Ponies take the spotlight at Brave Horse Summer Week II

It was all sunshine and ponies at Brave Horse Summer Week May 31 through June 3. The spectator and in gate areas were busy with riders and family members turning out in full force for the pony divisions during a lovely early summer weekend at the show park.

The geographic draw of Brave Horse continues to grow with each new show week. Brave Horse II included many new farms from throughout the region.

The highlights of the pony divisions included:

Foxlair Tango, ridden by Ella McHardy and trained by Susan McHardy came out on top in the highly competitive Pony Hunter Classic.

Foxlair Tango ridden by Ella McHardy, photo by Winslow Photography

Gentleman George, ridden and owned by Madelyn Kuhn, had a stellar show weekend. The pair took the USEF Equisport Pony Medal, the WIHS Pony Equitation class, the Open Pony Equitation 2’ and 2’6” Championship and the Ohio Derby Cup 2’6” and 2’ Division qualifier. Kuhn trains with Jamie Mills of Empress Valley Farm.

Gentleman George with Madelyn Kuhn aboard, photo by Winslow Photography

Bamboozle, owned and ridden by Caroline Nadalin and trained by Jennifer Nadalin of Sugar Run Farm, took the tri color in the Small Medium Pony Hunter 2’3” and 2’6” division.

Bamboozle ridden by Caroline Nadalin, photo by Winslow Photography

Jacob Harris rode Twin Horse LLC’s Score to the tri color of the Children’s Hunter Pony 2’ and 2’6” division. Harris and Score also won the Children’s Hunter Pony Classic. He is trained by Sarah Ash of Willow Way Farm.

Score and Jacob Harris, photo by Winslow Photography

Mortons Tom Cat, ridden and owned by Hannah Kilmer-Choi and trained by Christine Martin, was champion of the Large Pony Hunter 2’9” – 3’ division.

Mortons Tom Cat and Hannah Kilmer-Choi, photo by Winslow Photography

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.

Winners of the Ohio Derby Cup qualifier classes for week II were:

3’ and 3’5” Division: Starsky, ridden by Grace DeFoe, owned by Jennifer Fick and trained by Erika Heinstschel-Githens

2’6” and 2’ Division: Gentleman George, ridden and owned by Madelyn Kuhn and trained by Jamie Mills

Starsky ridden by Grace DeFoe, photo by Winslow Photography

Action reconvenes June 22 through June 24 for the USEF A Rated Brave Horse Summer Week III.