won both over fences classes on Saturday, was fourth in the under saddle, and was fifth in both over fences classes on Sunday. Reserve champion in the division was Gray Slipper, ridden and owned by Bridget Hallman.

Weisman, who trains with Scott Stewart, competes on very nice horses, and rode both Prove It and Music Street this week. Prove It had not shown since the first week of WEF when he was reserve champion and Weisman mentioned, “Until yesterday, I hadn’t jumped him in over a month. He was fresh and ready!” She added, “For me, he’s definitely the easiest one to ride. I get on him, and his rhythm is so amazing. I feel like I can be anywhere in front of the jump, and he will be perfect every time.”

As a student at the University of Richmond, Weisman has limited time in the saddle. “Being at school, I don’t get to ride at all,” she explained. “Scott gets my horses ready and I come to the shows. Sometimes I feel like I’m not doing enough, but it seems to be working.”

The Winning Edge, ridden by 16 year old Emily Gardner and owned by Starwyn Farms LLC, lived up to his name this weekend by capturing the tricolor in the Large Junior 15 & Under Hunters. The Winning Edge took home two blues and a second place over fences this weekend. Reserve champion in the division was Saloon, ridden by Jennifer Waxman for Whitney Roper.

Gardner started riding The Winning Edge in January at the Jacksonville horse shows with trainer Don Stewart Jr. and moved on to the Ocala Winter Circuit. The duo won championships at both venues. Since Gardner’s own horse had to take time off, they decided to lease the veteran bay gelding. “He’s a little older, but he’s a really cool horse,” Gardner commented. “His experience helps me in the show ring. He knows his job. I always just relax on him, and the jumps always come up nicely on him.”

Another Don Stewart Jr. trained entry, Megan Massaro, has also only had the ride on Lyle, owned by Mrs. Randolph Rinehart, since January. However, the pair have been champion every week but one. This week was no different, as they walked in the ring for the tricolor presentation in the Small Junior 16-17 Hunters. Lyle jumped to two blues, a second, and a fifth over fences. Reserve champion in the division was Lavoisier, ridden by Lauren Hutchens for Christy Hutchens.

“They don’t want him to retire yet, so I get to ride him around!” Massaro reported with a smile. About Lyle, she said, “You get a little gallop and let him do what he does. He’s perfect. He’s so sensible and relaxed.”

While returning to the hunter ring was not originally in the plans this year for equitation and jumper star Brianne Goutal, it was a decision that led to great success this winter. Trainer Tom Wright asked Goutal to ride Priceless in the junior hunters for owner Clara Lindner, and it was a match that has led to several championships and the current lead for the WEF Circuit Championship.

The striking bay gelding was third over fences on Saturday and returned on Sunday for a first and second over fences and the win under saddle. Reserve champion was North Country, ridden by Maria Schaub and owned by Laura King Kaplan.

Goutal has ridden some great hunters and feels that Priceless is among the best. “He’s incredible to ride,” she noted. “He has a lot of power and gauge, and he always tries really hard. He’s very scopey and is careful. He has a spook in him- not a bad spook- but enough to make his ears go forward. He never looks dull or under-impressed. He’s beautiful to watch.”

Goutal’s focus has turned to the jumper ring, but does enjoy the occasional trip in the hunter ring. “About two years ago, I thought that the hunters were kind of boring,” she admitted, “but that was only for six months, until I got a chance to ride a nice hunter, Lucky Strike. Then you know why you go back to the hunters. It’s slow and it’s quiet, but it’s fun to do. It’s also hard to do well.”

Young Jennifer Waxman had more than her fair share of championship ribbons. In addition to the reserve tricolor on Saloon, Waxman swept the championship ribbons in the Small Junior 15 & Under Hunters on Christy Russo’s High Cotton and her own horse, The Frog Prince.

Waxman also rode Navigator for Amanda Cohen to the championship in the Large Pony Hunter division and her own pony, Harry Winston, to the tricolor in the Medium Pony Hunters.

Reserve champion in the Large Ponies was Hint of Blue, ridden by Megan Massaro and owned by Katie Hogan. Kiss the Rain and Schaefer Raposa, who rode for Anne Gardner, were reserve champions in the Medium Ponies.

Another Katie Hogan-owned entry, Magic Rose, again ridden by Schaefer Raposa, won the tricolor in the Small Pony Hunter division. Reserve champion was Hillcrest Blue Snip, ridden and owned by Ashley Foster.

Two WEF circuit championships were sealed with results from this weekend. In the Adult Amateur 3’3” Hunter division, Forget Paris and Wendy Lewis have decidedly left the competition behind after their tricolor performance and will win an unprecedented fourth WEF circuit championship. Lewis also picked up the reserve championship in the division this weekend on Patriotism.

In the Adult Amateur 51 & Over division, Harmony Bay and Carol Cone won yet another championship to add to their impressive list at WEF so far. Reserve champion in the division was Pommegranate and Joan Ehrhart.

The last week of WEF in Tampa begins on Tuesday, March 28, and ends on Saturday, April 1. On Saturday, the circuit champions will participate in the ultimate Parade of Champions in front of thousands before the Budweiser American Invitational at Raymond James Stadium in downtown Tampa.

Photo Credit: Lyle and Megan Massaro, Small Junior 16-17 Hunter champions at WEF in Tampa. Photo by Randi Muster. This photograph may be used free of charge only in relation to this PMG press release.