Lee Cesery Triumphs in Kilkenny Insurance Amateur-Owner Hunters

Wellington, FL - December 1, 2005 - After yesterday’s cloud cover, exhibitors welcomed today’s morning sun into the 122nd National Horse Show and Family Festival’s Rost Arena. The day began with the Kilkenny Insurance Amateur-Owner Working Hunter divisions, sponsored by Kilkenny co-owners Michael and Laura Whitlow.

Laura Whitlow, who manages the paperwork operations, marketing and advertising, and sponsorships of Kilkenny Insurance, presented awards in the arena and stood ringside to take photographs of customers for company advertisements.

“We started sponsoring the Amateur-Owner division during the Winter Equestrian Festival Circuit eleven years ago,” explained Whitlow. “When the National came down to the Wellington show grounds, we decided to follow up and continue sponsoring the same division. We have a lot of customers and clients in all of the divisions at the horse shows, but we chose to specifically contribute to the Amateur-Owner division at the National as a follow up to the circuit.”

“Part of the reason we started to sponsor the Amateur-Owners and some of the other hunter divisions is because we wanted to give the amateur-owners a little more recognition,” added Whitlow. “The professionals get a lot of coverage. I feel like the amateur-owners have come up from the ranks. I wanted to give them some of the same recognition that the jumpers were getting.”

An established equestrian herself, Whitlow understands the dedication and talent involved in the show arena. “I have been riding and showing since I was a teenager,” she reported. “I grew up outside of Cleveland, Ohio and went on the road and showed. I also showed while in school at Lake Erie College.” Her husband, Michael Whitlow, also rides and shows jumpers. “Right now he’s not showing because the insurance business takes up a lot of our time,” she asserted. “During circuit we’re really busy for the four or five months that we’re down here doing sponsorship, and we spend a lot of time at the show grounds every day so that we can stay in touch with customers and their horses. It’s a little hectic, so we do ride every day when we can fit it in.”

In the Kilkenny Amateur-Owner Working Hunter 36 and Older division, Lee Cesery of Jacksonville, Florida and her mount What D’Ya Know earned the top spot in the first class and received third place in the second round. With scores of 88 and 87, Cesery was presented the “Automation-Model Cadet” Memorial Perpetual Trophy. This high point honor was donated by Mrs. Stephen C. Clark, Jr. and the late Mr. Clark, Jr. and is awarded to the horse and rider with the best overall performance out of the younger and older Amateur-Owner Working Hunters.

“I was really relaxed today,” said Cesery of her performance. “There were a lot of nice trips, and I just figured I was going to go out there and try to do my best. He just felt awesome today. He felt really relaxed and happy.” Cesery trains with Bill Schaub of Over the Hill Farm, located in Sanford, Fla.

“The ring rode better than yesterday,” commented Schaub. “Yesterday [the ring] was a little jammed in, and today it was nice and open. They could show at the gallop, which I like for them to do. The first time around, I think a hunter should gallop and jump, and I thought the course was nice that way.”

Out of a field of sixteen entries, Krista Weisman of Sherborn, Mass., triumphed in both Kilkenny Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter classes with her mount Chopard, taking home two blue ribbons and a crystal trophy. Scott Stewart of Flemington, NJ trains Weisman and piloted Chopard to victory in the William Barlow Redfern Regular Working Hunters division. The Amateur-Owner Hunters will conclude tomorrow with a third round and an under saddle class.

The Small Junior Working Hunter 16-17 division started the Junior Working Hunter classes in the Rost Arena. Stephanie Danhakl and Milan, owned by Hannah Hale, took top honors in the first round with a score of 86. Mona Lisa and Rachel Kummer finished in second place with an average of 84.840. In the second Small Junior 16-17 class, High Cotton and Jack Hardin Towell, Jr. earned the blue with an 88.84 for owner Christy Russo. Milan and Danhakl ranked second.

In the Small Junior 15 and Under classes, Nicoletta Heidegger dominated both rounds with her mount Breckenridge, owned by Monarch International. In addition to Breckenridge’s two first place finishes, Heidegger rode Missy Clark’s Sienna to two consecutive second place ribbons.

Christy Russo’s two Large Junior 16-17 Hunters had consistent one-two finishes in both classes today with Hardin Towell, Jr. in the irons. Miracle earned two blue ribbons with scores of 89 and 88, while Westcliffe ranked second in both rounds.

The Large Junior 15 and Under division concluded with Small Town, owned by Monarch International, and Nicoletta Heidegger winning the blue in the first round. Quidam and Tatiana Dzaviak, owned by Sarah Willeman, followed in second place. In the second class, Small Town and Heidegger ranked first ahead of red ribbon winner Saloon with Jennifer Waxman in the irons.

The National Horse Show and Family Festival continues through Sunday, December 4, with intense competition, stellar shopping, and activities for the entire family. The Junior Working Hunter divisions conclude tomorrow in the Internationale Arena and will determine the division championship and reserve championship winners.