Free-Jumping Competition
On November 8, 2008, a Free-Jumping Clinic and Free-Jumping Competition jointly sponsored by AHS and MAHB were held at Hedgeland Equestrian Complex, Waterford, VA. This event was the brain-child of MAHB members Rick Toering and Vito DelVento. It was a roaring success. This was the first time such an event has been held in this country and with the increasing popularity of the Jumper Breeding Program, it certainly won’t be the last.
Clinician for the day was Michael Bragdell, trainer and handler for Hilltop Farm, Colora, MD. He opened with comments on setting up a safe and inviting jump chute. He also discussed the value of free-jumping in assessing jumping ability in young horses. Then eight demonstration horses of varying ages and levels of training were put through the jumping chute as Michael explained what he would do to enhance the performance and learning curve of each one.
MAHB members supplying demonstration horses for the clinic were:
Diane Halpin-Le Premier VT (Landkoenig-Captiva/The Silver Baron), a three-year-old GOV gelding;
Victoria Meyer-Landmark BRF (Lankoenig-Vizcaya/Vienna Waltz), a three-year-old Hanoverian gelding;
Vito DelVento-Curacao V (Crescendo V-Olive Me xx/Fabled Monarch xx), an AWR two-year-old filly;
Rick Toering-Coquette BHF (Coconut Grove xx-Windbraut/Wanderkoenig), a two-year-old Hanoverian filly;
Chris Rush-Daisy Buchanan (Dauphin-EM Wiccan/Walt Disney I), a four-year-old Hanoverian mare bred by Marefield Meadows; Rick Toering—Windbraut (Wanderkoenig-SPS Walinka/Wndenburg), an 11-year-old mare bred in Germany;
Marefield Meadows-EM Ravel (Ramiro’s Bube-EM Dianadea/Domingo), a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare.
The competition portion of the day began after lunch. Judges were Suzanne Quarles, who is chair of the AHS Mare and Stallion Committee; and Stephen Bradley, Leesburg, VA, who has represented the US internationally (Olympics, Pan Am Games, Rolex, etc.) in eventing.
An explanation of the judging system was given. Each horse is scored from 1 to 10 on three components: technique, scope, and overall impression. The judging begins with free running for warm up wherein the horse’s canter and overall impression are evaluated. Once the horse is ready to go through the chute, it is given a maximum of two successful attempts at four prescribed heights. To receive a score, the horse must successfully jump Height #3 for its age group at least once.
Heights for three-year-olds are:
Height #1—0.9m (3 feet
Height #2—1.0m (3’ 3”)
Height #3—1.1m (3’ 7”)
and Height #4—1.2m (3’ 11”)
Heights for four- and five-year-olds are:
Height #1—0.9m (3 feet)
Height #2—1.1m (3’ 7”)
Height #3—1.2m (3’ 11”)
Height #4—1.3m (4’ 3”).
The competition was open to all sport horses with papers issued by a registry.
The Three-Year-Old Class was won by Talladega (Manahawk-Kizzy xx/Battle Royal xx) an AWS stallion owned and bred by Mark & Evelyn Susol with scores of 8 for technique, 7.5 for scope, and 7.5 for canter/overall impression for a final score of 23 points. Unfortunately, the other horse in the class was excused due to lack of preparation which resulted in too many refusals.
The Four- & Five-Year-Old Class was a little more hotly contested. In fact, it was downright exciting. The winner was Persuasion (Pikadero-Ontarla/Karndsj), a Hanoverian gelding owned and bred by Denise Higgins, with scores of 9.5 for technique, 10 for scope, and 9.5 for overall impression for a total of 29 points.
Second place went to that lovely dressage-mare-turned-jumper, EMC Amethyst Q (Anhaltiner E-EM Lady L/Leibnitz) owned by Dennis Moore and bred by Suzanne Quarles. She scored 9s across the board for a final score of 27 points. Dennis could not be reached for comment—he was somewhere on Cloud Nine!
Kate Palmquist’s young Hanoverian stallion Fielding (Fred Astair-Lesley/Lessing) scored 26 points with 8.5 for technique and scope and 9 for overall impression taking third place. The judges said although he jumped a little flat in his back on this day, he had excellent style with his legs, a lovely canter, and could definitely go on to bigger jumps.
Fourth place with a total score of 25.5 was an AWR Sport Pony, Hot Shot MRF owned and bred by Wendy Staub. He scored 9 for technique, 8.5 for scope, and 8 for overall impression.
Fifth place went to Zegg (Indoctro-Lisa/Quidam de Revel), a Dutch mare owned by Vito DelVento. This mare had a total score of 24 with 8s in all three components. Mo Swanson’s Ghreat Expectations (Gold Luck-EM Dew Berry/Davignport) scored 8.5 in technique and 7s for scope and overall impression for a final score of 22.5 and sixth place.
