Saugerties, N.Y. – Daisy Farish and Style were crowned Overall Grand Champions in the 3’6” section of the 2018 USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – East Coast with a final score of 261.3 on Tuesday, July 31, at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, N.Y. Nicole Dorwart and Cupido Z were named Overall Grand Champions in the 3'3" section with a final score of 258.1.

Farish (Versailles, Ky.) impressed in all three phases of competition where a classic and handy round each counted for 40% of the overall score, and the under saddle made up the other 20%. She and Style, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding sired by Veron and owned by Take The High Road, LLC, earned scores of 89, 85, and 86.6 to win the classic. Their under saddle scores were 88, 81, and 85.5 before they posted impressive handy scores of 92, 83, and 91 to clinch the tricolor in the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 section and take home a perpetual trophy donated by Christina S. Schlusemeyer.

With the leading overall score over courses designed by Rian Beals of Saugerties, N.Y., Farish and Style, in his maiden appearance at the USEF Junior Hunter National Championship, were presented with the Monarch International Perpetual Trophy as Overall Grand Champions in the 3’6” section.

Farish also topped a field of 96 in the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic presented by Intermont Equestrian at Emory & Henry College riding Capital Hamilton on Monday, July 30.

The Overall Reserve Grand Champion honor in the 3’6” section was won by Ellie Ferrigno (Newton, Conn.) riding Capitalized for owner Redfield Farm. Ferrigno and the nine-year-old warmblood gelding received an 86 and pair of 85 scores to win the classic round before combining two scores of 87 and an 84.2 under saddle and an 89, 88 and 88 in the handy for a total score of 260. The score earned them the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under section title and a perpetual trophy donated by Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Stewart, Jr.

“Style is definitely a very special horse,” said Farish, who trains with Andre Dignelli and Patricia Griffith of Heritage Farm in Katonah, N.Y. “I was lucky to be able to ride him and we just started competing together this winter.”

Speaking to Style’s strengths, Farish noted, “He’s very qualified. If he was a jumper, he’d be jumping at 1.40m. He’s really jumping for fun out there because he is so scopey and athletic.

“He is fantastic in the handy,” she continued. “I think the courses suited him and he was able to go in and really show off. He loves the challenge!”

Dorwart (Etters, Pa.) and Cupido Z, a nine-year-old warmblood gelding by Carthago Z, made their debut at the USEF Junior Hunter National Championship this week and claimed their highest scores to date to win the Overall Grand Champion in the 3'3" section.

The pair earned scores of 88, 87, 86 to win the classic before combining an 83, 86, and 81.5 under saddle and 87, 88, and 84 in the handy to sit atop the Large Junior Hunter 3’3” 16-17 section.

“My rounds went amazing and we scored two of the top scores that I have ever had,” said Dorwart, who trains with Troy Hendricks. “Cupido Z is the most lovable horse I could ever ask for. He’s a dream come true.

“Each round, my goal was to be patient, keep a consistent canter, and wait for the distance to come to me,” continued Dorwart of her classic and handy rounds. “We put so much time into showing, lessons, and flatting. Coming here and putting it all together to do what we practiced for all year is a big accomplishment.”

Overall Reserve Champion in the 3'3" section was awarded to Lauren Reid (Nazareth, Pa.) and Oxford after they topped the Large Junior Hunter 3’3” 15 & Under section on a final tally of 256.2. Oxford, a 10-year-old warmblood gelding owned by Capstone Farm, carried Reid to scores of 87, 89, and 89 in the classic before scoring an 88, 87, and 81.5 under saddle and 82.5, 81, and 83.75 over the handy course.

Section Champions Crowned at 2018 USEF Junior Hunter National Championship - East Coast

Hallie Grimes (Houston, Texas) earned champion honors in the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under section riding Inquisitive, owned by Can We Keep It? LLC, on a score of 245.1 to accept a perpetual trophy donated by Geri and Whitney Roper.

Grace Boston (Owings Mills, Md.) topped the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 section riding
Diana J. Firestone’s Calou with a score of 249.7 for a perpetual trophy donated by Pam and Wayne Baker.

In the Small Junior Hunter 3’3” 15 & Under section, Linus Sophia Mitchell (Wrightsville Beach, N.C.) won the tricolor on a score of 247.1 riding her own Linus.

Devin Seek (Ocala, Fla.) was crowned champion of the Small Junior Hunter 3’3” 16-17 section riding Bugsy Malone, owned by Donald Stewart, with a score of 244.

Premonition BHF was awarded the War Dress Memorial Trophy donated by Cleta S. Turbow & Pamela J. Rush as the best mare after carrying Jordan Toering to an overall score of 250.7 in the Large Junior Hunter 3’6” 16-17 section. Premonition BHF is a homebred 12-year-old Hanoverian mare born at Bent Hickory Farm in Waterford, VA.

For additional information or questions regarding the USEF Junior Hunter National Championships, please contact Kelsey Shanley, Director, National Affiliates, by phone at (859) 225-6960 or via email at [email protected].

Find out more about the hunter discipline and all of US Equestrian’s 29 recognized breeds and disciplines in this Learning Center video. Stay up to date throughout the competition by following the USEF Junior Hunter National Championship on Facebook and follow US Equestrian on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Use #JoinTheJoy.