Alexandra (Alex) Rheinheimer, Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival Competition Manager and Owner, was thrilled to be handing out award after award today to the many happy Junior and Amateur-Owner competitors.
 
“It’s due to the generous support of the equestrian community and wonderful sponsors, as well as the hard work from my incredible team, that enable these awards to be possible. To award nearly $35,000 in prize money in one day to our Junior and Amateur participants makes me incredibly proud,” said Rheinheimer.  
 
In today’s Grand Prix Ring, overlooking the green rolling hills of Traverse City, a sea of brightly colored jumps awaited the riders for the $7,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic and the $12,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix presented by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone. With a course designed by Guilherme Jorge (Sao Paulo, Brazil) riders sailed over the jumps, including the stunning new North American Riders Group (NARG) oxer and the iconic lighthouse vertical.
 
A field of 38 riders competed in the $7,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, and it was Melissa L. Orlick-Zbierski aboard Affier, an 8-year-old gelding, who finished first with a blazing time of 33.403 seconds, more than 1.5 seconds faster than Hannah Olson on Cleopatra who placed second.
 
Orlick-Zbierski, trained by Donald Cheska, was the last competitor to ride but when asked if it was an advantage, she said, “Sometimes it can be, but it can also be stressful because the pressure is on.” During her down time this week, Orlick-Zbierski said she enjoyed a local wine tasting and a tubing trip down the river.
 
Top finishers in the $7,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic included:
 
1. Affier ridden Melissa L. Orlick-Zbierski and owned by Iso Tropic
2. Horseflight.com Remiville ridden and owned by Maisie McSwain
3. S.F. Carco ridden by Angela Misch and owned by Les Cabriole, LLC
 
The $12,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix winner was Alex Parrish aboard Valentina 156, an 11-year-old mare trained by Donald Cheska. With a smile on her face, she said, “It was smart moves and taking inside lines that pushed her over the top.”
 
A blue vertical wave jump gave some riders trouble, but Valentina cleared the fence without a problem. Parrish dedicated her win today to Donald and Cara Cheska and the entire Bayside Farm team.
 
Top finishers in the $12,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix included:
 
1. Valentina 156 ridden by Alex Parrish and owned by Alexander Farm
2. Cleopatra ridden by Hannah Olson and owned by Cory Olson
3. Frisco ridden by Alex Parrish and owned by Alexander Parrish
 
Cool overcast skies started the hunter riders off just right this morning at Horse Shows by the Bay. Soft, sandy manicured rings and beautifully styled jumps greeted Amateur-Owner Hunter riders for their second day of competition this week, competing in the R. L. Polk Family Main Hunter Ring.
 
Today’s course was designed by Blake Alder (Williston, Tennessee) and presented riders with a unique course replete with the beloved “Christmas tree” jump. Many riders remarked that the in-and-out line was placed perfectly away from the gate, giving riders the best landing spot to continue attacking the course.
 
Lindsay Lyden aboard Dynamic, a 10-year-old gelding, led the field of all ladies in the 3’3″ Amateur-Owner Hunter, 18-35, Division, bringing home the coveted championship ribbon and securing herself as one to be reckoned with. The champion ribbon topped off a strong week for Lyden and Dynamic, trained by Polly Howard-Coberley.
 
“The courses were set up perfectly, and the handy round was challenging but nothing too difficult,” said Lyden. She smiled when asked about showing at Horse Shows by the Bay. “I’ve been coming to this show since the beginning, and it gets better each year. It’s the perfect place to show in July, plus you can add a vacation into the entire schedule.”
 
In the 3’3″ Amateur-Owner Hunter, 36 and over, Division, Missy Luczak-Smith and Susan A. Baker continued to turn out strong performances, taking the Championship and Reserve Championship, respectively.
 
Luczak-Smith rode her Encore, a 7-year-old gelding trained by the ever-watchful Tom Wright. “The handy course was technical but fun with all the rollbacks, and starting with a trot jump was great,” she said.
 
“She asked for 100 percent but got 150 percent today,” said Wright. “Encore is a young horse, but he did wonderfully today.”
 
Baker aboard Time Away, trained by Daniel Arendt, said, “With the cooler weather today, my mare was really jazzed up but turned out a great performance.”
 
Lindsey George and Lindsey Roberts edged out the strong younger riders in the Amateur-Owner Hunter, 18-35, (3’6″) Division, taking home Championship and Reserve Championship honors, respectively.
 
George smiled as she accepted her Championship ribbon and posed for the cooler presentation with her 11-year-gelding Timber Ridge. “Timber Ridge is a once-in-a-lifetime horse,” said George, who trains with Shane George.
 
Reserve Champion Roberts was pleased with her 10-year old gelding Catwalk, stating that the handy round trot jump was a challenge but still a great course. When asked about her experience at Horse Shows by the Bay, she noted, “Everything here is top-notch, the staff is great and the grounds are stunning.”
 
Despite going off course in the handy round, John Ingram continued his winning traditions this week with Superman by taking home Championship honors in the Amateur-Owner Hunter, 36 and over, (3’6″) Division.

“Superman is a lovely horse, so beautiful and quiet,” said Ingram. When asked about his handy round, Ingram stated, “Superman’s second jump was just so fantastic that I lost my head and went off course.” Luckily, the week’s strong performances still left him with top honors.
 
Lynn Walsh aboard MacArthur Park earned the Reserve Championship title under the watchful eye of trainer Peter Pletcher. Walsh credited her entire team for keeping her going and preparing her horses. Walsh said riding both MacArthur Park and Ocean Park in the same division cam be exhausting, and “without my team this wouldn’t happen.”

To round-out a fabulous day, Walsh piloted Ocean Park to victory in the $1,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic with 167 points. Walsh was beaming with her blue ribbon and cooler as she led the field on a victory gallop. Walsh said her week was wonderful, and she combined her great performances in the hunter ring with visits to some of the local Traverse City treasures, including the Speckled Trout Restaurant.   
 
Two awards unique to Horse Shows by the Bay include the Equestrian Endeavors, LLC Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Award, and the Hillside Farm/USHJA WCHR High-Score Award brought to Horse Shows by the Bay by Heather Irvine.
 
The Equestrian Endeavors, LLC Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Award is presented weekly to the horse earning the most points in all the Amateur-Owner Divisions. This week’s winner was Missy Luczak-Smith aboard Encore.
 
The Hillside Farm/USHJA WCHR Amateur-Owner High-Score Award was presented only during the second week of the show to the hunter with the highest score for a single round over fences. With a score of 87, Lindsey George on Timber Ridge delivered and received the award, topping off her week.
 
In the adjacent Ring 3, the Adult, Junior and Children’s Hunter Divisions got underway. Championships, Grand Championship and High-Score honors will be awarded tomorrow.
 
For complete results, please visit www.horseshowing.com. For more information on the Horse Shows by the Bay Series, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.