Casparo and Molly Sewell Third in $234,655 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship

By Tricia Booker

Lexington, KY - August 13, 2015  

Tracy Fenney may be best known for her prowess in the grand prix show jumping arena, but during the $234,655 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship her talents in the hunter ring carried her to the top.

She guided MTM Farm's MTM Personalized, a 7-year-old warmblood gelding, to the best performance in the Championship Round, earning scores of 91, 92 and 90 for the top check of $29,333.13.

"Wow," said Fenney. "Well, of course I get so nervous. It's so much easier doing the grand prix classes. I just feel privileged to ride against all those guys; they're so good. You hear about them and see them, and they're just amazing. What a great group of people to ride with."

Tonight's Championship Round was the grand finale of the USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship. The First and Second Rounds took place August 11-12, with two courses of 3' or 3'3" fences suitable for Pre-Green Hunters.

In this third year of the Championship, 332 horses enrolled in the program. A total of 295 of those horses qualified to compete, with 160 entering the event.

The top-30 horses, with the highest combined scores from the first two rounds, returned today with a clean slate for the Championship Round over a third, beautiful course designed by Patrick Rodes, of Argyle, TX.

Tonight's judges included Linda Andrisani, Rick Fancher, Danny Robertshaw, Claudia Roland, Mike Rosser and Steve Wall sitting in pairs around the Stonelea Ring.

Fenney and her partner Mike McCormick, of Flower Mound, TX, imported MTM Personalized in March, and, fittingly, he arrived into a winning atmosphere. Fenney had just captured that evening's $25,000 Hildebrand Fund Grand Prix at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show in Texas and was eager to meet her newest hunter.

"He's just amazing and such a fun horse to have," she said. "I feel lucky to have been able to ride him."

After winning the Championship Round and placing second in Round 1 and seventh in Round 2, MTM Personalized collected $41,828.51 in total prize money.  
"I love this program. The test case was in Texas [with Texas Pre-Green Super Series], and Colleen McQuay has done such a good job for all of us," said Fenney. "She's helped people understand the program and shared her knowledge. Usually all we have are Pre-Green horses, because they usually get sold before they're First Year horses. I think we had eight enrolled [in the USHJA program] this year, and we sold five of them. It's really fun watching them all."

Both the second- and third-placed finishers echoed Fenney's feelings after their Championship Round performances. Sandy Ferrell guided Rebecca Stepanoff's Grand Luxe to reserve championship honors with scores of 89, 89.50 and 88.50, while Molly Sewell rode White Hill Farm's Casparo to third place with scores of 88, 89 and 88.

This was the third time Ferrell had shown the 8-year-old Mecklenburg gelding, and they collected $22,527.76 in prize money during the three rounds.

"His regular rider, Rebecca Gibson, couldn't be here, so I lucked out and got the job," said Ferrell. "He's 8 years old, so a little on the older side of the Pre-Green horses. He has very few jumping miles, though. He was a dressage horse, so he's very green as far as his miles in the show ring."

Ferrell, Bernville, PA, described Grand Luxe as a trier who has found his niche in the hunter ring.

"It's safe to say his jump is incomparable to most horses out there," she noted. "He just tries incredibly hard at every jump, which is just his god-given way of going. And he's actually pretty small, so to be able to jump that high and with that much scope is an amazing feature. He taught me to be tight in the tack because he wasn't going to jump lower any time soon."

Sewell reunited with the 6-year-old Westphalian Casparo (by Cascavelle) just three weeks ago after he was sold last March to owner Jennifer Padovani and While Hill Farm of Greenwich, CT.

"So he's just an amazing horse," said Sewell. "He tries so hard. Pretty much every time I've shown him he's been champion or reserve. He gives 110 percent, and he just keeps rising to the occasion. All week he had 85, 86, and it got higher and higher. I was so proud of him tonight; he got so excited with all of the people [spectating] and just turned it on."

