The Grand Prix of Roanoke had a new venue and a new champion for 2016, as Brooke Kemper rode her 12-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding Classified to the top spot for the $25,000 prize Saturday, June 26, at the Virginia Horse Center.
Brooke Kemper on Classified
The 12-time winner of the Grand Prix of Roanoke, Aaron Vale, was not part of the field of 11 at the show’s new venue at the Virginia Horse Center.
As a large crowd of spectators looked on, Kemper, of Shadow Pond Stables in Culpeper, Virginia, was clear in her first ride and then clear again in the jump-off with a time of 37.258. She just barely edged out Maryann Charles and FVF Sailorman, who jumped a double clear with a time of 37.279.
Also in the jump-off round was Tyler Smith riding Soho D’Ermisserie, who had a double clear with a time of 41.763, and Gavin Moylan riding Pernod, who had four faults and a time of 35.411.
Maryann Charles and Sailorman
Tyler Smith and Soho D’Ermisserie
Brooke Kemper also rode Classified to a win in the Rockbridge Grand Prix at the Virginia Horse Center in 2015. She was third in the George L. Ohrstrom Grand Prix at the horse center in May. Kemper grew up on her parents’ Kemper Knoll Farm near Harrisonburg, Virginia. Her mother, Darlene, is a riding instructor, while her father, Whit, is a full-time farmer.
Tyler Smith and Soho D’Ermisserie were third in the Grand Prix of Roanoke
A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 1, in Charlottesville for local horseman Felix Jacob Nuesch, who died peacefully on June 6, 2016, at his home in Free Union. He was 84.
An active member in the horse community, Nuesch was instrumental in developing the Virginia Horse Center and was on the board for many years. He was inducted into the center’s Hall of Fame as well as the Virginia Horse Show Association Hall of Fame and was named Horseman of the Year by the Virginia Horse Council.
Nuesch was born and raised in Balgach, Switzerland. As a young man he was a member of the Swiss Calvary and he competed in military events and in combined training events.
Felix Nuesch riding a young racehorse.
After coming to the United States in the 1950s, he managed Canaan Farm in Esmont. He later managed several other farms such as Lewisfield and Ingleside in Charlottesville while he started his own business at his home, Rehberg Farm, in Free Union. At Rehberg Farm he trained race horses, hunters and jumpers and developed fox hunter prospects as a member of the Farmington Hunt. In 1984, he started Braeburn Thoroughbred Training Center in Crozet, Virginia, where he and his family broke and trained horses for owners such as Lael Stable, Christiana Stable, Morven Stud, Al Fried, Jr., Joanne Nielsen, and Mr. and Mrs. Orme Wilson. His family continues to run the farm where his son, Pat, is the head trainer.
Memorial donations may be made to the Virginia Horse Center Foundation in Lexington or the Earlysville Volunteer Fire Department.
The Roanoke Valley Horse Show has found a new home at the Virginia Horse Center, and the horseman’s association is excited for this year’s competition from June 20-25. Highlight events during the multi-discipline event for exhibitors and spectators will include the $25,000 Grand Prix of Roanoke on Saturday, June 25, and the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Chatham Hall on Friday, June 24.
“We’re excited to be moving to the Virginia Horse Center because it gives us the ability to offer more classes, and it also helps our great staff of volunteers in not having to actually build a venue as we did at our previous location,” Roanoke Valley Horse Show chairperson Stacey Wright said.
“A new addition this year will be all-day barrel racing on Monday with $2,500 added prize money instead of an invitational, as it has been in the past,” Wright explained. “We are hopeful that our move to the Virginia Horse Center will allow us to grow some of our other classes in the future such as our Arabian division, our Racking Horse division, our Saddlebred/Hackney/Roadster division as well as our Quarter Horse and Hunter/Jumper divisions.”
The Roanoke Valley Horse Show is a nonprofit organization and event, and the funds raised from the annual horse show are donated to health and human service organizations in the region. While the horse show will be moving to Lexington, the event will continue to benefit the Roanoke Valley and to uphold the show’s longstanding traditions of Southern hospitality.
“We are really looking forward to moving to the Virginia Horse Center and feel that it will be a great improvement in safety for our horses and our exhibitors as well,” Wright said. “It will allow us to grow our profits so we can contribute back to the charitable organizations that we support such as the Bradley Free Clinic 4-H and the Virginia Maryland Equine Program at Virginia Tech. It’s still the same great horse show, just in a new location. We are there for the benefit of the charities in the Roanoke Valley and that’s where our profits go, back to the Roanoke Valley,” Wright emphasized.
The horse show is an all-breed horse show offering Arabian, Hackney, hunter, jumper, racking, roadster, Saddlebred and Western divisions. To learn more about the Roanoke Valley Horse Show and supporting the event in 2016 visit www.roanokevalleyhorseshow.com.
