2005 Press Releases

Ponies and Pros Were on Target for the Third Day of The Legacy Cup
By Diana DeRosa

Legacy Cup
May 14, 2005

May 14, 2005 -- Lexington, KY - While Megan Davis aboard Far From Home took the lead in the Pony Hunter First Go Round and Lauren Bass on Jivago dominated in the Restricted Pro 3'6" Final, it was a Take Away victory for Havens Schatt on the third day of the fourth Legacy Cup, which took place at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows in Lexington, KY on May 14. Schatt won both the Pro 3'6" Finals and the Walter Lee Perpetual Trophy on Cortie Wetherill's nine-year-old, 16.3h, bay, Oldenburg gelding. Within that same class of 30, nine Restricted Riders were led by Bass on Candace Lubar's eight-year-old, 15.3h, bay, Selle Francais gelding. Bass and Jivago also claimed the overall Restricted Pro 3'6" Championship honors.

FAR FROM HOME CARRIES MEGAN DAVIS ON THE DIRECT ROAD RIGHT TO THE TOP OF THE CLASS
Megan Davis (MD) rode her small pony, Far From Home, to the winning ride with a score of 168 in Saturday's $1500 Pony First Go Round to claim the winning ribbon and a purse of $450. The entire Pony Hunter division offers $8,300 in prize money, with $6,800 divided among the top 20 in the May 15 Finals, when 25 of the starting field of 34 in the First Go Round return for their last chance to claim a ribbon, prizes and money.

Just one year earlier the pair competed in the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows and this year they decided to also compete in the Legacy Cup. The eight-year-old, 12.2 hand, Belgian Warmblood gelding "is really fun and pretty easy to ride. He has a nice canter and he likes his job," said Davis after her winning ride. A smile from ear to ear and with her mom Kim by her side, Davis was happy. "I was really nervous. When I got off, I knew I was first but I didn't think I would hold onto it. I was really excited when I won."

Megan watched almost the whole class, wondering how long her lead would last and when she won both she and her mom were thrilled. She credited her mount and more saying, "I want to give a special thanks to my trainers Tim and Kelly Goguen." Her horse, ("who eats anything including pepperoni," noted her mom), is also going to get something special. "I'll give him a lot of treats," said Megan with a smile. She added that Far From Home, "nickers a lot when he sees me."

It certainly was a great day for Megan who also won her classes in the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows earlier that day and was confident going into the Legacy Cup Pony Hunter First Go Round. She commented, "I thought he'd do well but I didn't have any expectation to win. He was really on today."

Megan also likes the concept of the Legacy Cup saying, "I particularly like classes where they give scores."
So, the Legacy Cup continues to get high marks and attendance this year is up 20% from last year. It's still got a ways to go, "I think it is ahead of its time and more people need to participate and put money in the hunters," commented Vice President and competitor Louise Serio. "Some people are big supporters and others need to be if they want to see the hunter sport continue to grow," added Serio. Megan's mom agrees and plans to be one of those supporters. "It's a great organization," noted Kim.

PRO AND RESTRICTED PRO 3'6" FINALS LED BY TAKE AWAY AND JIVAGO
"He's amazing," said Schatt about Take Away. "He's slow, he's scopey and you never question anything you have to jump."

Take Away only started competing in hunters at the 2005 Winter Equestrian Festival. He mostly competed in jumpers before that, but he's taken to this new discipline with ease. "He's a little sensitive because of his jumper career," added Schatt. "He doesn't want to make a mistake and when he does he tries extra hard the next time."

Schatt felt comfortable going into the final phase of the Pro 3'6" division but still knew that anything can happen. In the First Go Round, Take Away changed his lead and that put them ninth in the order but this time without that mistake, his skill shone through and his score of 278 dominated the field and earned them $1,672. Schatt also won the Walter J. Lee Perpetual Trophy as the Pro rider who totaled the most money throughout the 3'/3'6" divisions.

Second place honors went to the winner of the Pro 3'6" First Go Round, Paladijn, ridden by Louise Serio with a score of 259.5 and $1,232. A third place ribbon and $1,056 went to the first Restricted Pro 3'6" rider whose score of 259 put Bass and Jivago in the lead of their division. They earned $150 for being the leading Restricted Pro Rider. Bass also added an additional $450 after also winning the Restricted Pro Championship.

Bass was excited about her wins and thrilled with Jivago. "He is brilliant to ride. You just squeeze to the base of the oxers and he powers over them and gives you the most amazing feeling. He also learns from his mistakes."

Jivago does have his quirks and if you watch closely as he goes around the ring, you'll see a little tongue hanging out. "He licks and chews," added Bass, "and he always tries to grab the plants."

However this time there was no grabbing for Jivago as he took the course by force. "I felt really good tonight," explained Bass. "He was giving me a confident feeling. He was on the job. He wanted to win tonight. This was a reward for all we've been doing." Earlier in the day there was a torrential downpour and since Bass shares the ride on Jivago with his owner Lubar who competes in the Children's Hunters, he was also supposed to compete outside. However, Lubar opted to scratch so that Jivago would stay "fresh and excited" for the Pro Finals. "It was a very generous thing for her to do," explained Bass. Both Bass and Lubar hail from Ohio.

Bass has just recently returned to the hunter ring as an outgrowth of her own business, since most of her clients compete on hunters. Now she divides herself between the hunters and jumpers. "It's becoming more and more fun," she admits. "Both are very difficult in their own way. I am very competitive and I like the thrill of the jumpers. Both disciplines are technical but the hunters require an accurate, smooth and invisible ride which has helped me in the jumper ring."

While Bass was delighted with her victories, she also focused her comments on the importance of the Legacy Cup. "I consider it the Grand Prix of the Hunters. It's really important to give amateurs, juniors and professionals a goal and it's fun to have a big class."

Legacy Cup action continues through May 22. By the time this year's event has concluded over $50,000 in purses will be distributed. For more information about the Legacy Cup contact the AHJF (335 Lancaster Street, West Boylston, MA 01583-0369), Phone: 508-835-8813, www.ahjf.org, E-mail: AHJF@earthlink.net.