In addition to winning $14,226.47 in prize money during the Championship, Sewell and Casparo were presented with this year's Shapley's Best Turned Out Award. Sally Stith-Burdette was on hand to present Sewell and groom Amado Ramos with a Shapley's Awards Package.

Fenney, as the winning rider of the USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Champion horse, also received a one-year free lease on a customized two-horse bumper-pull trainer courtesy of KY Lake Trailer Sales and Sundowner.

Louise Serio received this year's Rider Style Award. The new award, presented by Bill Rube, went to the rider who best displayed the American style of riding in the ring and sportsmanship outside of the competition arena. The recipient will serve as a role model for preserving the integrity of the sport and maintaining a standard of excellence and tradition in his or her riding.

This year's High-Score Mare Award was presented to Splendid, a 6-year-old warmblood, owned by Boggs Hill, trained by Kelly Goguen and ridden by Tim Goguen. Splendid placed sixth in Round 1, 10th in Round 2 and was fifth overall in the combined scoring. Splendid also finished tied for fifth in the Championship Round.

In addition to the substantial prize money, this year there was $16,500 in bonus awards offered. The winners were named based on their performances in the First and Second Rounds. They included:
$5,000 High-Score American-Bred Bonus Award in remembrance of Candie Owens, presented by Oakwell Farms and DS Holdings, LLC - American-Bred -Wish (Be Cool-Hush) a 6-year-old bay gelding owned by Rivers Edge and ridden and trained by Scott Stewart. 

$2,500 International Hunter Futurity Bonus Award - IHF - Roll Call (Redwine-Really The Winner), a 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding, owned by Lorena O'Neill, trained by Alex Granato and ridden by Josh Dolan.

$2,500 High-Score 4- and 5-year-old Bonus Award presented by Barnfield Foundation - Liberty Road (Casall-unknown), a 5-year-old gelding, owned by Betsee Parker and ridden and trained by Hunt Tosh.

$2,500 High-Score American Quarter Horse Bonus Award, presented by Plastilite Corporation and Equine Semen Transporter - Snorkel (Achieva-Divy Up Babs), a 6-year-old Thoroughbred-Quarter Horse mare, owned by Holly Brown Powell, trained by David Warner and ridden by Lanie DeBoer.

$2,500 High-Score Sallie B. Wheeler/U.S. National Hunter Breeding Championship Alumni, presented by The Wheeler Family - Fleur Du Rouet (Balou Du Rouet-All Powder Coated D), a 5-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Spencer Ranch, trained by Keeley Gogul and ridden by Jeff Gogul.

$2,500 Thoroughbred Bonus Awards, presented by TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program, Inc. - no Thoroughbreds competed in 2015 so money will rollover to 2016.
The Pre-Green Incentive Program has gained popularity since its debut in December 2012 and has garnered praise from members across the country for its encouragement of the development of young horses. The program would not have gotten off the ground without the early support of many people, including USHJA committee members and staff.

The Founding Members include: Colleen McQuay, Amanda Lyerly, Bill Ellis, Betty Oare, Diana Strumberg, Don Stewart, Emil Spadone, Geoff Teall, Jenny Karazissis, Joey Darby, Liza Boyd, Louise Serio, Peter Pletcher and Susie Schoellkopf.

The USHJA thanks the Official Sponsors who helped to make this championship possible, including: Charles Owen, the Official Helmet of the USHJA; Rood & Riddle, the Official Equine Hospital and Veterinary Pharmacy; Standlee Hay Company, Official Forage Company of the USHJA; The Clothes Horse, Official Cooler of the Pre-Green Championship; EQSportsNet, Official Host Broadcast; KY Lake Trailers Sales, Award Sponsor; Shapley's, Best Turned Out Award Sponsor; Hospitality Sponsor SmartPak; and Contributing Sponsors Perfect Products and Professional's Choice.

