Taylor St. Jacques Adds USHJA Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic – East Title To Equitation Wins

PRESS RELEASE

Saugerties, NY – August 1, 2017 – Topping a field of 90 entries, Taylor St. Jacques and Heritage Farm’s Charisma led the victory gallop in the 13th annual USHJA Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic – East, presented by Intermont Equestrian at Emory & Henry College, which was held on July 31 at HITS Saugerties Show Series.

With a total of 272 points (an average of 91), the 17-year-old talent from Glen Allen, Virginia, dominated all three rounds. Earning a 90 in round one and a 92 in round two, St. Jacques had a strong lead heading into the final round where she clinched the win with another impressive score of 90.

St. Jacques, trained by Andre Dignelli, and Charisma are a proven equitation team with wins across numerous high profile equitation classes. She earned top honors at Devon earlier this year with wins in the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, WIHS Equitation Classic, Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunt Seat Medal, the R.W. “Ronnie Mutch” Equitation Championship and her group in the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Class.

According to St. Jacques, her trusted mount wanted this win too, “He had his ears forward, his head up as if to say, ‘I’m here and ready to win.'”

This win is another notch in her belt during the HITS Saugerties Show Series. Earlier in the day she won the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 Classic, and just two weeks ago at the facility she earned team bronze and individual fourth place in the USHJA North American Junior Show Jumping Championships of the NAJYRC.

The USHJA Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic is a unique class that combines the precision of equitation and the handiness of hunters and appropriately named after George Morris’s farm, Hunterdon. The class entails a classic style hunter course as round one, a handy hunter style track in round two for the top 20 scorers, and a work-off designed by the judges for the top four to 10 riders, who switch horses to complete the final test.

The 2017 judges for the East Coast class were Karen Healey of Moorpark, California, and Jimmy Torano from Wellington, Florida. They were impressed with each rider’s composure in the work-off and thought they handled each of the courses well, all of which were designed by Rian Beals of Saugerties.

“This was a great class, and the scores after round two were close with the top three riders scoring 90, 89.5 and 89 respectively,” Torano said.

The judges brought back six riders to swap horses and complete a straightforward course.

“In the final round, Taylor didn’t take it easy or take the safe way out. She rode as well on a new horse as she rode on her own,” said Healey.

St. Jacques rode fifth place finisher Grace Boston’s mount Startin’ Monday, owned by Donald Stewart, in the work-off. She prepared for the final round by keeping to herself to stay focused. She used the two jump schooling opportunity to get as much feel for the horse as possible.

“I tried not to overthink it, and I didn’t watch too much of the class,” St. Jacques said. Daisy Farish, 16, of Versailles, Kentucky, also trained by Andre Dignelli, earned the second highest work-off score of 86 aboard E.V. Comander. Getting to the final round was significant because Cantaro M, the horse she rode in rounds one and two, was her mount for less than 24 hours. As of 4:00 p.m. Sunday, she didn’t have a horse to ride. Troy Hendricks of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania, offered up Cantaro M, and it proved to be a good match.

“I was going in a little blind. He was a simple, straight-forward horse to ride and gave me his best,” she said.

Third place finisher, Brian Moggre, 15, of Flower Mound, Texas, trained by Michael McCormick, and fourth place finisher, Natalie Stoyko, 16 of The Woodlands, Texas, trained by Berry J. Porter, entered the work-off sitting sixth and third, respectively. Heading into the work-off, Moggre knew he was at the bottom of the score card and had an opportunity to move up.

“I thought I could only go up from sixth,” he said. “I tend to get really nervous, but think I overcame some of that today.”

The horse Efendi, owned by Donald Stewart and ridden by Natalie Stoyko, was voted Best Equitation Horse by the judges upon the conclusion of the class.

Held during the East and West Coast US Junior Hunter National Championships, the Hunterdon Cup is open to any rider that is an Active USHJA junior member, at the time of the competition, and has won a USEF Medal, ASPCA Maclay, USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, or Overall WIHS Equitation Classic during the qualifying year.

With the top 10 riders awarded their ribbons in reverse order, the anticipation built as the work-off riders’ positions were revealed. With two of Dignelli’s students in the work-off, there was an energetic atmosphere as the placings were announced.

Multiple top finishers were recognized with prizes from the class’s extraordinary sponsors. As the champion, St. Jacques walked away with an Essex Classics riding shirt, a Charles Owen helmet, sets of Professional’s Choice VenTECH Leather Open Front Jumping Boots and VenTECH Leather Ankle Boots, a CWD leather halter, a cooler, and a keeper trophy donated by Diane Carney and Lynn Jayne.

As reserve champion, Farish earned an Essex Classics riding shirt, a Charles Owen helmet, and a set of Professional’s Choice VenTECH Leather Open Front Jumping Boots. The third through fifth place finishers also receive Essex Classics riding shirts. All top 10 riders sported colorful sashes.

USHJA congratulates all the competitors on a safe and successful event. Special thanks to Tom Struzzieri, Kristen Vale-Mosack and the entire HITS Saugerties team.

Thank you to all our sponsors: Intermont Equestrian at Emory & Henry College, Essex Classics, Charles Owen, Inc., CWD, Standlee Hay Company, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Pharmacy, and Professional’s Choice.

For more information, visit www.ushja.org/hunterdon.

2017 Hunterdon Cup – East Comprehensive Results: