Debbie Kirsch and Naples Bay added a Championship to the Telluride banner at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography
Traverse City, MI – July 15, 2019 – USEF Licensed Official Diane Carney has kept a busy summer schedule which includes judging the American Tradition in Excellence Equitation Championship in California, commentary for the Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby in Reno, clinics in Reno and then showing the past two weeks at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF) in Traverse City, Michigan. Carney lead her team Telluride to multiple wins in both the hunter and jumper rings. She also found time in her schedule to provide commentary during the Welcome Stake and the Grand Prix each week, which can be viewed on GLEFTV.
“This was my first trip to the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival,” said Carney. “The management here, Michael Morrissey and his staff, are top notch and experts at what they do. It’s a well run show that attracts top horses and riders.We plan to come back next year.”
Amateur rider Debbie Kirsch of Winnetka, Illinois, rode to the championship in the Adult Amateur 36 and 0ver Hunters during week I of GLEF with a win and two seconds on her Naples Bay. Professional David Beisel piloted Naples Bay to the reserve championship in the USHJA 3’ Hunters as well. World Championship Hunter Rider week followed, where Kirsch and Naples Bay again earned top scores and ribbons in the adult hunters.
Megan Selinger and DaVinci collected tri-color ribbons both weeks of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival.
Megan Selinger of Wheaton, Illinois, earned multiple blues and the Championship both weeks riding Ashland Farm/Melissa Hirt’s Da Vinci in the USHJA 2’ Hunter. Selinger also was reserve champion in the Intermediate Child/Adult Hunters week I and took home the championship week II. Selinger has been a client of Telluride since her junior years and earned numerous titles including Best Child Rider at Devon (1996), having not shown for about ten years, Selinger found a way to fit in showing with work and family.
Caitie Hope Rose and Benchmark Stables' Johnny Bravo galloped to the reserve championship in the High Adult Amateur Jumpers. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography.
Another long time Telluride rider is Caitie Hope Rose, who was also Best Child Rider at Devon (2008) and went on to be a successful High Amateur Jumper and grand prix rider with Kathleen Hope's Total Touch. Marriage and a career limited Hope Rose's time in the tack for grand prix competition, but she still fits riding in her schedule when possible. Hope Rose won two classes and was third in the NAL Classic on Benchmark Stable’s Johnny Bravo in the High Adult Amateur Jumpers to take home the reserve championship week I.
Caitie Hope and Vision EH. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography
Hope Rose of Highland Park, Illinois, also rode Kathleen Hope's Vision EH to a top three finish in the Low Amateur Owner Jumpers. During week 2, Hope Rose rode brilliantly to a second place finish in the Low Amateur Owner Jumpers and her double clear rounds all week earned her more top ribbons in the very competitive division.
Liz Akins and Rodeo VDL.
Carney also helps trainer Liz Atkins of Benchmark Stables in Hampshire, Illinois, with her jumpers. During week I Atkins rode her Elektra to the young horse’s first blue in the low jumpers while her seasoned Rodeo VDL took 2nd in the 1.35m jumpers and Carletta took second in the 1.20m jumpers.
Week II, Atkins repeated her performance and rode her Rodeo VDL to a stellar second place finish in the 1.35m jumpers and her Carletta also finished in second in the 1.20m jumpers.
In addition, Carney helped professional Tammy Provost with her 1.35m horse, Beorn, owned by Moyer Farm LLC, who also put in clean and competitive rounds during week two.
"I was very pleased with the consistency of all the riders," added Carney. "The competition was stiff with 30 and 40 riders in the classes, which makes it very gratifying to have them all do so well."
Carney heads to the World Equestrian Center next to judge, then to California, Michigan and back to Chicago for the Galway Classic in Long Grove, Illinois, September 6-8th.
For more on Diane Carney and Telluride, visit the website at www.telluridefarm.com.
To sign up for the Galway Classic Clinic, contact Brenda Mueller at Marketing4Equestrians brenda@m4eq.com
About Diane Carney Diane Carney is a lifelong, dedicated horsewoman, emphasizing horsemanship in every aspect of her world. Her versatility and in-depth knowledge as a grand prix rider, hunter rider, clinician, USHJA certified trainer,
event organizer, commentator, course designer, USEF R judge, USEF International Disciplines Committee member and former USHJA Board of Directors member, gives her a well rounded perspective on the industry.
Carney’s judging resume includes the 2016 ASPCA/Maclay Medal Finals, the New England Equitation Championships, WEF, HITS Thermal, Bend Oregon, Blenheim CA, Flintridge and Sonoma, CA; LA Masters, Kentucky Summer, The American Tradition of Excellence Equitation Championship , the Sunshine Series USHJA $100,000 Hunter Prix, HITS $500,000 Hunter Prix, IEA and IHSA, SEC Championships, the USEF Pony Finals, Gulfport and the West Coast Equitation Final at the USHJA Championship.
Over the last 40 years, Diane has continued the mission of spreading knowledge and horsemanship through clinics and supporting programs that raise the level of horsemanship for riders, trainers and owners. In addition to the annual George H. Morris Chicago clinic, Carney coordinates the USHJA Gold Star clinics. Carney is available for clinics, judging, sales, commentary and private clients.
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