If Glen Senk were to set his mind on becoming the President of the United States, you can rest assured that the color of his next residence would be white.

So it was no surprise to his friends when Senk clinched the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit championship and reserve titles in the adult amateur, 36-50, division after tricolor performances at the Tournament Of Champions, April 3-7 in Tampa, Fla.

“We weren’t really going for the circuit championship,” noted trainer Scott Stewart, who shares the duties with Ken Berkley in Flemington, N.J. “But when Glen saw that he had a shot, we decided to go to Tampa.”

It turned out that Senk, 50, Philadelphia, Pa., had a WEF circuit to remember. In addition to sweeping his division with True and Dynamic, respectively, Senk’s professional career in retail soared to new heights in March when he was nominated as the new CEO of Urban Outfitters Inc., the parent company of the clothing stores Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People. The Board of Directors is expected to officially name Senk the CEO on May 22, which means he’ll then have 8,500 employees to oversee.

“I love what I do,” said Senk, who admitted he essentially works seven days a week. “When I come here to the horse shows it’s the only time my mind’s completely off my work. I love my animals that much. If I didn’t show anymore, I would still ride.”

Senk took a break from showing to establish his career and began competing again with the help of a horse named Laredo, whom he purchased three years ago. Laredo was originally imported as a jumper and had a successful career before he became a show hunter.

“He was Ken’s grand prix horse and won his last grand prix at age 18,” said Senk, who earned ribbons at the Tournament Of Champions with the now 21-year-old warmblood. “He really helped me get back my riding ability. He will do anything for me; he could jump a car.”

Senk earned his first WEF circuit title with the Belgian Warmblood True, the horse with whom he shares the closest bond. He purchased True (Latano—Calata) as a pre-green horse and watched him rise through the divisions before taking the reins himself after True’s second year green season.

“We joke that he picked me,” said Senk smiling. “I don’t know why he loves me, but he does. We have a connection that’s extraordinary. He’s the kindest and sweetest horse in the world. All he wants to do is please me. He’ll be with me forever.”

Senk’s other star mount is Dynamic, the flashy chestnut that also occasionally contests the four-foot division with Stewart. Dynamic, formerly owned by Carolyn Kelly, was a top junior hunter when Senk purchased him last year. True and Dynamic came up the ranks together and often competed against one another, with the results going back and forth.

“Dynamic is a completely different type of horse. He’s a clown,” said Senk. “He’s not hard, but it took a lot for me to figure him out. We’ve come a long way—I fell off of him twice here last year. The feeling he gives you in the air is amazing—you feel like you’re up there forever. He’s one of those horses that makes four-foot look easy.”

For Senk, riding and showing is his one passion in life other than his career, and he’s discovered a way to balance them both so they complement each other. He only rides on the weekends, and this year his primary goal was to ride consistently well, not necessarily to win every class. His consistency paid off as he earned five championships and multiple reserves on the 10-week circuit.

When it’s time for Senk to return to business, he follows a similar path in his professional life. “I’ve always wanted to run a business, but I’m not a 10-year planner, for instance,” he said. “I had cancer in 1989 and learned to live day by day. I want to love what I do. That’s what’s important in life—doing what makes you happy. And I love my life.”

Stewart’s Stars
Stewart is also one who enjoys his work, and this year he truly liked the results he and his students accomplished as collectively they earned six circuit championships. Senk accounted for one while Berkley guided Sambalino to the pre-green division championship for owner Gina Day.

Stewart accounted for two with his green hunters, Ovation and West Point. He topped the first year division with Ovation, a 6-year-old, Brandenburg gelding he imported last fall. Initially, Stewart believed the bay would contest the pre-green division this year, but after one week in the 3’3″ division, he moved him up to the 3’6″ and never looked back.

“He’s so easy and quiet. He was amazing,” said Stewart. “I was actually shocked every time I went around. I figured he’d be for next year, but he stepped up and did [the 3’6″] better than I ever expected.”

Stewart’s green conformation titlist West Point, 7, a Bavarian Warmblood, has been in the family for five years. The Weismans purchased him just before the Florida circuit started, and his next career move will be into the amateur-owner division.

