Hampton Green Farm competed five horses over the course of the 12 weeks of the 2017 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, in both the national and international levels. Our riders this season were Head Trainer Maria Lithander, and working students Kerrigan Gluch, Nicole Pelfresne and Sophia Schults.
Our MVP of the season was clearly Maria Lithander with Barbara HGF (Bolero x Huelvana), who debuted at the Developing Horse Prix St. George level with scores reaching 74%. Barbara HGF is a powerful, talented 8-year-old gray mare owned by Maria, who first competed her at the PSG last summer. This season, they will secure their place in the USEF ranking with hopes of participating in the Young Horse Finals at the Festival of Champions this summer, a first for a PRE mare.
HGF-sponsored young rider Kerrigan Gluch presented HGF Brio in several national classes at Inter II and U25 last fall, receiving scores above 70%, prior to entering the international ring in January. Following the 5*, a small injury sidelined the pair for the majority of the season, but they were ready when called to represent the United States in the first-ever U25 Nations Cup held during Week 11. As part of the three-member team for the US, Kerrigan and Brio completed their 2017 winter season with a Gold Medal.
Throughout the winter, Kerrigan and Vaquero continued to work with Wellington-based trainer Oded Shimoni, as they prepare the horse for the U25 Grand Prix next year. At the end of the season, Kerrigan showed Vaquero at Inter I, placing well both days in large Open classes with scores in the mid-60s.
Junior rider Sophia Schults presented Idolo Americano HGF at the Junior level with accuracy and consistency throughout the season. The pair won several national Third Level classes prior to showing the FEI Junior test. They did two CDIs (which includes all three Junior tests—Team, Individual and Freestyle) with success, averaging 65% and placing as high as Third in the final outing. This is the first time Idolo has competed in the international arena and we are very proud of how well Sophia presented him. Sophia trained Idolo with Anne Gribbons this winter.
Wellington first-timer Nicole Pelfresne brought her own Diva HGF to the big rings this winter with the assistance of Maria Lithander. Nicole’s parents purchased Diva as a two-year old at the HGF Top Ten auction in 2010, and seventeen-year-old Nicole has trained her from the start. She joined the HGF team last summer as a working student, and both Nicole and her nine year old mare by Cuatrero (out of Luz/Idilio) have flourished in the program. Diva, who has outstanding gaits, has been known to be a strong ride, but became much more seasoned in the show ring this winter, eventually scoring close to 67% at First Level. We are very proud of Nicole and excited to see what she and Diva will do in the future.
Additionally, former working student and HGF family member Sarah Roda and Quintanillo JJ (purchased from HGF) had a successful first season together at Third Level--so successful, in fact, that the pair were the High Scoring PRE of the Palm Beach Derby and second highest scoring pair overall for the whole show with 75.641%! Sarah is trained by Maria Lithander.
All the horses will return to Michigan some time this spring. Maria and Kerrigan’s upcoming plans are to work with Daniel Martin Dockx, who will come to HGF for extended clinics several times over the summer.
Special thanks to Marketing Intern Lily Forado for the beautiful photo coverage of our season.
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Hampton Green farm - Sponsored Program
