Temecula, Calif. – June 2, 2019 – The final competition day of the four-week 2019 Temecula Valley National Horse Show series took place Sunday at Galway Downs, with hunter exhibitors and their horses putting on the tack one last time for a chance at the top prize. In the Adult Amateur 3’ Hunters and its respective Classic, Amy Brubaker was a triple winner, claiming the championship and reserve tricolors in the division aboard Frascati and Cohen, respectively, and earning the highest score in the $500 Adult Amateur 3’ Hunter Classic. The Children’s 3’ Hunters also concluded Sunday, with Lilah Nakatani aboard Cowboy and Mia Dimson with Lincoln taking top call in their respective age groups.
Following the first half of riding in the Adult Amateur 3’ Hunters, Brubaker and her own Frascati held a commanding lead, having earned the blue ribbon in both over fences classes as well as the under saddle portion of competition to enter Sunday’s finale with a so-far perfect score. The duo returned to the ring with maintained momentum during the last two divisional classes, adding another two top results to their growing collection with first and third place finishes over fences. Boasting a total tally of 44 points, the partnership were the clear victors and were ultimately awarded the championship honors. Brubaker proved to have two talented mounts in her repertoire, as she also claimed the reserve championship with the ride on SWS Training and Sales’ Cohen.
The $500 Adult Amateur 3’ Hunter Classic resumed its second round Sunday, with Brubaker and Frascati once again in the position to defend their lead. The combination sat at the head of the leaderboard with a first round score of 84 points, and matched their efforts in the second phase as they were awarded a twin 84-point score to finish overall on cumulative marks of 168, which captured the pair the first prize. Owner-rider Susie Karlshoej and Duke added to their day one score of 80 with day two marks of 82, totaling a composite 162 to secure the reserve honors.
In the Children’s 3’ Hunter division, the 14 & Under and the 15 – 17 age sections also finished up after starting competition Saturday. In the 14 & Under section, it was Ilene Kurtzman’s Cowboy and Nakatani who walked away the champions after their consistent, smooth rounds over two days of jumping, making light work of the hunter tracks to impress the judge both days. The pair took home a first and second over fences and were second in the under saddle to secure the early lead Saturday, then bettered their efforts during Sunday’s over fences classes to take two more wins and secure themselves the spot in the winner’s circle.
The Children’s 3’ Hunter 15 – 17 section also wrapped after tight competition over the weekend. In the end, Dimson and Lincoln found themselves in the winner’s circle as they walked away with the most points. Dimson’s own Lincoln showed off an impressive style and walked away with two first place ribbons over fences as well as second in the under saddle at the start of the division, and picked up a second place over fences Sunday to emerge the leaders and take home the tricolor ribbon.
In the Children’s Hunter Classic, which combined age groups, and it was 14 & Under reserve champion Jasmine Yannatta and Debellator who took home the top prize Sunday morning. On Saturday, the pair scored an 82, and rode to a 77-point score Sunday to place themselves in the lead, eventually earning the win with a total score of 159. Dimson and Lincoln were hot on their heels, earning 83 points in the first round and a subsequent 70 points in the second phase to conclude on a total score of 153, taking home the reserve placing in the Classic.
Sunday’s competition closes out the four-week 2019 Temecula Valley National Horse Show series at Galway Downs, managed by Nilforushan Equisport Events.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Amy Brubaker – Adult Amateur 3’ Hunter champion and $500 Classic winner
On Frascati:
“This is a horse that I own, I bought him a few years ago from Rebecca Bruce. He is my Adult Amateur hunter and my very favorite horse in the world. He loves showing at Temecula; he is awesome in the grass ring and up here [in Hunter 1]. My favorite is the grass. Ali [Nilforushan] put the Low Hunters in the grass the first couple days, so I got to go play on the grass too, which was super fun. This one, he is an experienced veteran now, so he just packs me around and as long as I learn the first jump going the right direction, we are in pretty good shape. I rode him as a sale horse for Rebecca, and then I fell in love with him and bought him accidentally and that was six years ago. He is my forever horse, he isn’t going anywhere.”
On the Temecula Valley National Horse Show:
“This is my second year, and Temecula is my favorite place to show. It’s great footing and great weather. The prizes are amazing and it’s super fun. We come to every show every year and we will keep doing that.”
For more information, please visit www..jump-nee.com