For full coverage please look for the USHJA Hunter Derby and Pre-Green Incentive Championships In Stride Digital Special Edition arriving in your email as well as the September print issue of USHJA In Stride. For complete results, please visit the Pre-Green Incentive web page at www.ushja.org.

Casparo and Molly Sewell Take Tricolor in Pre-Green Level 1 at WEF

Wellington, Fla. - Molly Sewell piloted David Matisz LLC's horse, Casparo, to championship honors in the Pre-Green Hunter Level 1. Casparo earned two firsts and two thirds over fences, along with a second place finish in the under saddle.

Remaining consistent over the two days of competition, Marksman and Christopher Payne finished the day as reserve champions. The pair earned a first and two seconds over fences.

Although this week was only Casparo's fourth horse show, the six-year-old Warmblood looked like a veteran in the ring. "He [Casparo] has been champion or first and second every time we have shown him. He always rises to the occasion," Sewell noted.

Sewell started riding Casparo in September and has enjoyed getting to know him. Talking about Casparo, Sewell commented, "My favorite part about him [Casparo] is how light he is. One barely has to touch the reins."

While Casparo started off the division with two thirds over fences, he stepped up his game the second day when both over fences classes went in the Rost Arena. "He [Casparo] really liked the bigger ring. He jumped everything great, and it was so much fun to go in a big ring with a brave horse," Sewell explained.

After a strong start, Sewell is looking forward to having Casparo compete in the ECHO Junior Hunter 3'3" division with a junior rider, along with continuing to shine in the Pre-Green Hunter Level 1.

St. Jacques Shines in USEF Pony Medal Final

Lexington, KY - August 10, 2014 - From 7 a.m. until well into the afternoon, talented young pony rider after talented young pony rider trotted into the Alltech Arena to vie for the win in the Marshall & Sterling/USEF Pony Medal Final, but there was one talented rider in particular that stood out from among the 169 entries: Taylor St Jacques.

St Jacques and her mount, Happy Feet, met the opening vertical of the first round course perfectly, setting the tempo for nine more seamless fences, a well executed simple change of lead down an outside line and a firm halt at the end of her course.

That first round course shot St Jacques to the top of the standby list for further testing, and she would remain untouched in that first place position through to the end of three total rounds, clinching the 2014 USEF Pony Medal Final victory.

"I'm really excited,' said a smiling St Jacques following her win. "This is my second year at Medal Finals, and I wasn't expecting it to go as well as it did today.'

From the initial course, judges Karen Healey and Stacia Madden called back the top 20 riders for round two: another 10 fence, Richard Jeffery's designed course. From there, they whittled it down further, calling back the top four for additional testing on the flat.

St Jacques, Camyrn Halley, Ericka Koscinski and Alexandra Pielet demonstrated the walk, trot, canter and sitting trot in the counter-clockwise direction before reversing and performing the same gaits sans stirrups. 

The final testing confirmed what the judges had thought all the way through from the first round: that the victory was St Jacques'. Finishing behind St Jacques in the second place position was Pielet, while the third place honor went to Koscinski.

"Going into the second part of the first test I was just focused on staying smooth again, trying to keep my heels down and looking up,' 15-year-old St. Jacques said. "There are usually a few minutes when I get really nervous - but then after I realize that it's just another trip at another horse show I'm fine. I try to not let it get to me and just think 'I'm just going in again for another trip just to be judged again.' When I start overthinking I really start over thinking, and it goes badly.'

St Jacques trains with Bill Schaub and Molly Sewell at Over the Hill Farm, and she credits much of her win today to their training and to the generosity of Lily Ezrow. Ezrow is currently leasing St Jacques' winning mount, Happy Feet, and she has allowed St Jacques to show the pony for the past several months.

"I really want to thank Lily and her mom Isabelle,' St Jacques said. "I'm really fortunate to rides these ponies, and I've had a great time on them. I'm really happy that they're happy for me and that they're letting me do this. 

