Virginia is horse country! And with over 750 horses at the Virginia Horse Center, the rings are jumping! The second day of the Lexington National saw top competition in the jumpers, hunters and the prestigious AYR Equitation Finals.

Twenty-one horse and rider teams took to the Dee Dee Arena in the $5,000 Lexington National Open Jumper Sake 1.35 m and it was Brooke Kemper aboard Mackensie Bowles’ Lando Van De Oude Molenhoeve who took the blue ribbon. 

Paul Jewell of Lambertville, New Jersey designed the course and only eight advanced to a second-round opportunity. With a second-round time set at 45 seconds, Addison Reed and Reed Training & Sales’ Doc Di Villigana moved the time to beat to 32.051 seconds.

David Matisz and his own Fuego followed in the order and their second-round time 47.373 seconds with 8 jump and 3 time faults saw them finish in tenth overall.

Lizzy Traband and Blue Chip Bloodstock’s Ochocinco BC finished in seventh after posting a clear second round in 32.440 seconds and Mackensie Bowles aboard Andrew Bourns’ Renkum Overdrive finished in sixth overall after posting a fault free second round in 32.243 seconds.

Rolling Acres’ ZaZa Z, ridden by Marylisa Leffler advanced to a second round opportunity and took the lead with their fault free time of 30.145 seconds. Alicia Wilkinson in the irons of Horse Show Leases, LLC’s Salut Ca-Va turned in a 28.178 second round, but four jump faults earned them an eighth-place finish.

Next to advance to a second round was Brooke Kemper and Mackensie Bowles’ Lando Van De Oude Molenhoeve. The pair flew through the timers with a fault free time of 29.759 seconds, taking the lead and setting the new time to beat.

Kemper commented, “There was an inside turn from the first one to the second one that I thought was really nice and I think everyone did it. And then there was an option to the second to last jump and I didn’t like the angle when you went inside. But my horse has really good foot speed, so I opted to go around; I thought it was a nicer ride for him and it worked out in my favor since it was a little bit faster for me. “

Sulu Rose Reed and Reed Training & Sales, LLC’s Rich Girl followed in the order. Four jump faults in a time of 33.718 seconds earned them a ninth place finish.

Lacy Morrone-Cramer and Equi-Sport, LLC’s Cascado 15 turned in a fault free second round in 30.768 seconds which placed them in fourth overall.

Addison Reed returned to the Dee Dee Arena with Gail Thompson’s Doirin Clover Boy as the last horse and rider team to advance to a second round. The pair turned in a fault free round in a time of 29.961 seconds, taking second place. ZaZa Z and Marylisa Leffler finished in third overall.

Kemper commented, “We bought him [Lando Van De Oude Molenhoeve] for Mackensie a few years ago. She’s ridden him in the amateur jumpers and sometimes I show him although he’s actually offered for sale now.” 

“He’s a good boy,” said Kemper. “Every time he goes in the ring he wants to win. He knows the game, he’s scrappy, and he always tries to leave the jumps up. He knows his job, knows what he has to do and is all business in the ring. He’s very nice to have in the barn and is really easygoing. He truly is a barn favorite,” she said.

For more information, please visit horseshowsonline.com.

The 16th Annual Amy Ylvisaker Reistrup Equitation Challenge [AYR] took place Thursday evening in the Anderson Coliseum and welcomed the nine qualified riders to the prestigious event.

This special equitation class, held in honor of Amy Ylvisaker Reistrup, is Virginia’s most coveted qualifying equitation finals open to the first and second place finishers of qualifying classes at all Virginia A and AA shows.

Samantha Aisenberg in the irons of Haley Redifer’s Ballon, was crowned the Champion. This is Aisenberg’s last year riding as a Junior and her hard work has paid off.

“I mentally prepped for a really hard course. But surprisingly, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I had done a lot of what was asked of us, so I felt very prepared. I show here about five to six times a year so I’m used to the Coliseum and thought the footing was very good.” 

Ballon and his owner, Haley Redifer actually won the class back in 2017. But today she groomed for Aisenberg. 

According to Aisenberg, her own horse went lame about a year ago. They were looking for another mount for her to finish up her junior year of showing and "He just kind of fell into my lap out of nowhere,” she said. “I’m so thankful to my trainer Fiona [Turner]and Haley [Redifer] for letting me borrow her amazing, special horse Leo,” she added. 

 “I age out this year so this is my last year as a junior rider and next year I’ll be riding in the adults. All my friends will be showing as juniors, but it’s going to be fine,” she said.

Aisenberg will be riding in the VHSA/EMO Children’s Medal Finals tomorrow and plans on competing at THIS Medal Finals in the fall as well as others. 

Second place was Andie Preblick and Happy Valley Show Jumping’s Catoki’s Way. Third place was awarded to Abby Cole aboard Elizabeth Akey’s Doc Holiday.

Elsa Eastment and her own Domino Van Lange Weeren finished in fourth place and Kelsey Lambert aboard her own Cantaro M placed fifth overall.

Elisabeth Marek and Bo Hopson’s Chambertino earned a sixth place finish and Lydia Jordan with Calista Miller’s C’est Bon Cidane placed seventh. Isabella Salas and Donald Stewart’s Spindale finished in eighth place.



Congratulations to all riders!

PC credits KMK Photos LLC

Friday morning features the EMO/VHSA Children's Medal Finals in the Anderson Coliseum and the Sandy Gerald Derby Day starting with the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by the Heisley Family Foundation. The 2’9”-3’ Hunter Derby and the 2’-2’6” Hunter Derby will follow, and the day rounds out with the highly anticipated freestyle Equitation Challenge.  

Friday evening, join us for the Community Junior Graduates Send Off Party on the Hill as we wish all of our graduating junior riders the best of luck on their next chapters!



Saturday features the $25,000 Grand Prix in the Dee Dee Arena. Later that day, all are welcome to enjoy a reception on the Concourse during the VHSA/EMO Equitation Finals.