The $5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation USHJA National Hunter Derby was the highlight of the evening Saturday at the 70th annual Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS). Emma Seving and Inside Scoop stole the spotlight, continuing their weekend winning streak by not only taking home the top spot in the derby, but also the Leading Rider trophy, given in memory of Russell Frey.
The USHJA National Hunter Derby featured top competitors from across the nation who vied for the honors, and Seving stood out among the rest, winning the two-round derby with beautiful efforts. Lara McHale and Mine finished second, while Jennifer Gurney and Gianni rounded out the top three.
Seving, of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, also took the top spot in the $1,000 Up the Creek Farm Junior Hunter 3’3”/3’6” Hunter Classic. In addition, she clinched the classic win in the Junior 3’3” Hunters aboard her own Inside Scoop, a 13-year-old Westphalian gelding, capping off a successful weekend.
Saturday evening also saw the awarding of championships in the jumper divisions. In the Children’s/Adult 1.10m division, it was Paige Kouimanis and her own Lexus who took home both the tricolor ribbon and the overall Grand Jumper Champion Ford Roy Trophy. The pair also topped the class in the $2,500 S.A. Comunale NAL Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic.
During the $1,500 S.A. Comunale Low Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic, Kelly Waples and her own Ever Sinful finished in the top spot. Alexis Mierzwa and Jessica Sciarra’s Caspian, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding, placed second. Mierzwa also earned the championship in the 1.0m Low Children’s/Adult Jumpers.
Day three of the BIHS kicked off with the Adult Amateur Hunter divisions. In the Adult Amateur, 18-35, Hunter division, Lydia M. Ulrich and Sansouci and Erika Lipke aboard Amnesty were trading out the top spots, finishing one-two to each other in both of the over fences classes. The two were also one-two in the division championship, with Lipke taking home the tricolor and Ulrich the reserve. Angela M. Nealer and her own All For Scho, an 11-year-old Trakehner gelding, earned the championship in the Adult Amateur, 36 and Over, Hunter division while Alexis Mierzwa and Whispering were the reserve champions.
On Friday evening, following the conclusion of the day’s hunter competition, riders from the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center took to the ring for an inspiring demonstration of all that they have worked so hard on through the program. Each year, the BIHS serves as one of the largest fundraisers for the therapeutic riding program, the event's sole beneficiary. The students showcased the exercises and horses used in the program, exemplifying the hard work of the staff and volunteers throughout the year.
Friday night saw the jumpers get their turn to take to the ring. Paige Kouimanis and her own Lexus, a 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, had an excellent evening. The pair placed first in the Children’s/Adult Jumper 1.10m jump-off class and second in the speed class behind Emma Seving and Sweet Oak Farm’s Mahogony, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare.
In the Children’s Pony Hunter division, it was Sadie F. Rutkowski, of Rochester, New York, and her own Mapleside Voila, an 8-year-old Welsh Pony Cross mare, who finished on top in both over fences classes.
In the Adult Amateur, 36 and Over, Hunter division, Alexis Mierzwa and BTRC’s Whispering took home the blue in the $500 “Shogun” Adult Amateur Hunter Classic. The pair also finished in the top spot in the Adult Amateur, 36 and Over, Hunter over fences class. Close behind Mierzwa in second place in both classes was Robin Anderson and Skidmore College’s Revealed, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding.
To learn more about the Buffalo International Horse Show and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, please visit www.thebtrc.org.