Kesley Taylor and Lisa Baker Kick Off Opening Day of 2015 USHJA Children’s & Adult Amateur Jumper Regional Championships

Stark white breeches, beautifully turned out horses and tack that shined kicked off the opening day of competition for the three-day 2015 USHJA Children’s & Adult Amateur Jumper Regional Championships. Over 20 horse and rider combinations lined up in the Grand Prix Ring at the Ledges Sporting Horses and Show Grounds, commanding the attention of spectators and judges as every horse and rider passed the morning jog and commenced the first day of competition for the North Region.

USHJA President Bill Moroney said of the opening day, „I want to say first and foremost, the riders did a fantastic job, they presented their horses beautifully this morning with clean horses, clean boots, clean tack-they understood the pattern, no questions asked. In addition, Pat Boyle, his staff and the team have done a wonderful job hosting this event, even with the last moment location change. We are ecstatic about how well they are running it, as well as the little extras that they have done in addition to the USHJA. They have really done a masterful job with it, and we are thrilled with our first day.“

With only one year of competing in show jumping under her belt, Kesley Taylor of Naperville, Illinois, took a major career win with her own Zelda in the $2,500 Individual Children’s Jumper Qualifier, sponsored by Wholesome Goodness. As the penultimate rider of the class, the 17-year-old had the weight of the world on her shoulders, but a home turf advantage allowed her to put her nerves to rest and ride the 14-effort track, designed by Anderson Lima, to the blazing time of 60.832 seconds.

„This is so much fun, smiled Taylor. „I have pretty much grown up riding here at Ledges. I started in short stirrup classes here, and I have moved up so much. I thought the course was really good. It was fun to ride, but there were definitely some tough lines. It asked all the right questions, and there were some lines that I walked in seven strides, but ended up doing six, so there was a lot of thinking you had to do on the course, as well.“

The lead changed hands several times during the competition, with Isabella Roman of Mundelein, Ill., and Moraleja setting the pace early on in the championship class. Sticking to the inside track, they stopped the clock in 61.909 seconds. Emily Smith and Aviara followed shortly after, tripping the timers a hair faster to take the lead in 60.904 seconds.

As the second to last rider of the class, Taylor knew that she had no room for fault on the course. She had a rub in the double combination; however, luck was on her side as she used her horse’s stride and stuck to the inside track to take over the lead by one-tenth of a second.

„She doesn’t have to turn fast and necessarily go fast,“ trainer Tina Judge said of Taylor and Zelda. „The mare covers the ground and gets to the jump, and that is where they make up the time.“

Taylor explained, „It is her stride that made a difference out there, and also the fact that there is no hesitation-when I hit the gas, she goes. When I landed from the final oxer I did not know that I had taken over the lead. I saw that we had finished in 60 seconds, but I knew that Emily had, too, so I thought that I had finished in second. When I heard the announcer say that I took the lead, it felt amazing.“

Taylor currently sits at the top of the leader board for the Individual Qualifier, and she is looking forward to competing in the team competition on Saturday.

„I love the format of this championship,“ Taylor said. „I never thought that horseback riding could be a team sport, but I always thought that it would be a lot of fun if it was. To have the opportunity to compete in Nations Cup format, and be on a strong team is a unique experience, and I am really looking forward to the opportunity.“

During the $2,500 Individual Adult Amateur Jumper Qualifier, it was Lisa Baker and Zyminka, owned by Triple Bar LLC of Angola, Indiana, who took the win. They sped through the course in 60.651 seconds to take the lead, with Jenny Swanson and Vendicat, owned by Christina Fried of New York, New York, into the second place, more than three second ahead of the previous leader’s pace.

„I didn’t know I had taken the lead. We have all worked hard to get to this point. I was just hoping that I didn’t leave the door open too much,“ Baker smiled. „I was a little more ‚yahoo‘ than I should have been, but hopefully tomorrow I will be a little neater.“

During the 2014 regional championships, Baker forgot to sign up, making the win Friday both emotional and rewarding. Polly Howard-Coberley and Meg Howard-Fuleky of Fox Meadow Farm, located in Temperance, Michigan, have worked tirelessly with Baker since first pairing her with Zyminka five years prior.

„Zyminka taught me how to ride, but Polly and Meg have worked tirelessly with me, and believed in me, and it means the world to me,“ Baker explained. „I have always had horses that were such goers that I never truly knew until I came to Fox Meadow Farm how to learn to use my leg and hand. I have developed with Zyminka, she is the type of horse that wants for you to stay connected, and through it all, Polly and Meg have stayed by our side teaching and kicking my butt the whole way [laughs].“

Wholesome Goodness sponsored both of the Individual Qualifiers Friday, which for Brenda Perkovitch, was the perfect opportunity to contribute to the sport.

„For me, Showplace Productions is a special opportunity. It comes down to the way it is run and the way it is presented. Everyone is so friendly, and the reason why they do it is for all the riders, as well as the horses. They work to introduce a lot of different classes, and the facilities are always great,“ Perkovitch explained. „Food and horses are my favorite things, so I love bringing them together. The championship is one of the best opportunities for children and adults to get that Nations Cup experience, as well as work on their individual efforts. My husband and the people at Wholesome Goodness are great supporters of my passion, and we are excited to return as a sponsor for this event.“

The USHJA Children’s/Adult Amateur Jumper Regional Championships continue on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. with the $2,500 Team Championship Qualifier and Second Individual Qualifier for the Children’s section, sponsored by Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital and the $2,500 Team Championship Qualifier and Second Individual Qualifier for Adults, sponsored by Chicago Equestrian. Saturday also features the $25,000 Tapestry Farm Grand Prix, sponsored by the Struve Family.

Star Creek Video will live stream the Regional Championship for the first time in its three-year history, with live commentary by Diane Carney, USEF R HU/EQ/JP Judge. Visit www.starcreeklive.com for live action, on demand footage and additional interviews.

For more information, directions or complete results visit www.showplaceproductions.com.

Source: Press release