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Telluride Farm’s Caitie Hope Seizes Three Major Victories

at Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II

June 24, 2008

Hampshire, IL --- This past week Caitie Hope dominated the junior hunter and jumper classes at the Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II in Wayne, IL. Hope rides with Diane Carney at Telluride Farm, which is based out of Hampshire, IL.

Hope of Barrington, IL, excelled in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters with Caped Crusader, owned by North Run and Missy Clark. After she and her mount accrued four first place awards and one second place, the championship ribbon was pinned on Caped Crusader’s bridle. The pair also finished in fifth place in the $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic. After her consistent success, the young rider was recognized with the esteemed High Point Junior Hunter Trophy.

“This is the first time Caitie has ever won this trophy,” commented Carney. “She’s had to strive for it. The competition was very strong, and she rode beautifully. I think the award really speaks for her drive and competitiveness. It was very close, and she had to win both classes on Saturday to be the best high point junior rider. She remained focused, and she did it. Caped Crusader was just fabulous; he’s a winner every time he goes in the ring.”

In the jumper ring, Hope executed a pristine round aboard La Paz in the $5,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Speed Derby. The class used a number of the natural obstacles from the hunter derby and required riders to jump out of the arena, negotiate a fence on the grass, and jump back into the ring.

Carney stated, “It was a fantastic week. The speed derby was very cool because the course used a lot of the hunter derby jumps, but they were set at a Level 7 height. You really had to ride, turn and balance your horse.” In addition to riding La Paz to first place, Hope earned eleventh on Jennifer Hauser’s horse Corrato. “Caitie has been to Spruce Meadows before, so I think she was excited to do a class like the derby up there. I think she’s quite comfortable with the format and riding up and down banks. She just gets better and better at it.”

“She’s a good kid and a hard worker,” Carney added. “I’m proud of her. It’s an honor for her to be the best junior rider anywhere, and it was a great win because her family sponsors that award every year. Her sister Megan (Risko) presented the trophy to her, which was very meaningful.”

The horses and riders at Telluride Farm will compete next in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for the next two weeks. After they compete in Canada, Hope will show in Saugerties, NY, and then attend the junior hunter finals.

Carney has been both an active participant and influential trainer in the hunter and jumper community for many years. Her contributions to the industry extend to the many clinics that she teaches every year, in addition to those that she hosts annually for U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe George H. Morris and top hunter/jumper trainer Don Stewart Jr. Carney is also a member of the United States Hunter Jumper Association's High Performance Hunter Committee, which seeks to develop a program that will bring the lost art of tradition and horsemanship back to the show ring.

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