There was more than enough show jumping excitement to go around today in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena during Week VI of Summer in the Rockies. Irish FEI course designer Alan Wade set some challenging tracks for the day. In the 1.30m Michael Elmore, from Abiquiú, NM, piloted Quiault VDV, owned by Bar X Ranch, LLC to the win with one of only three double clear rounds and the fastest jump off time of the horse and rider combinations. Originally from Middleburg, VA, Elmore was a steeplechase rider and won the coveted Maryland Hunt Cup in 1999 and finished second three times. The Maryland Hunt Cup is widely considered one of the most difficult steeplechase races in the world. “It’s fun thinking about the Hunt Cup after a win like today,” said Elmore. Someone came up to me and said, ‘You know you left out strides,’ I said, ‘I know, it goes back to my racing days.’” “It’s a lot of fun,” said Elmore about steeplechasing. “I rode in it (the Maryland Hunt Cup), I think six times. The first time I rode in it I was very nervous. And it just dawned on me that this is what I love to do – and it was so much fun. So many came to watch us run fast and jump high.” Elmore now lives, trains and rides in Abiquiú, NM, known for its rock formations and as the location of artist Georgia O’Keefe’s Ghost Ranch. Many notable Western genre films have been shot in the area. “I have a very loyal following of people that send me horses even though I live on the edge of the frontier,” said Elmore. “And I have a group of really nice horses and clients.” About Quinault VDV, Elmore said, “I’ve only had him since May. This is our first horse show outing, the last two weeks at the Colorado Horse Park. I am just getting to know him but he loves to do it and he’s a perfectionist. He tries so hard and gives you so much.” Elmore hasn’t been to the Colorado Horse Park since 2002. “It’s been too long,” he said. “The footing with the weather that they had with the rain – it was a blast to ride on that footing. For me it was the best.” Karen Cudmore and Super Bad nab the $2,500 1.40m In the 1.40m Open Jumpers There was only one double clear – Super Bad was super good today, expertly ridden by Karen Cudmore and owned by Blair Cudmore of Omaha NE. Cudmore and her daughter Brooke often swap rides on their horses. “I took over the ride on Super Bad for the past month and a half and Brooke’s now been riding Shea,” she said. “She helps me with things and I help her with things, so we decided to switch and it’s great. Actually, Shea and Super Bad are half brother and sister so it’s like Brooke and I are related – the horses are related, It’s all very closely knit. It’s fun. It’s useful. It’s beneficial because we can work off each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we have fun doing it and it’s good for the horses.” It was a good class today and he’s been super consistent throughout the Colorado circuit. I couldn’t be more pleased with the horse. The Cudmores try to come to Summer in the Rockies every year. “I think it is a great facility. The weather is always a little bit cooler than any other part of the country this time of the year, so it is nice for the horses. They have really good course designers here and good jumping material and excellent courses.” Hassey’s Cassino Wins $1,000 7/8 year-old Young Jumper Cassino, owned and skillfully ridden by Armando Hassey won the $1,000 7/8 year-old Young Jumper. The horse has consistently performed and won week after week throughout the circuit. “I think he won almost every Young Jumper class I entered him in,” said Hassey who owns a farm in Parker, CO. “One week I did him in the 1.40m and he was double clear. I bought him as a 6-month-old, now he’s 7 and it’s coming true. I want to take him to some of the 7 year-old championships in Kentucky or California, if I can logistically do it. If not, it is just really exciting to bring him along and hopefully get him in the welcomes and grand prixs in the future.” The Saturday highlight in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena of Summer in the Rockies VI is the $50,000 Griffis Residential Grand Prix. 586. $2,500 1.30m II2b award/entry/horse / owner/rider/prize 1 /590/Quinault VDV Bar X Ranch LLC/Michael Elmore/730.00 2 /781/CopyCat Loretta Patterson/Holly Shepherd/482.50 3 /810/Whisper VC Ashbrook Farm L.L.C./Ashley Stannard/357.50 4 /954/CamerinoWells Bridge Farm Inc/Paul Rohrbach/230.00 5 /778/Rocket Man Lindsay Gersoff/Liz Denny/175.00 6 /968/Roc Canyon Rebecca Young/Rebecca Young/175.00 7 /663/Laurant Heidi Hildebrand/Heidi Hildebrand/175.00 8 /789/Rocketman Loretta Patterson/Holly Shepherd/175.00 9 /588/Panache Chris Falewitch/Janine Weatherby/0.00 588. $2,500 1.40m II2b award/entry/horse / owner/rider/prize 1 /581/Super Bad Blair Cudmore/Karen Cudmore/730.00 2 /748/Chantico Forest View Farm & Karen Ball/John Pearce/482.50 3 /787/Rapid Rewards Loretta Patterson/Holly Shepherd/357.50 4 /664/Tommy Bahama Chuck Waters/Heidi Hildebrand/230.00 5 /894/Quilona Z Carolyn Elsey/Trapp O'Neal/175.00 6 /670/Livia Z Sharon Granberg/Janet Hischer/175.00 7 /662/Saloso Z Heidi Hildebrand/Heidi Hildebrand/175.00
