In Writing Captures National Horse Show Championship

Sterling Malnik’s In Writing, ridden by Steven Gregorio, won the Green Conformation Hunter Championship at the National Horse Show.

Congratulations to Sterling Malnik’s In Writing and Steven Gregorio for earning the Green Conformation Hunter Championship at the National Horse Show.

The pair won the model and two over fences classes, including the Green Conformation Hunter Stake, and they placed sixth in the handy and fifth under saddle for the title. In addition, the pair received the Call You Raise You Challenge Trophy and the Muriel Klein Lens Challenge Trophy.

In Writing and Steven Gregorio

In Writing and Steven Gregorio at the National Horse Show

Steven Gregorio takes the Green Conformation Hunter title with In Writing

OTHF Takes Top Honors at Capital Challenge

Sterling Malnik and Coronation

The Over The. Hill Farm team traveled to the World Equestrian Center in Ohio for this year’s Capital Challenge Horse Show, and the trip was well rewarded with championships and other top honors from the equitation to the hunters and jumpers.

Sterling Malnik, 14, of Ocean Ridge, Florida, started out strongly during Equitation Weekend. Aboard Charlie, Sterling rode to the Reserve Championship honors in the THIS Medal Finals with superb performances. She impressed the judges over fences, on the flat in in the work-off where the top 10 were invited back for further testing.

Malnik’s show continued to get better and better as Hunter Week started. She and Coronation, her bay Holsteiner gelding, topped the card twice in the 3’3” Junior Hunter, 14 and under, section. They won the Handy Stake, the Under Saddle and placed third over fences to claim the championship. By day’s end, they added even more accolades to their collection with the Grand Champion 3’3” Junior Hunter honors, victory in the WCHR 3’3” Junior Challenge, and Sterling was named Best 3’3” Junior Hunter Rider.

“We are so proud of you. Thank you to all the people behind the scenes that make this possible!” said trainer Bill Schaub of Sterling’s accomplishments.

Sterling’s In Writing also received the Alabama Clay Conformation Hunter Perpetual Trophy donated by the Weisman family. The trophy is presented to the owner of the horse earning the most points in either of the following sections: Green or Regular Conformation, using their top four WCHR Member Events plus the Capital Challenge Horse Show. Special thanks to Steven Gregario for the great rides!

Steven Gregorio and Coronation

Steven also competed in the WCHR Developing Pro Challenge aboard Sterling’s Coronation and placed fifth in a competitive class! By virtue of his great performances, Steven moved up to place fourth in the WCHR Developing Pro National standings.

Hollin Sutherland and Bozeman concluded the show with the Children’s Hunter, 15-17, Championship and earned the Overall Grand Championship Children’s Hunter.

Hollin, of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, also received the Stewart Warner Style Award for the Children’s Hunters and topped the WCHR National Standings in the Children’s Hunters and the Midwest Region!

Hollin Sutherland and Bozeman

Over in the jumper ring, it was a great show for Savannah Embly, of Lexington, Kentucky, and Mr. Cash Van Der Veldmolen. The pair finished fourth in the NAL Children’s Jumper Final out of field of 33. They jumped double-clear and were just a few ticks of the clock from the win. Fantastic performances!

Savannah Embly and Mr. Cash Van Der Veldmolen

Please enjoy our 2020 Capital Challenge Photo Gallery!

Rockette and Sterling Malnik Rock the USEF Junior Hunter Championships

Sterling Malnik and Rockette captured the Handy victory in the 3’3” Large Junior Hunter, 15 and under, section to clinch championship honors during the Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships - East, held at the Flintfields Horse Park in Williamsburg, Michigan.

The pair also placed second in the Classic round and fifth in the under saddle for the national championship title on August 22.

“I was really pleased and impressed with Sterling,” said trainer Bill Schaub. “They prepare their own horses, and she was up early in the morning riding and getting her horses ready. I’m so proud of her. She had to do all the preparation herself, and her Small Junior got good ribbons, too.”

Sterling and Rockette started off strongly, tying for first in the Classic over fences and claiming the red ribbon after the tiebreaker score was taken into account. Sterling then returned determined to claim that blue ribbon in the Handy aboard the 12-year-old warmblood mare.

“Her Handy round was unbelievable,” said Bill. “She went in there and did all of the hard options and inside turns. She took the risks! She went into win. We came to win and wanted to win, and she pulled it off.

“Those courses were really hard, too, and not like anything she’d seen before,” he added. “It was quite a feat for her to do that.”

Sterling, 13, of Ocean Ridge, Florida, has been training with Bill at Over The Hill Farm for two years and since she was on Medium ponies. This is a transition year for Sterling; her ponies are all for sale as she’s moving on to riding horses exclusively.

“She’s a cool customer,” said Bill of Sterling. “And she really loves her horses—that’s No. 1. She wants to ride them all every day, and she hangs out with them at the barn. She loves the competition, but she’s never a crybaby when things don’t go right. She may be disappointed, but she takes responsibility and knows it ultimately lies in her hands. She’s a great kid.”