“As a 4- and 5-year-old he overjumped, so I gave him an extra year. He just tried too hard,” said Stewart. “Now he’s figured it out and is a beautiful jumper and so quiet.”

Student Alex Stathis added the small junior, 16-17, division tricolor to their collection, while Ballou and Victoria Colvin clinched the small pony circuit championship by virtue of their reserve tricolor at the Tournament of Champions.

Colvin, 9, of Wellington, Fla., said the secret to Ballou’s success is the bedtime ritual they strictly adhere to. “We always feed him six carrots every night,” said Colvin smiling. “He’s a really fun pony to ride, and I love him very much.”

Colvin also guided Stewart’s medium pony Love U Too to the circuit reserve championship after earning the reserve championship at the Tournament Of Champions. And she rode Stewart’s Promise to the small/medium green pony championship.

Schaefer Raposa, 12, also shared top honors in the pony hunter divisions at the Tournament Of Champions and rode three ponies for Grand Central and three for Nikki Carr. She guided RosMel’s Millennium to the small pony championship and swept the large pony division with Emerson and Notorious R, respectively. By virtue of his added points at the show, Emerson clinched the reserve circuit championship.

Raposa picked up the ride on Emerson, 7, this winter after he completed his green year with Samantha Schaefer. “I thought he was really good—he’d never been here before,” she said. “I thought the first day he might be a little spooky—he’s still a little green—but he was great.”

Under the watchful eye of her mother and trainer, Kara Raposa, Schaefer has developed a partnership with the black Welsh (Vita Nova’s Celesro—Thrianta Nathalie) owned by Grand Central.

“In the beginning I had to get used to him. He has an enormous stride,” said Schaefer. “I feel like I’m going in slow motion, but the more I rode him the more I learned. And now I know that no matter how slow it feels, you’re never too far from the jumps. He’s always going to jump great.

“My ponies were all awesome this circuit,” added Schaefer, who earned three WEF circuit reserve championships. “I had a lot of fun.” In addition to Emerson, Raposa’s other circuit reserve champions included Top Notch in the small/medium green pony division and Aladdin in the large green pony division.

Toon Time
J.T. Farm and Jim and Ellen Toon, South Salem, N.Y., enjoyed their most successful WEF circuit to date in part because they were together for a change.

For the past six years, Jim remained up North with his students and horses while Ellen spent the winter in Florida, commuting back and forth. But this year the family escaped the winter weather and enjoyed three WEF circuit titles under balmy skies with the pre-green Tayfoon, the second year green hunter Avalon and amateur-owner star Attache’.

Ellen, 50, had a trio of talented mounts in the amateur-owner, 36 and over, division and earned the WEF circuit championship and reserve titles with Attache’ and Invincible, respectively. And at the Tournament Of Champions, she achieved the same sweep in the division with Attache’ and In Disguise.

“This has been a great circuit,” she said smiling. “I’ve never been in this position before with three horses. I didn’t show all three horses each week, but gave each one time off during the circuit.”

This was Ellen’s fourth consecutive WEF circuit title and her second with Attache’ (Cheenook—Grace), who also topped the field in 2005.

“I call him my rock. He’s very solid in every way,” said Ellen of the 11-year-old Oldenburg. “He was never meant for me—[In Disguise] was laid up when I tried him—but we’ve developed a wonderful partnership.”

Perhaps her most famous mount is In Disguise, nicknamed “Odie,” the Chronicle’s 2004 Show Hunter of the Year, who’s had a light show schedule the past few years but rises to the occasion when it counts. At the Tournament Of Champions, he prevailed in two over fences classes for the reserve ribbon and had earned the championship the previous week at the Tampa Bay Classic.

“He was ready,” said Ellen laughing. “No matter how long he’s been off, he knows the drill. He does it so naturally and well. We have to make him feel like he’s the king.

“I’m so glad that Odie’s back,” she added. “He feels better than ever, and I feel better than ever with him. He’s in a new place, and I find him more confident. But maybe he hasn’t changed—I’ve changed. The more you go in the ring the better you ride.”

