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Vaquero HGF Steps Down from Sport.
Life has its stages. On Sunday, March 13 2022, Kerrigan closed a beautiful stage of her riding career with Vaquero HGF as this combination said a final goodbye to the competition arenas. Vaquero HGF made his last strides in the competition ring at the national level Grand Prix Special at WEC, OCALA . There is always a horse that marks your life and sports career, and for Kerrigan Gluch, that horse has been Vaquero HGF. Her evolution, from Young Riders to Grand Prix, has been a journey full of all of the joys and sorrows necessary to achieve success. Retiring your first important equine partner is always bittersweet—but Vaquero’s career and success began quite a while before he partnered with Kerrigan. This is his story: Bred in Michigan for Success around the World. Bred in the beautiful state of Michigan, Vaquero HGF has the bloodlines of two of Hampton Green’s most well-loved stallions—Idilio II on the dam side, with Cuatrero IV (Marin Garcia) for his sire. Originally selected by Courtney King-Dye as a future prospect, owner Kimberly Van Kampen was forced to make other plans for Vaquero following Courtney’s untimely departure from the sport. At 3 years old, Vaquero was sent to Spain for his early training, and to see how this American product would do in competition against the best young horses in that country. In the hands of Daniel Martin Dockx, Vaquero became an elite young horse prospect for Spain. He made his national debut as a four year old, finishing in the top 10 at the National Young Horse Championships and among the top five of PRE breed. In 2013, he campaigned at the five year old levels and again finished the National Young Horse Championships in the top 10, and in the top 3 PREs in the country. His last year of young horse competition at 6 years, Vaquero finished 6th nationally, and the highest ranked PRE in the country. The year ended with a bronze medal at SICAB, which is particularly notable in that he is the first PRE horse bred in United States to win a medal in the prestigious PRE World Championships. The Growth of a New Partnership Vaquero HGF and Kerrigan Gluch began their partnership in 2015. Together they achieved many successes representing the colors of American Flag in both the US and Europe. Gluch and Vaquero were one of the most dynamic and successful dressage combinations in the Young Rider level in US. The pair made numerous appearances at the international level, more precisely a total of 36 entries. On February 20, 2015, Kerrigan faced the center line for the first time with Vaquero in Wellington, Florida . As an 8-year-old, under the training of Oded Shimoni, Kerrigan and Vaquero HGF won the Bronze Medal at NAJYRC and went on to become the USEF Reserve Young Rider National Champion. Their successes continued and in 2016, this duo was selected for the European Tour. They concluded their Euro Tour in the ribbons at the Young Riders Nations Cup in Hagen (Future Champions), Germany, the only PRE among the best warmbloods and young riders in Europe. In 2018, with the help of Robert Dover, they debuted in the U25 level with scores up to 68%. Two years later, at their peak of their level, Kerrigan Gluch and Vaquero HGF took home the runner up Champion of the USEF Brentina Cup. Following his success at U25, Vaquero never showed the same enthusiasm for the Big Tour. After several national starts, rider and owner decided that the horse had given enough and deserved to have a say in his own future. After an early rigorous start in the young horse circuits of Spain, Vaquero became the great companion of battles for a young rider on the long road to Grand Prix . This horse not only taught her the way but allowed her to fulfill her dream of representing the United States on foreign land. At 16 years old, Vaquero has nothing more to prove. On March 13, Kerrigan and Vaquero took their final salute together at X. Still 100% sound and able to enjoy pleasure rides with his special girl, Vaquero will be rewarded with a peaceful retirement at the farm of his birth. Thank you Vaquero HGF for all these years…
Vaquero HGF and Kerrigan Gluch Lead Team USA at Hagen Future Champions CDIOY
Nineteen year old Kerrigan Gluch and 2007 PRE Stallion Vaquero HGF concluded the 2016 USEF Young Rider Euro Tour in the ribbons at the Young Riders Nations Cup in Hagen, Germany, capping a six-week tour of Europe that included two international shows. Following a disappointing performance in May at the CDI in Compiegne, France, Kerrigan and Vaquero moved to Krefeld and spent four weeks preparing for the Hagen show with Jan Bemelmans. The Hagen CDIOY, known as the PSI Future Champions show, brings together teams of Young Riders and other youth levels from all over Europe in both dressage and jumping. The United States Young Rider team finished Fifth overall, with Kerrigan and Vaquero the leading pair for the US. In the YR Individual class they finished sixth, and a respectable 10th in both the Team and Freestyle tests-- distinguishing themselves among the best Young Riders and top horses in Europe. For more information see: http://www.dressage-news.com/?p=36642 http://www.dressage-news.com/?p=36676 http://www.dressage-news.com/?p=36670
