Liza, second place finisher Peter Pletcher riding Vibe and third place finisher
Louise Serio and Castle Rock talked about the stress leading up to this class
because of how important it is for them to qualify. Liza recalled that as she
entered the arena for her final round it was the stress of the week that
motivated her. As she entered the arena she said to herself, "Liza you
have got to win this so you are prequalified for next year."

After her final round she left the arena and didn't look back. She knew that
everything had fallen in place but it wasn't until she heard the sound of
her dad's melodious voice that she surmised she had won. "I was very
happy with my round but I didn't look back at the scores. I heard my
father and I know his tone so I thought it was good."

All smiles, Liza admitted that it wasn't just for herself that she was happy.
"It is a team effort and I was happy for the horse and everyone who
supported us. Everyone was thrilled even Wayne who takes care of Brunello
was hooting and hollering. It's really fun to win this class," she added.

This conquest was the final one on her check off list to prove she still has
what it takes. After having her baby, the first time back on a horse she
trotted around once, cantered around once and then jumped over a fence.
Her brother Hardin watched in disbelief. "I just needed to prove to myself
I could do it, that my eye was still there." Once she knew that motherhood
had only enhanced her life she started back on the road to rebuilding to
what was needed for her to be able to enter this class.

Qualifying with Brunello gave her a certain level of comfort. "My horse has
done this before and so I felt pretty good about him going around.
My biggest concern was having just had a baby... I was just hoping that
momma and the horse could still do four feet...I love when a plan works.
It all fell together."

 

Liza Boyd and Brunello
 

Brunello, Vibe and Castle Rock Take First, Second and Third

So, on Saturday night, February 20^th at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival
Liza and her 12-year-old, 16.1H, chestnut Hanoverian gelding thrilled a crowd
and Brunello's owner, Caroline Morrison. As the 29^th combination to go out in
a class of 31 in the first round they took the lead with their score of 91.
In the second round the pressure was on when Peter and Vibe scored a 91
to be combined with his first round score of 88.16. With little room to spare
Liza knew that brilliance was what she needed. Her final score of 91.83 gave
her just the margin she needed to wear the championship cooler and claim her bye.

Castle Rock ridden by Louise Serio claimed the third spot with defending champion
Kelley Farmer and Second City fourth. (Brunello 91+91.83=182.83, Vibe 88.16+91=179.16,, Castle Rock 86.83+89.66=176.49, Second
City 86.25+89=176.49).

Being so close to victory was good enough for Peter who didn't even expect
to place well on Becky Gochman's six-year-old, 15.2H, Cassall Warmblood
gelding. The small bay had qualified out of the 1^st Year Green division to
Regular working hunter Brunello.

 

Peter Pletcher and Vibe
 

"I was pretty surprised at how good my horse did. I was a little concerned
about the lights but thought, 'Just try it. It doesn't matter. It will be a good
experience. And then he went around that ring under those lights as well as
any horse I have ever ridden," commented the Magnolia, TX resident and f
ormer World Champion Hunter Rider Pro winner.

"He is amazing," continued Pletcher. "He is a small horse but he has the biggest
stride. I let him gallop and he was superb. He is fun. It is horses like him that
are truly what make me want to get up in the morning and do this."

Louise was equally as proud of Bryan Baldwin's 11-year-old, grey, 16.2H,
KWPN Dutch Warmblood gelding. "Castle Rock was great. He does the
working hunters and he is an awesome, beautiful, good moving horse,"
explained the Kennett Square, PA resident and also a former WCHR Pro winner.

The AHJF Hunter Classic Continues to Command the Rider's
(and Spectator's) Attention

Years ago the sport of hunters was at a crossroads and the road ahead was
leaning in the wrong direction but then Louise Serio came along with a goal
of breathing new life into the sport. She worked with a handful of others to
create the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation and the organization developed
a national series and the AHJF Hunter Classic Spectacular. Now years later
it continues to be the class riders want to qualify for and guests want to
watch from the fundraising dinner held in the tent overlooking the beautiful
outdoor arena.

Many consider it the kick-off event of the season. "We all plan our winter
show schedule around this class," explained Louise."

This was Peter's third time and to him it is all about the great crowds that
this event attracts, something you never see at hunter events. "The crowd
at this event has to be comparable to a jumper grand prix," he commented.

Liza echoed their sentiments. "It is our first big class of the season. You
start to see everyone's new horses and it is a good fun start to the year.
It is also fun for our owners and has become very social for them."

AHJF Executive Director Michele Perla chimed in agreement. "It has become
a happening for spectators, competitors and vacationers alike. It has
become a focal point."

AHJF President Keeley Gogul agreed. "You can tell from the weeks leading up
to the event how important it is because it is the talk of the horse show.
All of the riders and horses really come to the table for this class. Everyone
focuses on putting on a show and doing it as good as they can do it to try
and be the big winner. There is a lot of hard work that goes on behind the
scenes."

 

 

"It is so nice for a hunter rider to have goals and classes like this,"
commented former AHJF President Serio. "This is a big deal for us to be
highlighted in the main ring and show off our horses, our riding and our
abilities and it is really exciting for us to do that class. All week you are
focused on getting into it."

Peter, with his usual high energy happy go lucky attitude reinforced that
noting, "It is such a high pressure week of showing these horses. This year
most of my horses are really young but I still wanted to do the class because
it is such a great class to go in. Qualifying is always in the back of your mind."

Looking around that evening one could not help but be impressed by the
many guests who supported the AHJF and the competitors by purchasing
tables at the dinner party, organized by Kim Tudor of Tudor & Company.
In the seats and Tiki Hut surrounding the arena enthused spectators
enjoyed the competition while at the same time having a chance to socialize
with friends, shop at the variety of boutiques or purchase food from one of
the fast food vendors.

