Upperville, Va. – June 3, 2019 – The 2019 Upperville Colt & Horse Show (UCHS), presented by St. Bride’s Farm, welcomed its 166th edition of elite hunter and jumper competition on Monday, where the Performance Hunter divisions were highlighted in the Main Hunter Ring. At the conclusion of the first day, it was Brady Mitchell who rode to the top of the Performance 3’6” Hunters aboard Float On Equestrian LLC’s Mayfield.
Brady Mitchell and Mayfield
Mitchell and Mayfield, a 9-year-old Warmblood gelding, posted an impressive score of 89 to win the Performance 3’6” Hunter handy round to top the division in combination with their win in the under saddle class. The pair is coming off their recent success at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show in May, where they earned the Grand Hunter Championship title upon winning all five classes to sweep the division and claim the Performance 3’6” Hunter championship. Mitchell is hopeful Mayfield’s impressive performance on Monday will help prepare them for their first hunter derby together in Saturday’s $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, sponsored by Salamander Resort & Spa.
Samantha Schaefer and In The Know were once again awarded the reserve championship after riding to the same title together at the 2018 UCHS. Schaefer and the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding, owned by Madeline Schaefer, followed just behind Mitchell to earn second place with a score of 88 in the handy round.
Preceding the 3’6” division, the Main Hunter Ring opened competition with the 3’3” division, which was split into three sections. With a clean sweep of Section C, Schaefer and Trademark, owned by Take 3 LLC, earned the blue ribbon in the over fences, handy round and under saddle to ultimately claim the Performance 3’3” Hunter championship and the Mindy Minetto Memorial Trophy, donated by Brett Beason, family and friends. Reserver honors for Section C were awarded to Sandra Ferrell and Stephanie Bulger’s Dapper.
Professional hunter divisions at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show will continue Tuesday, June 4, beginning at 7:30 a.m. with the Green Hunter divisions and will feature the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Stakes classes, offered at the 3’ and 3’3” levels, in Hunter Ring II.
View the original article on Phelps Sports.