"They've been very generous,' Schaub added. "I'm very proud of Taylor. She's worked very hard and learned a lot. We just really emphasize keeping the basics strong and working on exercises, and then it all makes everything fit together. Pony Finals isn't really something you can practice for. You've got to learn all of your skills so when you're thrown out there you can do whatever test they ask of you."

St Jacques has handled any and all tests thrown her way this week at the USEF Pony Finals with ease. In addition to her win today, St Jacques was reserve champion in the Large Green Pony Hunters with Empire's Victory, champion in the Medium Pony Hunters with Finders-Keepers and the recipient of the 2014 Mindy Darst Perpetual Trophy. The trophy was presented to St Jacques as the rider the judges deemed the most likely to become a top professional rider.  

Perhaps making her final USEF Pony Finals win today a little bit extra special for St Jacques was being able to finish on top alongside some of her closest friends.  

"My top three closest friends were us three that got the top three [St Jacques, Pielet and Koscinski],' Pielet said.

Pielet made one of the biggest moves up the rankings throughout the three rounds, climbing from ninth after the first round to the eventual second place spot.

"I was really nervous because [Secret Love] kept wanting to go faster as he got closer to home. I was like 'no, no,' and I was really nervous,' Pielet said of her first round course. "Then it was a lot quieter and smoother the second one. I was just so concerned about making (the second round]. Then I just relaxed' and it was fun."

St. Jacques and Pielet Remember the Basics to Clinch USEF Pony Medal Finals Top Spots

"Heels down, eyes up" was the mantra of Taylor St. Jacques as she headed into the Pony Medal Final on the last day of the U.S. Equestrian Federation Pony Finals, held Aug. 4-10. She concentrated on the basics and was rewarded with a victory, which she celebrated with her friend, second-placed Alexandra Pielet. The two were beside themselves with excitement as they celebrated each other's success. 

In the first round, St. Jacques, 15, took every inside track possible on the twisting course, nailed the simple lead change required between fences 5 and 6, an oxer to a vertical in a direct line, and was one of four competitors called back twice. 20 riders competed in the first call back, which included a hand gallop fence followed by a trot fence, then the top four came back for a challenging flat class involving no-stirrup work at each gait. 

"I try not to let [nerves] get to me and just kind of think, 'Im going in again for another trip, just to be judged again.' " said St. Jacques. "Because when I start overthinking, I really start overthinking and it goes bad. I'm really excited. This is my second year at Medal Finals and I wasn't expecting it to go as well as it did."

But St. Jacques was as prepared as she could have been, crediting coach Bill Schaub for all the no-stirrup work they practice. She started training with Schaub two and a half years ago, and his emphasis on a solid, basic foundation paid off in the big Medal class with 169 entries. 

"Pony Finals isn't something you can really practice for," said Schaub. "You've got to learn all your skills so when you're thrown out there, you can do whatever task they ask. We really emphasize keeping the basics strong and working on exercises, and then it all makes everything kind of fit together. I'm very proud of her; she's worked hard and learned a lot."

Schaub, of Sanford, Fla., had trained students to second place in the Pony Medal in the past, but not a win, so St. Jacques' top performance marked a milestone for him, too. "At my age, there aren't many firsts of anything!" he joked.

St. Jacques lives in Glen Allen, Va., over an hour from Schaub's summer base in Virginia, so she practices the most in the summer and typically rides seven horses a day. Lily Ezrow owns Happy Feet, or "Happy," whom she lent to popular catch-rider St. Jacques to contest the Pony Medal Finals. 

"I leased [the pony] for Lily. Lily doesn't get to show much, so [St. Jacques has] been showing a lot to help keep the points up," Schaub explained. "It's awfully kind [of Lily]."

I'm Ready, I'm Ready!

The first thing Pielet did after capturing the Pony Medal Final silver aboard her small pony, Secret Love, was run up to her good friend Ericka Koscinski, who took the third spot, and envelop her in a big hug. She then waited patiently for the crowd of fans surrounding St. Jacques to die down Best Quality for women. before congratulating the gold medalist in the same fashion. Soon, all three top finishers and longtime friends were huddled together, squealing with excitement over their accomplishments.

