New York City—Sept. 24
In some hunter classes, riders might fret over a spooky panel or extra greenery around a particular fence. In the $50,000 Duchossois Cup, riders have fences modeled after the five New York City boroughs, brightly colored and beautifully decorated, and then plenty of atmosphere to contend with too. But according to class winner Kelley Farmer, who piloted Nine Moore’s Kodachrome to an overall score of 176 after two hunter classic rounds, the horses didn’t mind a bit.
“The jumps were inviting, and they jumped in good style,” she said. “He’s a lovely, lovely animal, and he’s done nothing but try to be amazing since I got him. I’m very lucky to be able to have a horse like that to ride, and an owner like this who likes to come see it and likes to support it. For them to put on this event, it’s amazing.”
Course designer Bobby Murphy collaborated with artist Tracy Oberc, who painted all the fences, and L.A. Pomeroy, who provided inspiration for the jumps, for the unique setup in the ring. The side of the fences the horses jump are more traditional than the back sides the spectators see.
“The jumps look beautiful, but the horses really wanted to jump them for the most part,” said John Bragg, who rode Ann Thornton’s Early August to third in the class. “It was pretty inviting for them. It wasn’t about being scary.”
Liza Boyd earned second place (175) aboard Stella Styslinger’s O’Ryan, a 14-year-old horse who also competed in the $2,500 junior/amateur-owner classic with Styslinger.
Liza Boyd and O’Ryan jump over the Staten Island fence. Photo by Ann Glavan.
“I felt like I rode better because I knew the ring this year,” said Boyd, who competed last year too. “I felt like I had a feel for it. The corners are a little short, and I knew to change my ride a little bit. All the horses amazed me; that these hunters come into this atmosphere and go as well as they do. The walk from the schooling ring is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. You feel very special as riders. Hunter riders appreciate this.”
Farmer’s mount has been on quite a successful USHJA International Hunter Derby tour lately, but for owner Moore, it was even more special to see her horse—and hunters in general—featured in the ring in New York.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s kind of a fairytale,” she said. “To be lucky enough to get invited and have sponsors like the the Gochmans [who sponsored the class] who do this—you don’t get to see this at horse shows. The support they’re giving this industry is incredible. To bring it to the public like this, it’s kind of a fairytale. It’s really a neat thing to have happened.”
Kelley Farmer and Kodachrome jump the Manhattan fence. Photo by Ann Glavan.
Hannah Isop and Believe jumping the Bronx-themed fence. Photo by Ann Glavan.
See pictures of more of the fences.
Coretz Clinches Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic
Mindy Coretz thought she was taking some off from competing to finish her final semester . Then, she developed a new plan for her gelding, Happy Hour.
“I got my horse home, had him switched into steel shoes so he could have some time off, have some turnout, and about 24 hours later, I saw something promoting the Chicago Hunter Derby,” said Coretz. “I was like OK, if I can’t do Indoors, maybe I can find another fun little outing. As it turns out, I made Chicago happen, and then I tied it into coming here for this class. I heard so many good things about it last year, and my horse this year has matured so much. He’s done some really amazing things for me, and I thought it was a good time to give it a try.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Mindy Coretz and Happy Hour. Photo by Ann Glavan.
Coretz—who usually rides with Libby Barrow in Tulsa, Okla., but trained with Hope Glynn here—and Happy Hour topped the nine-pair class.
“There’s nothing like riding here,” she said. “Forget riding in there, before you even get on the horse, there’s nothing like just being here—walking behind the green barricades, and people taking pictures. Then you get on in the schooling ring, and all these onlookers are crowding around to get a glimpse of these horses and reaching across to say hi, and the same thing walking to the ring. Then you finally walk into this ring, and you have the New York City skyline behind you, and it’s unbelievable.”
In the $1,000 medium/large pony hunter classic, Zola Thompson won aboard Elegance. The pony riders could choose their own music for the round, and Thompson selected Jay Z’s “Empire State Of Mind.”
Zola Thompson and Elegance. Photo by Ann Glavan.
“I really liked it because I wanted something that related to New York,” said Thompson, who trains with Jack Towell and Liza Boyd. “It was a little bit of an old song, but my mom and I were looking, and she found it, and I liked it, and I thought it would go well with the course.”
