Sovereign Farms’ Andiamo attracted plenty of attention each time he cantered around the hunter ring; the same way he’s done for the past three weeks of the HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, Calif. And sticking to his own winning ways, John French convincingly rode the flashy 7-year-old Westphalian to decisive second year green and regular working hunter championships today, Feb. 8.
After two reserve championships for regular hunters in weeks 1 and 2 and last week’s second year green hunter tricolor, Andiamo seems a shoo-in for at least one mid-circuit championship to be announced on Sunday.
French and Andiamo produced appealing and leisurely performances thanks to the horse’s large natural stride, and judges also rewarded accordingly for his consistent and lofty jump.
“I actually have to go so slow with him to make the lines in the right amount of strides,” said French. “He’s just such a pretty a hunter, I think he’s right where he needs to be.”
So as this week’s divisions progressed, the walls of Waldenbrook stables continued to become more and more swathed in blue and tricolored ribbons. Andiamo took four class victories from second year hunters and two from regular working altogether.
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Owners Gordon and Karen Leak of Sovereign Farms were thrilled. “He’s such a genuine horse,” said Gordon of Andiamo. “He’s so soft and quiet he doesn’t even needs to be longed much. He’s been a real pleasure to have in the family.”
In the hunter ring next door, San Morino showed his true colors again this year. He added two more blue ribbons to yesterday’s wins with Jack Hammond in the irons. And at the end of the day, Hammond and San Morino walked away with the first year green hunter tricolor.
This 7-year-old gelding earned pre-green and adult amateur circuit championships from last year’s Desert Circuit with Hammond and owner Ann Lindwall, respectively. And though he can still be slightly spooky, Hammond said, “it actually works to your advantage as he gives that little extra spark at the jump. He jumps with beautiful form, but also jumps with a lot of height—even at three-foot he did.”
And San Morino’s appealing conformation and loftiness are consistent to boot, said trainer Norah Ross. When she went to Germany to see him two years ago, “I called Ann and said, ‘he’s the best horse I’ve ever seen,’ ” Ross remembered.
