Three members of Team Amateur Hour posing in front of their jump.
The Summer Horse Trials was host to the first Stable View Adult Team Challenge. After much success at the USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Championships and Stable View Alumni Cup in May, the Adult Team Challenge was born. The Aiken Opener, the April CCI4*, the Summer Horse Trials, and Oktoberfest will all host these challenges. Ribbons and prizes are given to teams placing first through third. In addition, Diane Bird decorates the cross-country jumps. For this show she decorated one fence for each team.
The Summer Horse Trials saw ten teams compete. Victory Hill won on a final team score of 96.52. With only three team members they did not have a drop score; really putting the pressure on each rider. Every rider finished on their dressage score. Elizabeth Moore rode her own Obi 1 in the Novice. She shared, “I am always happy to come to Stable View even though we are “commuting” from the Raleigh area because I know it will be very well run and the footing will be excellent. This time was no exception, even though it was very hot and dry, they rolled the course and watered it in certain places as well as the arenas. Additionally, our course, which was designed by Mogie Bearden Muller, was very inviting and confidence-building for our horses. The show jumping warm-up was also nice in both the location and the similarity to the competition arena. We are super grateful for the organizers committing to have a team challenge and happy to have been fortunate to win it on this occasion! Thank you to everyone who made this happen!”
Claire Nestor rode a French Connexion in the Novice Rider Division. She said, “The team challenge was a lot of fun, it was nice to see as a barn we were all able to have consistent rides through each phase. This was my first time at Stable View and it did not disappoint. Between the volunteers being so kind, the beautiful facility, and having the opportunity to watch the Olympic team it made for a very memorable event. Winning the adult challenge was the icing on the cake, along with completing my AEC requirements!”
Alison Eyth and Bella Chloe also competed in the Novice Rider division. She shared, “It was a very well-run event and a lot of fun! We didn’t expect to see a jump named after our team – thank you for that surprise. The course was well-designed and it was a lot of fun to jump in the same arena that the Olympic team jumped in!”
Amateur Hour placed second in the challenge and finished on a 98.09. Andrea McAllister rode Call Me Commander in the Modified and finished on their dressage score. She shared, “We fully embraced our amateur status this weekend by (over) celebrating our successes and laughing together at our hiccups. In the end our incredible horses had our back and made us look pretty good! Team Amateur Hour really lived up to its name this weekend! The team consisted of four friends that met in North Carolina while training with Holly Hepp Hudspeth year ago, they have stayed in touch over the years, always trying to coordinate to go to the same shows. They all work full-time jobs and really bond about the sacrifices and coordination required to manage it all. When the team challenge came out, they jumped at the opportunity, even after a famous quote of the weekend, ‘You already stress yourselves enough, why do you want to add even more pressure?’
“I’m glad there was a drop score.” – after a team member had an unplanned swim at the water.
“I’m glad I chose the right team horse.” – after a team member got TE for jumping the wrong SJ on her other horse.
Allie Keresman and Will Power also finished on their dressage score in the Modified. Allie said, “Our team was made up of all adult amateurs which is where our team name “Amateur Hour” came from. We were all very excited to have a jump combination named after us on the cross-country course also. It was fun to compete as a team and cheer each other on all weekend. I love that more shows are doing Adult team challenges. As adult amateurs, we do this sport for fun after all!” Amanda Curtis and Theforgottenone also finished on their dressage score in the Modified. Jaime Daly and Anglico rode in the Training Division.
Team Thunder took the third-place honors. Brian Kilgo-Kelly and Caspian finished on their dressage score of 31.1 in the Training. Lauren Lindsay and FGF Nothing for Free also competed in the Training and only added one rail to their score. Darci Phelps and Sandro Street completed the Modified and Melissa Nice and Smokin Meers competed in the Intermediate. Darci shared, “It was really fun to cheer each other on.”
Start organizing your adult team challenge teams now for Oktoberfest, September 27th-29th.
