Devon, Pa. – July 11, 2018 – Brandywine Horse Shows concluded on Sunday, July 8, crowning its champions in the hunter and jumper divisions. The week’s feature class, the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, was split into two sections – open and junior/amateur, with Samantha Schaefer and Gone Country taking home the win in the professional section.
Schaefer and Gone Country, owned by Morgan Kazerman, led the class with a total overall score of 178. Dominique Damico and Ramble on Farms’s Rockette finished in second place with a score of 175. Rounding out the top three was Maria Rasmussen Sunset View Farm LLC’s Hobbs Lane with an overall score of 170.
In the junior/amateur section of the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, it was Ashley Vogel and Legacy that bested a field of 27 riders to win the class. The pair led with an overall score of 176. Second place went to Claire Campbell riding Samantha Schaefer’s Stallone with a total score of 167.5. Third place was awarded to Caroline Bald and Vondel DH Z, owned by Maarten Huygens Horse Sales, Inc, with an overall score of 166.
The Grand Amateur Hunter Champion was won by Mia Latran and her own mount Rockwell. The pair was also awarded the West Chester Hunt Perpetual Trophy in memory of Caroline “Cookie” Brown. In the Junior divisions, the Grand Junior Hunter Champion was Kaitlyn Williams riding Ramble on Farm’s Rockette. Williams also received the Grand Junior Owner award.
In the $5,000 High Junior/Amateur Jumper Hall of Fame Classic, Chloe White and her own Miss Understood II rode to the first place finish. The pair tied with Caroline Ratigan and Gotham Enterprizes LLC’s Washington Square for the overall Grand Jumper Championship title.
In the pony divisions, it was Grace Debney and Rivers Edge’s Upside that brought home the win in the USHJA Pony Hunter Derby. Debney and Upside received a total score of 172 to secure the win. The pair was also awarded the Grand Pony Hunter championship title for their leading performance in the Large Pony Hunter division.
Several other awards were given out during the weekend. The leading hunter trainer award was presentedto Dominique D’Amico with Ramble On Farm, and the $2,500 Mike Rheinheimer Equitation Trainer Award was presented to Amanda Lyerly. Emma Kurtz was awarded the Brandywine Equitation Hunter Cup aboard Carl, owned by Betsee Parker.
The Regal Sullivan Memorial Sportsmanship Award was presented to Clementina Brown, and Barbara Brungess received the Barry G. Balmer Memorial Horsemanship Award. The Bill Rube Style Award was presented to Nancy Prant Hooker and the National Horse Show $1,000 Braider’s Award was won by Krista Hunter.
The entire Brandywine Horse Shows team expressed appreciation to the staff, exhibitors, sponsors and everyone who made the 2018 shows a success. For more information on the Brandywine Horse Shows, please visit http://www.brandywinehorseshows.com/
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Samantha Schaefer – $5,000 Open National Hunter Derby Winner
On Gone Country
“Gone Country is a new horse we just bought for a client in the barn named Morgan Kazerman. We bought him in the spring and she started showing him in the 3’3’’ Juniors, and has had quite a bit of success already. I showed him the week prior when I won on her other horse, Nino Nacho, I showed him as well and he was third. Morgan was traveling and wasn’t able to make the second Brandywine, but they said to go ahead and take the horse and get him more experience under the lights in that ring, so that when it’s time for her to do the 3’6’’ Juniors at Devon he’ll have more experience. It was great, it worked out perfectly. I wanted to have another horse to show in the class on Saturday night and it all worked out.”
On the derby
“I’ve actually done four Skip [Bailey] designed derby courses in a row now, we did two at Swan Lake and I think they are super fun. He normally leaves room for everybody to make their own handy, you’re not seeing the same turns and the same strides and the same track. Everyone kind of does what suits their horse, which I think is great and it’s been really fun. I think he does a nice job giving options and giving the opportunity to do some different things and impress the judges in different ways. That was actually one of the reasons I was excited to show again. Originally I hadn’t planned on bringing a horse for myself for the second week, but I didn’t want to sit it out so it was nice that the Kazermans allowed me to take him and it was definitely fun!”
On concluding Brandywine
“It was great. They do a really nice job making the show feel special and the presentations always feel top notch. The ring is great and the jumps are great, and overall they do a really nice job. It was nice to be there.”
