Carolyn Kelly and Daisy Johnson Go One-Two in Junior Hunter Divisions at Monmouth County Horse Show-Julie Berman Wins Marshall & Sterling Classic

Freehold, NJ- August 20, 2005 - As the beautiful, sunny weather continued this weekend at the 110th Annual Monmouth County Horse Show, the junior hunters finished their competition in three hotly contested divisions.

The Grand Junior Hunter Champion of the week was Cool Blue, owned and ridden by 17 year old Carolyn Kelly of New York, NY. The pair was awarded the Lois R. Berardi Perpetual Memorial Trophy, an award that has been given since 1964. They were champions in the Small Junior 16-17 division. The seven year old dapple grey Hanoverian gelding won four out of five classes and was second in the fifth class. “He was really good. I always like the courses where I can go really slow and let him jump well,” Kelly remarked.

Reserve champion in the Small Junior 16-17 division was Libre and rider Daisy Johnson for WGHR Farm, who received four second places and won the remaining class. Johnson is also 17 and hails from Manhattan, but she keeps her horses stabled at Heritage Farm in Katonah, NY. She has ridden the handsome bay gelding for six years and said, “Libre is consistent. He’s always right there and jumps square. He’s always even and takes the best pictures!”

Kelly and Johnson were also the top competitors in the Large Junior Hunter division. The champion once again went to Kelly and her bold chestnut gelding Dynamic. Dynamic is also a seven year old Hanoverian and is a half brother to Cool Blue. Dynamic was second in one class today, which was added to his three first place ribbons from yesterday for the tricolor. Kelly explained the ride on Dynamic parallels that of his brother, Cool Blue. “They don’t ride the same, but they ride very similar. They both have slow gallops and are lopey. They jump very high, but they’re not hard to follow. They both jump very smoothly and are a lot of fun to ride,” she said.

Reserve champion went to Johnson and her veteran campaigner, Rio Bravo. The 13 year old chestnut gelding is a familiar face in the winner’s circle. Although he is a top show horse, Johnson stated that he is also a member of the family. “He’s a total pet. He lies down in his stall, and you can go lie on him. He’ll put his head in your lap. They feed him while he’s lying down; he won’t even get up. He’s like my dog!” she exclaimed.

In the Small Junior 15 & Under division, Davis Cup and owner/rider Alex Stathis were victorious after they finished first and second in their classes today. Yesterday, Davis Cup won two classes and was second in the remaining class. The 16 year old Stathis is from Short Hills, NJ, and won the tricolor over fellow New Jersey resident Maria Schaub of Holmdel.

Sixteen year old Schaub was the reserve champion on Sublime, owned by Stone Hill Farms of Colts Neck, NJ. “Sublime is Jessica Springsteen’s horse, so whenever she can’t make it, they’re nice enough to let me ride him,” Schaub mentioned. She and Sublime were also the winners of the Paul Miller Automotive Saab/Land Rover of Woodbridge Hunter Classic. “I was very happy with the way he went today. He’s only six years old and is so mature for a young horse. He was great in the Classic too!” she said with a smile.

In the Amateur-Owner 18-35 division, the championship went to Maverick and owner/rider Darby Mazzarisi. Reserve champion in the division was Gifted and Lee Kellogg. Lennox and Sandra Brown won all four over fences classes to give them the tricolor in the Amateur-Owner 36 & Over division. They were also awarded the Vera and William Taylor Perpetual Memorial Trophy, which has been given to the Grand Amateur-Owner Champion since 1974. Reserve champion in the division was Mombo and Maria Takacs.

$10,000 Paul Miller Automotive Saab/Land Rover of Woodbridge Hunter Classic Results

Sublime, Maria Schaub, Stone Hill Farms, Colts Neck, NJ
Maverick, Darby Mazzarisi, Columbus, NJ
The Exchange, Lauren Glowzenski, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Wedgewood, Nicole Lakin, Reading, PA
The Alturist, Laura Tobak, Pound Ridge, NY
Robin Hood, Daryl D’Anna, Mahwah, NJ
Play Money, Lauren Cechini, Flemington, NJ
Amaretto, Krista Goosens, Tewksbury, NJ

Gretchen Pacher Wins Top Equitation Honors at the 110th Monmouth County Horse Show

Gretchen Pacher outshined the other competitors today in the adult equitation ring on her mount Calixto Z, owned by The Boot Source. Pacher trains at Palermo Show Stables in Bedminster, New Jersey with her husband, Osvaldo Ornia Pacher. Today she perfectly mastered both the Ariat National Adult Medal and the Charles Owen & NJPHA Adult Medal.

The Ariat National Adult Medal course, designed by Wendy Chapot, included a sequence of single fences, a roll back, and a two-stride combination that headed towards the in-gate. After completing the course, riders were called back to test over a short version of the original course. The test asked riders to canter two fences, hand gallop the third obstacle, trot the next, and exit the ring at a sitting trot. Pacher, who tested last of the four to return, held onto her lead and came away with top honors. Jamie Salveson, who trains with Frank Hernandez, earned second place. Salveson resides in Cape May, NJ. G. Diann Petrino of Little Silver, NJ finished with the third place rosette.

Pacher rode consistently well upon her return in the Charles Owen & NJPHA Adult Medal. Similar to the Ariat Medal, the top four riders revisited the arena for a test. This challenge required exhibitors to canter the first fence, trot the second, halt, back a few steps, and canter two more obstacles. Pacher, the last to return again, aced the work off.

Maureen Henahan from Jackson, NJ received second aboard Zeus.

Pacher’s large chestnut roan “Judge” is a 10 year old Argentine cross with a very relaxed demeanor. Pacher and her husband have worked together for five years, and he is the main trainer at Palermo Show Stables. They met in Mexico after Osvaldo Ornia Pacher, who is originally from Argentina, provided a horse for Gretchen’s sister in an international competition.

Gretchen was very pleased with her ride, offering the comment, “I really enjoyed the course today. It was nice and flowing. We always have a great time at this show. You can see that everyone takes extra steps to make it nice. Between the decorations, the vendors, and the employees, this show always runs so smoothly. The management does a great job.”

Pacher is a very busy equestrian. Along with riding every day, Gretchen owns her own custom design boot store. The Boot Source is a company specializing in show boots and paddock boots made primarily out of calf skin. Pacher’s products are available through catalogues and online at www.TheBootSource.com.

The Grand Hunter ring concluded today with the $500 Marshall & Sterling Adult Amateur Hunter Classic. After completing their first round in the grass ring, competitors jumped their second rounds in the sand ring over the Jean P. Goddard designed course and faced new, heavily decorated obstacles.

Julie Berman of Juliam Farms starred in the classic today with a first round score of 79, the highest first round score. She returned for a final round and received an 82. Berman and her seal brown horse Handor F had a consistent day, winning a third and a fifth over fences in the Adult Amateur 36 & Over Hunter Division. “He was just great today,” commented Berman’s trainer Chrystine Tauber. “He is such a love. “Moose” has the personality of a black Labrador retriever! He was so consistent, and Julie rode beautifully. We had a great day.” Berman resides in Oldwick, New Jersey. Second place was awarded to Wendy Lang aboard Above the Fold. Lang and her bay live in Burlington, New Jersey.

The rated hunters are finished for the week, but tomorrow’s schedule will include local hunters and the Ladies Side Saddle classes.

Photo Credit: Maria Schaub and Sublime, Hunter Classic winners and Small Junior 16-17 reserve champions. Photo by Randi Muster.