Messenger Hill Farm has done it again! The Chicago-based team of Freddie and Jodi Vazquez has returned to Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, for Showplace Production’s Spring Warm Up II to test the hard work they put in all season at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.
After last week’s outstanding results, when Kira Telford walked away with the Junior Hunter tricolors on Calistoga Gold and snagged the WIHS Equitation overall, it was Beatice Maloney’s time to shine this week.
Maloney and her bay gelding Carnush put in consistent performances throughout the two-part WIHS Equitation class. The pair placed second in the WIHS Jumper Phase and third in the WIHS Hunter Phase, earning Maloney first place overall.
Maloney, affectionately called “Bea” by Jodi Vazquez, has ridden with Messenger Hill for about 8 years and is competing in her last year as a junior rider. “She’s a great kid and great student,” Vazquez said. “I’m really proud of her, and Carnush is super talented.”
And rightfully so, as Carnush is just approaching 7 years old. “We got him when he was 5, and he’s always been a great horse, even though he is a little green here or there,” Vazquez said.
Maloney finished seventh last year in the Zone 5 Finals with Carnush and has been working diligently ever since. “It was great to see them win the Washington (WIHS) overall and for everything to come together for that pair,” Vazquez said.
Maloney’s efforts are also producing benefits with her junior hunter, Greytful, a gray Hanoverian gelding that she leases. “He’s a horse that we haven’t had for very long,” Vazquez said. “He’s a great jumper and overall fun horse. Hopefully we can do some derbies with him this summer.”
The combination picked up a blue ribbon in one of their Junior Hunter classes, among other top placings. Greytful was also Reserve Champion in the 3’6″ Performance Hunters with Vazquez in the irons.
“It’s fun for her (Maloney) to have two horses at that level,” Vazquez said. “She’s worked really hard over the winter to perfect her skills with both horses, and I think it’s starting to come out now.”
When Maloney ages out of the junior ranks, she will attend Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Another Performance horse that is presently doing well is Presently, owned by Dana Senn. Vazquez expertly guided Presently to Champion in the 3’3″ Performance Hunters. Together they finished in the top three in every class, including scooping up a blue ribbon in one of the over fences classes.
Unlike Greytful, Presently is a horse that Messenger Hill has had for quite some time. The gray gelding is known for his ability to win the High Performance hunters, gallop around the derbies and cruise around the Adult Hunters with Senn.
“What’s great about Presently is that he can diversify,” Vazquez said. “He’s fun to ride and really brave. I’m just happy to have a horse like that in my barn.”
Senn and Presently were awarded top ribbons in their Adult Amateur over fences rounds the same week he won the Performance classes with Vazquez. Not often does a horse have such versatility, combined with the ability to win in top competition.
“I’m grateful to have a horse that can do so many different levels and events,” Vazquez said. “He gets prizes in all those levels, and that’s hard to find. Presently is just overall a phenomenal horse!”
Throughout the week and weekend, Messenger Hill riders continued to have resounding success and brought home four Champions, nine Reserve Champions and 29 blue ribbons.
Modigliani, owned by Jamie Stryker, was Reserve Champion in the Low Working Hunters with Jodi Vazquez and was also Champion in the Limit Junior Hunter with Chloe Jhin. Hops, owned by Arly Golombek and ridden by Jodi Vazquez, was Reserve Champion in the Schooling Hunters, winning both over fences classes. Calistoga Gold was Champion in Section B of the Junior Hunters with owner Kira Telford, winning two over fences classes. Kira Telford also took home second overall in the WIHS Equitation, earning first place in the jumper phase and fourth in the hunter phase.
Highlands Bridget Jones, owned by Born Free Farm, was Champion in the Small/Medium Children’s Pony Hunters with Chloe Watrous. Primrose, owned by Alexa Aureliano, was Reserve Champion in the Small/Medium Children’s Pony Hunter with Chloe Jhin. Shimmer, owned by Lanes End and ridden by Elodie Watrous were Champion in the Short Stirrups Hunters. Buttons and Bows, owned by Jill Aureliano, was Reserve Champion in the Short Stirrup Equitation with Elodie Watrous.
About Messenger Hill Farm
Located in Mettawa, Illinois, just north of Chicago, Messenger Hill Farm is a full-service hunter/jumper facility owned by head trainers Freddie and Jodi Vazquez. Offering training, lessons, showing and sales, every detail of the facility and the care of the horses is well-thought-out. The farm features all-weather turnout, heated barn and attached indoor arena, 200’x 285′ outdoor arena, five-acre grass jump field, excellent footing, treadmill, tack room with lockers and a lounge.
For experienced riders, Messenger Hill Farm offers a show schedule at all levels – local, national and international. The Messenger Hill Farm team competes at the Winter Equestrian Festival, the Kentucky Spring and Summer Horse Shows, the Colorado Horse Park’s Summer in the Rockies, Tryon, the Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show, Lamplight, Ledges and more. For those just getting started in the sport, Messenger Hill Farm offers a lesson program with quality, well-cared-for horses to help riders achieve their goals.
Click here to learn more about Messenger Hill Farm or call (847) 573-1100.
Source: Press release7
