Devon, Pa. – July 11, 2021 – Competitors were eager as the legendary Brandywine Horse Show kicked off its 2021 two-week-long series Wednesday, June 30, at the famed Devon Horse Showgrounds. This year, Brandywine Horse Shows will benefit two incredible charities, The Moorcroft Conservation Foundation and the Chester County FoodBank Beyond Hunger. This year’s title sponsor is Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund, and Taylor Harris Insurance Services, LTD once again presents the show.
Photo by: Anne Gittins Photography
Top professional hunter athletes took to the iconic Dixon Oval to vie for the Leading Professional Rider title during Week One. The title is awarded to the professional who accumulates the most points in any of the professional divisions, including the Green 3′, 3’3″, 3’6″ and 3’9″ divisions, Conformation Hunter, High Performance Hunter, or Performance 3’6″ Hunter. Scott Stewart again proved to be a force to reckon with, taking top honors on several different mounts, including Dr. Betsee Parker’s Charlemagne, who captured the championship title in the Green Conformation Hunter division out of a competitive group of horse-and-rider combinations.
Photo by: Anne Gittins Photography
During Week One, the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion was awarded to Caroline Kellogg aboard her mount Herodios V, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion, after an almost clean sweep in the Amateur-Owner 18-35 division. Awarded to the competitor with the most points accumulated in the Amateur Owner 3’6”, Amateur Owner 3’3” 18-35 and the Amateur Owner 3’3” 36+ hunter divisions, Kellogg and her strong partnership with Herodios V helped set the pace for the remainder of the Amateur-Owner divisions.
Photo by: Anne Gittins Photography
Ariana Marnell and Casino Cash dominated the Small Junior 3’6” Hunter division, capturing the top three placings in each class to secure the Grand Junior Hunter title during Week One of competition. Casino Cash, an 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Marnell Sport Horses, impressed the judges with his eager expression and beautiful jump, which led the dynamic pair to secure the champion title.
Photo by: Anne Gittins Photography
Top hunter derby riders took to the Dixon Oval to vie for the lion’s share of prize money in the $5,000 Open USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Lissa Tepas. Michael Britt-Leon aboard Kelly Sims’ Bacchus, an 8-year-old Hanoverian gelding, laid down a beautiful first round helping them secure a score of 89 , later earning a handy round score of 94 to emerge victorious out of a competitive group of horses.
Photo by: Anne Gittins Photography
Alexa Bing and Subtil, her own 15-year-old Selle Francais gelding, were crowned the winners of the $5,000 National Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby, earning scores of 94 and 92 for a 186 total. The longtime pair are no strangers to the winner’s circle, having placed in the top three in the Small Junior 3’6” Hunter division earlier in the week and having competed successfully throughout the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival season in the Small Junior Hunter division.
Photo by: Anne Gittins Photography
Alina Mclean dominated the $2,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby on her mount Falling Moon Front Page, a 13-year-old Welsh Cross Pony, earning a first-round score of 81. Mclean and Falling Moon Front Page would continue to impress the judges during the handy round, riding to a second round of 85 from the judges, which would ultimately lend them the win.
For a full list of results from Week One of Brandywine Horse Shows please click here.
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Scott Stewart – Leading Professional Rider
On winning Leading Professional Rider:
“It is always exciting to win the Leading Professional Rider title. I wasn’t really expecting it and to be honest, I didn’t even know there was one here, so it was a nice surprise and I was really happy about it!”
On Charlemagne:
“Charlemagne is only 7 years old, we bought him when he was 4 years old and he did the Pre-Green division as a 5-year-old. He actually only showed three times last before COVID and then I didn’t show the rest of the year. I keep forgetting how inexperienced he is because he is so mature, when really he has only shown at [the Winter Equestrian Festival], Kentucky and the [Upperville Colt & Horse Show]. He doesn’t have a huge amount of experience, but he is pretty laid back and acts pretty grown up on the time. I was excited for him being [Green Conformation Hunter] champion and it was nice to get into the [Dixon Oval] since we haven’t been able to do that the past couple of years. The courses were awesome – they are always so nice at Brandywine and it is always nice to get out in that ring. All of my horses will go to Bluegrass [Festival Horse Show] next. Charlemagne will do the division there and then do [the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships]. We will end the summer at The Hampton Classic before heading to Indoors.”
On competing at the Brandywine Horse Shows:
“I thought the First Year Green Hunter division was very competitive. There weren’t that many in it, there were only 11 or so, but it was all top horses and riders so it felt like how [the Devon Horse Show & Country Fair] might have been this year! I was really happy with my horses and the show ran really nicely. Even though it was warm weather, the days were nice and I thought they did a great job!”