"My closest friends were in the top three with me!' said Pielet. "It's so cool. I'm so happy.'

Pielet, 13, of Highland Park, Ill., conquered a bout of nerves in the three rounds of the Pony Medal to end up standing next to her friends on the podium.

The first round tested the riders by requiring them to Welcome buy our replica watches click: online store. halt their ponies just steps before the in-gate after completing their jumping course, when their mounts were the most anxious to exit the ring. Pielet found that aspect of the round to be the toughest because 8-year-old Secret Love is still relatively green.

"My first course was really good,' said Pielet. "I was nervous because [Secret Love] kept wanting to go faster as he got closer to home. I was really nervous about that with the halt coming up at the end. The halt was good, though, and I was like, 'whew,' and he just breathed with me.

"He got all of his energy out of his system [in the first round], and then it was a lot quieter and smoother the second one, thankfully,' she continued.

Pielet had also gained a bit of confidence after her 2015 successful first trip, and had no problem steering the gelding around the technical and twisty second course.

"I was just so concerned about making [the second round], and going in I was still nervous because of all the people watching [in the stands], and I was the last to go out of everyone,' said Pielet. "But once I was in the ring, then I just relaxed and was like, 'I'm almost there!' '

In the third and final phase, four riders were tested at the walk, trot and canter before dropping their stirrups for the canter and posting trot. They were then asked to halt and back up four steps, a change from last year's format, where the riders had to complete a turn on the haunches.

"I wasn't really expecting the no stirrups, but I know that's something [judge] Stacia [Madden] does in training,' said Pielet. "I'm not that great at no stirrups; I'm a little bouncy and I kept slipping, but it was good.

"When they said halt, I was like, 'Oh we're going to do a turn on the haunches; I'm ready, I'm ready,' because I was expecting what they did last year, so I've been practicing that a lot,' she continued. "Then they said to back four steps, and I was like, 'OK, I can actually do that better!' '

Finders Keepers Takes Medium Pony Championship at USEF Pony Finals

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 9, 2014  

As the last class and biggest class of the hunter divisions at the U.S. Equestrian Federation Pony Finals began on Saturday, the skies opened up and riders were straining to find their distances through the driving rain. But less-than-ideal weather couldn't stop popular catch-rider Taylor St. Jacques from putting in a smooth, 
consistent round atop Finders-Keepers to claim the top spot in the medium pony championships.

For 15-year-old St. Jacques, this win is a special one. This is the last year she's able to compete in the medium pony division, so she was determined to make it count, especially after just missing the championship title aboard Elegance last year.

"Last year I was reserve, so this year I kind of wanted to beat that. It meant a lot that I could come back and top last year's result, and I'm glad I could do it with �Keepers,' ' said St. Jacques.

St. Jacques, of Glen Allen, Va., got the ride on Keepers, owned by R.H.F. Enterprises, Inc., the last week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (Fla.) this year when her trainer, Bill Schaub, suggested she take up the gelding's reins and try her hand competing him in the regular hunters.

"He's really fun to ride; you kind of just have to. leave his face alone and just tell him to keep going, and no matter what distance you give him, he always jumps well,' said St. Jacques. "

Press and Yowan Victorious in Junior Hunters at Kentucky Summer Classic

Lexington, KY - July 31, 2014 - Victoria Press and Satisfaction rode away with the Large Junior 15 & Under Hunter division championship last weekend during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, and the pair is back on track to do it again this week during the Kentucky Summer Classic.

Press and Satisfaction, owned by Peakwood Pharm, Inc., started the opening day of this week's Junior Hunters at the Kentucky Horse Park with a win over fences and followed it up with a win in the under saddle class. 

Satisfaction has been extremely successful in the Conformation Hunters with Molly Sewell, and since teaming up with Press during the Winter Equestrian Festival, the 8-year-old Hanoverian gelding has been racking up the successes in the Large Junior Hunters as well.