Sterling and Rockette currently lead the USEF National standings in the 3’3” Large Junior, 15 and under, section and while in Michigan also earned the section championships during the Great Lakes Equestrian I and II shows.

Aboard Coronation, Sterling finished fifth overall in the 3’3” Small Junior, 15 and under, section after placing fourth under saddle, fifth in the Classic and seventh in the Handy.

This fall, Sterling will aim her hunters for the Capital Challenge and the National Horse Show. She’s also qualified for the Hamel Medal Finals and has started competing in the Children’s Jumpers.

She’ll soon be showing her newest acquisition, In Writing, who just swept the 3’6” Green Hunters with Kelley Farmer at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show last month.

Summer Successes Continue in Kentucky

Sterling Malnik and Prestige

The Over The Hill Farm team spent a fun and successful time at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington for the Kentucky Summer Show and Classic, July 22-August 2.

Sterling Malnik captured multiple championships aboard ponies and horses and added a jumper to her string. Aboard Cardella, Sterling earned the Low Children’s Jumper championship during the first week, with two wins and a second.

She also claimed the Large Pony Hunter championship and reserve championship with Prestige and Casino De Luxe, respectively, the second week. Sterling also piloted Prestige to a nice win in the WIHS Pony Medal.

Sterling Malnik and Cardella

Riding Charlie, Sterling collected ribbons the in the horse equitation classes, including a win in the THIS Medal. The pair placed an impressive fourth in the USHJA National Hunter Derby in the Junior/Amateur section during week 1.

The Junior Hunters Rockette and Coronation went on to earn tricolor honors in the 3’3” Juniors both weeks, with Rockette taking the reserve championship week 1 and Coronation the championship week 2.

Clayton Farrell and Middleton added a tricolor to their collection with the Medium Green Pony Hunter reserve championship. “Clayton has done a great job bringing this young pony along,” said trainer Bill Schaub.

Clayton Farrell and Middleton

It was a super weekend for Tory Chaconas and her boys Niko and Benji. All told, the trio won seven blue ribbons in the Pre-Adult, Special Hunter and USHJA Hunter sections! And it was a sweep during the Kentucky Summer when Niko earned the championship and Benji the reserve in the Pre-Adult Hunters.

Tory Chaconas with Benji and Niko

Christina Plichta and Kingsford jumped to championship honors during week 1 in the 3’6” Amateur-Owners, and Rockaway and Cindy Chaconas scored an 85 for a winning round and finishing third in the Low Adult Hunter Classic.

It was a super week for Lauren Gumpert and her horse Ronnie, putting in top placings and smooth rounds all week long. “It was a pleasure having you join us for the summer! Thank you for all your hard work over the past few months,” said Bill.

Thank you to all our staff for all you do! #summer2020

Tricolors To Start for OTHF at Great Lakes Equestrian Festival

Coronation and Sterling Malnik

The Over The Hill Farm team traveled to Northern Michigan for the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival and celebrated a great first week, July 1-5 at Flintfields Horse Park.

“Traverse City is off to a great start,” said trainer Bill Schaub. “Special thanks to Cassie and all our guys for your hard work and dedication. Five champions and five reserves and multiple class wins!”

Sterling Malnik dominated the 3’3” Junior Hunters, claiming the championships in the Smalls with Coronation and in the Larges with Rockette. Sterling won six of the 10 classes in the two sections and also earned the 3’3” Junior Hunter Grand title with Coronation.

Sterling also swept the Large Pony Hunter section, taking the championship with Prestige and the reserve with Casino De Luxe. Sterling won every class in the section with one of her ponies, and she was first and second in the Large Pony Classic. She also topped the card in the WIHS Pony Medal with Prestige for a banner week in the pony ring.

Sterling Malnik dominated in the Junior Hunters, Pony Hunters and Equitation sections.

Sterling also earned tricolor honors in the Low Children’s Jumpers with D.D. Matz’ Cardella. The pair won a class and placed second in another as well as a blue in the .95m Jumpers earlier in the week. In addition, she claimed blue ribbons with Charlie in the USHJA 3’3” Hunter Seat Medal and the NHS 3’3” Medal classes.

Grand championship honors also went to Kingpin and Hollin Sutherland in the Children’s Hunters. The pair earned the Children’s Hunter, 15-17, Championship, and also led the victory gallop in the NAL/WIHS Children’s Hunter Classic. Hollin also rode Cambridge to the reserve championship and placed second in the Classic.

Rockette and Sterling Malnik

Steven Gregorio added the 3’ Green Hunter reserve championship to the OTHF ribbon collection riding Bill Schaub and Aster Hill’s Arabesque. Steven also earned blue ribbons in the GLEF Open Hunters on a variety of mounts and rode Hollin’s Red Drum to championship honors in the 2’6” USHJA Hunters.

Victoria and Cynthia Chaconas captured top ribbons in the Adult Amateur Hunters with Benji and Rockaway, respectively. Cynthia even finished the week with a second place in the Low Adult Amateur Hunter Classic.

Rockette and Steven Gregorio