Kerrigan Gluch and Vaquero HGF: USEF Reserve National Young Rider Champions
At the USEF Festival of Champions in August at Lamplight Equestrian Center, long-time HGF working student Kerrigan Gluch and HGF's Vaquero were named USEF Reserve National Champion for Young Riders. In this first year together, and their first year at the Young Riders level, 18 year old Kerrigan and 8 year old Vaquero have made steady progress from national shows to international shows, to eventually a Bronze Medal at NAJYRC and now the Reserve National Championship. At Lamplight, Kerrigan was joined by both Lendon Gray and Oded Shimoni. Kerrigan is a product of Gray's Emerging Dressage Athlete and Winter Intensive Training programs, and Wellington-based Shimoni is her current trainer. Kerrigan and Vaquero were up against stiff competition, especially from 21 year old Catherine Chamberlain--a multiple NAJYRC medalist who was recently returned from the USEF European Tour--and Natalie Pai, ranked first nationally going into the competition. In the team test, Kerrigan narrowly edged out Catherine for the win, but the tables turned in the individual test. Kerrigan's scores of 69.298 and 68.289 gave them second place overall and the Reserve National Championship. Kerrigan and Vaquero's plans are to continue to compete this winter at the Young Rider level in the CDIs in Wellington, while working with Shimoni with the YR Grand Prix as an eventual goal.
HGF at Global Dressage Florida Classic
HGF at Global Dressage Florida Classic This second CDI of the series of 5 was the official Opening for the new Global Dressage Festival. Not until the very last minute on Wednesday night were all permits issued for occupancy on the shiny new buildings and grounds. 200 horses moved in the next morning for a three day show with close to 400 rides. The international Grand Prix fielded over 30 horses from 5 countries, with several of the judges making their first visit to South Florida. Over 600 people attended a sparkling evening of freestyles and 5 additional show sponsors from the Wellington dressage community signed on to be part of what appears to be a game-changing venue and series for our sport.Wednesday evening was the USPRE kick-off party. Normally held on move-in day, this year people had to make a special trip to come out the night before the show for the event--but the response was overwhelming. The Patron's Club was set for 350 people, and there was overflow of at least another 50 outside of the tent--never before has USPRE seen so much support and enthusiasm! A line-up of promising young PREs with top riders--from established US Team riders to Lendon Gray's hand-picked Emerging Dressage Athlete (EDAP) youth riders--rode to music or to the instruction of their trainers. This year's riders were: Endel Ott, Mica Mabragana, Rachel Chowanec, Emily Copeland, Lily Zilo, Chelsea Reed, Maddy Guthrie, Sophie Hoffman and Kerrigan Gluch. Tina Konyot and Lendon Gray taught demonstration riders and gave testimonials of their experiences and endorsements of PRE Horses.The show commenced on Thursday morning, and our attention turned to our HGF riders and their horses. As is our tradition, HGF horses were beautifully ridden and received top scores in their classes--Rachel Chowanec continued to gain experience in this first year of riding the Young Riders tests, improving her marks as she and Embrujado become more experienced at what is essentially the Prix St. George level. They took first and second in the national Team and Individual tests respectively with scores of 68.28 and 67.1. 15 year old Kerrigan Gluch of Michigan traveled down to Wellington with her parents Tina and Brent to represent the EDAP riders in the USPRE exhibit, and to do her first Wellington show as a bonus. Having only ridden Camaron three times in the EDAP clinic in December, Kerrigan proved what her trainer Laurie Moore says are her particular strengths--showmanship and test-riding! They showed third level all weekend and received three of Camaron's best scores at this level: 67.69, 67.94 and 68.415, just edging out Rachel for the Youth Rider High Point Award for USPRE.Mica Mabragana is continuing to live up to her press with exceptionally high marks on the young mare Infanta HGF (Candela x Idilio). Owner Mary Magee of Chicago was on hand to see the pair as they easily topped their Training Level classes with scores of 71.42, 72.00, and 77.85! The judges praised the mare's three excellent gaits and made special mention of the harmony between horse and rider (for which they received a 9 in collective marks from one judge). Mica and Infanta's score of 77.85 was not only the Open High Point score for USPRE, but was the High Score for the entire Florida Dressage Classic show--a fitting conclusion to a weekend sponsored by the United States PRE Association!
Young Riders Shine for HGF at Wellington Classic Spring Challenge CDI
Young Riders Shine for HGF at Wellington Classic Spring Challenge CDI What may have been the busiest week of the season for HGF--with USPRE Annual Meeting and PRE-Show plus a major circuit international show and High Point Challenge--turned out to be carried away on the performances of HGF's young riders. Our entire team of riders ages 15 to 24 showed the Wellington Dressage community how to ride and show their PREs for top scores and big wins. Rachel Chowanec, 16, continues to dominate the JR CDI classes with Lendon Gray's Embrujado XI. A 2nd Place in the Team test on Friday was followed by two First Places in the Individual and Freestyle tests on Saturday and Sunday with scores ranging from 65 to 68 from the top international judges. A last minute addition to Rachel's freestyle which added ten-meter circles at the counter-canter to half-pass showed the pair's flexibility and range of skill. Congratulations Rachel for being the CDI High Point Champion for USPRE as well! Head Groom Molly Reynolds did her first show on her fabulous new stallion Bolero CXLVIII. The brother to Fuego, Bolero lived up to his former record and tradition at HGF, scoring over 68% both days at Training and First levels with Molly, who placed in the top 3 in her classes and received the AA High Point Award for USPRE for the weekend. Bolero will be standing at stud this spring at HGF for Maureen and Cluties Sharp's Raven Star Ranch. Working student Bettina Gruber, 19, of Germany, scored 65.263 to take 2nd in the Third 1 with Camaron, and beat out the other JR/YRs for the USPRE High Point award. And our youngest rider at 15, Chelsea Reed, did her first Welllington Show with Lentisco, scoring 61 and 62 at First and Second Levels with her chestnut stallion. Chelsea, daughter of Tom and Megan Reed, also trains with Lendon Gray and is planning to continue Lenny's training with sites on JR classes next year. Finally, 24 year old Mica Mabragana and Idilio made their International debut at PSG and Inter 1 this weekend, receiving scores of 63.596 and 63.070, both qualifying marks for their bid for Pan Am Games for Argentina. As related in all the press for the weekend, the conditions for the outdoor classes were extremely difficult with driving rain, limited warm-up area and slippery rings. In spite of this, Mica put in very credible tests as she and Idilio continue to develop their relationship together. This is Idilio's first time in 5 years in the International classes and we are thrilled to see the continued improvement in him even at 16 years old. (Additionally, Idilio received the Peak Performance Award for best turned-out horse.) Congratulations to all our riders and their many successes this weekend!
Mica Mabragana and Idilio II: Great Start on the Road to Pan Ams
Last weekend was the third and final CDI for Mica and Idilio this season. For both horse and rider, this was their first season in the International ring. Mica, a native of Argentina, is a 24 year old long-time student of Lendon Gray who has come up successfully through the ranks of Young Riders in the United States. This is her first year as an independent professional and her first season in Wellington. Idilio II is one of HGF's seasoned foundation stallions, who has competed through Grand Prix at the national levels in past years. Now at 16, he is helping Mica achieve her dream of competing for Argentina at the Pan American Games in Mexico this October. To say the least, the big news of the winter in Florida has been the highly-competitive group of Pan American hopefuls, filling classes of over 40 horses at each of this winter's 6 CDIs. Over the past three months, Mica and Idilio have faced almost all of the contenders for the American and Canadian teams as well as those from several other countries. And their results have been respectable: the pair maintained a high 63% average for the season, and finished yesterday at the IHS Champions Cup CDI 3* with their best score of the season at 64.2% for the Inter I. Mica started riding Idilio in December of last year, and has proven this winter that she belongs in the international arena, holding her own against horses and riders who have been showing at that level for many years, including several International Grand Prix horses who've been dropped down to the PSG/Inter I in order to qualify for Pan Ams. For this young professional and her PRE mount, we could not be more proud and pleased! Mica, Idilio, and Head Groom Molly Reynolds will head to New York next month, where Mica plans to continue to train and compete Idilio for the summer. The final selection for Team Argentina will be announced at the end of August. Footnote: Many thanks to "Staff" Photographer Alexander Zilo--Super Fan of the PRE Horses at the Wellington Shows...for more of his photos seewww.usprea.com .