The big prize money of the day went to Addison Reed aboard Reed Training & Sales, LLC’s Goliath for their win in today’s $15,000 1.35m Welcome.

Of the nineteen horse and rider teams, Reed sat in the enviable last to go position. With a second-round time set at 46 seconds, Marylisa Leffler and Rolling Acres’ ZaZa Z held the lead with their fault free 31.669 seconds second round.

“I saw David [Matisz] go earlier in the class [riding David Matisz, LLC’s Nero Uno] and he was very efficient. He wasn’t too outrageously quick, but he was very tidy,” said Reed.

“I knew Marylisa and Zaza Z were going before me and I glanced at the board when I was in the warm up arena. I saw that she beat David’s time and I knew I needed to go faster than David did. Marylisa and Zaza are so fast! I saw where David had taken his time on the course, and I basically trimmed it back for us and I got really lucky on the last fence. Of course, I like to go as fast as I can and jump clean, but I think if you focus too much on beating the other riders, that’s where the ‘wheels’ can come off,” she said. “I just try to do our best and focus on what works best for me and my horses,” she added.

RTS has owned Goliath for about five years. “When we get new horses in, we all ride them to see who gets along best. I was just the lucky one with Goliath. He’s a great horse and I think he’s getting ready to hit his prime,” she said.

Final placings had Leffler and Zaza Z in second place with their clear second round time of 31.66 seconds and third was awarded to Davis Matisz and Nero Uno for their fault free second round in 34.614 seconds.

Hugh Turner aboard Sandra Ruiz’ My Precious earned a fourth place finish for their fault free second round in 36.504 seconds and Jackson Shurtz rode Jeanne Mccusker’s Imago Z to a fifth place finish for their clear second round in a time of 36.658 seconds.

Laura Gaither earned a sixth place aboard Savannah Welch’s Carnlea Premier with their four fault second round in a time of 33.185 seconds. Independence, owned by Sabrina Hellman and ridden by Tiffany Cambria finished in seventh place for their four fault second round in 35.029 seconds.

Lindsay Simmons Beale rode her own 007 D’O to an eighth place finish, Estella Bonanni earned a ninth placing with her own Lilly Pezy and Abby Grabowski wrapped up the class in tenth place with her own Quantum Trost 3.

"I think the course was fair and well-built with enough questions. But I also think it was reasonable for the horses in the class here. It was very welcoming,” Reed added. “This is our first show back after competing this winter and we like to take a moment and get reorganized. We’re all getting back into the swing of things. I rode my 5-year-old in the 1.10 m and he was clean, I rode my customers’ horses this morning and they did well and overall RTS had a great day,” she added.

For more information, visit horseshowsonline.com.

Riley King's Authentiek won today's USHJA Green Incentive 3'/3/3". According to Tracy Brennan, Tom’s wife and business partner at Vineyard Haven, they got Angus [Authentiek] about a year ago and he will be turning eight this year. “He has turned out to be a super horse. He’s quiet and unassuming and yet when he walks into the ring, you just say wow-he is impressive, and he continues to impress us.”

Angus was purchased for Riley King, who after a very successful junior career, headed off to college at Virginia Tech. Tracy Brennan had been teaching Riley since she was nine years old. “Riley is very special to our family,” commented Tracy. “It’s been a joy to watch her grow up and now ride as an adult. Her attitude is incredible. When we got Angus, we thought it would be a great opportunity for us to work with him and although Riley is in college, she steps in whenever she can to ride him. Angus has been perfect for her and it’s nice to watch that sort of relationship develop.”

“The Kings, John and Suzanne, are incredible and own Kingland Stables where we run our business, Vineyard Haven. We’ve been there for about five years, and they have been so supportive of Riley and us; we truly appreciate them.”

Tom and Tracy have an almost three-year-old daughter. “If she grows up to be anything like Riley, that would be awesome,” she said.

For more information, please visit horseshowsonline.com.

The Lexington Spring Premiere is underway and wraps up on Sunday, April 30th. Immediately following is the Lexington Spring Encore, the second installment of the Virginia Festival of Champions, May 3-7th. Entries are still being accepted and you can enter online.

The final installment of the Festival of Champions is the Lexington National August 9-13, so mark your calendars now.

Sponsorship opportunities and vendor applications are available. Vendors-reserve your space soon before they are all gone! 

The Festival of Champions benefits the Virginia Horse Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.



Photo credits: Teresa Ramsay