Chestnut Hill LLC now has its own page on Facebook! If you are a member of Facebook, do a search for Chestnut Hill LLC and become a fan. If you haven’t yet joined, it’s easy! Fans can comment, post their own photos, add to existing photo albums, and track what is happening at the barn, and at the shows. Become a fan now!
Chestnut Hill recently bid farewell to Bo Regards, the namesake of Beaumont Farms. Born October 23, 1983, he was ten years old when Bridget and her then trainer, Valerie Hagen found him at Andrea Barbi’s sale barn. Bridget had only started riding recently and knew very little about trying or buying a horse, but she did know love at first site.
The new team started doing the 1’6″ classes at Dixon Ranch and the following year they were competing in the Adult Amateur classes, and then on to the Adult Owner division (see photo below). At that same show Calistoga show they debuted in the A/O hunter division, Bridget and Bo also began their career in the jumpers – competing in the AA division, as well as the 3’9 mini-Prix, in which they placed sixth (the slowest double-clear team), which served as the conclusion of their jumper career. Bridget and Bo went on to compete successfully in medals, equitation and hunter classes.
Bridget and Denis knew they would have to find a special place to retire her first horse, which led them to their beautiful farm in 1996. When Bo’s 3’6 career was over, Bridget bought and began showing Coral Reef and Barb Bochner began piloting Bo. Barb loved him as well as said, “those of us who got to be his co-captain – as he was always sure he was the captain – were very lucky.” The due were very successful over the years, and when Bo went into full retirement, which arrived about five years ago, he had earned every minute of it.
Among Bridget’s favorite memories of this special horse included how he always charged onto the van to go to shows because he loved competing so much, how he always believed he should win every flat class and when the announcer read the winner’s name, Bo always tried to walk out of the line up and the rider had to hold him back, how he loved to eat BBQ potato chips and granola bars.
Bo developed a large tumor under the bone on the front of his face and Bridget and Denis always thought it would ultimately do him in. Instead, he died a quick death from acute colic, so he suffered very little, and he went with great dignity. Bridget added, “he deserved that and so much more.” Safe travels, Dear Friend.
The Sacramento Area Hunter Jumper Association Championship show will take place this weekend at Leone Equestrians (main hunter ring pictured above) in Sacramento, and trainer Beverly Jovais will be judging.
Chestnut Hill horses and their riders will notice several “home improvements” at Beaumont Farms these days. The main barn is getting spruced up with new siding (see photo above). The fans in the main barn were installed recently and they make a big difference on hot days by keeping the air moving and the horses cooler when the temperatures rise.
The first phase of construction for the new Eurociser, which included grading the ground, pouring a pad and putting down and packing the base rock was completed earlier this week (see below). The project will be completed next month.
Grace Lukach and her mare, Angel Smiling (pictured above) took third in the CPHA Junior Medal Final at the Blenheim Summer Classic. The pressure for the class is very intense, as it takes place indoors, during the evening, under the lights, before a hushed crowd. All 58 competitors participated in the first two rounds before three judges. Each judge scores each round, and the competitors are placed according to the average of those three scores. Grace and Angel received an average score of 82 after the first round, which left them out of the top ten. But, the duo came back for an amazing second round, in which they placed second – receiving an average score of 87, with one judge giving them an 89. Grace and Angel were in fourth place going into the third and final round, which included only the top ten teams. Their final round was brilliant, and the duo claimed third overall, garnering another 89 from one of the judges.
All of the courses were difficult and technical, but the final course included an “S” line (two bending lines) that could be ridden as a five stride to a five stride, a six to a five, or a six to a six. The top three finalists each happened to select a different option, (Grace and Angel rode the six to the five strides), demonstrating that each could be ridden beautifully.
Other results from the show included championship ribbons for Kingsford and Katharina Coleman (First Year Green), Lucky Mushroom and Caroline DeMoss (High Modified Hunter and Taylor Harris Insurance Medal), Grace McLaughlin and Santo (Equitation 14 – 15).
Congratulations to all competitors!
Pony hunters Right on Time with owner Caroline Robbins and Otteridge Black Hawk with owner Tylor Nowell (pictured above) each captured Reserve Championships in their divisions. Medal riders also did well, capturing blues in the Onondarka and WIHS Saddle Equitation Qualifying Class- Jumper Phase and Overall, and reds in the USEF Pony Medal, Pessoa/USEF National Hunter Seat Medal, NorCal Hunter Jumper Medal, and the Pickwick Junior/Amateur Medal. This highly rated show is a perennial favorite, and the this year’s tough competition included Olympian Will Simpson (pictured below)!
Chestnut Hill riders and their horses netted a wall of ribbons, including seven championships, five reserve championships, and countless blue, red and yellow ribbons. Posing above, left to right: Caroline Robbins, Tylor Nowell, Blaire Kingsley, Kat Taylor and assistant trainer Katharina Coleman. To get a complete listing of the results, please click on “Results” in the navigation bar above. Congratulations to all competitors!
Chestnut Hill teams dominated the Hunter Chases and Hunter Classics at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Classic I show. The winners were: Kat Taylor and Maximus in the $2,500 Adult Amateur Hunter Chase, Sarina Kernberg and Atticus in the $2,500 Children’s Hunter Chase, Blaire Kingsley and Grasshopper in the $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic (Grace McLaughin was third on Santo and fifth on Olympic), Tylor Nowell and Otteridge Black Hawk in the $1,000 Pony Hunter Classic (Kaylin Faidi and Lakeview Minuet were fifth), and Blaire Kingsley and Grasshopper in the $500 Junior Modified Hunter Classic.
Congratulations to all and look for complete show results soon.
Chestnut Hill riders continued to shine at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Classic show. Ashley Delgado and Posh were Champions in their Medium Pony division. Tylor Nowell and Otteridge Black Hawk dominated the Large Pony division, and went on to win the USEF and NorCal Pony medals, and were Reserve Champions in the Pony Equitation division. Tylor won the Onondarka Medal with Capito.
Bridget Twomey and Thoughtful brought home a Championship ribbon in the Pre-Adult Amateur Equitation division, and the stunning bay gelding was Champion in the Pre-Green and Low Hunter divisions with Assistant Trainer Katharina Coleman aboard. Bridget and her mare Iridescent captured a Championship in the Adult Amateur Hunter division. Katharina bested the Pre-Green division with Kat Taylor’s Kingsford as well.
Sarina Kernberg and her flashy chestnut gelding, Atticus, were Reserve Champions in the Children’s Hunter 14 – 17 division.
Blaire Kingsley rode her mount, Grasshopper to a Reserve Championship in the Junior Hunter 15 & Under division, and a Championship in the Junior Modified Hunters. She and Gran Turismo won the THIS National Children’s Medal.
Caroline DeMoss and Lucky Mushroom (pictured above) were champions in the Junior Equitation 13 – 14 age division, won the PCHA medal and captured red ribbons in the Horse and Hound, and Cloverleaf Equitation Classic.
Congratulations to all horses and riders!
East Coast rider and trainer, Ben Guanciale came to Chestnut Hill for a two-day clinic that was a big success. Winner of numerous Zone and National year-end awards, Guanciale proved why he is not only an outstanding rider, but a talented teacher and trainer as well. Working to improve each team’s presentation and success, Guanciale asked riders to think for themselves over basic as well as challenging exercises. (Pictured above, left to right: Trainer Beverly Jovais; Blaire Kingsley on Gran Turismo; Assistant Trainer, Katharina Coleman; Caroline DeMoss with Lucky Mushroom; Assistant Trainer Sarah Trask; India Graham on Chlarissa and clinician Ben Guanciale.)