Tommi Clark and Exemplar

Parker, CO- June 18, 2014 – Summer in the Rockies III, a World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Event, got underway with the High Performance Hunter division. Exhibitors in the Colorado Horse Park’s Olson Family Main Hunter Ring vied for ribbons over fences, in the handy, and in the hack. Tommi Clark and Exemplar, owned by Stephen Borders, showed great promise in all three classes, earning first in the handy and hack as well as second over fences. This Californian pair just arrived at the Colorado Horse Park yesterday, and they do not seem to be fazed by their new surroundings. Exemplar, 2013’s Zone 10 high point horse in the High Performance Hunters, is living up to expectations. According to Clark, Exemplar, a former dressage horse, has an incredibly laid back personality that helps him succeed in the show ring. “He will walk off the trailer and go around anywhere,” said Clark. “He’s probably one of the easiest going horses I’ve ever ridden in my life. He’s got a lot of natural talent. I’m working on un-training some of the dressage buttons, because sometimes he doesn’t realize he is doing something you don’t want him to. He is just the easiest horse I’ve ever ridden in my life.” Clark is originally from Colorado and couldn’t be more thrilled to be back and showing here. She brought Exemplar especially to compete in this week’s hunter derby, and will be staying to compete in week V’s hunter derby as well. Clark would like to get mileage on the Westphalian gelding so that she can have him ready for the USHJA Hunter Derby Finals next year. Also successful in the division were Megan Jordan and City Boy. This pair won over fences and took third in both the handy and hack. Jordan shows the Dutch gelding for Janey Belozer.Performance HuntersAlso running today were the Performance 3’3″ and 3’6″ Hunters. Much like earlier in the day, finesse and fine-tuned control were showcased. The divisions also ran an over fences class, a handy and a hack. Some of the highlights of the handy round were cantering straight in and up the diagonal to an oxer, an outside vertical to a trot jump at the end of the arena, a rollback, and an in-and-out.

Megan Jordan and City Boy

Megan Felts and Arthur swept both over fences and the hack in the Performance 3’6″ Hunters. Their rhythm and consistency were apparent as they completed each course. Arthur is owned by Brooke Weiss, who shows him in the Junior Hunters. Felts is preparing Arthur for that division, which runs this Friday and Saturday. Weiss is moving up to the 3’6″ for her last junior year, and Arthur is the mount that will help her do so. “Arthur is a junior hunter who has done everything,” said Felts. “He’s done the derbies, some jumper stuff – he has really been around. He is very sweet and a ‘Steady Eddy’ type, always the same kind of horse. He also really loves Brooke (Weiss), so that’s fun to see them show together.” Arthur has competed in every ring and has a temperament that sets him up to be a great teacher and show partner. His evenness in his rhythm is a great quality to help his rider in the show ring. “He is very adjustable,” said Felts. “He also has a monster step, so you can go nice and slow. He just is easy in the show ring and a really good boy.” Weiss hopes to show at The Capital Challenge Horse Show at the end of the season, and hopefully her mileage in the 3’6″ here at Summer in the Rockies along with the help from Felts will put her towards that path.

