Glenn Hartigan of Alpharetta, Georgia and his own
Z Coco Cabana brought home the blue ribbon in the $25,000
Sidelines Grand Prix, presented by
EMO on Saturday night to the roar of the crowd. He and Aaron Vale of Williston, Florida were the only two riders to advance to the jump off round over the course designed by Olympic course designer Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida. Vale and Thinks Like a Horse Farm's
Bonzini S and
Stakko rounded out the roster for the jump off.
"The course was really challenging but fair," commented Hartigan. "Steve built a great course and it asked the riders good questions. There were some half steps in it so riders needed to decide if they were going to leave those strides out or add. In the last line, you couldn't leave the stride out, you had to shorten," he said. "The jump off course was really interesting and he really did a great job. Very well done. Steve used the field really well and having built the Olympics, he knows it really well," Hartigan added.
Vale and Bonzini S were the first to tackle the jump off round with a time allowed of 51 seconds. Vale and Bonzini S flew through it, fault free in a time of 38.894 seconds, setting the new time to beat. He and his second mount, Stakko, followed his first ride and their time of 39.276 seconds put him in the first and second places. Hartigan and Z Coco Cabana were next up.
"Aaron is tough to beat when he comes to town," said Hartigan. "He won every other major money class. He's such a professional and he had both horses in the jump off go clear and I thought, 'With him going clear, I had to take every chance and go faster or I'm going to finish third,'" he said.
Z Coco Cabana and Hartigan, sitting in the last to go position, tackled the course and delivered a clear round in a time of 36.437 seconds and won the class!
Z Coco Cabana and Glenn Hartigan are greeted in the winner's circle by Classic Company and Sidelines Magazine's President Bob Bell and Awards Coordinator Drew Coster [Photo credit: Alison Hartwell Photography] "I know my horse and I trained her all the way up to this level. She's 10 this year and has enough experience in grand prix competition that I knew if I asked her, should would do it. I left strides out where Aaron didn't and I gunned it," he said. "We went really fast and it was really fun," Hartigan added.
"When I started her 2 years ago I probably wouldn't have gone so fast. Training at that level, I want to protect her big heart. The more experience she gets the more I can ask of her. She is maturing as a grand prix horse and she won a grand prix in Tryon a few weeks ago and has been second several times, so I can take more chances," he said.
"She's [
Coco] so comfortable in the Arena here in Conyers. I bred her mother and
Coco was born in Germany. I brought her over here as a 5 year old and her first show was here in Conyers," he said. "The
Atlanta Classics are always ones we come to," said Hartigan. "It was fun to win in front of this home town crowd who has watched her over the years. A lot of people know her and know how much my wife and I put into it and to have her win was beyond our wildest expectations," he added.
"I'm a very proud breeder," said Hartigan. "
Coco just got a new sister and she's in Kentucky. So, we're going to head there after this show to meet the newest member of the family, but we'll be back for the
Atlanta Fall Classics," he said. "Classic Company does a great job here managing the footing and running a great show. We always come to all of Classic shows in Conyers," he added.
Vale returned for the fourth and fifth places with Troy Glaus'
Darling GR and Thinks Like a Horse Farm's
Exclusive, respectively, after posting four fault first rounds in times of 81.143 and 84.047 seconds, respectively. Sixth place was awarded to Maryann Charles of Southern Pines, North Carolina and Fox View Farm's
FBF Sailor Man for their four fault first round in a time of 84.212 seconds. Chasen Boggio of Canton, Georgia and his own
Co Pilot placed seventh and Jorge Ludwig of Newbury Park, California and his own
Lamarique earned an eighth place finish. Daniel Geitner of Aiken, South Carolina, piloted The Kenwood Syndicate's
Kenwood to a ninth place finish and Michael Kirby of Madison, Connecticut and his own
KTS OK finished in tenth.
