Colorado Circuit Opener Features Several Versatile Riders

It's not like Rachel Boggus (Michael Dennehy, trainer) has time on her hands. In addition to riding and showing three horses across all the divisions, the amateur rider also is completing the last year of her anesthesiology residency at the University of Colorado Medical Center.

"I don't have a lot of free time," Rachel admits. "When I do, I am riding and showing. It's really hard for me to stay away and sometimes that means very long days with very little sleep but I wouldn't have it any other way."

Rachel's hard work paid off during the Colorado Circuit Opener (July 7-11) at the Colorado Horse Park where she competed in three rings. She earned good ribbons  in the Adult Amateur Jumpers with her newest mount, Weidam. She also was champion in the Low Amateur Owner Hunter section aboard her Rhythmical and in the Adult Equitation 18-35 division riding Quinaro (Nick Gegen, owner).

"This is by far the nicest batch of horses I've ever had in my life," Rachel said. "They all are really talented at what they do and I couldn't be happier."

When talking about Rhythmical, Rachel noted how low-maintenance he is. In fact, she marvels at how little preparation it takes to get the horse to the show ring, noting they only jump a little bit when at home.

However, Rachel's main goal for the season is to qualify for the Capital Challenge, which shouldn't be too hard considering she currently sits second in the national rankings. Achieving that goal, however, has meant a lot of lessons without stirrups on top of learning how to ride a "replacement horse" brought in when her horse hurt his suspensory back in March. Finding Quinaro was a stroke of luck.

"When my horse got hurt, my friend suggested I contact Nick. Quinaro is the best equitation horse! He is simply wonderful and I am so glad that I am able to lease him through the Capital Challenge."

Another "three-ring competitor" during the Circuit Opener was Kristen Vanderveen (Keith Vanderveen, trainer), who not only rode to second place in the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search but also had some young horses going in the Pre-Green Hunters. However, the biggest thrill for the 21-year-old was winning the $7,500 Open Jumper Classic aboard Bull Run's Alpha & Omega (Bull Run Jumpers One, LLC).

"We imported this horse from Germany two years ago and haven't looked back," Kristen said.

She admits she had an advantage in the class in that she had two chances for the win. Her other mount, Bull Run's La Bamba (Bull Run Jumpers One LLC, owner), was clear both rounds. Knowing that Bull Run's Alpha & Omega was the faster of the two, she pushed hard in the jump-off securing a more than two-second lead over the next fastest competitor.

"It was great," Kristen exclaimed. "And what a fun course! The ring was used very well with hard enough lines and a terrific use of the hills. The course designer (Jack Robson) did a very good job."

John Pearce took the top two slots in the $25,000 High Prairie Grand Prix. Chianto was first and Son of a Gun (both owned by Forest View Farm) finished second. Amateur rider Guy McIlvain (John McConnell, trainer) came in third on Rancho Corazon's Waragi and Kristen Vanderveen finished in fourth with Bull Run's Alpha & Omega.

"We were clean in the first round but pulled a rail in the jump-off," Kristen said. "Still, I was pleased with our finish."