Hampton Classic

September 2—Bridgehampton, N.Y.

Course designer Guillherme Jorge put a lot of thought into the number of fences he would include for the $250,000 FTI Consulting Grand Prix CSI-W at the Hampton Classic Horse Show. In fact, it wasn’t until he saw the final list of entries on the morning of the class that he made his final decision.

“At this level of competition, it’s always a very fine line between an easy course and a difficult course,” he explained. “But this is a very important class and very important prize money.”

Aug. 26—Bridgehampton, N.Y.

Molly Ashe-Cawley rode into the lead at the Hampton Classic’s $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and never looked back. Despite going last in the field of 35, Ashe-Cawley rode Kristen Abbatiello-Neff’s Kennzo to scores of 90 and 92 in the first round over Steve Stephens’ big, flowing track.

This was the first year that the class was held on the grass grand prix field, so Kennzo, a former jumper, felt right at home.

Bridgehampton, N.Y.—Sept 4

For the third year in a row, McLain Ward found himself celebrating in the Hamptons. In the wake of Hurricane Irene, on a gorgeous and sunny day over Labor Day weekend and in front of an enthusiastic crowd, Ward accepted the winning honors in the grand prix event held during the Hampton Classic.

Bridgehampton, N.Y.—Sept. 3

After the excitement of the $100,000 International Hunter Derby Finals on Aug. 19-20 in Lexington, Ky., many riders who competed there gathered again in Bridgehampton, N.Y., for the Hampton Classic’s first ever hunter derby. In a beautiful setting, the class was an aesthetically pleasing, but less physically rousing experience.

Sept. 1—Bridgehampton, N.Y.

As Samantha Schaefer contemplated coming back to compete in the $10,000 Sam Edelman Equitation Championship at the Hampton Classic Horse Show, which she won last year, her theory was that if she was going to enter the class, she might as well win it again—because anything less would be a step down.