Her third mount, Invincible, 7, a first year green hunter, does double duty in the amateur-owner division. “He scored 91 in the first year greens this week, which was a highlight, and he was reserve champion this week with Jim,” said Ellen. “He’s a young horse and is green, but he’s always on your side. He’s the best kind of green—he wants to do it.”

Although she was thrilled with her ribbons, she was happiest that she didn’t accrue as many frequent flier miles as she has in the past. “This was the first year I didn’t stress about being away from my family,” said Ellen, the mother of two children, Phillip, 9, and Michael, 19 (now in college). “Having my family together at the end of the day made all the difference,” she said.

Sheila Motley, the amateur-owner, 18-35, WEF circuit champion, collected the airline miles that Toon left behind. Motley, 27, an event planner from Charlottesville, Va., made the commute to show her new mount, Socially Speaking, and relied on her team of supporters—at Lane Chane Farm—to keep the bay gelding prepped for the ring.

Motley and “Ralphie” began their partnership at Littlewood (Fla.) during the pre-circuit shows, where they also earned the circuit title. Motley purchased the 7-year-old warmblood, in his first year green year, last December as a project. She named him Socially Speaking to coincide with her other amateur mount, Social Secretary.

“He has a heart of gold,” said Motley. “We started at Littlewood, and he’s risen to the occasion and taken over the top spot. It was a pleasant surprise. He just wants to be good every time. I think he got a ribbon in every class. It’s fun to have one so consistent.”

Motley also enjoyed having Ralphie compete in the green conformation division with Avery Dimmig at Tampa and with Liza Towell Boyd in Wellington, two professionals she grew up showing with in the juniors.

“It was so much fun having them show him,” she said. “They’re my good friends, and the great thing about this business is you make great friends. We’ve come full circle, and it’s fun to give them the opportunity to show my horses.”

Clara Lindner, All Seasons Farm, Cincinnati, Ohio, also enjoyed two mounts in the amateur-owner, 18-35, division and earned the WEF circuit reserve championship aboard In The Black. Her newest mount, Hush, earned tricolor honors with Nicole Simpson at the Tournament Of Champions in the first year green division.

Lindner purchased Hush from amateur rider Polly Cooley during the Wellington stop on the circuit, and in their first show together they topped the division.

“The match with Clara is amazing,” said trainer Tom Wright. “The first time Clara got on High Hearts [her champion junior hunter], I knew it was special. I think when she got on this horse it was similar. There was an immediate connection, and it was obvious to everyone. This is a very exciting horse.”

It’s Showtime
Jennifer Reid was also thrilled with her Showtime, the horse she began leasing for the WEF circuit and who carried her to the adult amateur, 18-35, championship at the Tournament Of Champions and the WEF reserve circuit honors.

Reid, 24, Wellington, Fla., first saw Playtime looking out over his stall door at Gary Duffy’s barn in Ithaca, N.Y. “It was love at first sight,” she said with a grin. “I just had to have him.”

So with help from Bainbridge Farm owner Richard Schechter, for whom she also shows horses, Reid leased “Charlie” from Stacee Scott for the Florida circuit.

“He’s the most consistent horse,” said Reid of the 9-year-old warmblood. “He’s very steady and quiet and jumps great. He also has a lot of ring appeal. He’s surpassed every expectation I had for him, although I knew he would do well. You never really know until you get into the ring in Florida.”

Reid, an interior decorator, is currently changing her focus and plans to return to college to further her studies. She’s applied to Mt. Holyoke (Mass.) for the fall semester. “I’m looking forward to going back to school and taking a little bit of a break from horses, although I’ll still keep riding,” she said. “I’ve had three
horses in the adults each week and have shown in the pre-greens, so it’s been a busy circuit.”

Junior rider Maria Schaub is also looking ahead to changes in her life. This WEF circuit marked her final stint in Florida as a junior, and she’s going to attend Rutgers University (N.J.) next fall for a business and equine studies path.

Unlike other freshmen, however, Schaub will step into her first year at college with a definite plan. “I know this is what I’m doing with my life, the horses,” she said. “It feels good to know that. Rutgers is close to Beacon Hill, so it will be easy for me to keep up my professional [riding career] and college career.”

