Brooke Kemper rides Classified to the fastest jump-off time while also going clear to win the $25K Rockbridge Grand Prix at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va.

Brooke Kemper of Culpeper, Virginia, riding Classified took home the $25,000 Rockbridge Grand Prix title Saturday, April 25, 2015 at the Virginia Horse Center during the Spring Premiere Horse Show.

Kemper posted a sizzling time of 31.911 seconds to beat defending champion Maryanne Charles and FVF Sailorman, who went clear with a time of 33.228 seconds. FVF Sailorman is a 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding who began competing at the Grand Prix level in 2014.

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2014 Rockbridge Grand Prix winner Maryanne Charles and FVF Sailorman took second place.

Kyle Timm and Platinum during the first round.

Maryanne Charles and FVF Sailorman

Brooke Kemper rides Classified clear in the first round.

Ian Silitch and Cordovo

Ian Silitch and Cordovo turned in a jump off time of 34.854 seconds.

Kyle Timm and Platinum

Kyle Timm and Platinum scrabble over the final fence in the jump-off.

Marylisa Leffler riding Carlot

Dave Higgins stands with exhibitor Shannon Fisher. Photo via Facebook.

Dave Higgins, the show manager at the Virginia Classic AQHA show held April 15-19 at the Virginia Horse Center, died Thursday from injuries he sustained in a crash after the show in Rockbridge County.

Higgins, 66, of Farmville, Va., died at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He also served on the Virginia Quarter Horse Association Board of Directors for the south central division.

A Subaru containing four high school students made a left turn in front of a pickup truck in which Higgins  was a passenger. A 17-year-old passenger in the Subaru also died on Wednesday.

The crash happened at 3:40 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of U.S. 501 and Virginia 130 near Glasgow. The Virginia Classic closed it’s last class about 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Virginia Classic exhibitor Shannon Fisher wrote on her Facebook Page:
“I really don’t know how to put it into words how I feel right now. We lost Dave today and my heart just breaks. I’ve known Dave for the last 12 years and thru those years he has always been standing at the gate of to give me the “thumbs up” that I was doing a good job showing my horse. I’m gonna miss you Dave Higgins. I’m so glad that I saw him last Sunday before we left VA. He hugged me, told me how proud he was of me and said, “I love you sweetheart,” and my reply was, “I love you too Dave.” We are all going to miss you Dave. Life is so precious, so say the things you want and mean to say to people because you never know what tomorrow will bring.”

A training class was held in honor of Dave Higgins at the AQHA Easter Bunny show in Raleigh on Friday and raised over $1,000.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Local media are reporting that the Roanoke Valley Horse Show has been canceled after 43 years in Salem. WDBJ, Channel 7, reports that organizers cited lack of sponsors and donations for the June 15-20 show.

Just two weeks ago the Roanoke Valley Horse Show sent out the prize books for the show.

The organization has recently gone through leadership changes, which organizers say have contributed to the lack of funds.

LINKS

• Roanoke Times story: http://www.roanoke.com/sports/roanoke-valley-horse-show-officials-announce-event-is-canceled/article_0decdbf4-5c59-5f0f-9aaa-23ca8cba33bf.html
• See the WDBJ story at http://www.wdbj7.com/news/local/roanoke/organizers-pull-the-plug-on-roanoke-valley-horse-show/32530890 
• WSLS, Channel 10, also has a story. http://www.wsls.com/story/28883364/roanoke-valley-horse-show-canceled

Rainier, seen here with Kenny Wheeler, was named Sallie Wheeler Overall Grand Champion in both 2013 and 2014. Photo via www.jenniferwoodmedia.com

Sabrina was named the 2012 Sallie Wheeler Overall Grand Champion. Photo via www.charlotfarm.com