Coolman 78, owned and ridden by Tricia O'Connor of Williston, Florida, took eleventh and Penny Brennan of Montmorenci, South Carolina and her own
Sun Tzu wrapped up the class with a twelfth place finish. For more results, please visit
horseshowsonline.com.
Sidelines Magazine is the sponsor the Atlanta Summer Classics' Grand Prix. As the premier equestrian magazine focused on the people in the equestrian world, from beautiful photography to award winning editorial, Sidelines Magazine is distributed each month to 49 states throughout North America and can be found at the most prestigious equestrian events in the country. Celebrating 29 years as the leading equestrian magazine, Sidelines Magazine embraces the equestrian lifestyle and transports its readers from the sidelines to center ring. Pick up your complimentary copy in the show office or
view it online for free.
EMO is a longtime sponsor of the Classic Company show jumping events. Not every business or company can claim they have stood the test of time. It means continuing to serve with dedication over many years if not decades. It means making a commitment and always staying the course through thick and thin. The EMO Agency has stayed the course for 3 decades, thirty years, making sure the finest coverages from the best companies were made available at competitive prices and delivered rain or shine 24/7/365. When you ride with the EMO Agency you can be confident that you are safely riding with the leaders. Providing worldwide coverage for the equine industry, visit them on the web at
rideemo.com.
$5,000 Horseflight Welcome
The jumper action kicked off Week II of the Atlanta Summer Classics with the $5,000
Horseflight Open Welcome on Thursday. Aaron Vale took the win with Troy Glaus'
Darling GR, besting a field of twenty four horse and rider teams. Only five advanced to a second round opportunity.
Chasen Boggio and his own Co Pilot was the first to turn in double clear rounds in times of 74.590 and 47..680 seconds, respectively, beating the times allowed of 77 and 49 seconds, and set the new time to beat.
Michael Kirby and his own KTS OK followed after a clear first round in a time of 73.860 seconds, but eight faults in the second round in a time of 46.137 seconds, would see him finish in fifth place overall.
Maryann Charles of Southern Pines, North Carolina and Lalainy were the next to advance to a second round opportunity and posted a clear second round in a time of 42.049 seconds, setting the new time to beat.
Vale and Darling GR were the next to advance to the second round and flew through it with no faults in a time of 40.135 seconds, taking the lead. The last horse and rider team in the order and the last to advance to the second round was Daniel Geitner and the Kenwood Syndicate's Kenwood. The pair had two rails for eight jump faults and their time of 43.985 seconds, would see them finish in fourth place overall.
Final placings had Vale and
Darling GR as the winners and Maryann Charles and
Lalainy in second place. Third place went to Boggio and
Co Pilot. For complete results, please visit
horseshowsonline.com.
Horseflight is the Official Equine Air Transportation Company of the
Classic and
Gulf Coast Classic Companies and sponsor of all 2017 Open Jumper Welcome Classics. As a leader in international horse transport with locations in Greifswald, Germany, Califon, New Jersey, Ocala, Florida and Houston, Texas, with branches in Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California, Horseflight coordinates imports or exports anywhere in the world! With weekly flights to and from Europe, as well as the continental United States, Horseflight prides itself on transporting the competitive horse world, one flight at a time!
Arenus Jr/Amateur Jumper Classic
The Vale family continued their wins in the jumper arena and Mallory Vale of Williston, Florida, wife of grand prix rider Aaron Vale, won the $5,000
Arenus Jr/Amateur Owner 1.30 Jumper Classic in the irons of Thinks Like a Horse Farm's
Elusive, besting a field of thirteen horse and rider teams. Meghan Hurst of Baton Rouge, Louisiana earned a second place finish with her own
Lagoona Paradise and Jodie Camberg of Calabasas, California, piloted her own
Veneto DH Z to a third place finish.