Jason Berry and Cobalt Blue R. Photo by Teresa Ramsay Photography
Jason Berry was on top of his game May 6, 2016, claiming three of the top four spots in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. He picked up the victory aboard Cobalt Blue R with a score of 185.0. Elizabeth Bailey and Acido 7 scored the second place spot with a score of 173.5, while Berry also placed third and fourth on IAmWhatIAm and Attila, respectively.
Berry imported Cobalt Blue R, an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Oak Ledge Farm, last year. Everything came together for them in the derby class. “For the handy tonight he was just on it.” Berry said “From the time I picked up the canter it was like they put the jumps where I needed them to be. He was super easy to ride for that.”
A Virginia native, Berry was enthusiastic about his win at the Virginia Horse Center. “It’s definitely our home show,” he expressed. “It’s great to win a class here, it’s great to have this facility in your backyard. They have a great indoor Coliseum where they had the class tonight. To have the weather that we’ve had, pouring down rain for the last few days, the option of having a good class no matter what the weather is the best thing about the Virginia Horse Center!”
Manuel Torres and Christofolini H gallop to the final fence of their winning jump-off round.
Manuel Torres put in two clean rounds to win the George L. Ohrstrom Grand Prix on Saturday, May 7, 2016, as part of the Lexington Spring Encore horse show at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia.
Torres, a five-time Olympian for his native country of Colombia, rode Christofolini H, owned by Andrea Torres Guerreiro, to the win. Torres now operates Santa Catalina Farm in Waterford, Virginia.
Final placings in the $30,000 George L. Ohrstrom Grand Prix
The Great American Trail Horse Sale offered a variety of horses, from quarter horses and mules, to Friesian Sport Horses and Percheron crosses and ponies. There were horses with star-studded pedigrees, and ones with no pedigrees at all. Polka-dotted appaloosas and multiple shades of buckskin, dun, palomino and roan colored the choices. But for all their differences, what they did have in common is that they were broke, broke, broke. And because of their training, registration papers or not, several horses sold for more than $10,000.
Touched by Treasure sold for $16,000.
Some of the sale’s top sellers included:
Touched by Treasure, a 2006 AQHA gelding who was a grandson of Zips Chocolate Chip and Radical Rodder, sold for $16,000.
A 2008 APHA gelding, Firstrate Cutter Bug, sold for $13,000. He was also the winner of the obstacle challenge and it’s $1,000 grand prize.
A 2010 AQHA buckskin gelding, Sparetime Smokin Doc who had points in ARHA competition, sold for $15,000.
Bo, a 2008 Bay Roan pony gelding who would ride and drive sold for $15,000
JK Pat, an AQHA gelding, sold for $14,200.
Buckeye’s Dream, a 2012 buckskin Percheron/QH cross who rides and drives sold for $12,600.
Torned Hearts, a 2002 grey mare, sold for $9,500. She has been shown English, Western, over fences and in games.
Children ride a pinto pony.
A pinto pony.
This palomino did not sell.
An Appy mule sold for $3,700.
A roan pony lies on the ground while a horse was sidepassed over him and a bullwhip cracked over his body.
The sale was filled with sellers trying to demonstrate just how broke their horses were. Some had the help of children to ride their horses around the arena. Some stood up in the saddle. Others got the horses to lie down while cracking bullwhips around their heads. At this sale, being broke was much more impressive to the crowd than having good breeding.
Bidding for this 2011 AQHA buckskin gelding, High Brow’s Ace, reached $17,000 but it was not enough. He was also the Reserve Champion of the obstacle challenge competition.
While the sale captured good prices for many horses, there were also a large number that didn’t sell. One buckskin gelding reached a bid of more than $17,000 but the owner said they were no where close to what the horse was worth and shook their head for a “no sale.” Every mule except one that went through the sale didn’t reach the reserve set by the owner. The one that did sell went for $3,700.
This AQHA Cremello mare sold for $2,400.
That doesn’t mean there weren’t deals to be had. A sweet, quiet Cremello AQHA mare sold for $2,400. And a really nicely made Mustang mare who had placed fifth in a Mustang Makeover event, sold for $1,900.
Despite it being a trail horse sale, and the popularity of gaited horses among trail riders, there were only a few gaited horses in the sale and they didn’t sell for as high a price as the ranch-type horses. A little chestnut Rocky Mountain Horse sold for $700, and a “Single Footing Horse” sold for $2,800. A bay Kentucky Mountain Horse who was the crowd favorite in the rack-off the night before sold for $5,200.
If the Great American Trail Horse Sale shows horse owners anything, it should be that investment in training and giving your horse a job is worth it. Broke horses are needed and wanted.
