The 2006 Winter Equestrian Festival is beginning, and it is going to the biggest and best one yet.
Happy New Year. The 2006 Winter Equestrian Festival is beginning, and it is going to the biggest and best one yet. It’s pretty unbelievable how many horses and people there are running around, but I think it will make for a very interesting couple of months. In addition to WEF, I will be traveling for one week to the Ocala Winter Circuit, so I will get to see more new hunters and get pictures and interviews for you all there.
There are tons of hunter divisions at WEF and along with the old favorites, there are going to be some bright new faces this year. Here’s a preview of what to expect! (Disclaimer: By no means is this a complete list of top competitors, just merely my observations and expectations. Got something to add? E-mail me at [email protected])
Professional Divisions
Regular Conformation: I really think this will be another fantastic year for Popeye K. Tommy Serio told me at Harrisburg this fall that Popeye just keeps getting better every year. He has really settled into the four foot height and will be the toughest horse to beat in this division. Another horse to watch will be Good Life, ridden by Scott Stewart. This beautiful bay gelding has not shown much in the hunters, but definitely has the scope, conformation, and good looks to win in this division.
Regular Working: Scott Stewart has a few horses that will be competitive in this division, including True (Champion at Devon in Second Year), Dynamic, Cool Blue, and Beyond. Grey Slipper and Louise Serio were champions at Devon and Harrisburg in the Regular Workings, so they are another hard duo to beat. Seduced and Jennifer Bauersachs may be ones that move up to this division this year after a lot of success in the Second Year Green division. Other riders that will possibly have horses in this division are Havens Schatt, Ken Smith, and Holly Orlando.
Green Conformation: Tim Goguen will most likely be back with Word for Word, who was the Green Conformation champion and Grand Hunter Champion at Harrisburg last year. His tough competition will be Scott Stewart’s Granted, who was the circuit champion in this division last year. Also keep an eye out for Game Plan, ridden by Penny Lombardo, and Truly with Scott, who was champion at Devon last year.
Second Year Green: Shachine Belle will most likely have Heart and Soul to move up to the Second Year Green Hunters this year, as will Danny Robertshaw and Island Heart. Another top competitor will be Fellini, ridden by Scott Stewart, who was the Grand Hunter Champion at Devon this year.
First Year Green: This division is nearly impossible to predict. While lots of horses will be moving up from the Pre-Green divisions, others bring new horses from around the country and from Europe to start in this division. You can count on the usual suspects to have top horses in this division, but keep an eye out for newcomers!
Amateurs, Juniors, Ponies
Amateur-Owner 18-35: Avery Dimmig and the phenomenal Due North were unbeatable in 2005. They were WEF circuit champions, reserve champions at Devon, and champions at Harrisburg and Washington. Champion at the National Horse Show was Krista Weisman with the venerable Chopard. Weisman is a threat with all of her horses. Grey Slipper and owner Bridget Hallman, who were champions at Capital Challenge, will also be a formidable pair.
Photo of Due North and Avery Dimmig by Randi Muster
Amateur-Owner 36 & Over: Caroline Moran and Pave were champions at Devon this year and reserve champions at Harrisburg. Moran can usually be found in the winner’s circle with at least one of her horses. Other pairs to watch for are Shaw Johnson Price with her two incredible horses, Reese and Costello, as well as Teri Kessler and Pavarotti. Also returning to the division will be Ellen Toon with her two famous mounts, In Disguise and Attache.
Junior Hunters: These are often tough divisions to anticipate winners in at WEF. Many of the top juniors also focus on equitation and jumpers while they are here, so they do not show as much in the hunters. The Large Junior 15 & Under circuit champions, Westcliffe and Christy Russo, are definitely returning to defend their title. Alexandra Stathis will be very hard to beat with her top horses, Davis Cup, Truly, and Cool Blue, who she purchased from Carolyn Kelly. Juniors to watch (although their mounts may vary) are Addison Phillips and Hardin Towell, who both swept the majority of the important junior hunter awards this year. I think they both got sick of seeing me come at them with a voice recorder this year because they won so much! Others to look for are: Haylie Jayne, Maggie McAlary, Maria Schaub, Sloane Coles, and Jennifer Waxman.
Pony Hunters: Kids grow fast, so often they must get new ponies every year. There is no doubt that there will be tons of new partnerships this weekend. However, you can usually count on the following riders to be at the top of their game: Schaefer Raposa, Jennifer Waxman (who was UNBEATABLE last year!), the Farish sisters, Reed Kessler, and Charlotte Jacobs.
Adult Amateur Hunters: There was only one hunter in the entire 2005 Winter Equestrian Festival that was champion every single week- Indian Summer, ridden and owned by Holly Caristo. If you want to see a true winner, check out this horse in the Adult Amateur 51 & Over division. Jennifer Reid will be competing on her two great Adult horses, Jiminy Cricket (who was champion at Lake Placid) and Bonafide. Other riders expected to return are 2005 WEF winners Vanessa Redfern, Debbie Bass, Victoria Watters, and Molly Ohrstrom. In the 3’3” division, Wendy Lewis and the fantastic Forget Paris will compete. Did I mention they will be going for their fourth WEF circuit championship?
Children’s Hunters: Last year’s circuit champion and reserve champion, Jennifer Waxman, has already moved up and has been winning in the junior hunters, so it is unlikely that she will show in the Children’s division. This is one division that will be wide open for new names.
Pre-Green Hunters: Impossible to predict, but very fun to watch for ones that are sure to make an impact in the upcoming years! I’ve heard of a few good ones, so look out for Samantha Conroy, Holly Orlando, Ken Smith, Louise Serio, and Scott Stewart.
For everyone who is in WEF, check out the new schedule, as rings for hunters have been drastically changed from last year. If you’re up north in the cold weather, check in on Monday or Tuesday for my weekly columns throughout the WEF circuit, as well as for frequent updates in the Towerheads Multimedia section for audio interviews! See you then.
Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me at [email protected].
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