Lalainy, owned by Fox View Farm and ridden by Christina Webb of Bahama, North Carolina was awarded the blue ribbon in the $2,500
Arenus Jr/Amateur Owner 1.20 m Jumper Classic, besting a field of twenty one horse and rider teams. Second was awarded to Aberdeen Ventures, LLC's
Jorno ridden by Madeline Derose of Ann Arbor, Michigan and third went to Livhaven Stables'
Hot Spot, ridden by Olivia Epple of Palmetto, Georgia. For complete results, please visit
horseshowsonline.com.
Arenus is the sponsor of the Jr. Amateur Jumper Classics at all Classic Company and Gulf Coast Classic show jumping events.
Developed by veterinarians and nutritionists and supported by a team of animal health specialists, Arenus products deliver exactly what your horse needs whether healthy or ill.
Arenus is centered on the core belief of supporting complete animal care solutions, with deep passion and exact science. Brands like Sore No-More, BeneFab by Sore No-More, Equilite Herbals and Assure have offered such solutions for many years and solidified Arenus' spot in the equine health community.
More information can be found at
www.arenus.com or you can reach out to their friendly customer service staff at 1-866-791-3344.
The $2,500
Elite Equine Sport Horse Medicine and Lameness Child Adult Jumper Classic awarded Phyllis Hines'
Ace of Spies, ridden by Heather Hooker of Wellington, Florida first place honors in the Adult section and second place went to
Glitter Glider, owned and ridden by Sarah Turner of Charlottesville, Virginia. The Child Adult Jumper section win went to Carly Hoft and Available Jumpers.com's
Available Ohio. The pair bested a field of sixteen horse and rider teams. Second place went to
Egono Van Kadal, owned by Oak Ledge Farm and ridden by Hazel Taylor. For complete results, please visit
horseshowsonline.com.
Elite Equine Sport Horse Medicine and Lameness is the title sponsor of the Childrens Adult Jumper Classics at the Pensacola Winter Circuit. Dr. Shayne Wilcox is onsite to handle all of your equine veterinary needs. From emergency calls to prepurchase exams, Dr. Wilcox and the Elite Equine Sports Medicine and Lameness team is always on call to help your horses perform at an elite level.
$1,500 USHJA Pony Derby!
Kat Fuqua and Captain America win the $1,500 USHJA Pony Derby [Photo credit: Drew Coster]
The $1,500
USHJA Pony Derby took place on Saturday and welcomed a dozen junior riders to the hunter arena. Kat Fuqua of Atlanta, Georgia dominated the competition with her own
Captain America and
Goldhill's Arresting Charm, taking the first and second places. She also placed fourth and tenth with her own
Finesse RF and
Chic in Time, respectively.
Third place was awarded to
Prima Ballerina, owned and ridden by Sophia Ayers of Reddick, Florida and fifth went to Elle Moren's
Ledoux, ridden by Skylar Curtis of Oviedo, Florida.
Footsteps, owned and ridden by Hagen Blackwell of Birmingham, Alabama, earned a sixth place finish and
Charmer, owned by Danielle Torano and ridden by Lauren Gregson of Largo, Florida placed seventh.
Bestseller, owned by Tara Dow-Rein and ridden by Cassidy Rein of Raleigh, North Carolina earned eighth place. Avery Zwirn of rode her own
Rapunzel to a ninth place finish. For further results, please visit
horseshowsonline.com.
Next up...the Charleston Summer Classics
From show rings to the beach! The ideal show-cation destination at the Charleston Summer Classic!
ABOUT THE CLASSIC COMPANY, LTD
The Classic Company's philosophy is to offer an event for every level of rider and horse. From Lead Line to Olympic level Grand Prix competition, from seasoned veteran horse and rider team, to a first time horse show experience, the Classic Company offers competition that provides the competitor substantial prize money, award-winning facilities and courses, quality competition and the best customer service in the industry.
Service is what sets the Classic Company apart from other horse show companies. Awarded the USHJA's Member Choice Award for providing excellent customer friendly competitions, the Classic Company provides champion service from in-gates to show office at all its venues. Top competition with an emphasis on southern hospitality is our hallmark and the reason thousands prefer to compete at Classic Company produced events each year.