The Skyland Farm team enjoyed two beautiful weeks in early June under the oaks at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show and Loudoun Benefit Horse Show in Upperville, Virginia.The picturesque show grounds, located just minutes from Skyland's home base in Middleburg, allowed for lots of fun and socializing as well as ribbon-winning performances.During Upperville, highlights included Emma Pell's top results in the High Children's Jumpers aboard Ari 55. The pair ended the week tied for the reserve championship. They continued the momentum into Loudoun, where they earned top ribbons and placed fifth in the NAL/WIHS High Children's/Adult Jumper Classic after going first in the class and setting an impressive pace.
Leslie Kopp and Fenwick also earned a tricolor, taking a reserve championship in a section of the Local Hunter Owner/Rider division. The pair also returned for ribbons in the Adult Amateur Hunter, 50 and over section, and Leslie also piloted Griffin to excellent ribbons in the same division in a competitive field. Fenwick showed his talents during Loudoun as well, winning the Performance Working Handy Hunter over fences class with Chiara Carney in a class of more than 30 entries.Leslie enjoyed her time in the jumpers as well, riding El Cano and Dolce Vita to ribbons in the Adult Amateurs
Michele Trufant and Prime Time also earned excellent ribbons in the Local Hunter Owner/Rider section and, like Leslie, they accrued ribbons in the Adult Amateur, 50 and over, section. Michele also showed her prowess in the Jumpers, riding Itchy Garrett to multiple ribbons in a variety of classes, including the Take2 Thoroughbred Jumpers.During Loudoun, Michele and Itchy earned the reserve championship in the Take2 Thoroughbred Jumpers and also placed second in the Take2 Thoroughbred Jumper Classic to round out a wonderful show.Danielle DeRisio and Cirena jumped to ribbons in the Low Adult Amateurs and Schooling Jumpers, including many clear rounds during both weeks.
It was a clean sweep in the performance classes for Judith Hahn's Twizzler in the Green Pony Hunter section during Loudoun. Under Emma's expert guidance, Twizzler won every class and earned the Grand Pony Championship as well as the section championship. Emma also piloted Thora Pollak's lovely Rebel Yell to wins in the Medium Pony Hunter section, with victories in the model as well as over fences and in the Pony Hunter Classic.Emma also made her presence known in the big equitation classes. She guided F15 to ribbons in the ASPCA Maclay, WIHS, Platinum Performance Talent Search and the VHSA Medal, to name a few.Mosie Pennington and her ponies Yours Truly and Dreamscape picked up ribbons both weeks, with Mosie making her regular pony debut in the Smalls with Dreamscape during Loudoun and winning a ribbon in every class.
"We had a great two weeks of showing," said trainer Denice Perry. "We had a wonderful group of riders and horses, and everyone enjoyed spending time together and cheering each other on. They do a fantastic job with these two horse shows, and we're so fortunate to have the opportunity to spend this time in our own backyard enjoying Virginia's amazing hunt country and showing here."