Posted March 6, 2006

Jennifer Waxman Scores Double Tricolors with High Cotton and Saloon in Junior Hunters at Winter Equestrian Festival

Wellington, FL – March 5, 2006 – The sixth week of the 34th annual Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) drew to a close today, and many hunter championships were crowned. Only one week of WEF in Wellington remains before the horse show moves to Tampa, FL, on March 22-April 1, 2006.

In the Small Junior 15 & Under Hunters, last year’s most successful pony rider is really making her mark. Jennifer Waxman only got the ride on Christy Russo’s High Cotton last week, but they have already garnered two championship ribbons together. Waxman rides her own horse, The Frog Prince, in the same division. “My horse is a really good first junior hunter. He’s so sweet,” she said. Reserve champion in the division was Sublime, ridden by Jessica Springsteen and owned by Stone Hill Farm.

The Frog Prince gave Waxman confidence in the junior hunter classes, which has helped her on new horses, such as High Cotton. “I really like High Cotton, and I feel like I get along with him really well. The first time I rode him it took a little to get used to him. Once you get used to it though, it’s so much fun,” she explained. “He jumps so well, no matter what. He’s also smooth, so he doesn’t pop me out of the saddle.” Although Waxman and the fancy chestnut gelding won both over fences classes yesterday, the young rider knew she had to concentrate on her last classes. “I was just trying to be consistent today,” she commented. Their consistency led to second and sixth place ribbons over fences and a fifth under saddle today. “I hope that I’ll show him next week,” she concluded.

Waxman also piloted Saloon to the championship in the Large Junior 15 & Under Hunters. Owned by Whitney Roper, the veteran bay gelding was first and eighth over fences on Saturday and first and second today. A third place in the under saddle sealed the tricolor. Reserve champion in the division was Westcliffe, ridden and owned by Christy Russo. Russo rode Westcliffe to first and second place ribbons on Saturday, was fifth in the under saddle, and returned today over fences to pick up second and sixth place ribbons.

The Pony Hunters are a very popular division and highlight some of the best young riders in the country. In the Large Pony Hunter division, which is based on the height of the pony, the championship was awarded to Orlando and Reed Kessler. Kessler is leasing the handsome bay gelding from Maggie McAlary and Beaver Brook Ponies. Reserve champions in the Large Pony Hunters were When In Rome and Alise V. Oken.

About Orlando, Kessler remarked, “He has a really big stride, so you just kind of float the reins. He also has an adjustable pace, which is really great. You keep a firm rein, so that when you see the distance, you can make room for it. You flow up the lines. He almost jumped me off in the schooling ring today because he jumps so high!” Orlando’s fantastic jumping style gave him two third place ribbons over fences on Saturday. He and Kessler returned today for first and fourth place jumping ribbons.

Although Kessler enjoys the pony ring, she looks forward to moving up and riding horses. “When one of my small ponies is sold, we can seriously start looking for a horse for me. I’m excited. I like big horses,” she said with a smile. Kessler is part of an equestrian family, so there is a good chance that she will be able to ride her parents’ successful horses in the future. “I think I’m going to inherit my parent’s horses,” she explained. “My dad’s jumper, All That, will be my Children’s Jumper, and Pavarotti will be my junior hunter. I can’t wait!”

In the B Section of the Medium Ponies, First Hand and Schaefer Raposa, who rode for Ashley Toffolon, had a fantastic day to snag the championship ribbon. They were third over fences yesterday, but returned today for the win in both over fences classes. Reserve champion was Tuscany, ridden and owned by Ande Farish.

Raposa only started showing First Hand this winter in Florida because owner Toffolon outgrew the cute chestnut pony. “He’s so much fun. He has a really big stride and he jumps really well. He kind of goes like a horse,” Raposa related. “It makes it easier to find the distances. It’s nice, because then you can go really slow.”

The final week of WEF in Wellington begins on March 8 and runs until March 12 for the CN Wellington Finale, CSIO-4*. WEF then moves to Tampa, FL, at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center from March 22-April 1, 2006.

Photo Credit: Saloon and Jennifer Waxman, Large Junior 15 & Under Hunter champions at Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo by Randi Muster.