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Bernona Stevens and Riva Show the Kids How It's Done in $10,000 NAL/WIHS Children's/Adult Prix on Last Day of Horse Shows by the Bay

Written by: Chrissy Lane
Client: Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc.
Release Date: 2007-08-05

Traverse City, MI - August 5, 2007 - The final day of Horse Shows by the Bay ended on a high note for Bernona Stevens of Grand Rapids, MI, as she and her veteran partner Riva brought home the blue ribbon in the $10,000 NAL/WIHS Children's/Adult Prix.

The class of 25 entries saw only four horses and riders jump clear to advance to the jump-off. Stevens rode last in the jump-off and put in a careful, cautious round, needing only to leave all the fences up because the previous three riders had four faults or more in fastest times. Stevens finished with just one time fault for the win, clocking in at 52.492 seconds.

"She's a Bavarian Warmblood that I've had for four years, and we call her the wonder horse," Stevens laughed. "She's just a really wonderful amateur horse for this division, and she takes care of me. We've had a lot of wonderful successes."

She continued, "Today she was great. She was just on her game. She loves everything about this sport. We've had ups and downs like everything else - actually, I fell off and broke a few ribs in Ocala in the jump-off, and that was in March, so we've come back and we've placed in every class but one in the last three weeks. She's been a very honored horse these three weeks," Stevens explained. "This is kind of what we were peaking for, and she did her job today. And we had a very lucky rub in the first round, but the gods were behind us!" Stevens joked, saying that at age 52, it was a well-deserved win in a jump-off over riders much younger.

In the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur Owner Prix, Henry Pfeiffer and Sargeant, owned by Fox Meadow Farm, earned the victory over Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W.

Three riders rode in the jump-off, including Pfeiffer and Campbell. Linda Radigan and Chevalier also tried their hand at the shortened course. All three riders round clean rounds, and each had an increasingly shorter time, with Pfeiffer clocking in at 41.988 seconds. Campbell's time was 43.325 seconds, and Radigan came in just over that at 43.659 seconds.

Pfeiffer described Sargeant as "probably one of the better horses that I've ever had. He's pretty darn easy. He's a push button horse, basically. A little strong at times, but that's what you get with an 18 hand Belgian warmblood. He's pretty simple."

The 17-year-old from Temperance, MI, also won the Low Junior/Amateur Owner Classic aboard Thorstin, also owned by Fox Meadow Farm. Campbell also followed suit with a similar result and took second place with Lucy in the Sky, while Ruby Tuesday and Tamara Turchetta-Field finished in third. Greer Gordon and Maxima earned fourth place, while Erin Haas and Mir took fifth. Kathleen Schmechtig and Mystery Z rounded out the top six places.

For more information about Horse Sports by the Bay, please visit www.horsesportsbythebay.com.

For complete results, please visit www.horseshowing.com.