1. $1,000 Yearling Colt/Geldings 
2. $1,000 Yearling Fillies
3. $1,000 2-year-old Colts/Geldings
4. $1,000 2-year-old Fillies
5. $1,000 3-year-old Colts/Geldings
6. $1,000 3-year-old Fillies  
7. First and second place from each of the classes will move on to compete in the Best Young Horse Championship Class.) 
8. $1,000Amateur Handler (Class does not count towards the Best Young Horse Award) 
9. 3-year-old under saddle ** New for 2015  **
10. 3-year-old Hunter Hack ** New for 2015 **

Upon completion of both West and East Coast Championships (West Coast Championship will be held Aug. 26 in Del Mar, California)  the officials will compare results from the two Best Young Horse Classes (four horses in total) and determine the Overall Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Best Young Horse. The Overall Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion will be announced at the completion of the East Coast portion of the championships.

The horses are preparing for the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park. Photo via Facebook

In the international world of horses, this weekend is all about the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Attending this premiere combined training competition is easily doable from Roanoke via a 6-hour road trip. If you can’t make the trip and still want to watch, it’s also being streamed live on USEFnetwork.com.

The competition gets underway Thursday at 9 a.m. with Dressage and runs through Sunday. Friday will feature more Dressage tests. Cross country will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and the competition closes on Sunday with showjumping at 1 p.m.

If you’re on the grounds, there’s plenty to do throughout all three days at the Horse Park. A full schedule can be found here. Tickets are required to attend the event. Sunday’s showjumping phase is already sold out.

The Kentucky Reining Cup will also be held at the horse park at 6 p.m. on Friday and also will be streaming live.

Of course, for those of us staying closer to home, there are events happening right here as well.

VIRGINIA HORSE CENTER

The Lexington Spring Premiere “AA” show is at the horse center from Wednesday April 22 to Friday, April 26. The hunter/jumper show’s highlights include a $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby at 5 p.m. on Friday evening and $25,000 Rockbridge Grand Prix at 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening.

OPEN SHOWS

The Franklin County Trailblazers Horse & Pony Show is Saturday at Ginther Farm in Sontag, Va. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the show starts at 9 a.m. Chuck Nifong will judge. The show will include hunter classes on the flat and over fences, gaming classes such as barrel racing and the flag race and western pleasure and horsemanship classes. Find a show bill here.

A LOOK AHEAD

Photo by Bedford Hunt Club

• Lexington Spring Encore “AA,” April 29-May 3, Virginia Horse Center 
• Horseman’s Association of Southwest Virginia Open Spring Fun Show, May 2, New River Valley Fairgrounds, Dublin, Va 
• Ranch Horse Gathering, May 2-3, Revo, Va.
• Bedford Hunt Club Hunter Pace, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 3, Sweet Briar College, See flyer here.
• Bonnie Blue National Horse Show, May 6-9, Virginia Horse Center
• Franklin County Equestrian Club Gymkhana Saddle Series, May 8, Never Too Late Stable, Wirtz, Va.
• Pine Spur Hunter Show, May 9, 1049 Pine Spur Road, Vinton.
• Hear the Beat Open Horse Show, May 10, Virginia Horse Center
• Cross View Horse Show Series, May 16-17, Green Hill Equstrian Center, Salem, Va.
• Bedford Hunt Club Hunter Pace, June 6, The Cedars, Goode, Va.
• Roanoke Valley Horse Show, June 15-20, Salem Civic Center, Salem, Va. 
• Micheal Lyons Performance Clinic, Saturday, June 27, Walnut Springs Stables, Blacksburg. $175 to ride, $25 to audit. Limited spaces are available. (336) 267-1086
• Clinton Anderson Walkabout Tour, Aug. 22-23, Virginia Horse Center, Lexington, Va.

The Virginia Classic closed on Sunday under cloudy skies, but classes ended before the rains hit and the last horse had left the arena by 1:30 in the afternoon. Here are some photos from the closing classes.

Novice Youth Western Pleasure

Riders were asked to drop their horses’ bits for the judges at the end of the Sr. Western Pleasure Class.

A big yawn to close a long weekend at the show.

Kristy Starnes and Its All Over won the Green Hunter under Saddle on Saturday afternoon out of 11.

The weather could not have been better for Saturday at the Virginia Classic AQHA show at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va. The show opened Thursday and runs through Sunday. Saturday saw a wide variety of classes, including hunter hack, working hunter, hunter under saddle, equitation, all capped by the Hylton Maiden 3-Year-Old and Over Western Pleasure on Saturday evening.

The over fences classes saw about 3-4 entries per class, with some only pulling a single entry. But the Green Hunter Under Saddle class saw 11 and the Hylton Maiden saw numbers in the 20s.

Taft Dickerson and Made By J, a 3-year-old bay mare by Machine Made, won the Hylton Maiden and a check for $32,762.50. Steve Reams and Southern Comfort Zone was second. See photos and complete results of the Hylton Maiden Class from the Equine Chronicle.

The show continues under cloudy and increasingly rainy conditions today.

PHOTOS FROM SATURDAY

It’s horse show season! There’s no shortage of events this weekend around the area if you need to go out and spend some time with your (or someone else’s) horses after a long workweek. 

POLO

Courtesy of Facebook

The Polo Club at Virginia Tech will host The “Mercedes Cup” Polo Exhibition on Sunday, April 19 at noon to 4 p.m. at the Alphin Stuart Livestock Arena at 500 Plantation Road on Virginia Tech’s campus. The exhibition will feature a polo match against University of Virginia, a wine tasting, outdoor games, and booths where other campus organizations will showcase their clubs. Halftime will include the tradition stomping of the divots and an on-foot race. The attire is “Foxfield Races” where the bigger the hat, the better. There is an admission fee: Entry Fee: $2, Wine Tasting (over 21): $5

VIRGINIA HORSE CENTER

The Virginia Classic (AQHA) show will be held April 16-19 at the horse center in Lexington, Va. Judges will be Nancy Sue Ryan, Larry Hansch, Lynda Danielson, Karen Watters, Kelly McDowall and Suzy Jeane. Show highlights include the Hylton Maiden $50,000 3 and over western pleasure class (Saturday), Tim Kimura trail classes and Amateur Ranch Riding $250 added money. Get a show bill here.

Western Pleasure at the 2010 Virginia Classic.

HORSE AUCTION

Hollins Horse Sale (471 Lee Highway), April 18, Hollins Stockyard, Tack at 1 p.m., horses at 6 p.m. Sale by C&H Sales, who are expecting horses consigned from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia and possibly a few from Florida. Hollins Stockyard is at 471 Lee Hwy, Cloverdale.

OPEN SHOWS

• Walnut Spring Stable will host a Spring Fling Horse Show on April 18 starting at 10 am in Blacksburg, Va. The show includes a variety of hunter classes both over fences and on the flat but does not include any Western classes.
• Bedford County Hunt Spring Horse Show is April 18-19 at Randolph College Riding Center on Hawkins Hill Road in Lynchburg. Saturday’s classes are recognized by the Southwest Virginia Hunter Jumper Association. Sunday’s show offers Blue Horse Force recognized classes plus a division for Field Hunters. Saturday will be judged by Krista Penny Hodgkin. Sunday’s show will be judged by Nick Caputo. Both days feature classes both on the flat and over fences for hunters but no Western classes.

COMBINED TRAINING

The Green Hill Equestrian Center in Salem is hosting the Roanoke Valley Pony Club Spring Frolic on April 19. The Combined Training Show from has Intro to Preliminary divisions and will be judged by Gabriele Hooton. Gammon Castellvi will also hold a cross country clinic on April 19 as part of the Spring Frolic. Pre-registration is required.

