A Dazzling Display by Ellen Toon and In Disguise Wins The National Horse Show Junior-A/O Hunter Championship

Victor Hugo-Vidal Equitation Championship goes to Carolyn Kelly

Wellington, FL - December 5, 2004 - Ellen Toon and In Disguise outdistanced a field of twelve to take home top honors in the National Horse Show Junior-Amateur Owner Hunter Championship on Sunday at the 121st National Horse Show in Wellington, Florida.

The best of the four junior and two amateur owner divisions met for a Sunday showdown on the International Arena field in rounds four and five of this demanding test of the top show hunters. The first three rounds, contested over three days of competition, determined who would advance to the Sunday finals. The top twelve numerical scores moved on to the championship challenge.

Unlike the championship for the professional hunters where everyone started with a clean slate in the final two rounds, the junior and amateur rider’s scores carried over from the first three rounds.

Five judges scored the class using the open numerical scoring system. Following the first round of action on Sunday, round four of the championship, it was anybody’s class to win. They were neck and neck going into the final round.

The leaders after round four were Jo Malone and Megan Young with a four round total of 170.52 and In Disguise with Ellen Toon, fractions behind at 169.94. Quidam and Haylie Jayne followed at 168.

Playboy and Tessa Weise and Liberty and Dee Thomas scored 72 and 75 respectively and totaled 232.52 and 236.38, early on.

Junior rider Megan Edrik aboard Red Dragon scored a round five 83.88 and took over the lead with an overall total of 248.33.

Clemintine and Nicoletta Von Heidegger posted a 78.66 and totaled out at 242.82.

Kindred Spirit and Alexandra Perna took over the top spot with a round five score of 83.33 and a five round total of 251.22.

The tight battle continued as Haylie Jayne, third coming into the final round, took over the lead by 2/10ths of a point on Quidam scoring an 83. That gave Jayne an overall score of 251.44.

In Disguise and Ellen Toon returned to the International Arena next. In Disguise had been posting chart-topping scores all week long, both with professional rider, Shachine Belle and with Toon. Sunday’s final round, however, was the best score of the week.

The five judges posted scores in the 90s including a high score of 96. The average for round five for In Disguise was 90.66 and the overall total was 260.61. It was almost a ten point margin over Jayne and Quidam.

Megan Young aboard Joe Malone had their work cut out for them. They would need a 90 average to win. It wasn’t meant to be. Young and Joe Malone scored an 85. They finished second with a five round scoring total of 255.52.

“It’s just an amazing feeling,” Toon said following the win. “I’ve been lucky to have ridden a lot of horses in my life, but In Disguise is something very special. As much fun as he is to watch, he’s just that much more fun to ride.”

Rodney Bross trains the duo. Bross, who trained the legendary show hunter, Rox Dene, knows quality horses. “He’s certainly the nicest horse that I’ve seen and trained since Rox Dene and maybe as good as Rox Dene. His credentials speak for themselves. There’s no doubt that he is the finest hunter on any show grounds today,” Bross said.

“The best thing about a great horse like Rox Dene or In Disguise is that you allow them to be what they are; you stay out of the way,” Bross explained. “This horse doesn’t need training. He knows his job and he loves it and that’s why when he goes in the ring he has a beautiful expression and he’s brilliant,” said Bross. “He’s not bored with what he does. We don’t train him at home, we let him have fun. Horses that are trained on too much lose their happy expression in the show ring,” said Bross.

The team made a decision on Saturday to scratch In Disguise, with pro rider Shachine Belle, from the Open Hunter Championship in favor of today’s class.

“As I looked at the National Horse Show prize list I thought that great, we can do both classics and this is going to be fun,” Toon said. “But then, as we got to day four I was thinking that this is a lot of jumping and it’s a lot of work to prepare each day. It’s exhausting,“ said Toon. “We love our horses. So it really wasn’t something that we had to discuss. We knew it would be too much to do both classics and Shachine graciously said that if he qualifies for both that she would much prefer that I ride him in the Amateurs, so that’s what we ended up doing,” Toon said. “One class every day, it doesn’t seem like it’s that much jumping, but it’s his sixth time around a very long course.”

Asked whether she felt extra pressure for today’s ride, Toon said, “No. A lot of people ask me if I feel pressure when I’m riding In Disguise, but I don’t, not at all. I do this for me.” “Many people do feel pressure a lot of times riding a great horse, but I’m an amateur and I go out there and try as hard as I can every time. My husband has taught me to try and get a little better each time, and that’s what I do. I try and do better each time,” Toon explained.

The National Horse Show Junior–Amateur Owner Hunter Championship Final Results

1 – In Disguise, Ellen Toon – 85.61 – 84.33 – 90.66 = 260.61

2 – Jo Malone, Euri Uchiyama, Megan Young - 85.77 - 84.75 – 85.00 = 255.52

3 – Quidam, Sara Willeman, Haylie Jayne - 83.442 – 85.00 – 83.00 = 251.44

4 – Kindred Spirit, Alesandra Perna – 84.22 – 83.67 – 83.33 = 251.22

5 – Red Dragon, M/M Earnest Oare, Megan Edrik - 82.00 – 83.00 – 83.88 = 248.33

6 – Clemintine, Nicoletta Von Heidegger – 82.99 – 81.66 – 78.66 = 242.82

7 – Liberty, Dee Thomas – 81.72 – 79.66 – 75.00 = 236.38

8 – Playboy, Tessa Weise – 81.19 – 79.33 – 72.00 = 232.52