An Appy mule sold for $3,700.FQHR Poco Cackles Bar, a 2012 AQHA mare, sold for $12,000.This mule did not sell after bidding reached $3,400. The owner was looking for $5,000.Bidding for this leopard Appaloosa did not meet the reserve of $6,500.A bullwhip is cracked next to quarter horse JK Pat, a 2010 Grulla gelding, as bidding continues. The 6-year-old sold for $14,200.A roan pony lies on the ground while a horse was sidepassed over him and a bullwhip cracked over his body.Bolena San, a 2002 palomino quarter horse gelding who was built like a tank, was seeking a bid of $4,000 but did not reach it.This palomino did not meet the reserve.This mule did not meet the reserve.This Friesian Sport Horse sold for $9,700.A pinto pony lies down on command. He sold for $6,000.Children ride a pinto pony who sold for $6,000.A 1999 Connemara/TB Cross mare sold for $2,300.A pinto gelding sold for $1,950.A palominoA greyhound sleeps through the bidding.A young new owner gets a hug after having her photo taken with her new horse.
Taft Dickerson and Best on the Rocks accept the Dave Higgins Memorial trophy.
Taft Dickerson and Best on the Rocks won more than a Green Western Pleasure class on Sunday at the Virginia Quarter Horse Association’s Spring Breakout horse show at the Virginia Horse Center. They also won the chance to be part of honoring the late Dave Higgins, a VQHA hall of fame member who died last year after a car crash.
Taft Dickerson and Best on the Rocks lopes down the rail during the Green Western Pleasure class.
The VQHA honored the former show manager by awarding the Dave Higgins Memorial Trophy to the winner of the Green Western Pleasure class.
Dave Higgins, show manager of the association’s annual Virginia Classic horse show, died last year after being involved in a wreck on the way home from the April show. He later died of his injuries.
Best on the Rocks performed with a good cadence and pleasant expression throughout the class to unanimously win the class of eight under all four judges. He later that afternoon would also tie to win the Sr. Western Pleasure class.
Each competitor was asked to drop their horse’s bit for inspection by the judges.The Green Western Pleasure lineup.Horses lope down the rail.A roan lopes on the rail.
Ranch riding has become one of the most popular classes at AQHA shows and it’s no different at the Spring Breakout in Lexington, Virginia in March. The more natural gaits, and emphasis on working tack instead of silver and sparkles seems to be attracting a new group of riders to AQHA shows.
Steve Meadows and KR Justa Spark were Circuit Champions in the All Age Ranch Pleasure class. The Novice Amateur Circuit Championship went to Dun Resolved It All and Dana Laney, while the Amateur Circuit Championship went to Julie Rogers and Gunner Got Out.
Julie Rogers and Gunner Got Out were Circuit Champions in Amateur Ranch Riding.
Saturday also included Hunter classes including Hunt Seat Equitation.
If you’re going to the Bonnie Blue National Horse Show on May 11-14 at the Virginia Horse Center, leave your camera at home. The prize book for the USEF-rated show states that commercial photographers are limited to press photographers only. How do you know if you are a commercial photographer? The prize list states that “cameras with detachable lenses or lenses of more than two inches are prohibited. Any lenses greater than two inches is considered professional equipment and is not permitted in the arena buildings or into the competition arenas to include seating areas.”
Press passes will be issued by the horse show office after press photographers sign an agreement stating that they won’t sell the photographs under any circumstances.
Professional photographers may not record the event with any kind of camera, or video
equipment. (I’m not certain how they decide that you are a professional photographer using your iPhone illegally.) This policy will be strictly enforced. Violation of the policy may result in removal from the show grounds. Commercial photographers found violating this policy will be accessed a $1,000 fee and escorted off the grounds.
The show is celebrating its 30th year. The policy is not unique is just this show but to all AHA national shows.
Here is the policy as it was written and published in the show’s Prize List:
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO Photographs will be taken by Doug Shiflet during the sessions and will be available directly through him. Video will be provided by Richfield Video. Arrangements may be made before the session or by calling 1-800-345-2429. Commercial Photographers at all national shows are limited to PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS ONLY. Press photographers (anyone taking pictures for newspapers or periodic publications ) will be required to sign an agreement stating that they will abide by official Bonnie Blue Nationals Horse Show rules and any photographs they take are to be used for editorial purposes only and are NOT TO BE SOLD under any circumstances. Only one press pass will be issued per publication. Once an agreement has been signed, an official BBN Press Pass will be issued. Press passes can only be obtained from the horse show office. Cameras with detachable lenses or lenses of more than two inches are prohibited. Any lenses greater than two inches is considered professional equipment and is not permitted in the arena buildings or into the competition arenas to include seating areas. The official show photographers are exempt from this policy. Professional photographers may not record the event with any kind of camera, or video equipment. This policy will be strictly enforced. Violation of the policy may result in removal from the show grounds. Commercial photographers found violating this policy will be accessed a $1000 fee and escorted off the grounds.
Looking for Bonnie Blue National photos? Visit Doug Shiflet’s page by clicking here.
A 
Roanoke Equestrian 