Heritage Farm Earns Multiple Pony Championships at Monmouth County Horse Show, Carolyn Kelly Wins in Two Divisions

East Freehold, NJ–August 19, 2005 - Heritage Farm of Katonah, New York came away with three tricolor ribbons today at the 110th Monmouth County Horse Show. Trainer Patricia Griffith and co-trainer Caitlyn Shiels contributed to the wins of their students and ponies as their Small, Medium, and Large Ponies excelled over courses on the grass field.

Lillie Keenan aboard Aspen Spring won top awards over the last two days and came away with champion in the Small Pony division. The pink-nosed grey pony, owned by Chansonette Farm, resides in New York, New York. Keenan, a bright eight year old, won both classes today after two great performances over the Wendy Chapot designed courses. These were added to second, third, and fourth places from yesterday for the championship. “This is our first time here at the Monmouth County Horse Show, and we love it,” asserted Keegan, “We win really cool prizes too!”

Aspen Spring, nicknamed “Flora,” jumped beautifully through the combination that headed toward the in-gate and was greeted afterward by Lillie’s mother and her friend Reed Kessler. Kessler, also trained by Patricia Griffith, rode her pony Helicon Take Notice in the Small Pony division as well, coming home with two third place ribbons. The Reserve Champion went to Megan Davis of Lutherville, MD and her bay pony Far From Home.

Keenan was a star in the Medium Pony division as well. She piloted Annie Davidson’s bay pony, Debutante, to a double win and earned the tricolor reserve champion. Davidson, Debutante’s owner, lives in Newtown, Pennsylvania and recently won the USEF Pony Medal Finals on Debutante in Lexington, Kentucky. The champion of the Medium Pony division was the adorable white-socked chestnut, Forever After, ridden by owner Claudia Easton.

Easton of Mendenhall, PA trains with Joanne Copeland at J.B.C. Enterprise. Copeland commented, “Claudia rides any chance she can get. She just loves it. She’s very dedicated and lots of fun to teach. She just got a pony jumper, so that’s exciting for us.”

The Large Pony division champion was awarded to Crimson Sky, another Heritage Farm entry. The chestnut, owned by Ashley Toffolon of Bronxville, NY, performed “perfectly” for catch-rider Kaitlin Campbell. Thirteen year old Campbell rides with Patty Miller and showed her pony, Cinderella, in the Medium Pony division today.

The Grand Pony Champion was awarded to the pony with the greatest number of total points during the show. The silver perpetual trophy was presented today by Samantha Conroy and Jennifer Glass to Mapleside Magic Dancer of Pipersville, PA. The dapple grey, owned and ridden by Rachel Roter, earned a first and second today in the Large Pony Division, as well as the reserve champion. “Dancer” also earned first, second, and was champion of the Large Green Pony Division.

Roter and “Dancer” just finished up at the Pony Finals in Kentucky, where they earned fourth overall in their division and were the Welsh Cobb Green Pony reserve champion.

Carolyn Kelly Leads the Way in Small and Large Junior Hunters

The junior hunter riders started their competition today under a light rain, but it did not keep Carolyn Kelly from impressing the judges. The 16 year old from New York City rode her Small Junior 16-17 Hunter, Cool Blue, to the win in the under saddle class and first and second place finishes in the remaining over fences classes. In the Handy Hunter Class, Kelly and Cool Blue received a score of 90 from the judges. Regarding the open numerical format used at this World Championship Hunter Rider show, Kelly commented, “It’s nice to instantly know where you stand.” She added, “He was really good, and I always like the courses where you can go really slow and jump well.”

In the combined Large Junior Hunter division, Kelly was once again the rider leading the jog. She and Dynamic were spectacular today as they won all three classes. Kelly enjoys showing at Monmouth. “I showed here two years ago, but I was in Athens last year to watch the Olympics,” she explained. “I like it and it’s a lot of fun at Monmouth. I’ve done well here also, so that always adds to it.”

Another competitor in the Large Junior Hunter division today was 16 year old Alex Stathis of Short Hills, NJ. Stathis rode Truly for owner Molly Ohrstrom of The Plains, VA. The pair was second in the Handy Hunter class and fourth in the hack. In the Small Junior 15 & Under division, Stathis rode her own Davis Cup and received two blues and a second place. Stathis commented on the adjustment she makes from the full-bodied Davis to the more fine-boned Truly. She remarked, “Truly is more of a slow ride and has an even pace, while Davis has more of a spring to him. They’re a little bit different.”

Stathis also enjoys the fact that Monmouth County Horse Show is in New Jersey, and said, “I still have to stay in a hotel, just because we have to be here first thing in the morning to ride the horses. I do like being relatively close to home, and it’s not that far of a drive.”

The junior hunter classes will continue competition tomorrow, and three championships will be awarded. In addition, the champions will also be determined in the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions.

Photo Credit: Lillie Keenan and Aspen Spring, Small Pony champions at Monmouth County Horse Show. Photo by Randi Muster.