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Posted February 25, 2006 Carol Cone Sweeps Adult Amateur Hunter Division at Winter Equestrian Festival
One of the most popular divisions at WEF is the Adult Amateur 51 & Over Hunters. With over 50 entries every week, it is a “very collegial, but really competitive” environment, said Carol Cone. Cone scored a sweep in Section B of the division this week with her old partner Harmony Bay and new mount Glory Road. “We all cheer for each other, but you want to do well and it’s great to win a class and be champion,” she said. Cone has had no trouble with winning this season. With the 15 year old stallion Harmony Bay, she has won three championships and one reserve championship so far this year and leads the WEF Circuit Champion standings. With the seven year old gelding Glory Road yesterday, Cone scored a 90 over fences. Cone has only had Glory Road for a few months, but commented, “This week we really clicked.” With scoreboards in both the Grand Hunter Field and the Rost Ring, riders have the advantage of seeing their scores for each round and where they stand in the class. “I think it’s tremendous,” said Cone about the system. “It gives you a sense of where you fit in and sets expectations for riders, trainers, and their significant others. It’s more exciting. It takes a lot of the mystery out of the sport, which is a good thing.” Harmony Bay jumped to first and third place ribbons on Thursday, while Glory Road won the other over fences class. Today, Harmony Bay was first under saddle and second over fences. Right behind him, Glory Road finished second and third. About Harmony Bay, Cone explained, “He has got the most amazing personality, and he’s a very easy stallion. We show him very selectively and don’t jump him in between shows because he knows how to do it. We want to keep him going for as long as we can. He loves to do his job. He loves to crack his back, which is a little hard for someone who is five feet tall!” She compared her venerable mount to Glory Road, “He (Glory Road) has much more of a lopey canter and is a beautiful mover.” The Adult Amateur hunter is a special horse, Cone explained. “They’re hard to find, especially ones that keep their form over fences. It’s hard for them to do that because they get disinterested after awhile. It’s great at WEF because the fences are really pretty and have a lot of greenery.” Luckily, Cone has trainer Tim Goguen to help her find horses that fit perfectly. “Since I’m small, all of my horses are small and they fit me really well. It’s a nice picture. Tim does a great job of matching my capability and the look and feel of the horse,” she said. In Section A, the championship went to Regall and Bruce Duchossois. Reserve champion was Seventh Heaven, ridden and owned by Lora Schultz. Another repeat champion this week was Fiyero, ridden by Pamela Polk and owned by Julie Kruger. Last week’s champion in the First Year Green Working Hunters repeated his performance in a division with 47 entries. The handsome chestnut was second over fences on Thursday and came back today for first and second places over fences and second under saddle. Reserve champion was Morocco, ridden and owned by Addison Phillips. The Washington International Horse Show Equitation Classic saw high scores today in both the hunter and jumper phases. In the jumper phase, Kimberly McCormack rode Sundance to a high score of 94 and the win. She returned for the hunter phase and finished fourth with an 88. Her combined score of 182 gave her the overall win. The winner of the hunter phase was Jack Hardin Towell Jr. on Littlefoot with a 92. Towell finished eighth overall. Washington International Horse Show Equitation Classic Overall
Photo Credit: Fiyero and Pamela Polk, champions in the First Year Green Hunters at Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo by Randi Muster. |
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Wellington,
FL – February 24, 2006 – The Zada Enterprises, LLC Wellington
Masters marks the fifth week of competition at the Winter Equestrian
Festival (WEF), the world’s longest running and largest equestrian
festival. 
