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Pony Lane Farm Shows Hunter, Jumper and Equitation Talents at the Showplace Spring Spectacular I

June 15, 2010

Wayne, IL –-– Pony Lane Farm had a great first week of competition at the 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular I Horse Show on June 8-13, 2010. Sisters Kelsey and Madeline Thatcher and trainer Maggie Jayne all showed to top ribbons at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL, with a barn full of talented horses. Pony Lane Farm had big wins in the hunter, jumper, and equitation divisions throughout the week to earn blue ribbons, championship tricolors and coolers, and great prize money.

Starting off the week in the professional hunter divisions, Maggie Jayne rode three of Pony Lane Farm’s top horses to tricolor ribbons. Jayne and the Thatcher’s beautiful gray mare Bella Blue earned the Second Year Green Working Hunter championship following four first place ribbons over fences and a second place finish under saddle. The mare also finished first and second in the two $1,000 Showplace Open Hunter Classics over the two days of competition.

A newer addition to Pony Lane Farm is the handsome chestnut gelding Red Sky, who Jayne expertly guided to a championship tricolor in the First Year Green Working Hunters. Jayne and Red Sky placed first, first, second and third over fences and earned a third place ribbon under saddle to top the division. The pair also finished first and fourth in the $1,000 Open Hunter Classics.

Jayne noted, “Red Sky was very lazy the first day and the second day he was much brighter. He really liked the natural hay bales, had a great pace, and was nice and fresh. We just came from Devon where the jumps are a little spookier and he jumped even better here.”

“Bella was great on her first trip right out of the box,” smiled Jayne. “She was awesome! She was wonderful in the handy, but began to tire a little by the end of my rounds, so we had a little rub. Bella truly enjoyed the spooky natural jumps in these courses, however, and she was fantastic.”

“Everything went really well with all of my horses,” Jayne remarked. “They have been very relaxed and are jumping really well here.”

Red Sky had a great week with owner Kelsey Thatcher as well, competing to the reserve championship in the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division. Thatcher and Red Sky placed first, second, second and third over fences and won the under saddle for a fantastic first week of competition in Chicago.

Wrapping up the professional divisions, Jayne and Pony Lane Farm’s well known bay mare Francesca earned the reserve championship in the Conformation Hunter division for week one. The duo placed third in the model and then finished first, second, third and fourth over fences with a second place ribbon under saddle to finish in reserve.

Kelsey and Madeline continued a great week with wins in the jumper and equitation divisions going into the weekend. Kelsey rode Sander to first place ribbons in the USEF Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal, IHJA Junior Medal, and WIHS Equitation Classic overall, and was very proud that her hard work in the equitation has paid off.

Kelsey commented, “Sander was really good. He is a super nice equitation horse and always comes out ready to play.”

Pony Lane Farm purchased Sander so that Kelsey had a strong equitation horse for the competitive classes at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL. During this year’s competition at WEF, Kelsey received multiple ribbons in the equitation classes, but did not test every time. “At WEF the equitation classes are difficult and I only received ribbons sparingly, so I do not have a lot of experiences with tests. I always get nervous for some reason, so I just have to practice going all out and getting it done and showing the judge I want to win.”

Coming up the horse show ranks in her own right, Madeline Thatcher rode Merlin 369 to the Low Junior Jumper reserve championship following first and sixth place ribbons in the division’s classes along with a sixth place finish in the $7,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.

Keeping the winning theme alive, Kelsey went on to earn excellent ribbons in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers at the conclusion of the first week. Kelsey won a class with her French stallion Klotaire Du Moulin, and then finished just behind the leader in the $10,000 SJHOF High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic on Sunday, to finish in second with her exceptional mare Carlotta.

Pony Lane Farm will compete again next week at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL, for the second week of competition in the 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Show Series. For more information, please visit www.ponylanefarm.com.

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