"He's really, really sweet," said Press. "You have to be really soft with him. If you let him just canter down the lines and let him do it on his own that's when he's the best."

Press has been at the Kentucky Horse Park for the last three weeks, competing first in the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships, held July 15-20, and in the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows the last two weeks. 

"I love Kentucky," Press said. "These shows are great because they have such good competition for all of the divisions - the hunters, the jumpers and the equitation."

Joining Press in showing across the divisions and in winning in the Junior Hunters is Vivian Yowan. She took the top call in the first class of today's Small Junior Hunters aboard Shockwave, owned by Saddle Ridge LLC.

"He's been great. He's kind of a little more comfortable now being a hunter," Yowan said. "He comes out and knows what he's doing now."

Shockwave has enjoyed some time off following a successful Devon Horse Show and a strong finish in the USHJA International Hunter Derby there in May. He has returned to the show ring now with Yowan in preparation for the USHJA International"The courses today were a little bit tricky, but he was very good," Yowan said. "Every line is sort of right off the turn which is a little tricky, especially with him. He's a little bit stiffer. You really want to be soft with him, so it's harder with the tight turns to get the jump you want. He was great in the ring though. He's very sweet, and he just loves his job." 

Judges Love Sewell and EL Raymond in USHJA National Hunter Derby at Kentucky Summer

Lexington, KY - July 27, 2014 - As EL Raymond finished his first round course in today's $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, Leslie Campbell could be spotted ringside doing a happy dance and cheering enthusiastically. With Molly Sewell in the irons, her horse had just turned in a beautiful round that would shoot him to the top of the leader board, where he would remain untouched through both rounds of the derby.

EL Raymond's first round score of 92 was closely contended by another mount ridden by Sewell, Joe Cool, owned by Emery Hanson. Sewell and Joe Cool earned a first round score of 91, putting Sewell in both the first and second place position to return for the handy round.  

Following Sewell's coming back for the handy round on two consecutively ranked horses was Steve Heinecke. He returned in the third place spot aboard Jane Olsen Fisher's Swag and in the fourth place position aboard Fisher's So Lucky. Rounding out the top five returners were Christopher Payne and previous Hallway Feeds Derby winner, Harlan, owned by Susan Moriconi.  

With Payne returning multiple mounts, Heinecke and So Lucky stepped up in the order as the first of the top five ranking riders to come back to compete over the Joseph Carnicom designed handy course. Their trip quickly bumped them to the lead with a score from the judges of 86 plus four high option bonus points for a second round total of 90 and a grand total of 179. 

That score would end up holding up for the second place position, only being overtaken by Payne and Harlan and Sewell and EL Raymond. Payne and Harlan turned in the best performance of the second round with a judges' score of 88.50, coupled with four high option bonus points for a 92.50 total. Combined with their first round score of 87 they would finish on 179.50, just edging out Heinecke for the second place honor.

Sewell and EL Raymond were the last to return to clinch the victory.

"He's pretty much perfect. I will tell you what though - he knows when it means something," Sewell said of 'Raymond.' "He really rises to the occasion. I've done him in a couple derbies, and he loves the handy rounds. It gets his attention, and he tries five times harder than he normally does, which is already giving 100 percent."

The 17-year-old Warmblood, who's name, EL Raymond, actually stands 'Everybody Loves Raymond,' has lived up to that name ten-fold throughout his longstanding career. 

"He's just kind of a go-to-guy. You always can count on him, and it's a pleasure to ride him," Sewell said. "I ride a lot of young horses, and they aren't always consistent. It's kind of a joke in the barn, I always ask Leslie every time that she comes back from riding him how he was. She's always like, 'really, you have to ask me? He was perfect.' He always is perfect. Everybody loves Raymond. I think that he has the biggest fan club at every horse show."

