Lisa Rex and Contargo Named Champions of the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Mane ‘n Tail

North Salem, NY — Sept. 12, 2020 — Elite hunter horse-and-rider combinations kicked off day four of the 2020 Old Salem Fall Series Horse Show on Saturday. Twenty-five entries lined up to contest Kevin Giblin’s classic round track for the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Mane ‘n Tail. Westbury, New York’s Lisa Rex and Contargo produced the top scores to earn the victory gallop. Jumper riders returned to the Grand Prix field for the $1,500 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper and equitation riders were highlighted in the OSF Equitation Challenge, presented by Palm Beach International Academy. 

In the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Mane ‘n Tail, all 25 entries performed in the first round, and the 12 pairs with the highest scores were asked to return for the handy in reverse order of score. Georgina Arakelian and Book of Eli had the lead following the classic round with a score of 90.5. Shelbi Heady and Carino 667 were the penultimate pair from round one having just half a point less than Arakelian. They landed the second-place finish. Wednesday’s Performance Hunter 3’3” champion duo, Lainie Wimberly and Corto Des Dames earned the third spot. The day’s eventual winners, Lisa Rex and Contargo, originally held the third-place position on a score of 89.00 but a stellar performance in the handy catapulted them to the top spot with a total combined score of 181.00 points. 

“Contargo was just excellent today,” Rex said of the 9-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Conthargos x Fonata). “He was very agreeable to everything I asked him to do which I was very surprised and pleased about since he has not shown since last September!” 

While Rex admitted she was a bit apprehensive about returning to horse shows post-COVID, she expressed nothing but comfort and relief for the way the event was run. 

“They did such a nice job with this show,” she added. “I was nervous coming and now I feel really good because they’ve done a beautiful job.”

 Maura Lautenbach Tops Old Salem Farm Equitation Challenge,
presented by Palm Beach International Academy, with High Life 

Maura Lautenbach and Patricia Lautenbach’s 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding High Life bested their field in the Old Salem Farm Equitation Challenge, presented by Palm Beach International Academy, after producing a two-round total of 160.00 points. Lautenbach is from Indianapolis, Indiana, and trains with Andre Dignelli and Heritage Farm. Alida Treuting and Insilvio Del Maset, Heritage Farm, Inc.’s 9-year-old Warmblood gelding took the reserve honors after concluding on 157.00 points. 

“Our show schedule has changed a bit here and there but we made this a priority stop in preparation for several of the big equitation finals we will be attending,” Lautenbach said. “It’s actually my first time here but the facility is beautiful and I thought the course was a great test.”

Over on the Grand Prix Field, R.J. Equestrian Group’s Donggala and Allison Epstein were one of only two clean rounds in the $1,500 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper. She and the 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare laid down an efficient trip of 75.00 seconds. Epstein, from New York City,  trains with Bluman Equestrian. Jennifer Gates and Evergate Stables LLC’s Dutch Warmblood stallion (Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve x Venus) Darry Lou were the only other clear combination on a time of 77.959 seconds. 

The final day of competition during the first week of the Old Salem Fall Series will take place tomorrow and will feature the $75,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group. Competitors should note the schedule change with the Grand Prix moving to 9 a.m.

Final Results: $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, Presented by Mane n’ Tail

1 CONTARGO: 2011 gelding by Conthargos x Fonata
LISA REX, Elisa Perry Salvani: 89.00/89.00/181.00

2 CARINO 667: 2015 Warmblood gelding by Colorfox x Winn-Pearl
SHELBI HEADY, Bijou Equestrian LLC:88.0/90.0/178

3 CORTO DES DAMES: 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Orson Des Layettes x Obonny Des Hayettes
LAINIE WIMBERLY, Brigadoon Show Stables, Inc: 90.0/84.0/174

4 DONNA CORRA: 2008 KWPN mare by Verdi x Lacorra B
ASHLEY BAKER, Ashley Baker: 86.0/85.0/171

5 MACCHIATTO:
KIM MINER, Kim Miner: 85.0/83.0/168

6 CENTRAL PARK WEST: 2009 Hanoverian gelding by Paparazzo x Mystik
GEORGIA JACOB, Emma Weiss: 81.0/88.0/169

7 TRU BALOU: 2014 KWPN gelding by Balou Du Rouet Z x Selva
EMMA SCHAUDER, Country Lane Farm: 85.0/81.0/166

8 QUINTESSENTIAL: 2011 Hanoverian gelding
AERIN GENATT, Aerin Genatt: 83.0/82.5/165.5

9 CHEVEAUX: 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Indoctro x Oilily
GEORGIA JACOB, Emma Weiss: 79.0/78.5/157.5

10 CON KORONAS: 2013 Hungarian Warmblood gelding by Con Lapilot x Bonita
JUAN LAVIERI, Maura Finan: 68.0/85.5/153.5

11 BOOK OF ELI: 2009 Warmblood gelding
GEORGINA ARAKELIAN, Chance Arakelian: 42.0/90.5/132.5

12 CASSANO: 2012 Westphalian geldding
TRACY THOMSON, Legacy Equine, LLC: 42.0/82.0/124

 

Meet Sarah Maslin Nir, Author of “Horse Crazy:
The Story of a Woman and a World in Love with an Animal,” for a Book Signing Sunday

“A funny, fascinating and ultimately moving love letter to one of the world’s most beloved animals.”
~ USA Today

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attention Nominators! With the move of the $75,000 Grand Prix of Old Salem, presented by The Kincade Group to  9 a.m. in the Sunday schedule, the nominations for the Horse Show Hero Award, presented by ShowAssist will end at 10 a.m. The award will be presented before the start of the $7,500 Junior/Amateur Classic 1.35/1.40m

Click here to nominate your Horse Show Hero for an award that honors your most valued groom, stall cleaner, body clipper, braider, bodyworker, night watcher or other support staff. The lucky winner will receive a $500 VISA gift card. T