Lexington, Ky. – Oct. 27, 2021 – The 2021 National Horse Show (NHS) got its start in the Alltech Arena Wednesday, October 27, bringing top athletes and their mounts back to the Kentucky Horse Park for the 138th edition of the oldest indoor horse show in America. As one of the country’s most prestigious competitions, the National Horse Show is a must-attend event for national and international athletes. Now in its fourth year, the National Horse Show highlights age-group equitation classes in its opening week, as well as three championship events, the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Horse Show Adult Equitation Championship 18-24, THIS NHS Adult Equitation Championship 25 and Over, and the Hamel Family Foundation NHS 3’3” Equitation Championship. Kicking off the week was the Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation 18-24, presented by Cindi Pérez & Anne Bennett, where Amber Broder was crowned champion of Section A aboard Tip Jar, and Amelia Bergeron wore the champion tricolor for Section B with Halouet.
Amber Broder and Tip Jar
Starting the day strong in Section A of the Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation 18-24, Broder and Tip Jar placed third out of the competitive first-round field of 23 entries over fences. Broder and the 16-year-old Warmblood gelding, owned by Kimberly Griffiths, would improve upon their first-round placing, taking the red ribbon in the second class for their even pace and correct position over fences. The pair would continue to prove consistency is key, winning the under saddle class to secure the championship honors in Section A of the Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation 18-24. Broder beamed at the result, hoping to carry her top placings into Thursday’s Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Horse Show Adult Equitation Championship 18-24.
Receiving the reserve champion honors at the conclusion of Section A of the Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation 18-24 division was Hannah Eddlemon and Donatello. The duo claimed the first blue ribbon of the 2021 event for their over-fences effort, which demonstrated accuracy and precision throughout. While Eddlemon was just out of the ribbons in the second round, a fourth-place finish under saddle would help her to earn the reserve championship with Donatello.
Hannah Eddlemon and Donatello
In Section B of the Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation 18-24, Bergeron and her own 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Halouet, were in winning form. Kicking off the division with a second-place over fences, the pair would prove unbeatable in the second round and under saddle, earning first place in both. Bergeron and Halouet came to a division total of 26 points, which would ultimately earn them the championship honors.
Wrapping up the awards for 18-24-year-old athletes in Section B of the Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation, Texie Loyd and Cashman were named reserve champions of the division. A textbook trip in the first over fences class of the division would lend Loyd the only win over Bergeron. Loyd and Cashman would go on to produce another consistent trip over fences and on the flat to garner the reserve tricolor of the Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation Section B.
Competition at the 2021 National Horse Show will continue Thursday, October 28, at 7:00 a.m. with two of the most highly anticipated championships of the event, the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Horse Show Adult Equitation Championship 18-24, and the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Horse Show Adult Equitation Championship 25 and Over. To learn more about the National Horse Show, click here.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Amber Broder – Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation 18-24, Presented by Cindi Pérez & Anne Bennett, Section A champion
On Tip Jar:
“He is the most incredible creature ever. He is 16 years-old and he has done everything from grand prixs to the High Amateur [Jumpers] and the Big Equitation. My mom actually leased him because she wanted to ride a fancy equitation horse, and I was able to take over the lease when she was injured two years ago. Since then, he has been my best friend and I love him.”
On her rounds today:
“I loved the courses and thought that they were so nice for a warm-up. I was going in with zero expectations. My trainer always tells me, ‘Don’t try and win the warm-up and focus on preparing yourself and your horse,’ and I aimed to have everything really smooth and to get him comfortable in the ring. I was happy with my rounds but I was not expecting this!”
On competing in the Taylor Harris Insurance Services NHS Adult Equitation Championship 18-24:
“Today was a confidence booster, to be able to be champion before the THIS [NHS Adult Equitation Championship 18-24] tomorrow. Now, I am focused on managing my nerves and hoping to have another fun day, no matter what the outcome.”
On competing at the National Horse Show:
“I love the National Horse Show! I actually took last year off because of COVID. I competed in the 2019 THIS Finals with Tip Jar and did not do as well as I had hoped because of my nerves. I am excited to be able to do this again with two years of additional practice under my belt. I am looking forward to being confident and putting in two solid rounds.”
Amelia Bergeron – Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation 18-24, Presented by Cindi Pérez & Anne Bennett, Section B champion
On Halouet:
“I have had him for almost two years and he is the best. I love him so much. He is a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood and before we purchased him, he had never done the equitation before. We had a learning curve at the beginning but he has come so far and I am really happy with him.”
On the courses in her warm-up rounds:
“I thought the fact that we started with a line both times made me focus on getting up to pace at the beginning, which is an issue for me sometimes. I think that the swedish oxer was a good exercise in balancing and overall, I thought the courses rode well. I liked the combination of bending and straight lines. I was really glad that we had this in the schedule as a warm-up for tomorrow.”
On competing at the National Horse Show:
“I am competing in the Taylor Harris [NHS Adult Equitation Championship 18-24] tomorrow, which I am really excited for, and then that is it for me. It has been fun to be back here, to know my way around and feel more comfortable. It is such a prestigious show and it has been a lot of fun.”
RESULTS
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation 18-24, Presented by Cindi Pérez & Anne Bennett, Over Fences – Section A
1. Donatello / Hannah Eddlemon / Addison Mae King
2. Constantin / Anna Koenig / Ashland Farm
3. Tip Jar / Amber Broder / Kimberly Griffiths
Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation 18-24, Presented by Cindi Pérez & Anne Bennett, Over Fences – Section A
1. Heartbreaker / Noa Diener / Diener Farms, LLC
2. Tip Jar / Amber Broder / Kimberly Griffiths
Cinda / Elizabeth Becker / Elizabeth Becker
Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation 18-24, Presented by Cindi Pérez & Anne Bennett, Flat – Section A
1. Tip Jar / Amber Broder / Kimberly Griffiths
2. Lord Lux / Hannah Young / Hannah Young
3. Green Book / Madison Olvert / Madison Olvert
Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation 18-24, Presented by Cindi Pérez & Anne Bennett, Over Fences – Section B
1. Cashman / Texie Loyd / Carly Hoft
2. Halouet / Amelia Bergeron / Amelia Bergeron
3. Hakim Ourai / Dawson Amick / Singh Family Farms LLC
Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation 18-24, Presented by Cindi Pérez & Anne Bennett, Over Fences – Section B
1. Halouet / Amelia Bergeron / Amelia Bergeron
2. Spotlight / Martha Ingram / Laura Karet
3. Nobel Laureate / Angela Calicchio / Barn Rat LLC
Pérez & Bennett Adult Amateur Equitation 18-24, Presented by Cindi Pérez & Anne Bennett, Flat – Section B
1. Halouet / Amelia Bergeron / Amelia Bergeron
2. Argo Z / Elizabeth Nevins /
3. Spotlight / Martha Ingram / Laura Karet