Tampa, FL-April 9, 2010-The rain disappeared and the sun broke through the clouds as the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions commenced during the Tournament of Champions at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds. The Main Hunter Ring hosted the top Amateur-Owner riders as they competed for the championship ribbons in their respective divisions during the Tampa Equestrian Festival. In the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter division, Endo Fino with Lisa Arena in the irons earned the championship engraved bag and ribbon. In the Amateur-Owner Hunter division Robin Swinderman and her mount Inxs received the championship rosette.
Lisa Arena and Endo Fino secured the championship ribbon with multiple blue ribbons; including yesterday’s over fences class, handy hunter class, and today’s stake class. Adding to their blue ribbons was a second in today’s over fences and a fourth in the Amateur-Owner hunter under saddle class.
Arena was happy with Endo Fino’s performance throughout the Tournament of Champions. Earlier this week, Endo Fino and trainer Amanda Steege won the championship ribbon in the Regular Working Hunters on Wednesday.
Robert McCune designed today’s courses and each one utilized the entire Main Hunter Ring. Arena commented, “The courses have been great throughout this entire circuit. They are really rideable, particularly for the Amateur-Owners. I especially enjoyed the handy round course. I am quite new to the handy world and I am still figuring out how to finesse my turns.”
Arena and Endo Fino have been a pair since the 2008 Capital Challenge Horse Show. Before Arena owned the 12-year-old Warmblood, she had been riding Throughbreds. “When I began shopping for a horse I could not ride the one side of a Warmblood,” she laughed. “I asked my trainer Amanda what she was planning for me and then Fish was found. Amanda knew about Fish’s style and personality and she really loved him and thought he would be perfect for me. He is truly a horse of a lifetime and I am so lucky to own him. They just don’t make horses like him.”
Endo Fino has the classic hunter style over the fences and great manners. He is a sensitive horse that does not require a lot of assistance. Arena commented, “When Fish jumps over the fences I feel as if he is free jumping the fences. I am lucky to have a great horse and a wonderful trainer. Amanda is so wonderful and there is not one other team that could do a better job then her team. I am really lucky.”
After the Tampa Equestrian Festival, Arena will head home to Rochester, NY and then onto the Garden State Horse Show and Devon.
“Tampa is one of my favorite horse shows,” noted Arena. “This is a great show for the horses to travel to and see a different ring, different jumps, and different show grounds. Stadium Jumping does such a good job and I really love this show.”
Prior to the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter Division the Amateur-Owner Hunter division championship was presented to Robin Swinderman and Inxs.
To achieve their success, Swinderman and Inxs were very consistent in the Main Hunter ring. The duo almost swept the division, taking home four first place ribbons.
Swinderman and Inxs have been a pair for just over a year. Inxs was purchased from his breeder Jean Brinkman in Florida. He began his life as a dressage horse but had a talent for jumping. When Swinderman went to see the horse she knew she liked him and decided to buy him.
“Inxs is only seven years old so he’s very green and very inexperienced, but he is so natural,” said Swinderman. “This was the first time Inxs has been to this show and I was a little nervous since he is unseasoned and untraveled. He did so well though, he has such a great rhythm and a great stride so all I have to do is sit there and leave him alone.”
This is the duos first time at the Tampa Equestrian Festival. Swinderman and Inxs were circuit champions at the 2010 Hits Ocala horse show and also did well at the Jacksonville horse show. “I really enjoyed the courses today at Tampa,” she said. “They were very fun to ride and definitely used the entire ring. I also enjoyed being here because it is such a nice town with great restaurants, has the Hard Rock, and Cavalia is even here.”
After the Tournament of Champions, Swinderman and Inxs are planning to go back to Ocala and then on to Devon.
The Tournament of Champions will continue through tomorrow, April 10 at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Tomorrow’s competition will continue with the Junior Hunters competing for the division championships. At the end of the day the 2010 $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G & C Farm will be held at Raymond James Stadium.
For more information about the Tampa Equestrian Festival please visit http://www.stadiumjumping.com.
