November 30, 2006

The Nation’s Top Professional Hunters Compete at the 123rd National Horse Show and Family Festival

Wellington, FL – For the second year in a row, Scott Stewart dominated the professional divisions at the National Horse Show and Family Festival (NHS) in Wellington, FL. Except for Ken Smith’s win on Saving Grace in the Second Year Green Working Hunters, Stewart had a clean sweep of all the championships today.

The competition was fierce, and many of the best hunters in the nation traveled to Wellington to compete against each other in the 123rd National Horse Show at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club. The show started Wednesday and runs through Sunday, December 3, 2006.

The open professional classes included the William Barlow Redfern Regular Working Hunters and the Regular Conformation Hunters, as well as the EMO Stables Green Working and Green Conformation, which are set for horses in their first or second year of rated competition.

Stewart, of Flemington, N.J., took home the championship ribbons in all five open hunter divisions at last year’s NHS, and this year he came close to doing the same.

The First Year Working Green Hunters, sponsored by EMO Stables of Warrenton, VA, were the first to take to the Internationale Arena at 8:30 a.m. Farewell, ridden and owned by Stewart, won the class with a score of 86 and was named champion of the division. Bella Rouge, ridden by Emily Williams and owned by Kobi Rhodes, was reserve champion. Winning two of the three jumping classes, Farewell looked like a seasoned veteran. “He was great today,” Stewart said. “I don’t usually get to ride him because he is so easy. I bought him as a 3-year-old, and he is 8 now, so he is like family,” he smiled.

Stewart ran from the presentation in center ring to his next mount, Ashton, owned by Karen Long Dwight and Barbara Ridder. Ashton won the under saddle class and then won the third jumping class in the Green Conformation Hunters, ensuring the championship. His second horse Banner was fourth in the under saddle and second over fences, ending up as reserve champion. “Ashton was a little spooky yesterday for the first time in his life, but went well today,” Stewart explained. “Banner was also great,” he added. “All three of his rounds were very good this week.”

It was beginning to seem as if Stewart would take every tricolor ribbon of the day until Ken Smith bumped him out of the EMO Stables Second Year Green Working Hunters on Saving Grace. Smith (at his fifth National Horse Show) rode the big bay gelding owned by Grace Stuntz to two out of three wins over fences. “We acquired Grace after Devon this year,” Smith said. “He jumped lovely on the field both days. He is very seasoned and very made, and the windy conditions did not faze him.” The winner of the third over fences class was Lainie Wimberly on Savannah, owned by Casey Green. Savannah ended up with the reserve championship.

Stewart regained his lead with a vengeance, taking the William Barlow Redfern Regular Working Hunter Championship on Beyond and reserve championship on Dynamic. Beyond is owned by Stewart, and Dynamic belongs to the Fashion Farm. “Dynamic went great, but I think that I was a little slow to the in and out,” Stewart confessed. “That might have been why he got one low score (80).”

The last classes of the day belonged to the Regular Conformation Hunters, where Stewart reigned supreme again. Good Life, owned and ridden by Stewart, won the under saddle and placed first, first and second over fences. Good Life has no problems with the height of the jumps. “He has been champion at almost every show that we have competed in the hunters,” Stewart said. “But, I hope to show in the 1.40 meter jumpers this winter at the Winter Equestrian Festival. He has jumped in some little derbies, and I practice doing the jumpers at home,” he added. Stewart, who is famous for his hunter not jumper mounts, laughed when he explained his winter plans, “If he goes really well, I will probably lose him.”

Both champion riders, Stewart and Smith, reside in Wellington. Smith is a relative newcomer to NHS, having shown here for only five seasons. However, Stewart has been showing at the NHS since the early ‘80s when he first competed as a junior. “I have never missed a year,” he smiled. “Ideally, this location is much better for the horses than New York. This is a very special show!”

The country’s best junior hunters and amateur owner hunters will compete in the Internationale Arena tomorrow, trying to win one of the many prestigious trophies offered at the 123rd National Horse Show and Family Festival.

PHOTO CREDIT: Scott Stewart on Beyond. Photo by Randi Muster.