Horzepa Sisters One-Two at Beacon Hill

Colts Neck, NJ – Riding in the $500 Children’s Jumper Welcome the Horzepa sisters of Millstone Township, NJ, jumped to the top of the class finishing one-two at the Beacon Hill Equestrian Grand Prix, presented by McKenzie Keck. 

Wilhelmina, 17, was second in the order of 25 horses riding Ariba.  The pair set the pace finishing the course in 58.59 seconds, finishing just ahead of her sister Mary Elizabeth who stopped the clock in 59.73. 

Course designer Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England, built a challenging track in the sprawling grass arena. One of the trouble spots was the two-stride set near the liverpool.  It was there that Ariba kept his eye on the water and the pair jumped in tight to the combination.  Wilhelmina saved her round by bending through the jumps, adding a stride, and keeping the rails in the cups.

Wilhelmina started showing the six-year-old gelding two years ago.  She said, “I’ve taught him how to jump and everything.”   Wilhelmina discovered the young grey when a friend bought him to be a barrel horse.  She said, “I ended up riding him more than she did.”  And when Wilhelmina started jumping Ariba she found “he had springs on his feet.”

Mary Elizabeth, 14, rode Amber, an 8-year-old pinto mare, to the second-place honors.  The tiny 14.2-hand pony didn’t let size stop her as she tackled the course with ease.   “She’s easy to ride,” said Mary Elizabeth.  “The only thing was the double that Stacia told me to watch out for.”

Wilhelmina and Mary Elizabeth train with Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill Show Stables.

In the $500 Adult Jumper speed class 42 horses attempted the long course on the grass. With only ten left to tackle the track, it looked as if Hope Smith of Locust Valley, NY, would take top honors riding Rembrandt to a clean round in 61.962 seconds. But Susannah Wise of Princeton, NJ, came in on Hillary to best Smith’s time.  Wise posted a winning 57.151 seconds on the board.  Wise also rode a second mount named Tanzanite and the pair collected a fifth place ribbon.

A field of 24 horses turned out to vie for the blue ribbon in the $1000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class.  The third jumper class of the day saw only five clean trips.  It looked as if Jessica Springsteen would jump into the lead but as the front rail of the final oxer dropped to the grass the cheering abruptly halted, disappointed in the four-fault finish.  Sloane Coles entered the ring and repeated Springsteen’s performance, right down to lowering the final fence.

It wasn’t long before Rachel Cline of Moorestown, NJ, riding Splinter made their attempt and became the new leaders when they were able to keep the rails off the ground while stopping the timers in 72.627 seconds.

In the final class of the day Ronan McGuigan flew around the $5000 1.30 Meter Open Jumper speed class riding Delano Peak.  Stopping the timers in 65.671 seconds, the pair was nearly four seconds faster than Kevin Babbington aboard Spellbound who had to settle for second with a time of 69.892.  But Babbington had a good day collecting $2000 in prize money after also placing fourth and fifth with Esquilino Bay and Pompadour, respectively. 

The open jumper speed was a prelude to Saturday’s $10,000 NAL Beacon Hill Speed Derby as well as Sunday’s $50,000 Budweiser Grand Prix, presented by Wachovia.  

Tickets for the show will be available at the gate for $5 per person per day. If you can’t attend be sure to log on to www.equestriansport.tv and catch the action live through streaming video.   For more information please visit the official Beacon Hill Equestrian Grand Prix web site:  www.bhegp.com or call the Gleneayre Equestrian Program at (609) 267-4104.  Show results can be found on www.ryegate.com.