A LOOK AHEAD

Courtesy Bedford Hunt Club

• Lexington Spring Premiere “AA,” April 22-26, Virginia Horse Center
• Franklin County Trailblazers Horse and Pony Show, April 25, 9 a.m., Ginther Farm, Sontag, Va.
• Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, April 25-26, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Ky.
• Lexington Spring Encore “AA,” April 29-May 3, Virginia Horse Center
• Ranch Horse Gathering, May 2-3, Revo, Va.
• Bedford Hunt Club Hunter Pace, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 3, Sweet Briar College, See flyer here.
• Bonnie Blue National Horse Show, May 6-9, Virginia Horse Center
• Franklin County Equestrian Club Gymkhana Saddle Series, May 8, Never Too Late Stable, Wirtz, Va.
• Pine Spur Hunter Show, May 9, 1049 Pine Spur Road, Vinton.
• Hear the Beat Open Horse Show, May 10, Virginia Horse Center
• Cross View Horse Show Series, May 16-17, Green Hill Equstrian Center, Salem, Va.
• Bedford Hunt Club Hunter Pace, June 6, The Cedars, Goode, Va.
• Roanoke Valley Horse Show, June 15-20, Salem Civic Center, Salem, Va. 
• Micheal Lyons Performance Clinic, Saturday, June 27, Walnut Springs Stables, Blacksburg. $175 to ride, $25 to audit. Limited spaces are available. (336) 267-1086
• Clinton Anderson Walkabout Tour, Aug. 22-23, Virginia Horse Center, Lexington, Va.

Shez Available won the $2,000 trail horse competition but did not reach the reserve required to buy her during the sale.

The Great American Trail Horse Sale showed the demand for well-broke, working horses is high with several bidders topping $8,000 to get the horse they were dreaming of at the sale. While the winner of the $2,000 obstacle course competition, Shez Available, turned out to not be quite so easy to get; although bidding reached $13,000, the reserve was not met for the 2011 sorrel mare.

Champs Leo Starlight, a 2010 AQHA dun gelding sold for $17,500.

Horses that had training in reining or ranch horse classes seemed to go for the highest prices. Mr. Hickory’s Starlight, a 2007 sorrel AQHA gelding who placed fourth at the Region 10 Championships in Reining sold for $11,000. Champs Leo Starlight, a 2010 Dun Gelding with experience as a ranch horse and in ranch horse competition sold for $17,500. Stock-type horses seemed to sell better than the gaited ones. A 2009 sorrel molly mule sold for $8,600.

Not all sold for such high prices. For the time I was there I also saw a few horses go for less than $1,000 and a well-broke 13 hand pony went for $2,200. There were definitely horses for different tastes, riding ability and uses. For the most part I thought the prices were high, although it’s great to see that well-broke comes at a price. All the more incentive to invest in training for horses to ensure their future and value.

Stardust, a 2008 crossbred mare, who rides and drives sold for $5,000.

Phil Emmett, one of the ringmen, works to spot bids during the sale.

Hey What Ya Doing, a 2008 AQHA buckskin gelding, sold for $5,500 at the sale.

VIDEO

Below is a video of the trail class winner, Shez Available, being bid on during the auction.

One of the sale horses steps up onto the wooden bridge.

The Great American Trail Horse Sale kicked off Friday night with what amounts to a demo of sale horses that goes above and beyond any demonstration ever given before a horse auction.

Horses were pitted against a variety of obstacles in the Virginia Horse Center Coliseum just moments after the announcer touted each horse’s various attributes. Talk about walking the walk. Nothing like talking about how well broke a horse is and how he’ll go anywhere as you face off against a wobbly wooden bridge with logs thrown across it as potential bidders look on. Get through that ok? Then a few obstacles later you’ll have to pass a campsite, complete with campfire and fake deer. Thankfully after you cross a path of fallen logs, you’ll find an outhouse to groundtie your mount outside as you go inside. Then, if your horse did indeed wait for you, you throw him on the horse trailer to close the course.

The Top 10 scores will come back at 9:30 a.m. Saturday to compete for $2,000 in prize money. After that, the horses will be auctioned off at noon.

These mules were part of the third obstacle.