Photo by Chelsea Spear.
Last weekend Waredaca ran its 15th Annual Classic Three-Day Event, along with corresponding horse trials. Event organizer Gretchen Butts said that they have been running events there for 40 years.
It’s always a treat to see everyone turn out for trot ups at the lower levels. This gives riders an awesome goal to aim for and a taste of the upper level events. Colleen Rutledge and her two daughters were all competing together in the Hylofit USEA Classic Series Training Three Day. Brian Rutledge explained that Colleen and her daughter, Cassie, were both competing in the Training Three-Day, and their other daughter, Ciana, was doing the Novice Three-Day. #familygoals.
I asked Colleen how it felt to compete with her daughters. “It is fun but very exhausting, and I have to let go a little bit because I can’t be there the whole time coaching them because I am competing at the same time,” she explained. “I am proud of them for getting qualified and working so hard this year.”
Busy vet box. Photo courtesy of Gretchen Butts.
Leaving few details untouched, Waredaca also hosted a raffle benefitting Hopkins Breast Cancer Research. The winner received a generous prize pack, and division winners were handed prizes ranging from coolers to grooming supplies and even some paid entry fees for 2020.
When I got to the event, it was hard to miss the horse trailer turned pouring station for Waredaca’s own brews — of course, I had to try one. Andrea Lang was there to greet me, and gave me a few samples to try before deciding. I picked one that tasted good and she told me that every beer has something that they grow on the farm.
The beer I had chosen was made with honey from Waredaca’s own bees. Andrea explained that when the family looked at the farm in its recent history, they wanted to find a way to really make the farm viable and that is when the Waredaca Brewery came to life. I asked her what her favorite thing was about the farm, and without hesitation (and a huge smile) she said “family, it feels like family.” This is the way that the events always feel, with the family hometown charm.
Photo by Chelsea Spear.
Photo by Chelsea Spear.
Chelsea Eldridge of Destination Farm shared an awesome tidbit of advice for riders competing in events with trot ups. That weekend, trot up weather was quite windy, and Chelsea had worked some weights into the dress of one of the Destination competitors to help with the wind. Who has weights on hand? Chelsea does. Maybe she’s available for hire?
From L to R, riders are Caroline Kilday, coach Steph Kohr and Julia Dionisio with support team Send Hellerman, Jacque Lopour, Alex Dupont and Lisa Dioniso. Photo by Gretchen Butts.
Destination Farm had a successful weekend, and many congratulations are in order for Ella Lucas and Truthful Saint. This pair may have been the pair to receive every prize Waredaca had to offer! Ella and Truthful Saint finished on their dressage score to end up second in the Novice Three-Day, receiving TIP champion, Road to the Three Day Champion, top placed young rider, and fourth placed team.
Ella Lucas and Destination Farm crew after clear Endurance round. Photo by Chelsea Spear.
“The entire week flew by in a flurry of early mornings, course walks, and outfit changes,” Ella reflected. “The atmosphere was really welcoming with it feeling like everyone really wanted to see you jump the final show jump on Sunday and would help you however they could — organizers, clinicians, and competitors alike. It was an amazing experience for Saint and I.”
“The classic format does something different for horse and rider,” Ella continued. “I really feel like the experience has made my relationship with Saint that much closer. After a difficult fall season finishing on our dressage score was amazing and moving from 11th after dressage to second after show jumping really was the cherry on top of the cake from a class horse. A big thank you to the organizers for offering so many prizes with Saint!”
Training Three-Day Event winner Emily Tincher with Photo courtesy of Emily Tincher.
Emily Tincher, winner of the Training Three Day, is also a small animal vet. “It was a blast, I am so proud of my amazing horse,” she said. “He is only seven and we moved up to our first recognized Training this spring and he has been a machine on cross country. He loves it. I said my ‘pie in the sky’ was maybe we could do a Training Three-Day one day. We gave it a try and absolutely never would have imagined we would come out with a win, so it was super exciting.”
“Balancing small animal emergency vet 12-hour shifts, I would ride him and then shower at work, and then work that shift,” Emily said of her busy schedule. “I can’t thank my trainer Jocelyn Gentry, owner of Gentry Sport Horses, enough. We have been with her for a year and a half. She really helped us get to where we are — happy and confident.”
Plenty of riders were thrilled to see RF Scandalous out and about again as she and Marilyn Little aim for the CCI4*-S at Ocala Jockey Club later this month. They took home the win in the Preliminary division, finishing on their dressage score of 27.50.
Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. Photo by Chelsea Spear.
Go Waredaca, and Go Eventing!
Waredaca 3DE & H.T. [Website] [Final Scores]
WINNERS
Training Three-Day: Emily Tincher and Bluegrass Baron (39.1)
Novice Three-Day: Christina Feaga and In the Mick of Time (33.8)
Open Preliminary: Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous (25.7)
Modified: Erin Sylvester and Warren LVS (29.6)
Open Training A: Kaelen Speck and BSF Liam (37.1)
Open Training B: Kaelen Speck and Charmed Victory (31.5)
Training Rider: Jebb Simpson and Matisse (36.8)
Novice Rider A: Catie Meehan and Arrowbee (33.0)
Novice Rider B: Susan Ballek and Jitter Bug (22.9)
Open Novice: Victoria Miller and Hacker (30.7)
Beginner Novice Rider: Vanessa Miller and Obvious Diamond Article (23.0)
Open Beginner Novice: Jordan deButts and Thirsty for Gold (37.5)
Special Awards:
TRAINING
Best Conditioned: Jaclyn Burke & Chance of Hidden Heights
Special Conditioning Award: Mary-Cooke Catlett & Luck of the Draw
Best Turn-out/Groomed: Jaclyn Burke & Chance of Hidden Heights
Top Amateur & Brown Betty Award: Emily Tincher & Bluegrass Baron
T.I.P. Champion: Emily Tincher & Bluegrass Baron
T.I.P. Reserve: Amanda Ruane & Castle’s Boy
Road to the Three-Day: Emily Tincher / Bluegrass Baron
NOVICE
Best Conditioned: Sara Druffner & All That Jazz
Best Turn-out/Groomed: Julia Dionisio & The Last Call
Top Amateur & Zeke Award (top amateur riding a gelding): Christina Feaga & In the Mick of Time
T.I.P. Champion: Ella Lucas & Truthful Saint
T.I.P. Reserve: Caroline Kilday & Coincidentally
Road To the Three-Day: Ella Lucas & Truthful Saint
Jim Baker Sportsmanship Award: Katharine Clarke & Kay’s Replica
