Tobasco Is Red Hot! Holly Shepherd Tops The List of Twelve For The National Horse Open Hunter Championship

Wellington, FL - December 2, 2004 - The rated hunters have completed three days of competition at The 121st National Horse Show in Wellington, Florida, with the cream of the crop moving on to the finals of the National Horse Show Open Hunter Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The top twelve hunters competing in five different divisions and accumulating the highest average score over three rounds have earned the right to move on to the final two rounds. They’ll return in reverse order on Saturday afternoon, with the highest scores returning last.

First Year Green Working Hunter Champion Tobasco, with rider Holly Shepherd, lead the list of the top twelve. Her average score over three rounds was an impressive 87.222 and included the two high scores of the show.

Shepherd, who doesn’t spend much time on the east coast tour during the summer months knew she had something special with the five year old Tobasco, but she wasn’t sure how special he was until they arrived here at The National. “I think on most days it’s almost impossible to beat some of these horses, and coming here from Alabama and being a nobody on the big hunter circuit I never expected to dominate like I did here,” Shepherd said.

Shepherd said that in today’s third round class, she wanted to leave no doubt in anybody’s mind. “He is fabulous. Today I left out a few here and there,” said Shepherd. “I let him gallop and treated this like the ‘classic round,’ looking for a little more room, getting a little extra height and seeing if I could get just a little more fire out of him to beat these East coast horses,” Shepherd said. “And he sure gave it to me when I asked.”

Her score of 91.33 was the best score of the first three days of competition.

“I was excited by the 89 yesterday, so today I was thrilled with the 91!” Shepherd exclaimed. “When we jogged one of the judges told me that my round today was breathtaking, so I’m pretty pumped about the whole deal,” said a smiling Shepherd.

Shepherd and Tobasco will now face the best of all five divisions in the Saturday showdown. “Advancing to the championship certainly means we’ll be facing the best of the best but I really think for sure I have one of the best shots,” said a confident Shepherd. “We’re both very consistent, so if we both keep doing what we’re doing, who’s going to beat us?” asked Shepherd.

One rider who will certainly give Shepherd a run for her money is Ken Berkley, who qualified three mounts for the Saturday Championship. He will ride Truly, Good Point and Cool Blue in the finals, qualifying second, third and fourth.

Green Conformation Hunter Champion, Truly, scored a three day average of 86.583. Cool Blue posted an 85.277 from the First year Green division and Good Point, the 2nd Year Green Working Hunter Champion, qualified fourth with an 85.222.

“I’m truly blessed to able to ride three wonderful horses in this important event. I’m very confident going into Saturday’s final,” Berkley said. “Especially with three chances to get it right,” he chuckled.

Sandy Ferrell and Fiddlers Bridge, Champion from the Regular Working Hunter division, qualified fifth with a three day average of 84.222 but will not compete in the finals.

With a tear in her eye, Ferrell explained that Thursday’s ride brings to a close a great partnership between she and Fiddlers Bridge. “His owner, Stephanie Riggio will now ride him in the Amateur Owner division exclusively,” Ferrell said. “I think it’s a lot to ask one horse to go three more days after he’s just done three days over a big, long course. So, I’m hoping that he and Stephanie will be competing in the National Horse Show Junior-A/O Championship, and that will be enough for him this week,” said Ferrell.

“If it had to end, it really came to an end in a great way,” said Ferrell, smiling. “He was reserve champion at Capital Challenge, Harrisburg, and New York and we go out as Champion at the National. You can’t ask for much more than that,” said Ferrell.

“I think his dependability is what I’ll miss the most,” Ferrell said. “His ability to walk into any ring, jump any jump and go like a champion is just something really special.”

The thirteenth qualifier will move up to take the spot of Fiddlers Bridge once the scratch has been officially received in the horse show office.

Shachine Belle and Attache, Reserve Champion in the 2nd Year Green Working Hunters, qualified sixth by posting an 83.33 for their three day average. Belle also qualified In Disguise, twelfth, as the Champion in the Regular Conformation Hunter division.

In Disguise, with a rare knockdown on Wednesday, had to qualify as a division champion. Belle was confident that she’d advance to the Championship rounds. “I knew we’d come back. He’s the best jumper I’ve seen in a long time over the four foot fences,” said Belle.

Belle wanted to make sure that Attache got his just recognition. “His biggest problem is his little brother, In Disguise,” Shachine laughed. “Everybody loves In Disguise and how can you not love In Disguise, right? Attache is kind of the forgotten horse, but he was wonderful today and he’s been a winner all year long.”

Belle has a particular affection for Attache, or “Donald” as he’s called in the barn. “He’s my favorite horse. He’s just the sweetest horse I’ve ever known,” said Belle. “He always tries hard and he always wants to be good. So, when he gets to the winners circle, it makes me so happy. He’s almost like my pet,” she said.

For Belle, having two spots in the Championship is very special. “I am so excited about going into the finals with these two great horses. There are some excellent horses in the finals on Saturday. Ken Berkley’s got three and that little horse of Holly Shepherd’s is just an amazing jumper, but I’ll take my two any day,” Belle said with confidence.

Other finalists include Ken Smith with two mounts; Westcliffe, Reserve Champion from the Regular Conformation Hunters and High Cotton, another entry qualifying from a stellar First Year Green Working Hunter section.

Joie Gatlin and Mandarin and Rob Bielefeld with C.C. Bloom round out the top twelve for Saturday’s Championship.

The 121st National Horse Show & Family Festival runs through Sunday, December 5. The 3rd Annual Zada Enterprises Dressage At The National begins on Friday, December 3. More than 500 of the nation’s top horses are competing for more than half a million dollars in total prize money. Upcoming attractions on Saturday, December 4, include the Children’s Fair from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM sponsored by Wellington Show Stables, Lenehan Builders, Barbara Conners, and Alexandra Pozzo; the Taste of Wellington from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM; and The I.V. Technologies, Inc. Ladies’ Side Saddle Over Fences and Hack classes.

For more information about the 121st National Horse Show & Family Festival, write to National Horse Show, PO Box 386, Greenvale, NY 11548. E-mail: NationalHS@aol.com; Phone: (516) 484-1865; Fax: (516) 484-1982. Web: www.nhs.org.