Chris Brown and Carpaccio Seize Championship in Older Amateur-Owner Hunters at Kentucky Spring Horse Show
Equestrian News Release

Lexington, KY - May 11, 2008 - Rain was the name of the game today at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. The morning began with thunderstorms and wind, forcing classes to break for a short period in the Stonelea Arena. The Amateur-Owner divisions fought through the adverse conditions, producing excellent trips.

Chris Brown of Oakland, NJ, almost decided not to compete Carpaccio today, but he was certainly glad he did when he won the Amateur-Owner 35 and Over Hunter Championship. Caroline Clark Morrison of Iron Station, NC, and Milan earned the reserve championship ribbon.

"It was down pouring at 9 a.m., but the beauty of this horse show is the footing, and it always seems to maintain itself," explained Brown. "I went in the ring and the jumps were beautiful. They stayed all in stride and my horse loved the mud; he just jumped higher and it was his day."

Brown smiled, "Yesterday's trips were actually quite nice. The weather was beautiful. We had a sunny day, the trips rode off a nice gallop, and everything came up easy. Of course, they always set beautiful jumps here, solid and high, which is perfect for my horse."

On both days, the courses were different than the average hunter course. "They had bending lines, and it was a little challenging with the three Aiken choices," described Brown. "The rain was an additional challenge with the mud. Just keeping your horse straight and direct and knowing what he had to jump was the key to this course today."

Clara Lindner of Wellington, FL, and All Season Farm's Hush also found success over the exciting courses. The pair triumphed in the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter division to earn the championship award. Reserve championship honors went to Danielle Torano of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Caranco.

Tricolors were also awarded today in the pony divisions. The championship ribbon in the Small Pony Working Hunters went to Lulu Farish and Far From Home, owned by Megan Davis of Lutherville, MD, while Martha Ingram and Dawn's Early Light, owned by Phoebe Robinson of Bronxville, NY, won the reserve. In the Medium Pony Hunters, the championship prize went to Happy Feet, owned by Sleepy P Ranch of Bartonville, TX, and Emma Roberts. Meredith Darst followed with the reserve championship on Megan Davis' All About Me. Last to go were the Large Pony Hunters. Putting in textbook perfect trips, Bethany Bolen of The Woodlands, TX, and Debonair seized the championship tricolor. The reserve championship was awarded to Emma Roberts with Halcyon Guinevere, owned by Mary Mielenz of Collierville, TN.

On Wednesday, May 14, the Kentucky Spring Classic will commence. The professional hunter divisions will lead off in the Stonelea Arena, while Junior and Amateur-Owner divisions will be awarding championship tricolors throughout the week.

For more information on the Kentucky Spring Horse Show or the Kentucky Spring Classic, please go to http://www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.


Photo: Chris Brown and Carpaccio, champions of the older Amateur-Owner Hunters. Photo (C) 2008 Rebecca Walton. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.