Schaub, 17, made her final junior appearance in Tampa a winning one when she guided E.L. Raymond to the small junior, 16-17, division championship under the tutelage of Beacon Hill trainers Frank and Stacia Madden.

After a year off from the show ring, “Ray” returned for the WEF circuit and made his presence known with a tricolor in Wellington and Tampa. “It’s so nice to have him back in action,” said Schaub of Abigail Quirk Cooper’s chestnut gelding. “He’s got all of the qualities of a great hunter, and I’m very fortunate to be able to ride him.

“Actually, I’ve been very fortunate my last year to have so many wonderful opportunities,” said Schaub who also won the R.W. Ronnie Mutch WEF Equitation Championship and earned top ribbons in the high junior jumpers aboard Marga. “And I’m grateful to my parents for sending me here.”
 
Although she was reflective of ending her junior career, Schaub said she has nothing but great memories. “I’m ready. I can’t wait to move on,” she said. “There’s so much more ahead of me.”

Tyme For A Winning Debut
Abby Gates may have been making her first Winter Equestrian Festival appearance at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center in Tampa, Fla., but she made her presence known at the Tournament Of Champions.

Gates, 23, Riverview, Fla., galloped her Change Of Tyme to victory in the adult amateur jumper classic and earned the adult amateur jumper championship with an additional blue ribbon the previous day.

The pair went second-to-last in the order and jumped double clear, slashing more than 2 seconds off the leading time. “She’s naturally quick around the corners. Our big challenge is to go clean, because she’s always fast,” said Gates. “We did all of the inside turns to everything, and stayed tight.”

After her victory, Gates and “Tyme” modeled the winning cooler while chatting with friends. Gates was enjoying every moment. “This is the biggest show I’ve done. This [victory] means that we’ve got what it takes to ride with the big dogs,” said Gates laughing.

Gates, a graduate of the University of Florida, lives in two worlds—she’s employed in an accounting office and also resides and works at Crosspoint Farm with trainers, Reggie Sayat and Tammy Priest. The 13-year-old, Thoroughbred cross mare was born, bred, raised and trained on their farm. Gates purchased Tyme five years ago and first tried the hunter ring with the mare. This is their second year in the adult jumper division.

“The hunters were a struggle for her,” said Gates. “Then, when we started doing the little jumpers she was so fast. We realized that’s where she wanted to be, so it’s worked out pretty nice.”

Gates was especially grateful for the backing she received from her friends from Crosspoint, which is about 15 minutes from the show grounds. “There were about 15 people from the barn here cheering me on,” she said. “On their day off from school [Friday], they came out to watch me. They’re so supportive, and that really helps.”

Tournament Tidbits
• Jennifer Waxman, 15, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and Saloon earned their second consecutive large junior, 15 and under, WEF circuit championship. In addition, with Waxman’s expert guidance in the large green pony division, Ashland Farm’s Malibu topped the small/medium green pony circuit race.

• Carol Cone, Weston, Mass., and Harmony Bay also duplicated last year’s WEF honors in the adult amateur, 51 and over, division and the grand adult amateur championship. The 16-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion “jumped as sharp in the last show here as the first. People who see him can’t believe his age,” said Cone.

• Laura Chapot and Sprite won the Acorn Hill Farm Speed Challenge series for the fourth consecutive year. Chapot and the petite gray mare won the final 1.40-meter class at the Tournament Of Champions to clinch the title, and Chapot also claimed second aboard Cilthe Z.

• Taylor Ann Adams, Eads, Tenn., was one of the busiest and most successful junior riders at the Tournament Of Champions. Riding for trainers Bill Schaub and Don Stewart Jr., the 13-year-old collected ribbons in the pony, junior and equitation rings, including the medium pony hunter championship with Sassafras Silver and the large green pony championship and reserve with Thank Heavens and Chase The Rain, respectively. She also won the USEF Medal and ASPCA Maclay classes aboard Fortino.

• The McCardle family of Barrington Hills, Ill., enjoyed blue-ribbon results when Abigail, 12, topped the children’s jumper classic and earned the show championship with Calvin, and older sister Amelia, 16, earned the WEF circuit reserve championship and show reserve championship with MVP in the small junior, 16-17, division.