A large part of that fan club base can be attributed to the fact that Raymond was leased out to a number of riders before finding his forever home with Leslie Campbell and Over The Hill Farm three years ago.

"He's been in a lot of different barns. He was a lease horse for a long time," Sewell said. "Any time we go to a horse show, people come up to him and hug him and kiss him and say 'we love this horse!"

In addition to loving Raymond, Campbell and Sewell also love being in Kentucky at competing at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following his success today, EL Raymond will most likely return for more of the Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series. The seven-part series, presented by Hallway Feeds, offers series end cash prizes totaling $15,000 to the leading riders throughout the year. 

Making A Name: Molly Sewell

As Seen In:
The Chronicle of the Horse
February 26, 2010

Making A Name

Molly Sewell has experienced the transition from junior rider to adult rider, and she's in the process of honing her professional career. Taking the green conformation hunter circuit championship with Lee Cesery's Marquis was an important step for her.

"It means so much to me. I've been riding professionally for about eight years now, but I'm starting to get some really nice rides. It means so much to me that owners like Lee Cesery have the faith in me to show their nice horses. It's a real confidence boost," she said.

Sewell rode Marquis to two tricolors during the five weeks of Jacksonville, while Chad Watridge handled the reins for a championship another week.

"He's very nice—a great jumper and a sweet horse. He's not a big horse, because Lee's a smaller lady, but hes' really scopey and very pleasant to ride," Sewell said. "I'm just lucky to have the ride. We weren't aiming for the circuit championship, but he's so nice that he just kept winning. We actually didn't even show the fifth week. it was a little bit of a surprise."

Marquis, a 7-year-old Selle Francais, also shows in the low amateur-owner division with Cesery. Sewell started showing him when Cesery bought him last summer, and in December they moved up from the 3'3" pre-greens to the first year green conformation division.

Sewell grew up in the Orlando, Fla., area and showed as a junior with Peggy Stevens.

"I always knew Bill, but I didn't ride with him as a junior," she said. She started riding with him when she turned 18 and won the Ariat Adult Medal that fall. "I turned professional that December, and I've been with Bill for the last eight years. We have a ton of ponies, but just now we're starting to get some junior hunters and amateur horses. Shawn Casady is showing some junior horses, and we have some equitation horses. Bill is trying to get into the horses more and not just be the pony guru anymore."

Free Rein With Bill Schaub

Published in The Chronicle of the Horse

Bill Schaub doesn’t consider himself a pony guy, but it’s an easy assumption to make about a man whose business card famously lists the measurements for small, medium and large ponies. While Schaub has trained top hunters in every division, he’s always had a special way with the smallest competitors at the horse show, both equine and human. His ponies and their riders have won most every award around, and he’s regularly seen center ring during the presentations at USEF Pony Finals, Devon (Pa.), the fall indoor shows and on the stage during the U.S. Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year awards.

With so many accolades with grown ponies, it was no surprise when Schaub started finding success in the pony breeding ring. He picked up second with Shenandoah Bonfire (Shenandoah Samoa—Shenandoah Ember) for Elizabeth Jones at Devon (Pa.) in the 3-year-old stallions and geldings class. And he’s recently started breeding his own future champions, recruiting Capital Challenge (Md.) grand pony champion Arabesque and Pony Finals grand champion High Fashion as his foundation mares.

The son of a frustrated cowboy, Schaub got his start in the horse world by begging and borrowing mounts and by teaching lessons as a teenager, staying just a step ahead of his charges. He forayed into the show world as a working student, and his career took off after he trained the legendary junior hunter Lyric for Courtney Kennedy and Ashley Kennedy Whitner in the late 1980s.

Now Schaub’s lengthy client list includes top horses and ponies from his home base in Sanford, Fla., and across the country. Schaub attributed his students’ top performances to a dedicated staff at his Over The Hill Farm, spearheaded by barn manager Melissa Vander Vennet and assistant trainer Molly Sewell Schott, but also to a positive attitude that sets the tone for his entire business.

