By Amanda Picciotto Feitosa and Sabrina Schmidt for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
The E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring had 25 horse-and-rider combinations in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Green Hunter 3’6” division over two days during WEF 1.
With lots of variation in who placed in the top six spots from class to class, one combination was consistent throughout. Jennifer Bauersachs of Frenchtown, NJ, and Alistaire, a 7-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Untouchable and owned by LCJM LLC, were the only pair to pin in every class. The two earned scores of 85, 86, 87, and 88 paving their way to the championship.
“I was really proud of him,” said Bauersachs. “Of course, these are the first shows at 3’6” for a lot of horses, but this is only his second show of doing it, and he’s really handled it so well. He feels like he’s having fun!”
Bauersachs is no stranger to talented horses with countless championships in the hunter divisions at top shows, but this one is a little different than some of her other rides.
“His brain is just unbelievable,” she noted. “He’s brave at the jumps, he doesn’t care about things around the ring, and it’s a pleasure to have an easy horse for a change.
“He just really enjoys it; he has a good time,” added Bauersachs.
Bauersachs continued about Alistaire, “He’s funny and has a lot of personality, but all in a good way. If you pass him on the crossties and you don’t acknowledge him, he stomps his feet as if to say, ‘How could you just walk by and not say hi to me?’”
From past to present to future, things look bright for the strapping grey who showed in the 3’3” division in 2021 when the pandemic derailed plans in 2020.
“We just took our time with it, so it was really nice to still be able to have these results right away,” said Bauersachs. “Lannie Lipson of LCJM LLC owns him, and she’s very patient and a great owner who really wants him to excel in the professional divisions and just see what he can do. He is eventually going to be for her to do the amateurs on, so when he’s finished [in the professional divisions] I’ll hand the reins over to her.”
The division reserve champion rosette went to Jordan, a 9-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Margot Peroni and ridden by Elizabeth Towell Boyd.
