Parker, Colo.—July 10

Just how good is Kelley Farmer? Just ask her partner at Lane Change Farm, Larry Glefke. After he’s done extolling the praises of Mindful, who just notched another major derby win at Summer In The Rockies V, and Symbolic, who took second, he has multiple statistics at the ready.

There’s the number of derbies that she’s won since the program started (55), the total amount of derby money Farmer’s won (around $825,000, counting today’s checks), and the amount of money she’s won at all U.S. Equestrian Federation competition since they started keeping track in 2007 (around $1.58 million). Glefke gleefully points out that means she’s won more money in USEF competition than all jumper riders save ten. (I checked. He’s right. Sorry Rich Fellers and Laura Kraut.)

Then there are the horses. Without taking a breath, Glefke can rattle off the number of derbies that Mindful has won since he started competing in them last March (12), the number of horses that Farmer’s ridden to derby wins (22), and of course the number of Lane Change horses bought, sold or traded that have derby wins on their résumés (61).

Glefke has numbers in mind for himself, too. “When she gets to either $1 million in derby money or $2 million in all USEF money I’m retiring,” he promised. 

Keeping It Smooth
Jasen Shelley built up for the 25 entries in today’s $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. He didn’t elect to use any of the bank options on the derby field at the Colorado Horse Park, but horses did make use of the multi-level ring, cantering up and down the hill to get to one section of the course set near the schooling area on a different level. The high options were so imposing—the biggest oxer stretched to 4’6”—that few attempted all of them, and many veterans opted not to jump any.

But the problems didn’t come just with the height. Peter Wylde’s lovely trip went downhill when Certainty ticked a rail at a non-option fence in Round 1. Two of Farmer’s other rides had disappointing days: Dalliance stopped early on course and Farmer opted to tip her hat, and Point Being dug in his heels early as well, prompting Farmer to take her time to finesse him around.

The handy track included an option of trot fences and opportunities for several slick turns. That gave Farmer some pause when she sized up her competition. Heading into that round she sat first and second on Mindful and Symbolic, and she worried that juniors Hunter Holloway (Any Given Sunday) and Kelli Cruciotti (Monterrey) could out-smooth her through the turns. 

“I didn’t want to come all the way here and get my butt kicked by a couple kids,” joked Farmer, who made the trek from Lexington, Ky. “They’re both great riders, and they’re both really slick on those horses. They’re both fantastic horses who are experienced derby competitors.”

After Farmer snagged the lead on Symbolic, she kept it cool on Mindful, electing the low options and focusing on an efficient track that showed off his style in the handy round. That strategy paid off with an 11-point victory over his barnmate. 

A New Star
While Mindful has been in Farmer’s string around a year and a half, Symbolic just arrived in February.

“He’s just a first year horse,” said Farmer. “He doesn’t know nearly as much about this, but he’s really starting to come around. I’m really excited about him.”

The two horses have a lot in common. They’re both black Hanoverians owned by Ken and Selma Garber. And while Mindful may have a few years on his barnmate (11 to Symbolic’s 7), the precocious horse is already showing his talent.

Both horses are gearing up for USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships coming up this August at the Kentucky Horse Park. To get ready they’ll compete in the $25,000 edition at Flintfield III (Mich.) and the $15,000 edition at Lamplight Equifest II (Ill.). That’s where Farmer broke her collarbone last year just two weeks before championships, and she’s banking on a quieter preparation this time around. 

For more from Summer In The Rockies V, check out the July 27 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse. For more photos check out a gallery of pictures from yesterday.