Beyond and Lyle Win the $24,000 National Horse Show Hunter Championships

PHOTO CREDIT: Beyond and Scott Stewart, winners of the NHS Hunter Championship Open Division. Photo by Randi Muster.

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Wellington, FL - December 2, 2006 - The highlight of the hunter division this week at the 123rd National Horse Show and Family Festival was the National Horse Show Hunter Championships. The top 12 from the Open and Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions were invited back to compete for $48,000 in prize money.

The first hunter division to show was the Open, with First Year Green horses showing over a course set at 3'6". The second group was Second Year Green horses jumping fences set at 3'9". The third group was Regular Working and Regular Conformation horses who competed at 4'.

Scott Stewart dominated the Open division all week. He proved to be a consistent competitor by riding Beyond to an overall score of 85.3 for the Championship. The pair received a check for $7,000 and the $24,000 Open Division Championship Trophy. "The quiet horses were wild today and the wild ones were quiet," Stewart said. "I know Beyond the best of the horses that I showed today. I have never won this class before, so it was special to me," he continued. "We had a good turnout today, and everyone does a good job at this show, from course design to footing to management. The class today was like a grand prix to the hunter world, and people will travel a long way to compete for such a high purse," Stewart smiled.

Ken Smith and Cosmo came in reserve, just behind the winners with a total score of 83.0. Stewart was third on his horse Good Life, and Sandy Ferrell rode Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare's entry, Madison, to the fourth spot.

Megan Massaro won every over fences class on Lyle this week and was champion of the Small Junior Working Hunter 16-17. The conclusion of the perfect week was winning the $24,000 Junior and Amateur-Owner NHS Hunter Championship with a total score of 88.4. Lyle is owned by Mrs. Randolph Rinehart, who loaned the grey 13-year-old gelding to Massaro. "I come to this horse show every year. It's one of my favorites," Massaro said. "This was my last class jumping as a junior," she explained. "If I could describe my perfect ride, it would be Lyle. He is soft and sensitive and an amazing jumper who always tries his best to do well."

Massaro is a freshman at the University of South Carolina and earned a scholarship to ride. "This day is surreal for me. I cannot describe it," she added. The second place finisher was Miracle, ridden by Hardin Towell and owned by Christy Russo. Third went to Jennifer Waxman and Saloon, owned by Whitney Roper, and fourth was presented to Tobasco, ridden by Alexandra Thornton and owned by Dunwalke LLC. Hardin Towell was also awarded the Best Child Rider Award.

The $5,000 Bainbridge Farm Adult Amateur Working Hunter Stake took place in the Rost arena and was split into two divisions by age. The riders 18 to 35 went first and Jeanine Zuckerman's Winter Castle and Vanessa Redfern were champion, followed by Hadfield's Minuet, owned by James Lala Show Stables and ridden by Ashley Klein in reserve.

The group of riders over 35 went next, and Regall, piloted by Bruce Duchossois, brought home the tri-colored ribbon. "Regall has been a really nice horse for a lot of people," Duchossois said. "We should probably practice more between shows, but he doesn't need it. I just sit there and let him do his business, and he takes care of his old man," he laughed. Reserve champion went to True, ridden by Glen Senk

A full day of showing takes place tomorrow on the final day of the 123rd National Horse Show and Family Festival. Hunter action will continue with the best ponies in the United States competing for their championships.