Tim Goguen Takes Top Tricolors in First and Second Year Greens

Wellington, FL - The professional hunter divisions concluded for championships today in the Internationale Arena at the 124th National Horse Show and Family Festival. The horse show, an annual tradition since 1883, continues through Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, FL.

The William Barlow Redfern Regular Working Hunters were held this morning on the grass field, and Scott Stewart led the way to the championship with Beyond. Stewart, who owns the Hanoverian gelding, resides in Flemington, NJ, and winters in Wellington, FL. The reserve tricolor in the Regular Working Hunters was awarded to Late Entry and Hugh "Bert" Mutch. Late Entry is owned by Paradysz Farms in Mill Neck, NY.

"Beyond was champion here last year in the Regular Working Hunters as well," Stewart said. "He just really started back. This is his first show since Florida circuit, and he was champion there, too. Yesterday he was a little bit up, and today he was more himself. He had a really good round out there today." 

In the Moxie Equestrian Inc. Regular Conformation Hunters, Stewart took the top tricolor once again, this time aboard Highland Park. Highland Park is owned by Fashion Farm in Philadelphia, PA. Tim Goguen piloted Angelo, owned by Katie Dinan, to the reserve championship.

"Highland Park was excellent," Stewart stated. "This year he was also champion at Devon [Horse Show], and he was Grand Champion at Washington [International Horse Show], so it was nice to finish the year here with a championship in the Regular Conformations. It was fun to ride out there in the field; he was great. He'll also do the adult hunters with his owner Glen Senk tomorrow."

The "All The Gold" Second Year Green Working Hunters were scheduled next, and Goguen took home the championship with Boulevard Deir, owned by Janet Read of Wellington, FL. Highland Park and Stewart showed in this division as well, and they came away with the reserve championship. The "All The Gold" Second Year Green Working Hunters was sponsored by Billie Steffee, owner of Craighead Farm and the esteemed stallion All The Gold.  

Steffee commented, "I decided to sponsor the hunters because my major involvement in the horse show world has been in the hunter division. All The Gold was a performance horse until 1993, and he is completing his 22 years of breeding in this country at the end of 2007. I thought this would be a nice time to honor him for what he has done in the hunter world for all these years and also to say thank you to my breeding customers."

Stewart was also victorious in the Reflection Farms Green Conformation Hunters, taking home the championship with West Point. West Point is owned by Alexa Weisman of Sherborn, MA. Sandy Ferrell earned the reserve championship on Kost To Coast, owned by Ernest and Betty Oare.

"West Point was great," Stewart reported. "Yesterday he won the model and was third and first over jumps. I think my second round yesterday was one of my best rounds with him. He was really good today as well."

The First Year Green Working Hunter division was the last hunter division to show on the grass field today, and Goguen captured another tricolor on Africa. Africa, also owned by Read, received top honors, and Stewart accrued another reserve tricolor with his grey gelding Lazy Sunday, owned by Keli Colby of Washington, DC. 

The 124th National Horse Show and Family Festival features the very best hunters, jumpers, and dressage competitors in the country. Rich in both history and prize money, the National Horse Show will continue tomorrow at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club. Championship awards for the junior and amateur-owner hunters will be determined tomorrow after the rated hunter divisions conclude in the Internationale Arena.

Photo Credit: Beyond and Scott Stewart. Photo (C) 2007 Randi Muster.