Source:  News Release/Kendall Bierer for PMG Inc.

Alissa Kinsey and Grisset Win High and Low Child/Adult Jumper Classic
at Final Day of Fieldstone Spring Festival

Halifax, MA - The Fieldstone Spring Festival came to a close today, concluding the competition with its final jumper highlights. After five days of classes and competition, riders gathered at the Jumper Ring to compete over their Jumper Classic courses, and it was Alissa Kinsey and Grisset who rose to the top of the Low and High Child/Adult Jumper Classics. Addison Gierkink and Pikpardin dominated in the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic with their speedy jump-off round. 

Keith Bollotte of Culleoka, TN, designed a technical course today for the jumpers. He used 11 efforts to test horse and rider alike, utilizing tight rollbacks, a fan jump, a vertical-oxer double combination and an oxer-vertical double combination. During the jump-off riders began over the original two obstacles, an opening vertical and a right rollback to the yellow-and-blue oxer. They then had to make a hard left rollback to a single vertical and move through the oxer-vertical double combination. A left turn brought them over the liverpool, and then a sharp right took them to the final blue-and-white GGT vertical.

The morning commenced with the Low Child/Adult Jumper Classic, where 15 entrants vied for the top honors. It came down to a six-horse jump-off, but Alissa Kinsey and Grisset prevailed. Kinsey has been riding Grisset for years, and their partnership was apparent in the ring. They took all inside turns, completing a flawless short course in 29.153 seconds.

"I have had her forever, I think it has been about seven years, and she is amazing," Kinsey said. "We have been together for so long that we can read each other's minds."

Kinsey continued, "I did the lower class first, as a warm-up for the High Classic, so the height was easy for her. It made it really simple, and we had some good practice with the way we would ride for the other classic."

Samantha Karp and Llevo Todo, owned by R.J. Equestrian Group of Dix Hills, NY, was awarded third place. Olivia Van Der Meer and Balenciaga, owned by Frake Van Der Meer of Medway, MA, picked up the third place honors with their double-clear effort in 38.564 seconds. Katie San Fratello and Olivier RA, owned by Blue Horse Farm, LLC of Middleboro, MA, completed the track in 39.170 seconds, edging out the remaining competitors for the third place award.

Kinsey's accuracy and consistency in the jumper ring followed into the High Child/Adult Jumper Classic where she once again showed Grisset to the blue ribbon finish. She was fourth on the order of go, and her preparation from the Low Child/Adult Jumper Classic paid off. She was one of only four to make it into the jump-off round, and laying down the same track that had worked so brilliantly for her before, she set the pace at 29.313 seconds, leaving all rails in their cups.

Louisa Behnke and Arthos A. Ria came back after Kinsey, and although she wanted to catch her time, Behnke was forced to put conservancy over speed. She was able to nab the second place award with a fault-free effort in 37.474 seconds. Annie Vanduzer and Guchie, owned by Karen McCarthy of Millis, MA, chased after Kinsey's time, but they were unable to make the same tight rollbacks that had shaved the seconds from her time. Vanduzer, a newcomer to the jumper discipline, completed the course with four faults in a time of 34.607 seconds for the third place. Kinsey led the victory gallop for the second time this morning, smiling form ear to ear as she concluded her week of competition at the Fieldstone Show Park.

Alissa Kinsey and Grisset rose to the top of the Low and High Child/Adult Jumper Classic leader board for the final day of the Fieldstone Spring Festival. 

"Grisset needs a very accurate ride. If you are not 100 percent committed she will not go. The course was really nice. It had a nice flow, and was technical enough. I had a lot of fun out there making the turns, and I think that Keith built a course that was perfect for the competition."

The Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic was the last to take place today; however, the contenders still held strong as they kept their eye on the prize, and their head in the game. Addison Gierkink and Pikpardin were the first in the ring, clearing the first course with finesse, and qualifying for the jump-off. Only one other rider was able to navigate the first round, Samantha Kasowitz and El Sueno's Cantalupi, owned by Fair Play Farm of New York, NY.

Gierkink took the two-horse jump-off as a challenge, and rose to it. Pikpardin cleared all of the obstacles, and opting to take several of the inside turns; they stopped the clock at 40.937 seconds. Kasowitz tried to catch Gierkink's time, but she eventually proved good enough for the second place in 44.828 seconds.

"Yesterday we just hacked her and did flat work, and she was really good. She felt tired in the schooling ring, which made me feel really good because she normally peps up in the show ring, so I knew she would be really good. It was a hopeful sign."

"Normally she has a few rubs, but she didn't touch any today. We made some turns we weren't planning on doing, but she was great today. I loved the course, it was a lot of fun with the turns and the rollbacks," Gierkink said. "We always come to Fieldstone, it is beautiful. I had a great week, and the improvements have made it even better. We will definitely be back."

The Fieldstone Spring Festival came to a conclusion today, but the Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic is quickly approaching June 19-23 at the Fieldstone Show Park. The competition is sure to be fierce as the spring champions return to defend their titles, and newcomers rise to the challenge. For more information on Stadium Jumping and the approaching Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic, please visit www.showfieldstone.com. You can also follow the Fieldstone Horse Shows on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/fieldstone.equestrian.  

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