Abigail Albrecht and MTM Flashdance

Parker, CO-June 13, 2014-The ASPCA Maclay courseset by Scott Starnes in the Olson Family Main Hunter Ring tested riders with various bending lines, a long approach to a substantial oxer, and a tight rollback to an in-and-out. Most challenging for this group of riders were the rollback and the spooky single oxer. Some of the horse and rider combinations struggled with keeping pace through the tight turn. The group was also tested on the flat. The Washington Hunter and Jumper Phases that ran today also drew quality riders. The Jumper Phase, which ran in the Derby Field, was a test of efficiency while maintaining level-headedness. The bank was incorporated into the course, which was a challenge for some equitation horses. The Hunter Phase then brought the horses back to the perfection of the steady hunter-type ride. Abigail Albrecht and MTM Flashdance came out on top in the ASPCA Maclay after their jumping round and flat testing. They also earned fifth place overall in the Washington. MTM Flashdance was imported just weeks ago and is already starting off his North American career with style. The gelding, who is owned by MTM Farm, is already proving to be one to watch. “He is very smart,” said Albrecht. “He thinks so fast and is always on top of his game. He has a great stride and personality, and he is so loving. He doesn’t quite know what he is doing out there yet, so it is a lot of hard work to show him.”   Albrecht has high hopes that her partnership with MTM Flashdance can grow into something great. She has never had a horse that she could take to equitation finals, and she might finally have her ticket to get there. “It’s just his inexperience we have to work on,” explained Albrecht. “I went to USEF Pony Finals when I was younger, but haven’t gone to an equitation final yet. He probably won’t be ready this year, but I’m hoping for next year. One of my other horses is for sale, and I’m hoping once he sells I can buy MTM Flashdance. I’m hoping to keep this one for a long time.” MTM Flashdance and Albrecht will continue to show at Sumer in the Rockies to build on the horse’s greenness in the show ring. Trainer Kelly Lorek is helping the pair through the process. 

Kelli Cruciotti and Monterrey

At the top of the Washington overall standings for today was Kelli Cruciotti. Cruciotti rode Monterrey, her partner at the 2013 ASPCA Maclay Finals where she placed second. Today they received a score of 88 in the Jumper Phase and 77 in the Hunter Phase. These two outstanding scores put 8 points between her and the second place finisher Abigail Weiland. Monterrey is a favorite for Cruciotti because of heart, opinion, attitude, and presence in the show ring. According to Cruciotti, when she first bought him, he could be difficult at times to get in the ring. But he has now come full circle with his progress. “He is an awesome horse to be around and work with,” said Cruciotti. “I’m really blessed to be able to ride him. He is a competitor: he expects you to do your job as much as he is going to do it. I’ve had times where I’ve made a mistake and he gets mad. Sometimes it seems like he wants to win more than I do. He has a huge opinion, which I love. His personality in the barn is also hilarious.” Both phases of the Washington require responsiveness from the horse and effectiveness from the rider. Cruciotti and Monterrey aced this test. “The different phases are a great test of versatility for the horse,” said Cruciotti. “In the Jumper Phase they have to be neat and tidy and within the time, and the Hunter Phase is more consistency and pace and stride. I like having both, and I love going from ring to ring. It’s a great challenge of versatility. You go up (to the Derby Field) and your adrenaline is running, and then you have to come down (to the Olson Family Main Hunter Ring) and be so calm. The Jumper Phase really suited him – we had to go up and down the banks and hills and he is phenomenal at all that.” 

