Brave Horse Summer Week I Belongs to the Hunters
Brave Horse Show Park was buzzing with activity as the summer show season launched May 24-27 with an USEF A Rated competition. The week belonged to the hunters with very competitive classes across all divisions and hotly contested Champion and Reserve final results.
In the new Ohio Derby Cup Series, Ohio-based Chagrin Hunter Jumper Classic, Chagrin Valley Farms and Brave Horse have partnered to create a special class that will run April through August of this year. The Series offers derby-style competition for exhibitors in divisions at 2’, 2’6” and 3’-3’5” hunter/jumper levels. The top 25 riders at each fence height are eligible for the finals to be held at Brave Horse VI, August 30 – September 2, 2018. Winners will be named by fence height and will receive prizes and prize money. Brave Horse will hold Ohio Derby Cup classes at every show while the Chagrin Hunter Jumper Classic will host Ohio Cup at its July 5-15 show and Chagrin Valley Farms will occur at its August 3-5 show.
“The Ohio Cup Derby Series is a terrific way for our show to cooperate with the legendary Chagrin Hunter Jumper Classic and the Chagrin Valley Farms Shows near Cleveland to create more high quality opportunities for riders to compete for special awards,” said Michale Belisle. “We think offering this series for all Hunter levels will result in a very exciting finals with a lot of spectators turning out to see who claims the first Ohio Cup.”
Distinguishing themselves as the first winners of an Ohio Cup qualifier for the Brave Horse Summer Series were Fernando VDL, ridden and owned by Lindsay Dunlap at the 3’-3’5” height (scores of 87 and 89) and Copperfield, owned by Fox Meadow Farm and piloted by Charlotte Oulanoff at the 2’6” height (scores of 82 and 89). Both riders are trained by Sarah Ash of Willow Way Farm.
Ohio Derby Cup 3-3’5” Winner Fernando VDL with Lindsay Dunlap aboard, photo by Winslow Photography
Ohio Derby Cup 2’6” Winner Copperfield ridden by Charlotte Oulanoff, Photo by Winslow Photography
Ohio Derby Cup Series winners for the Brave Horse Spring Series included:
Brave Horse Spring II Ohio Derby Cup:
2’0” Hope Cassells on Golden Girl
2’6” Charlotte Oulanoff on Copperfield
Brave Horse Spring III Ohio Derby Cup:
2’6” Charlotte Oulanoff on Copperfield
3’0” Jacob Harris on Nadia
In very good company, Atlas Peak emerged as the decisive champion of the Children’s Hunter 3’ Division. Owned by Ashland Farms with Lily Forney aboard, Atlas Peak claimed the blue in the under saddle and three of the four over fences trips. Trained by Betsy Lewis, the pair also won the Children’s Hunter 3’ Classic.
Atlas Peak and Lily Forney, photo by Hinson Ltd Public Relations
Action reconvenes May 31 through June 3 for the USEF A Rated Brave Horse Summer Week III.