Scott Stewart’s horses tend to have several common denominators: they’re good jumpers, excellent movers but, most of all, they’re beautiful.

On this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival circuit in Florida, many of them also had another universal trait–they finished the circuit, Jan. 25-April 1, in Wellington and Tampa as champions.

Stewart, Flemington, N.J., earned four circuit championships in the saddle, and his students and equines took numerous show championships, in the pony, junior, adult and amateur divisions.

One of Stewart’s newest stars is Molly Ohrstrom’s Compliment, an 8-year-old, Oldenburg (by Rolls Royce), who earned the green conformation title. The bay was imported in December.

“I saw him when he came out of quarantine,” said Stewart. “I liked him immediately. He’s so beautiful. He looks like he should be a statue. He’s won almost every model, and he’s been champion every time out.”

Stewart hoped that Compliment would step right into a successful career, but he said when they’re newly imported you never know how such a change will affect them.

Compliment rose to the occasion, scoring an 88 in his first class. “At first, I was thinking it was too good to be true,” Stewart said, laughing. “But the great thing about him is he also jumps amazing. Sometimes the ones that look beautiful don’t always jump the best, but he does.”

Compliment ventured to the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center in Tampa with a significant lead, so Stewart showed him just the first week, where he was champion again. “This was the second ring he’d ever shown in,” said Stewart. “I didn’t think he’d be this consistent so fast, so it was great.”

Stewart still collected the green conformation tricolor at the circuit’s final show, the Tournament Of Champions, this time with Banner, a horse he owns.

Stewart purchased the 7-year-old, bay gelding from Geoff Teall at the beginning of the WEF circuit and showed him first in the first year green division. Stewart had planned for Banner to be a strip horse, but he wanted him to be fat and slick before he debuted.

“He’s always been pretty, but he hasn’t been muscled up and fat enough for the conformation classes,” Stewart said. “This week, he looked so good that I decided to do it. I’ll probably keep him in the division now. I think he belongs in it.”


Beautiful Music
Stewart and Music Street have a long and successful partnership, and they added their fourth consecutive circuit title to their collection with the second year green championship. They’d previously earned accolades in the 3- and 4-year-old pre-greens, the 3’3″ pre-greens, and the first year green division.

The Weismans have owned the 7-year-old Westphalian since he was 3. “He just gets better and better. In the second year green division, at 3’9″, he’s just realizing he’s jumping. He’s exploding off the ground,” said Stewart.

Krista Weisman has also picked up the reins on Music Street and now shows him in the amateur-owner, 18-35, division, where they took top honors at the Tournament Of Champions and earned the reserve circuit championship behind Gray Slipper and Bridget Hallman.

“I just love him. He’s so smooth, and he just does anything I ask,” she said. “He’s just so dependable now.”

Weisman, 21, began riding “Lenny” at the beginning of the circuit, first in the adult amateur division. Weisman, a sophomore at the University of Richmond (Va.), is a mathematical economics major. She spent the circuit commuting.

“It’s nice to be able to come down here and have a break from school,” she said. “I had a rough week at school this week, so this allows me a break. I go to every class when I’m at school, so my teachers have been very understanding. And I have no classes on Tuesday, so I sleep all day and recover.”

After one show in the adults with Lenny, Weisman moved right up to the 3’6″ division. “I felt really confident at the three-foot with him, so we decided he was ready–well, I felt ready. He was always ready,” she added, laughing.

Stewart’s regular working hunter Beyond took Tampa off but still garnered the circuit championship by virtue of his five championships during Wellington. The elegant, 8-year-old Hanoverian (by Graf Grannus) was originally a jumper. When Stewart saw him in the young jumper division, he fell in love with his athleticism.

“I bought him for myself to have a working hunter,” said Stewart. “When I first got him, he over-jumped, but now he’s smoothed out. He has such scope; there aren’t many horses that can jump the four-foot as well as he can.”

Close Finishes
Stewart’s student Alexandra Arute collected the small junior, 15 and under, show championship with Folklore, adding to their tricolor collection at WEF.

But the battle for circuit honors was a tight race. And it was the final day of the division that decided the championship for High Cotton and Jennifer Waxman.

Waxman, 14, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, took over the ride on Christy Russo’s flashy chestnut midway through the WEF circuit in Wellington after Jack Hardin Towell Jr. had piloted the gelding to success in the older section.

Waxman was nervous for their final classes at Tampa, knowing that the circuit title was on the line. But she had confidence in High Cotton. “He’s just my ride,” she said. “You have to keep going with him, and I really like that. He’s just so much fun.

