Equitation Featured at Vermont Summer Festival

The Vermont Summer Festival kicked off its fifth week of competition with equitation riders taking center stage during the popular ‘Equitation Tuesday’ on Tuesday, August 2. The Vermont Summer Festival runs for six consecutive weeks, from July 5 through August 14, at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.

Tuesdays at the Vermont Summer Festival offer a unique opportunity for young riders and national champion hopefuls to qualify for year-end finals. The Equitation Tuesday schedule, which is held in addition to equitation offerings taking place each week, features classes ranging from the THIS Children's Medal, NEHC Junior Hunt Seat Medal, and USEF National Hunter Seat Medal to ASPCA Horsemanship and USEF Talent Search qualifiers.

“It has never been easy to win an equitation class in Vermont; a fifth-place ribbon here is often times a winning round at other shows,” said Vermont Summer Festival show manager Billy Glass, who takes pride in seeing riders achieve their qualifying goals each year at Vermont.  “It's a vehicle for equitation riders to get additional mileage and ultimately qualify for finals.”

While high-performance hunter and jumper competition welcomes well-known competitors to Vermont each summer, Glass admits that Equitation Tuesday events draw their fair share of prestige.

“Each year we see the big-name equitation trainers like Missy Clark, Val Renihan, Bobby Braswell, and Frank Madden, just to name a few,” said Glass. “We are pleased and lucky to always see high-level competition.”

Fifteen-year-old Caroline Bald of Gilford, NH, kicked off week five’s Equitation Tuesday with a blue ribbon in the THIS Children's Medal. She piloted Muskrat Love, owned by Rabbit Hill Farm, and returned on top for a four-horse test. Bald, who trains with Abigale Ferrigno of Rabbit Hill Farm, impressed in the test and held on for the win.

“I was nervous going back on top because it's a lot of pressure,” said Bald. “I have qualified for Medal and Maclay Finals so far, so my goal is to go to those and lay down solid trips. I am also hopeful that this win will help me qualify for the THIS Final as well.”

Bald has been showing in Equitation Tuesday classes since week two and appreciates the competition she has encountered, noting, “It is a nice opportunity to get points and it is a laid-back atmosphere, but it’s also good competition because a lot of the big equitation riders are here.”

Ashley Delise of Pittstown, NJ, claimed second behind Bald while Stephanie Johnson of Pembroke, MA, was third and Grace McEneaney of Newton, CT, took fourth. Zoe Kirsch of Pittstown, NJ, rounded out the top five in an 18-horse field.

Kendra Gierkink of Harpswell, ME, switched rings on Tuesday after finding success in the jumper ring during week four and won the NEHC Junior Hunt Seat Medal riding Campreoll, owned by her trainer Missy Clark of North Run. Farah Rizvi of Greenwich, CT, finished in second while Katherine Bundy of Westport, CT, took third to clinch the hat trick for North Run, based in Warren, VT. Samantha Masters of Odessa, FL, rode to fourth, and Emma Callanan of Lebanon, NJ, rounded out the top five.

As Equitation Tuesday competition continued, Billi Rose Brandner, 16, of Weston, MA, topped the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal for trainer Val Renihan aboard Zjappoo Sow, owned by Colette Cacciatore.

Brandner just made a transition to Renihan's Findley's Ridge and is focusing on her equitation.

“Equitation is the basis of all correct riding and I feel like Val is the perfect trainer to teach me that,” said Brandner. “I started the big eq about a month ago and I needed the points, so this was a really good win for me.”

When the top four riders returned for the test, Brandner nailed her sitting trot to clinch the win. Stephanie Johnson rode to second-place honors and Grace Cunningham of West Chester, PA, took third. Samantha Masters of Odessa, FL, was fourth while Grace Saad of Fair Haven, NJ, capped the top five.

Grace Cunningham topped the ASPCA Horsemanship class with her own Zion under the direction of her trainer, Troy Hendricks. Stephanie Johnson was second, Hayden Stewart of Dover, MA, took third, and Nicole Frankenfield of New Canaan, CT, placed fourth. Brandner rounded out the top five in her second top-five placing of the day.

Elizabeth McKim concluded Equitation Tuesday with a top placing in the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search with Casper van't Gestelhof for owner Patricia Garrett and trainer Bobby Braswell of Terrapin Hill. Alexa Schwatz of Scarsdale, NY, took second and Alexandra Pielet of Highland Park, IL, rode to third. Ellie Ferrigno of Newtown, CT, took fourth, while Kirsten Ostling of New Canaan, CT, was fifth.

For over 20 years, the Vermont Summer Festival has attracted exhibitors and their families to the Manchester region in southern Vermont for great competition in an ideal summer setting.  Outside the show ring, exhibitors enjoy the charm of Vermont's shopping, dining, and outdoor activities.

Competition at the 2016 Vermont Summer Festival runs weekly from Wednesday through Sunday, beginning each day at 8 a.m.  Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children from Wednesday through Friday.  On Saturday and Sunday, admission is $9 for adults and $5 for children with 100% of all gate proceeds benefiting the Manchester Community Library, Dorset Equine Rescue, Meals on Wheels.

Please e-mail or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com for more information about the Vermont Summer Festival.