“I quit drinking a year ago, and it’s been the most amazing change in my business,” he said. “We never have emotional decisions any more, and my karma has totally changed. I’m not short with the staff, I’m never grumpy in the morning, the ponies are happy, the clients are happy, the kids are happy, and all of a sudden great things keep happening.”

Name: Bill Schaub                                                       

Home Base: Sanford, Fla.                                                                      

Age: 51

Describe your first horse.

She was a 16-hand, buckskin Appaloosa with a big blanket. She was an ex-barrel racer, and I used to ride her down the side of the road and take her swimming. We taught her to jump.

What’s the No. 1 quality you look for in a young pony you’re going to show or consign?

Attitude. Obviously, if it’s going to show on the line it has to be pretty, but it needs to have a good attitude first and foremost.

What’s your favorite quality in a pony stallion?

Whether it’s horses or ponies, I look for an athlete.

What physical characteristics do you like to see in young ponies?

I like to see ponies with a little more bone. Some of these things that are winning on the line are so frail looking; they do well on the line then can’t stand up to a performance career.

What’s the hardest kind of pony to sell?

A bad lead-changer is tough, and so is a badly-sized pony, but a stopper is the worst. I won’t sell one.

What advice would you give to someone buying his or her first show pony?

First, be sure to take your trainer, and your trainer should be someone you trust. I always say a commission is the best money someone can spend. Shopping alone is a terrible way to cut your expenses—skip a few horse shows instead.

Then, be sure to do your homework. Check up on the pony’s history, and braiders and grooms are often the ones who can tell you how long it has to longe [or] what the behavior is like. Then see if you can get a trial. That’s another good reason to bring a trainer—it will be more likely for the seller to agree to a trial if the pony is going to be with a reputable professional.

What’s the most important lesson you learned the hard way?

Don’t cheat.

What’s your biggest pet peeve in the pony industry?

People who go around and try ponies but aren’t ready or financially capable of buying one. A lot of the etiquette has been lost in this business, and it’s really a shame.

What changes would you like to see in the pony breeding world?

I believe that the ponies who win on the line should be capable of winning in the performance ring, so I’m really disturbed by the fact that we see some ponies showing on the line who are no longer ponies. I believe that ponies competing on the line should have to measure a pony height.

What quality do you admire most in a pony?

Heart. There’s nothing worse than a beautiful pony that jumps great but doesn’t want to do good. It’s like a talented kid who doesn’t want to ride. I’d rather teach an untalented kid who wants it.

And in a human?

Good character.

What item in your wardrobe best personifies you?

Probably my Robert Graham shirts.

What’s the last thing you tell a student before he or she goes in the ring?

Good luck. Or have fun. But usually good luck.

If you could take a turn riding any horse whom would you choose?

Rumba.

Which of your lifetime accomplishments are you most proud of?

My daughter Nicole—I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to have her. She’s the biggest blessing in my life. She’s taught me so much.

What electronic device could you not live without?

My cell phone.

What’s the most ridiculous part of the horse show world?

People think it’s the be all and end all. People get so upset over it when it’s such a small part of the whole thing. If people were more focused on the process they’d realize that’s where the fun part is. Parents who watch the lessons and graze the horses and stay involved enjoy all of it.

Looking back on your career, what advice are you glad you never took?

Some people told me not to buy Lyric. I was a young professional, and that scared me. People were concerned about her ability, concerned that she would be too hard for Ashley coming right off ponies.

In retrospect, what’s the best decision you’ve ever made?

Buying a farm 26 years ago.

Do you have any non-equestrian hobbies?

Not really! I love to go on vacation with my daughter. Because I’m on the road a lot we don’t get to spend a lot of time together.

What’s one fact about you that most people would be surprised to know?

I’m basically a loner by nature. No one would ever expect that.

Where do you hope to be in 10 years?

I hope I’m right where I am today. My biggest goal is to win an equitation final with one of the kids. And I’d like to have grandchildren.