Cortie Wetherill and Take Away Win Amateur-Owner Hunter Stakes

By Bobbi Rottman

Wellington, FL - The Grand Hunter ring hosted the $1,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Stakes for the 18-35-year-old division Sunday at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival presented by Zimmerman Advertising, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Cortie Wetherill, 19, of Malvern, Penn. and his 12-year-old Oldenburg mount, Take Away, did just that with the blue ribbon in the $1,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Stakes with a score of 89. They didn't leave behind the Champion ribbon, either, as they finished as the Grand Champion winner of the division for the week. Take Away is one of five mounts for Cortie who rides with Missy Clark and North Run of Warren, Vt.
 
"My horse felt awesome," said Cortie, "I've been a little rusty because I hadn't shown for a month before the start of (WEF). It feels really good to be back in the groove with him."
 
Clara Lindner, 22, of Cincinnati, Ohio placed first in the first over fences trip with a score of 89 and took home Reserve Champion on Hush, an eight-year-old bay gelding, and second place in the first trip scoring 88 as well as a second place in the Amateur-Owner Stakes with the score of 87.5 aboard In The Black, a nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding. Clara rides with trainer Tom Wright of Wellington.
 
"Hush was great," she said. "He tries really hard and has so much personality. He was set up perfectly. I didn't have to really do a lot, just float the reins.

"In The Black has come a long way. He used to go in the ring looking at the jumps and alert but now he goes in and tries to win. He is a dream to ride.'