Maintaining Their Cool Under Pressure

With so much pressure on them to get into the class you wonder how they
manage to maintain their perspective, their nerves and their desire to win
once the night arrives.

For Peter his nerves may very well be to his benefit. "I am nervous a lot,"
explained Pletcher. "But a friend of mine said, 'Good, you should be. That
is the drive that makes you want to win."

Peter, who you can always count on to keep an audience laughing even
recalled a moment in the class where the huge jumbotron displaying his
round actually distracted him. Normally you worry about all the things that
could distract your horse but for a second he got so caught up in thinking,
"wow, that is huge that I almost forgot about the black and white fence
coming up," he said with a chuckle.

"I tell myself my life isn't going to change that much if I mess up," he
continued. "I try not to go off course and make a fool of myself but once
you get in there you try your best to win," explained Peter, who also
talked about how the long lines in such a big class can play a role in your
demise or victory. It's those long lines where you can gallop to show off
the brilliance of your horse but meeting the next fence right is also the key.

"When there aren't any numbers and there is an actual line there is always
a question. Is it a 9 or 10 or 11 stride? I just stop counting and you as
a rider feel the horse and go with your gut."

Yet Louise emphasized that she still has to count even if that count
changes because that is one way for her to keep her cool but also, "I tell
myself my life isn't going to change that much if I mess up. I try not to go
off course and make a mistake but once you get in there you try your
best to win," she affirmed.

 

Louise Serio and Castle Rock
 

A Big Thank You to the AHJF and Equestrian Sport Production

The AHJF was formed in 1992 to further the development of the equestrian
sport of show hunter rider and show jumping competition by providing a
national office to organize, coordinate and support hunter rider and show
jumping equestrian competition. Other programs of the AHJF include the
World Championship Hunter Rider Awards, Bowling for Equestrians, which
is a fundraiser to benefit the benevolent arm of the AHJF (the Emergency
Relief Fund) and the AHJF Junior Hunter Challenge.

Since its inception in 1997, the AHJF Hunter Classic Spectacular has been
a highlight. Champion and reserve champion riders, who are current members
of the AHJF, qualify throughout the week in the various hunter divisions
to compete in this prestigious two-round competition under the lights.
This year a total of $42,200 (through 12^th place) was awarded with
$12,000 guaranteed to the winner.

Six judges were paired in teams of two and positioned in three places
around the arena. Thirty-one horses competed in the first round and
the top eight came back for a second round. The height of the fences
varied from 3'6" to 4'.

Mr. & Mrs. S. Craig Lindner along with Mr. & Mrs. Jeremy Jacobs chaired
the gala dinner party which took place in the Internationale Club. The
annual dinner party overlooking the main arena is one of the AHJF's
major fundraisers.

This year in addition to its usual extensive media coverage the event
was also featured on a local radio program, "TudorTalks," was chosen by
WHDT World Sports TV as one of the featured four programs they cover
each week, was streamed live from the horse show grounds so even those
not in attendance could view the event and was featured with its own
section on the USEF's ClubEquestrian.

Thanks to out to many people for its success but special accolades go
to Michael Morrissey, David Burton Jr., Mark Bellissimo and the entire
staff of Equestrian Sports Production. "Without their support and
recognition of the value of this event, the night would not be possible.
Over the years our partnership with the management of this Wellington
winter circuit has succeeded in creating an event that all hunter riders
aspire to compete in," commented Perla."

In addition to the prize money being distributed, the winner of the class
received a custom jacket for the winning rider, owner, trainer and groom
from Whipstick Farm Ltd. Tally Ho Products sponsored garment bags for
1st-6th place and boot bags for the 7th-12th place ribbon winners. The
grooms of the 1^st through 4^th place winners received a cash award
sponsored by a Friend of the AHJF.  Essex Classic sponsored riding shirts
for the WCHR High Score Riders and the winner of the Peggy Cone
Adult Hunter Classic which takes place the following day.

All competitors were in contention for the "Strapless Challenge," with a
trophy and check going to anyone winning the class four times.

Liza received "The Dark Continent" trophy, courtesy of Jim Green and
the "Let's Dance Trophy," which was established by the AHJF in 2005
in honor of friend and horseman Eugene R. Mische for his support of
the AHJF Hunter Classic Spectacular.

In addition to the Classic, special honors are presented throughout the
week. Peter Pletcher, Kelley Farmer, Louise Serio, Scott Stewart and
Sandy Ferrell tied for a WCHR High Score of 90 in the Pro division; Laura
Sexton, Jane Gaston, Stephanie Riggio and Stacy Arani tied for the
WCHR A/O 3'6" High Score of 90; Emily Wygood was the WCHR A/O 3'3"
High Score winner (88); Victoria Colvin was the WCHR Leading Hunter
Rider with the highest score of the week (92). There was a tie for Grand
Junior Champion between World Time, ridden by Victoria Colvin and owned
by Scott Stewart and Madison, ridden by Lillian Keenan and owned by
Stewart Moran. They won the Lyrick Trophy. Zoom owned by Laura
Sexton received the Mark R. Gregory Memorial Trophy for Excellence
as the best conditioned horse in the first round.

In 2010 the AHJF also hosts the WCHR Professional Finals (October 8 in
Upper Marlboro, MD) and the 2011 AHJF Hunter Classic Spectacular
will be back in February of 2011.

For information about the Hunter Classic, the AHJF or its programs, contact
the AHJF at PO Box 369, West Boylston, MA 01583-0369, call 508-835-8813,
fax 508-835-6125, email ahjf@earthlink.net or visit their web site at
www.ahjf.org.

Photos of the event are at the following link: http://www.presslinkpr.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=172714.