“I’m really grateful to the Russos for letting me ride him,” added Waxman, who trains with Ken and Emily Smith. “Since I didn’t show him at the beginning, I didn’t really think about the circuit championship. It’s a big honor.”

In contrast to her nail-biting finish with High Cotton, Waxman couldn’t have been more relaxed in securing the large junior, 15 and under, circuit title with Saloon. In fact, on the first day of the division at the Tournament of Champions, she and the adorable bay gelding hung out by the ring in schooling attire, watching their competition.

“We decided not to show this week. He deserves a rest,” said Waxman as Saloon gazed off in the distance. “But I think he wants to show. He loves going to the ring.”

Waxman began leasing Whitney Roper’s Saloon at last November’s National Horse Show (Fla.), and he’s become one of her favorites. “He really knows what he’s doing,” she said. “It’s nice to know when you go in the ring that he’ll take care of you.”

Waxman, also a sought-after pony catch rider, guided Lanes End Pony Stables’ Sun Star to the large pony hunter circuit championship.
Without Saloon in the division, the championship came down to a hack-off between Wellington and Sara Green against The Winning Edge and Emily Gardner. Wellington took top honors.

Green, 15, of Sherborne, Mass., acquired the ride on Wellington during the third week of the HITS Ocala (Fla.) circuit and collected a tricolor the final week there before heading to Tampa.

Wellington, 15, is better known for his prowess in the equitation ring. The bay gelding, owned by Sara Rutenberg, has earned top ribbons in several national equitation finals.

“This year everyone in the barn had an equitation horse already,” said trainer Christina Schlusemeyer. “So we started him in the hunters. It’s a good life for him–it’s like the Washington International hunter phase every week.”

Green, who also took the show’s reserve championship in the small junior, 15 and under, division with Saxon Hill, started riding with Quiet Hill this winter at Jacksonville (Fla.). She and her sister, Rebecca Green, 30, had previously ridden with trainer David Oliynyk. They each enjoyed top ribbons at Tampa in the junior and amateur divisions.

They’re Sensational
Stewart’s circuit championship ties continued in the pony rings too, and when he combined forces with the most successful pony rider on the WEF circuit, the result was “Sunsational.”

Schaefer Raposa, 12, earned five championships and four reserve championships at the Tournament of Champions on her way to four circuit championships with the large green pony Sunsational, the medium pony Blu Venture Rainbeau, the small/medium green pony Unexpected, and the small pony Blackberry.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “I feel like I’ve become a better rider through the WEF circuit. With different ponies and different types to ride, I feel like it’s easier for me. I rode six ponies every week, so the chances were better for me to go in there and get it right.”

Raposa, who trains with Patricia Griffith and the team at Heritage Farm, was thankful to all of the owners and trainers who trusted her with their ponies, and she was especially proud of her green mounts. “It’s a good feeling when they go around so nicely,” she said.

Even though Lillie Ross was proud of her pony, TNT, it wasn’t for quite the same reasons as Raposa. Instead of looking for a nice, quiet round, Ross just wanted to go fast–really fast. The duo culminated their banner circuit with the pony jumper show championship, style award and circuit title.

“She really likes to go, and so do I,” admitted Ross. “She really likes her job. She hunts for all of the distances. When you first get on her, though, she seems slow. Then, when she figures out you’re jumping, she gets excited.”

For Ross, 11, Wheaton, Ill., this was her first experience on the WEF circuit. She began riding the Belgian Warmblood mare last summer, but their first meeting wasn’t memorable. “She ran away with me,” said Ross, laughing. “But then I tried her again later, and it went much better.”

Ross works with Thomas Cerra and Chari Klapman at home and trained with Donald Cheska during the WEF circuit.

“Thomas recommended Lillie come down,” said Allison Ross, Lillie’s mother.

“At first, we planned to come for just two weeks. But then the first week she won three classes, so we decided to stay. She’s ridden her heart out. Their determination is amazing.”

Lillie had leased TNT from owner Lee Castsy, but because of their rapport, Allison and husband Matthew are planning to purchase TNT as a present for Lillie.

“The fact that Lee’s letting us buy her is a dream come true,” said Allison. “Lillie just adores her, and the mare loves Lillie. She nickers when Lillie comes into the barn. They’re just great partners.”

Sloane Coles, one of the featured riders on Animal Planet’s “Horse Power” TV series, starred in the junior jumpers on the WEF circuit. Aboard Gotham Enterprizes’ La Movida, Coles topped the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Jumper Classic at the Tournament of Champions, and with that victory, slipped to the top of the circuit standings in the high junior jumper division. She also placed third aboard Gotham Enterprizes’ Action in the classic.

