Kelley Farmer Takes Home First and Second in $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Horse Shows by the Bay

July 16, 2010

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Traverse City, MI --- It was a beautiful evening for the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Horse Shows by the Bay, sponsored by the Gochman Family of New York, New York. Kelley Farmer took home top honors aboard Bases Loaded and captured second place with Taken, both of which are owned by Nancy Amling.

"It's awesome, I love watching Kelley ride the horses. I work in New York so it is fun to be able to come to the shows and do this well. It is really special to have horses like this," smiled Amling.

Bases Loaded is an eight-year-old bay gelding and is a Second Year horse. Amling shows him in the amateurs and Farmer rides him in the hunter derbies. This was Bases Loaded's first derby win and he will be going to the hunter derby finals.

"He's cool, he's light, he gallops, and he's so careful. He is so easy and so careful that I can turn him quickly and for the handy rounds, I never worry," said Farmer.

The USHJA International Hunter Derby took place in the grand prix ring. A course of natural looking obstacles including barrels, brush, and a bank, tested all 36 horse and rider combination's ability to communicate with one another and do so gracefully.

"The ring is big, you can gallop, and it is an ideal ring for a derby. I love the banks; it is a good trick, that's what you would have to do if you were galloping out in the field," explained Farmer.

Taking home third place honors was Peter Pletcher and NLF Shakespear's Rhythm. Fourth place was awarded to Tammy Provost and Valiant. Fifth place went back to Farmer for her ride on Timber Ridge. Farmer had four of the top twelve horses.

"I have a lovely group of horses with a lovely group of girls who show them. I'm lucky to have the pleasure to get to ride them around," said Farmer. Horse Shows by the Bay made sure the evening was enjoyable for everyone. There was a catered exhibitor's party, the weather was perfect, and the view remarkable. "Alex and Dean put on a beautiful horse show. Last year was our first year here and we obviously had to come back," raved Farmer. Horse Shows by the Bay continues its hunter competition tomorrow with a full schedule of hunter divisons including the Amateur Owners. For more information, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com. RESULTS 1. Bases Loaded Kelley Farmer 186 211 397 2. Taken Kelley Farmer 193 200.5 393.5 3. NLF Shakespear's Rhytm Peter Pletcher189 191 380 4. Valiant Tammy Provost 182 195.5 377.5 5. Timber Ridge Kelley Farmer 172 201 373 6. Enjoy Ashley Romano 179 191 370 7. Balisto Rush Weeden 173 193 366 8. Charleston Z Caitlin Ziegler 175.5 189 364.5 9. Due West Chelsea Sundius 171 190 361 10. Peridot Tammy Provost 179 170 357 11. Sunshine Kelley Farmer 186 154 340 12. Stars Go Blue Tammy Provost 167 110 277

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