United States Eventing Association

Cedar Ridge Farm Hosts Another Successful YEH, FEH and NEH Competition

Cedar Ridge Farm in Athens, Georgia hosted their fourth annual USEA Young Event Horse and IDHSNA USEA Future Event show, in addition to the New Event Horse added this year.

The schedule was changed this year to run over two days; the Future Event Horse taking place Saturday, August 25 and the Young Event and New Event Horse series on Sunday, August 26. All the competitors were very pleased with this schedule as it allowed for a peaceful setting for the youngsters, and avoidance of the late day Georgia heat!

A number of out of state competitors attended, and Elly Schobel from Aiken, South Carolina was particularly successful in the FEH. She had first place finishes in both the Yearling and three-year-old divisions. Particularly outstanding was her three-year-old filly De Luetje MF, who won with a score of 84! She was rewarded with a 9 for conformation. De Luetje is a US bred Hanoverian by Don Principe out of a Londonderry mare. She was 2010 USDF Reserve National champion as a yearling.

Sherry Smith, of Dogwood Sporthorses brought a three-year-old colt with a lovely uphill build and movement that finished second. He is by Quaterback out of a Sandro Hit mare. Sherry has a number of Sandro Hit related offspring that are eventing with her niece Erin Flynn, and she also provided excellent photographic services for the day!

Lisha Marshal of Broad Hill Run Farm in Harriman, TN made a long trip worthwhile as well. She earned the second place in the Yearling division with her splashy paint Dutch/Trakehner colt Gotham, and won the two-year-old division with Zevon a bay Trakehner filly. Both are by Hennessy and are homebreds.

Our professional handler for the day who provided excellent services was Hokan Thorn, a Grand Prix dressage trainer from Sweden. He is based at Montclair Stables in Conyers, GA.

In the Young Event Horse series, Debi Crowley of Elkmont, Alabama came away with first place in the five year-old division with her homebred Vantage Point, a 17.3 hh Trakehner gelding by Windfall who was second in the four-year-old division at Cedar Ridge last year. Vantage Point’s full brother, Vandiver, is currently competing at Advanced with Werner Geven is hopeful to go to Rolex CCI4* in 2014. Vandiver and Vantage Point stand at 17.0 and 17.3 hands respectively and are out of a 16 hh mare that is by a son of Babamist (Mystic Replica).

Traveling the farthest to show was Alexandra Slusher an Advanced rider from Paris, KY. At the last minute she added her new five-year-old mare Komik to the entry list, and earned a second place finish. Her mare is also a Trakehner by Windfall, and was bred by Tim and Cheryl Holekamp. She was enthusiastic about her first YEH outing and pleased with the show format.

In the four-year-old division Ashley Giles of Newnan, GA was excited to have her OTTB “Rusticator” take first place. His grandsire is Danzig. Second place went to Sarah C. Murphy of Alpharetta, GA with her new Holsteiner gelding Bramasole. Bramasole was bred by Michael and Nathalie Pollard at their Chatsworth, GA facility.

The final series of the weekend was the New Event Horse series which had fourth entries. One scratched, but the remaining three enjoyed their outing and judge Charles Musco commented that they were all quality horses with great potential.

The generous sponsors for the CRF show this year:

GOLD: Orthopedic Surgery, P.C.

Chatt Hills Eventing/Carl Bouckaert

Cherokee Feed and Seed

Dex Industries

Devoucoux Saddles

Mr. and Mrs. Phil Town

SILVER: Cavalor feed

Forging Life – Michael Beard farrier services

GGT

Covered Bridge Equine veterinary services

Piedmont Equine veterinary services

Atlanta Saddlery

Wayne Kraska

Horseflight International horse shipping services

All First through Third placings in each show (FEH, YEH, NEH) received a check out of the show purse.

Once again, the thought behind the purse is to encourage those who put their efforts into breeding and/or bringing along young quality horses to gain something in return, in addition to the ribbons and exposure. An offset to expenses is always welcome!

Tom and Carolyn Cadier of Cedar Ridge Farm look forward to the show next year, and wish all the competitors heading to the championships at Morven Park and Fair Hill the best of luck! There has already been interest expressed by additional sponsors for next year, so the plan is to create another quality show for all with a larger purse.