Sunday afternoon marked the conclusion of two weeks of highly praised hunter/jumper competition at the Brandywine Valley Sumer Series. Held at the Devon Horse Show grounds and now in their fifth year, the premier rated horse shows saw a record number of entries, including top riders, owners and trainers from across the country. Among those top riders and trainers were Jennifer Bauersachs and Sandy Ferrell, each of whom earned the title of Leading Hunter Rider, with Ferrell taking the honor during week one and Bauersachs claiming the title during week two. "The team of Geoff [Teall], Louise [Serio], Jennifer [Burger] and so many other people that are involved have done such an incredible job. Every year, it just gets better and better," Ferrell said. "Everyone involved in putting together the horse show should know how appreciative all the exhibitors, the riders and trainers are for all of the hard work that they put into these shows." Ferrell continued, "It's the ambience of being at Devon without all of the pressure of the actual Devon Horse Show. We don't get to appreciate the facility itself as much during Devon because there are just so many people, and it's so busy. It's a very beautiful venue, and it's a beautiful town, so it's nice to be able to really enjoy it." Ferrell claimed the week one Der Dau Leading Hunter Rider title after earning multiple championships, including in the Conformation Hunters riding Bryan Baldwin and Meralex Farm's As Promised, in the Thoroughbred Hunters aboard Early Note, owned by Richard Blue, and in the Pre-Green Hunters on Stephanie Bulger's Carrica. Ferrell also earned an Independence Day victory in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby aboard Shadowplay, owned by Perry Peterson. "The derby was really a lot of fun. It was a beautiful class and a great crowd with it being the Fourth of July," Ferrell said. "The weather was perfect, and everything was just right on cue." For Bauersachs, her Leading Hunter Rider title during week two came following success aboard mounts such as Casimir, with whom she earned the Second Year Green/High Performance Hunter division championship, and Overjoyed, whom she rode to the First Year Green Hunter reserve championship. "It's so nice being at a show run by people who still show. They really get what it's like back in the trenches trying to get things done, and they do an excellent job," Bauersachs said. "Geoff [Teall] did an amazing job of making sure that everyone was accommodated and that everything was run smoothly. The jumps were amazing. Skip Bailey did a fantastic job there, and all of the jumps were just beautiful. The courses were nice. The staff was nice. I just really have a good time there." In addition to her division success, Bauersachs claimed big wins aboard For Love in both the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and the $10,000 Brandywine Young Working Hunter Stake.