Jamie Morris and Samsonite

Placing second in the ASPCA Maclay and third overall in the Washington was Jamie Morris with Samsonite. This 15-year-old junior rider has just stepped up to the 3’6″ this year, and she is starting off strong with the help of her trainer Rebecca Johnson. Samsonite is a “been there done that” type of horse with abundant equitation experience. He is leased from Katya Schwab. “He is really brave about all the jumps, which is very nice,” said Morris. “I feel really confident and safe on him. He is always there for me and is really honest if I make a mistake. I know that he will help save me or get me out of trouble if I need him to, but he’s not just the easy push button horse that does everything you tell him. I’m not just handed the win every time I’ve worked really hard with him. It’s been really fun.” According to Morris, this is only her third Maclay class ever, and it had the stiffest competition yet. She was very pleased with Samsonite’s performance in both classes today, and is looking forward to seeing where their season leads them. Leading today in the Junior 3’6″ Hunters are Sophia Depumpo and her horse Limbo. They earned the blue over fences and in the handy, and received second in the hack. This pair is coached by Colleen Acosta, who showed Limbo in the Second Year Green Hunters earlier this week. Leading in the Junior 3’3″ Hunters are Peroni and Kendall Whitt Peroni is owned by KNW Farms LLC. He was champion of the Pre-Green 3’3″ Hunters this week with Courtney Calcagnini. The Junior Hunters will finish tomorrow with two over fences classes and a $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic. Click here for full results from Friday. Visit the Colorado Horse Park’s website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates throughout Summer in the Rockies.  Results: Summer in the Rockies II – Friday, June 13(Number/Horse/Owner/Rider) ASPCA Maclay1. 868/MTM Flashdance/MTM Farm/Abigail Albrecht2. 726/Samsonite/Katya Schwab/Jamie Morris3. 823/Dragon/Redfield Farm/Abigail Weiland4. 961/Whisky/Grace Thiel/Grace Thiel5. 858/Capiche/Rylee Shufelt/Rylee Shufelt6. 582/Papparazzi/Serenity Farm/Abigail Grace Kelley7. 740/Levitation/Marnina Seller/Marnina Seller8. 970/Rocket Man/Lindsay Gersoff/Lindsay Gersoff Washington Overall1. 588/Monterrey/Kelli Cruciotti/Kelli Cruciotti2. 823/Dragon/Redfield Farm/Abigail Weiland3. 726/Samsonite/Katya Schwab/Jamie Morris4. 961/Whisky/Grace Thiel/Grace Thiel5. 868/MTM Flashdance/MTM Farm/Abigail Albrecht6. 603/Commander In Chief/Jan Beavers/Grace McMurry Washington Hunter Phase1. 823/Dragon/Redfield Farm/Abigail Weiland2. 588/Monterrey/Kelli Cruciotti/Kelli Cruciotti3. 868/MTM Flashdance/MTM Farm/Abigail Albrecht4. 961/Whisky/Grace Thiel/Grace Thiel5. 726/Samsonite/Katya Schwab/Jamie Morris6. 751/Afrojack/Donald Stewart/Annabelle Regan7. 607/Arthur/Brooke Weiss/Meghan Felts8. 603/Commander In Chief/Jan Beavers/Grace McMurry Washington Jumper Phase1. 588/Monterrey/Kelli Cruciotti/Kelli Cruciotti2. 962/Chronos/Brianna Peddicord/Brianna Peddicord3. 823/Dragon/Redfield Farm/Abigail Weiland4. 726/Samsonite/Katya Schwab/Jamie Morris5. 799/Amore Mio/Melanie Lathrop/Melanie Lathrop6. 603/Commander In Chief/Jan Beavers/Grace McMurry7. 961/Whisky/Grace Thiel/Grace Thiel8. 868/MTM Flashdance/MTM Farm/Abigail Albrecht Junior 3’6 Htr1. 508/Limbo/Sophia Depumpo/Sophia Depumpo2. 916/Lucky Jack/Grace Albritton/Colleen Acosta3. 818/McGraw/Kimberley Quinn/Katie Mc Donnell4. 880/Baloubet K/Roderick Kyle Dewar/Katey Kozeny5. 969/Premonition/Lindsay Gersoff/Lindsay Gersoff6. 90/Verbatim/Serenity Farm/Kelli Cruciotti7. 740/Levitation/Marnina Seller/Marnina Seller8. 663/Shenanigans/Lexi Mulkey/Lexi Mulkey Junior 3’6 -Handy1. 508/Limbo/Sophia Depumpo/Sophia Depumpo2. 880/Baloubet K/Roderick Kyle Dewar/Katey Kozeny3. 590/Verbatim/Serenity Farm/Kelli Cruciotti4. 740/Levitation/Marnina Seller/Marnina Seller5. 663/Shenanigans/Lexi Mulkey/Lexi Mulkey6. 818/McGraw/Kimberley Quinn/Katie Mc Donnell7. 969/Premonition/Lindsay Gersoff/Lindsay Gersoff8. 916/Lucky Jack/Grace Albritton/Colleen Acosta Junior 3’6 Htr U/S1. 969/Premonition/Lindsay Gersoff/Lindsay Gersoff2. 508/Limbo/Sophia Depumpo/Sophia Depumpo3. 818/McGraw/Kimberley Quinn/Katie Mc Donnell4. 590/Verbatim/Serenity Farm/Kelli Cruciotti5. 995/Estes Park/Arden Mc Reynolds/Arden Mc Reynolds6. 607/Arthur/Brooke Weiss/Meghan Felts7. 663/Shenanigans/Lexi Mulkey/Lexi Mulkey8. 916/Lucky Jack/Grace Albritton/Colleen Acosta Junior 3’3″ Hunter O/F1. 943/Mtm Retro/MTM Farm/Kaitlyn Arnold2. 562/Peroni/KNW Farms LLC/Kendall Whitt3. 890/Socrates/Allison Zimmerman/Allison Zimmerman4. 605/Wesley/Haley Fleming/Meghan Felts5. 530/All Tuckered Out/Mackenzie Kline/Mackenzie Kline6. 893/Cartina B/Kamryn Steel/Kamryn Steel7. 728/Benedicto/Jamie Morris/Jamie Morris8. 944/Hashtag MTM/MTM Farm/Kaitlyn Arnold Junior 3’3″ Hunter Handy1. 530/All Tuckered Out/Mackenzie Kline/Mackenzie Kline2. 605/Wesley/Haley Fleming/Meghan Felts3. 944/Hashtag MTM/MTM Farm/Kaitlyn Arnold4. 562/Peroni/KNW Farms LLC/Kendall Whitt5. 893/Cartina B/Kamryn Steel/Kamryn Steel6. 890/Socrates/Allison Zimmerman/Allison Zimmerman7. 943/Mtm Retro/MTM Farm/Kaitlyn Arnold8. 728/Benedicto/Jamie Morris/Jamie Morris Junior 3’3″ Hunter U/S1. 562/Peroni/KNW Farms LLC/Kendall Whitt2. 943/Mtm Retro/MTM Farm/Kaitlyn Arnold3. 605/Wesley/Haley Fleming/Meghan Felts4. 944/Hashtag MTM/MTM Farm/Kaitlyn Arnold5. 890/Socrates/Allison Zimmerman/Allison Zimmerman6. 893/Cartina B/Kamryn Steel/Kamryn Steel7. 530/All Tuckered Out/Mackenzie Kline/Mackenzie Kline