Non Pro Hunter Riders Win Money in the Second Week of the Legacy Cup

Skiffington, Lewis, Waxman, Cone, Jayne, Price and Schall are the Big Winners in the Non Pro Divisions During the Second Week

Article and Photos by Diana De Rosa

The 3’ Non Pro division also received accolades from the riders (and surely from the horses if they could talk). Wendy Lewis (Cleveland, OH & Wellington, FL) won the Non Pro 3’ Finals (sponsored by Louise Serio/Derbydown, Inc.) riding Forget Paris. Since Lewis is an Amateur rider she also won the Amateur division and ultimately finished as the Leading Rider in the Non Pro 3’ division based on the money she won. She earned $2,097 for her rides in both the First Non Pro 3’ Go Round and Finals.

Wendy Lewis was the 20th rider to go out of the field of 26 and her 258 score on her 10-year-old, 15.3 3/4H, Selle Francais, chestnut, gelding proved to be unbeatable. Earlier in the week she wasn’t even sure they’d be competing. Her horse (who she has had since he was four) had pulled a muscle in his butt but “Dr. Steele’s acupuncture and a few days rest and relaxation did the trick,” explained Lewis, about the horse she says “is not without his idiosyncrasies. He thinks he sees things he doesn’t and he’s not easy to ride. When he’s good he’s very very good but when he’s bad he’s awful. Yet, I have a synergistic relationship with him.”

Since both Juniors and Amateurs competed together, the same results also determined the Junior winner as Alexandra Skiffington (Wellington, FL) on North Fork. Skiffington also ended up as both the Leading Non Pro Junior Rider and the Leading Non Pro Rider based on money won ($3000).

The Belcort Farm Perpetual Trophy was awarded to Cortie Wetherill, owner of Take Away, ridden by Havens Schatt. The Trophy is presented to the owner of the horse who produces the highest cumulative score during the Legacy Cup. Take Away’s winning score was 278 (out of a perfect score of 300). Additionally, Ken and Emily Smith of Ashland Farm, won the Leading Trainer Award for their student earnings of $6,850. The Non Pro Team Award, given to the barn whose students accumulate the most money in the Non Pro division, was also Ashland Farm for their students’ total winnings of $10,200. Alexandra Skiffington was one of the students that helped them earn that award.

Of course Ken and Emily and their students were proud to win this inaugural award. “We love it,” said Ken. “It’s a great award and a great competition. It’s nice to go indoors in the spring. It’s the best of the best competing here and the competition is strong. The money is nice and the courses are wonderful. The presentation is special and they cater to the exhibitors.”

Wendy Lewis overhead Ken’s accolades about the Legacy Cup and chimed in. “I love it because it caters to the hunters and it’s a show where the best hunters come. The AHJF does such a fine job, from the judges, to the staff, to the food.”