At the Legacy Cup, Nobleman and Wimberly Take Home the $25,000 3'6" Purse

By Jamie Krauss

Lainie Wimberly and Nobleman took home the top honors in this year's $38,440 3'6" Professional Hunter Finals class during an exciting Saturday night session at the Legacy Cup. Nobleman, who was second in the class last year to Red Panda and Louise Serio, received the night's top score of 341 points.

"It was his fourth day of showing, and he was tired, but he's a real showman. He pulled it together, and just pulled it off," said Wimberly.

"I was nervous because there was so much money at stake, but I went home and took a nap this afternoon, and then came back and prepared just like it was any other class," Wimberly explained.

Wimberly, who won the WCHR Professional Challenge at the Capital Challenge last year felt that this reaffirms that she has what it takes to rise to the occasion in a class like this.

Still, she adds: "This is different though…this is for a lot of money! It's the Grand Prix of Hunters."

When Louise Serio and Red Panda entered the ring, you could hear a pin drop. Unfortunately, something did drop…but it wasn't a pin.

Coming to the second fence, something caught the horse's eye. He spooked, causing him to lose the distance Serio had set her eye on. When they got to the fence, there was nothing he could do but stop, and Serio fell over his neck on to the jump.

It was a disappointing end of the week for the pair, who scored a 94 two days ago, but they were not alone in their misfortune. Many horses that were favored to win or at least attain high scores had major mistakes.

Course designer Richard Jeffery explained that he tried to build a straightforward course.

"It was all about jumping jumps. I didn't want them to get locked into numbers; I wanted the horses to be able to show themselves off. Lines sometimes penalize a horse with a great stride, so this was more of an outside course, built inside," Jeffry explained.

Then why so many big mistakes?

"Most of these horses are not used to being ridden after dinner," explained Judge, Russell Frey. "Most of the seasoned ones were able to step up and do it well, but the other ones were surprised and perhaps a bit confused."

Frey compared the class to the AHJF Hunter Class in Palm Beach, which also runs at night.

"In Palm Beach, the class runs at night, but there are no classes during the day. The horses prepare all day for that one class. Here, you're bringing them out after dinner and in weather that feels 30 degrees colder then what they showed in during the day," he noted.

The change in weather and attitude also could have contributed to the results of the $5,000 under saddle. A very competitive class, horses wishing to compete must first make it through the qualifying flat classes, held during the day. In groups of about ten, they are hacked at a trot and a canter both directions, then asked to leave the ring. At the end of each class, they were given a score.

After the qualifiers are over, the top twelve scoring horses are invited back for the evening under saddle class. The horses are shown just as if they were in a normal under saddle, however as they are riding around, they are called into the center in reverse order from twelfth to first, so at the end the top placing horse is left working on the rail. It proved to be a very exciting format, with some interesting results.

Sandstorm, who had been returning twelfth with a score of 83, emerged victorious from the group.

"It was like judging a different horse show between this afternoon and this evening," Frey explained. "The five hour made a huge difference; it might as well have been a different day at a different horse show. It was the same footing, the same ring…I don't know what the time frame did to them, but it made a difference."

One thing that was different was Sandstorm's rider. His owner, Polly Colley, rode him in the qualifier in the afternoon, but had a prior engagement for the evening, so Maria Bishop took the reins.

"He was great…so easy. I just looped the reins. He's always a showoff!" she laughed.

Bishop, who has shown him a few times before for Colley, said that he and his owner get along great, and that she almost won this same hack class with his last year.

The duo obviously do get along great, because in the morning they won the $1,400 3' Non-Pro Go Round, which pays a first place prize of $504. Colley, who's had Sandstorm for almost three years, says that her gelding "loves to be a show horse." She and the 11-year-old Warmblood were the Grand Champion Adult in the Virginia standings last year, as well as Reserve Champion in Zone 3. When Colley's not riding herself, she enjoys foxhunting and cheering on her 12-year-old daughter, Railey, who just began in the Medium Pony Hunter division on her pony, En Vogue.

Melissa Clanton and her horse, Can't Deny Me, were again the best junior rider in the 3' division. Clanton, who says that she rides best under pressure, is excited for tomorrow's finals.

"I want to say that this win has made me more confident…but you never know!" she chuckled.

Mimi Edwards won the overall 3'6" Non-Pro on Kindred Spirit. This was a great comeback for Edwards, who had a rough start yesterday. She and her husband Dean explained what happened.

"He was 'fresh' yesterday…neither of us were paying very much attention!" Edwards said. "But Dean's motto is 'Every day's a new game,' so we just went back out for the second day of competition as if it were a fresh start."

"He was wonderful, she continued. "He does whatever you ask; he's so adjustable."

Edwards and the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood were reserve champion last year at Harrisburg, and champion at Middleburg, Fairfield, and Old Salem.

"He'll probably be for sale after Devon…we're not sure," the loving owner said, giving her horse a glance. "I've had him for two years, and we've accomplished so much. I feel like it's time for someone else to enjoy him."

Tomorrow is the last day of competition, highlighting the finals for the non-professionals at both the 3' and the 3'6" level.

And finally: As we all know, much of our top level of competition would not be able to occur if not for sponsors, so it is always important to thank them. James Lala would like to thank Hadfield's for sponsoring him and the winner of the Pre-Green incentive award on Hadfield's Sunfest.

This award is given to the horse from the 3' division still eligible pre-green that accumulates the most points, and awards a check of $4,500.

Lainie Wimberly, the above mentioned big winner of the night also wanted to thank her sponsors, who include the tack store, KL select; vet company, Seashore Acres; Nutrina Feeds, and Agway Agriventures.