Courtney Calcagnini and Hyde Park

Courtney Calcagnini and Hyde Park had a great run in the Performance 3’3″ Hunters. These two won all three classes: the over fences, handy and hack. The Dutch gelding’s expression along with his cadence in the show ring were a pleasure to watch. “He has an awesome canter,” said Calcagnini. “He stays on the same rhythm all the way around the ring. I showed him last week too and he was very good. He felt even better this week, he is just even a little more settled in.” Hyde Park is owned by Darla Fuller who shows him in the Children’s Hunters. Calcagnini is preparing him to show with Fuller later this week. Last week they won the $500 Marshall and Sterling Children’s Hunter Classic, and they are hoping for similar results for Summer in the Rockies III. Fuller’s goal is to eventually move up to the Junior Hunters with Hyde Park. WCHR Week at Summer in the Rockies continues with the High Performance Working Hunters and Performance 3’6″ and 3’3″ Hunters as they wrap up tomorrow with two over fences classes. Click here to view full results from Summer in the Rockies III. 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 III-Wednesday, June 18 (Number/Horse/Owner/Rider)High Perf Working Hunter O/F1. 331/City Boy/Janey Belozer/Megan Jordan2. 578/Exemplar/Stephen Borders/Tommi Clark3. 410/Simone/Catherine Schoelzel/Jennifer Rhodes4. 344/C. Quito/Margot Snowdon/Jessie Lang5. 564/Better Days/Kristin Nixon/Kristin Nixon6. 562/LPF Woodford/LPF LLC/Kelley Buringa7. 165/CR Explosive/Katie Crone/Katie Crone8. 107/Pacifico/Deprix LLC./Colleen Acosta High Perf Working Hunter Handy1. 578/Exemplar/Stephen Borders/Tommi Clark2. 344/C. Quito/Margot Snowdon/Jessie Lang3. 331/City Boy/Janey Belozer/Megan Jordan4. 564/Better Days/Kristin Nixon/Kristin Nixon5. 562/LPF Woodford/LPF LLC/Kelley Buringa6. 165/CR Explosive/Katie Crone/Katie Crone High Perf Working Hunter U/S1. 578/Exemplar/Stephen Borders/Tommi Clark2. 564/Better Days/Kristin Nixon/Kristin Nixon3. 331/City Boy/Janey Belozer/Megan Jordan4. 562/LPF Woodford/LPF LLC/Kelley Buringa5. 344/C. Quito/Margot Snowdon/Jessie Lang6. 410/Simone/Catherine Schoelzel/Jennifer Rhodes7. 165/CR Explosive/Katie Crone/Katie Crone Performance 3’6 Hunter O/F1. 195/Arthur/Brooke Weiss/Meghan Felts2. 105/INXS/Grace Albritton/Colleen Acosta3. 423/Harlu/Laurie Brants/Mickie Sage4. 376/Cristal/Rancho Corazon, LLC/Chenoa Mc Elvain5. 428/Lago W/Steve Lockton/Mickie Sage6. 419/Viceroy/Bethany Bolen/Bethany Bolen7. 513/Adagio/Jenny Alsberg/Jenny Alsberg8. 544/Ega Van De Breemeersen/Erin Kober/Tomas Torres Performance 3’6 Hunter Handy1. 419/Viceroy/Bethany Bolen/Bethany Bolen2. 105/INXS/Grace Albritton/Colleen Acosta3. 423/Harlu/Laurie Brants/Mickie Sage4. 195/Arthur/Brooke Weiss/Meghan Felts5. 428/Lago W/Steve Lockton/Mickie Sage6. 376/Cristal/Rancho Corazon, LLC/Chenoa Mc Elvain7. 544/Ega Van De Breemeersen/Erin Kober/Tomas Torres8. 513/Adagio/Jenny Alsberg/Jenny Alsberg Performance 3’6 Hunter U/S1. 195/Arthur/Brooke Weiss/Meghan Felts2. 105/INXS/Grace Albritton/Colleen Acosta3. 423/Harlu/Laurie Brants/Mickie Sage4. 513/Adagio/Jenny Alsberg/Jenny Alsberg Performance 3’3″ Hunter O/F1. 140/Hyde Park/Dara Fuller/Courtney Calcagnini2. 420/Storyline/Lindsey Roberts/Will Roberts3. 201/Hip Hop/Erik Johnson/Brianna Davis4. 351/Wagner/Annabelle Regan/Kelly Lorek5. 102/Chaika/Juliet LaPietra/Colleen Acosta6. 411/Duet/Lisa Philpott/Jennifer Rhodes7. 580/Quite Nice/Susan Winston/Susan Winston8. 207/A Fine Idea/Liz Benton/Philip Dreissigacker Performance 3’3″ Hunter Handy1. 140/Hyde Park/Dara Fuller/Courtney Calcagnini2. 351/Wagner/Annabelle Regan/Kelly Lorek3. 201/Hip Hop/Erik Johnson/Brianna Davis4. 102/Chaika/Juliet LaPietra/Colleen Acosta5. 230/Arcadian/Marilyn Steane/Harriet Bunker6. 223/Prince/Allison Belcher/Allison Belcher7. 411/Duet/Lisa Philpott/Jennifer Rhodes8. 228/Stanwick/Tarah Wolf/Tarah Wolf Performance 3’3″ Hunter U/S1. 140/Hyde Park/Dara Fuller/Courtney Calcagnini2. 228/Stanwick/Tarah Wolf/Tarah Wolf3. 1162/Charismatique/MG Equine Associates/Harriet Bunker4. 230/Arcadian/Marilyn Steane/Harriet Bunker5. 351/Wagner/Annabelle Regan/Kelly Lorek6. 201/Hip Hop/Erik Johnson/Brianna Davis7. 102/Chaika/Juliet LaPietra/Colleen Acosta8. 292/Irish Storm/Candace Cavanaugh/Meredith Houx Remiger