Strong Start for Kelley Farmer on Day One

Veteran hunter rider Kelley Farmer is back in Kentucky preparing for the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals and showcasing her winning ways atop her elite fleet of hunters to kick off day one at the 2015 Kentucky Summer Horse Show.  As partial owner Larry Glefke watched from the sidelines, Farmer piloted Point Being to double blue ribbons and a third during the Second Year Green Hunters.

„I love Point Being; he’s such a good horse,“ Farmer said. „He’s the horse that won the $50,000 Hunter Classic in Tryon. He tries super, super hard. He’s super careful, which I love. I think he’s right on track for Derby Finals; I’m really excited.“

In the irons on Glefke’s So To Speak, Farmer claimed the blue on the flat, also taking a second place ribbon over fences. Tim Goguen and Saddle Ridge LLC’s Ransom were hot on her heels, finishing second and third over fences and third on the flat.

„Literally today was So To Speak’s first day back showing,“ Farmer said. „He actually had a minor injury, so he hasn’t shown since the tenth week in Florida. I was hoping to have him back in time to be ready for Derby Finals, so I think I took the right amount of time. I couldn’t be happier with him.“

Earlier in the day, it was Goguen who claimed the top spots in the First Year Green Hunters. With Rookie, Goguen earned a blue on the flat and over fences, finishing second to himself in the third class. Goguen’s other mount, Capella, took home that blue ribbon and a third in the flat class, marking a successful first day for the Lexington-based rider.

„Rookie went really well,“ Goguen commented of his earlier ride. „Capella made a mistake in the first class; he had the rail. He went well the second time, and he won. Rookie can move well, so he won the hack. They’ve been very, very good coming out of Florida. They’re two lovely, lovely horses.“

During the Green Conformation Hunters, Winn Alden and her own Covert swept the field, taking home all three blue ribbons. Sarah Rice and Before Anything Else followed closely behind with two seconds and a third.

As the day came to a close with the High Performance Hunters, it was once again Farmer’s name that topped the leaderboard. So To Speak’s smooth rounds claimed him two out of three blue ribbons, with the talented Dalliance, owned by Avatar Real Estate LLC, taking two seconds and a third. Point Being earned a first and third, and Symbolic rounded out the lineup with two fourths.

Farmer was extremely pleased with they day’s results, as all of her horses are preparing for the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals in August. Farmer also plans to compete in the Finals with Mindful, who is happily resting until then.

„The others don’t quite have the knowledge that he does yet,“ Farmer laughed.

In addition to offering a full range of competitive hunter divisions, the Kentucky Summer Horse Show features the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby on Sunday, July 26.

To learn more about the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

KENTUCKY HORSE SHOWS 2015 HORSE SHOW SERIES FAST FACTS

Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass
Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2015 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finalsand the Pre Green Incentive Championship.

What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC’s 2015 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions host the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award, as well as the Hallway Feeds National Derby Series.

Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Home to the United States Equestrian Federation.

When:

KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 22- 26, 2015
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic

$25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 28- August 2, 2015
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

2015 USEF PONY FINALS – August 4-9, 2015

BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW – August 11-16, 2015
USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix sponsored by Audi of Lexington
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event

KHJA HORSE SHOW – August 19-23, 2015
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Source: Press release