After a streak of second-placed finishes, including the previous week in the classic, Coles was thrilled with her blue ribbon. “I had a good feeling going into today,” she said.

“I was fortunate to go last on La Movida in the jump-off,” she added. “I was already leading on Action, but Miasha [Fisher on Tango] had just beaten my time. I knew I didn’t have to fly, but I knew to the last jump I could pick up the pace.”

Coles’ plan worked perfectly, and the last proved to be the best. “She’s a great horse,” said Coles. “You can put her deep or long. She’s just so adjustable.”

Coles, 17, The Plains, Va., is a junior at Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Va., and is in The Exemption For Exceptional Proficiency Program. In this program, Coles, an honors student, is allowed to pursue a passion, such as showing, if it’s deemed to be a productive experience that will help her in life. Coles noted that in Florida she spends as much time with her tutor as she does riding.

Coles trains with Beacon Hill but picked up the ride on Georgina Bloomberg’s two jumpers for the circuit and trained under the watchful eye of Jimmy Doyle. With her own new mount Louisiana, Coles has her sights set on some junior jumper goals.

“My goal is to do well in the highs, and I’ll hopefully have Louisiana through the year and for the North American Young Riders Championships,” she said. “Riding [La Movida and Action] has been so helpful for my riding. George was so nice to give these two horses for me to show–it’s been such a privilege.”

Perfect Harmony
Carol Cone has a great partner in her Harmony Bay. And in one of the most competitive sections of the WEF circuit, the adult amateur, 51 and over, division, Cone shined aboard her two mounts, Harmony Bay and Glory Road.

With her trip to Tampa, she sewed up the circuit title with Harmony Bay, winning three of the four classes at the Tampa Bay Classic for the championship. As icing on the cake, Cone’s newest mount, Glory Road, earned the reserve circuit title with top ribbons in Tampa.

“I had an absolutely magical circuit, winning championships in eight sections at seven shows, with two reserves as well,” said Cone. She’d been circuit champion in this division in 2002 and 2003 with October Sky, but “it gets harder and harder every year, as the horse quality exponentially grows in our division.”

Cone, Weston, Mass., was thrilled with Glory Road (by Pour Grange), a warmblood she purchased just before the WEF circuit started. “He’s out of a mare by Rio Grande, so he has that great Rio blood in him, like Rio Renoir and Eye Remember Rio. And he looks like those horses too–blood bay, white socks and white blaze. And he as a great personality–he loves his treats!”

Harmony Bay, 15, a Swedish Warmblood stallion (by Electro), also won the adult amateur grand championship. Cone topped 230 adult amateur competitors for the award, and “Whiskie” earned the Kenya Perpetual Memorial Trophy, given to the high-point adult amateur, 51 and over, competitor for the WEF circuit.

“I’m so honored to have won all of this in such tremendous competition,” said Cone. “It truly takes a team effort to accomplish this type of performance, from my trainers Tim and Kelly Goguen, to their team of eight grooms. And, of course, my most important supporter and best fan, my husband, Harry Silverman.”

Tournament Tidbits
• In his first appearance in the regular working hunter division, Amelia McArdle’s MVP swept the division at Tampa, scoring two tricolors with Nora Fredrickson in the irons.

• Scott Stewart’s influence even entered the adult amateur ranks, when student Carolyn Anderson, topped the adult amateur, 36-50, division aboard Romanze on the WEF circuit.

• Wendy Lewis and Forget Paris earned their fourth WEF circuit championship in the adult amateur, 3’3″, division.

• After a lengthy hiatus from the show ring, Betty Oare’s champion hunter Estrella returned to action in Tampa. The bay mare topped the adult amateur, 3’3″, division at the Tournament Of Champions.

• Robin Swinderman and her old friend Storyteller reunited at the Tournament Of Champions and earned the adult amateur, 36-50, division championship. Owner Laura Yorke was injured and couldn’t show the flashy gelding.

• After a five-year break from showing, Kaley Pratt returned to the ring in March. At the Tournament Of Champions, she earned the adult amateur, 18-35, division championship with Daisy Mae, a catch-ride from Rolling Acres Show Stables.

• Ellen Toon repeated her WEF circuit championship in the amateur-owner, 36 and over, division, but this year it was aboard In Disguise, while last year’s winner, Attache’, earned the reserve circuit title.

• Laura Chapot and Sprite won the Acorn Hill Farm Speed Challenge series for the third consecutive year. The petite gray mare also earned the 1.40-meter circuit championship for the third time.