Skyland Farm horses and riders enjoyed an amazing week during the Upperville Colt & Horse Show, held June 2-8 in Upperville, Virginia. From the ponies to the jumpers, Skyland Farm riders rode to top honors.Elizabeth Wiley and her hunters Crescendo and Say Again got the ribbon collection off to a great start early in the week with blue-ribbon performances in the Adult Amateur, 36-49, section. And after the points were tallied, Elizabeth and Crescendo brought home the reserve championship honors. She returned to the ring again for the competitive and popular Local Hunter, Owner/Rider, section, where she and Say Again earned the section championship with two blue ribbons as well as the overall Grand Local Hunter Championship and Tippy Payne Trophy."Both her first trip in the Local Hunters with Say Again and her win on Crescendo in the Adults, in my opinion, could have won anywhere," said trainer Denice Perry. "They were the two best trips I’ve ever seen her have on both horses. It was so nice that she rode so well and the horses performed so beautifully at her hometown show. Her proud mom, Helen Wiley, president of the Warrenton Horse. Show, was on hand to cheer her on."Michele Trufant and Prime Time earned their moment in the spotlight as well, taking the Adult Amateur Hunter, 50 and over, reserve championship. "Michele was super consistent and placed third in each of her classes," said Perry. "Over fences, she had two beautiful rounds with her horse, a Thoroughbred she's had forever. It was a very competitive division, and she had scores of 83 in both rounds."
Virginia Bonnie and her ponies Wink And Smile and Prom Queen added two beautiful Upperville coolers to the tack room with their victories in the Robert Pillion Small and Medium Pony Hunter classics. In addition, Wink And Smile also earned the Small Pony Hunter reserve championship and Virginia topped the VHSA/EMO Pony Medal class.The Bonnie family also gathered for the traditional Upperville Family Class, with the three generations present taking blue-ribbon honors: Shelby Bonnie and daughter Virginia; Robert Bonnie and wife Julie Gomena; and parents Nina and Ned Bonnie.Elizabeth Wiley joined her cousin Peter Buchanan for the Family Class, where they received third place aboard their matching grays, Say Again and Wink And Smile.Over on the jumper side of the show grounds, Alex Tippett, Colleen Hahn and Denice Perry tackled the beautiful courses set with the Blue Ridge Mountain backdrop. Colleen and HJ Vasco collected excellent ribbons in the Low Adult Amateurs, while Alex and El Cano did the same in the High Children's Jumper section. Both riders also earned a paycheck in their respective classics to top off their week. Denice and Cirena jumped into contention in the 1.20m classes, with excellent results as well.