Hunters Kick Off Competition at 47th Annual Washington International Horse Show

Melissa Ott and Nicole Win $10,000 Children’s Hunter Championship, Halsey and Galway Bay Capture Adult Hunter Championship

Washington, D.C.- October 25- The 2005 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) serves as one of the country’s most prestigious and competitive indoor equestrian events, with prominent riders, Olympic veterans, and superstar equines competing for top honors and fabulous prize money. Located at the MCI Center in downtown Washington D.C., the show began today with a full schedule of hunter competition.

The evening performances highlighted the Children’s and Adult Hunter Championships. The win in the $10,000 Children’s Adult Hunter Championship and The H. Fenwick Kollock Memorial Perpetual Trophy went to 14 year old Melissa Ott of Cincinnatti, Ohio and Nicole. They came into the second round sitting in third place with a score of 80.5. About her first trip, Ott said, “Pretty much everything was good, except into the five stride.” She went on to say, “My second round was smoother, and everything was the same.” After that smooth second round, they scored an 84 for a total of 164.5. The two remaining trips failed to top that total, and Ott and Nicole led the victory gallop.

The pair has been together for one year, and although this is their first time competing at WIHS, Ott stated that she “was not nervous at all. I really like big horse shows.” She added with a smile, “I wasn’t scared, because all twelve people in the second round get ribbons!” Trainer David Belford remarked, “She’s really good under pressure while showing.”

Nicole is an 8 year old Westphalian mare that was imported by Peter Pletcher and purchased from Heidi Austin Fish. Nicole had no trouble stepping into the ring at the imposing MCI Center. “She is the most straightforward horse you’ve seen for a chestnut mare!” Belford mentioned. “She makes it seem so easy.” Nicole’s simplicity went a long way today at WIHS, as she and Ott loped away with prizes, a first place check of $2,000, and the honor of winning at Washington International.

Official Results- $10,000 Children’s Hunter Championship

• 1. Nicole, Melissa Ott
• 2. Costello, Kirstie Dobbs
• 3. Mirabella, Brittani Director
• 4. Orient, Molly Gardner
• 5. The Other Man, Gracie Silbaugh
• 6. Navaroan, Mackenzie Maclean
• 7. Ramazotti, Elizabeth Morgan
• 8. Aviano, Lucy Blundon
• 9. Gold Order, Jessie Leiner
• 10. Change of Season, Brittani Director
• 11. Dartanian, Corey Reeves, Mark Reeves
• 12. Madison Avenue, Lauren Kulwicki

The last class of the day was the $10,000 Adult Amateur Hunter championship. It was a tough battle with the top two competitors, but Cecilia Halsey of Madison, Alabama and her 12 year old Thoroughbred gelding Galway Bay rose to the top. Their consistency showed in their scores of 82 and 83 for a winning total of 165.

After a twenty year absence from the show ring, Halsey returned last year and showed for the first time at an Indoor Final in the 2004 WIHS. She and Galway Bay were leading going into the second round, but she had to settle for second place by a half point. “I was extremely nervous this year,” Halsey admitted. “I got to watch Victoria Watters’ round, and it was wonderful. I knew it was sort of a do or die situation. I rode as a junior, but I never showed at this level. So, to come back at 46 is a big deal!”

Luckily she and Galway Bay have cemented their relationship, and she knew she could count on him. “He’s wonderful about coming to the party, and he loves his job,” she said. “He tries so hard to never do anything wrong.” She added with a laugh, “He thinks he’s James Bond.”

Trainer David Wright explained, “They know each other so well, and the chemistry is so good. He walked right in the ring and was an old trooper. He couldn’t have been any better.” Halsey revealed, “I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way with any other horse. He talks the whole time you’re on him.” When Halsey first met Galway Bay, she recalled, “He has these amazing topaz eyes, and the look he gave me was clearly, ‘You cannot resist me.’” Galway Bay was irresistible to the judges today as well, and they are taking their prize money and the victory home to Alabama.

Official Results- $10,000 Adult Amateur Hunter Championship

• 1. Galway Bay, Cecilia Halsey
• 2. Eye Remember Rio, Victoria Watters, Wattership Downs
• 3. Macallan, Meghan A. Rohrbaugh
• 4. Lola, Amelia Hershey, Jeanne Marie Gelber
• 5. First Date, Page Tredennick, Sarah Tredennick and Wood Run Farm
• 6. Daydream, Patty Wise
• 7. Mr. Flash, Amelia Hershey
• 8. Riesling, Cheryl Rubenstein
• 9. Blue Note, Page Tredennick, M/M John Tredennick and Wood Run Farm
• 10. In Kommand, Julie Harrington
• 11. Fair & Square, Isabel Kurek
• 12. The Patriot, Kara Douglas

The professional divisions started the day with the first classes of WIHS. Early leaders include Krista Weisman’s Chopard and rider Scott Stewart in the Regular Conformation Hunters (1st, 1st, 1st), Showcase Ltd’s Sequel and Terry Brown in the Second Year Green Hunters (1st, 1st), and GG Valentine and Jennifer Alfano, who rode for Barbara Kearney in the Regular Working Hunter division (1st, 4th). Their divisions conclude tomorrow, as do the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions. The jumpers also begin competition tomorrow with the $10,000 Jumper Championships for the Children’s and Adult sections.

Photo Credit: Melissa Ott and Nicole, winners of the $10,000 Children’s Hunter Championship at the Washington International Horse Show. Photo by Diana De Rosa