Lexington, KY – July 23, 2026 – The action is just starting to heat up at the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, presented by Rood and Riddle, as top athletes gathered at the Rolex Stadium for the first highlight event of the week on Thursday morning. They were all vying for the top spot in the $25,000 Kentucky Summer Classic, which was narrowed down to a nine-horse jump-off. Just a tenth of a second separated the top three, but it was Josie Atherton and Kyra who galloped home with the winning honors as the last to go. Hugh Turner and Nova Scotia Z placed second, while Jodie Camberg and Hendrick Des Forets rounded out the top three.
“It feels great to win today,” expressed Atherton. “Kyra is amazing – I don’t even have words. I just got her in January, and she’s such a great teammate – she’s so smart! She needs a fairly simple ride, which was kind of challenging for me at first because I’ve ridden a lot of horses that I had to protect, so it was a learning curve with her in the beginning, but now I just let her show me the way.”
Josie Atherton & Kyra. Photos by Winslow Photography
Course designer Anderson Lima asked questions throughout the 12-obstacle track in the Rolex Stadium at Kentucky Horse Park, which included an oxer-vertical double combination, a vertical-vertical double combination, and a vertical-oxer combination. Nine combinations had all the answers in the first round and advanced to the jump-off, where they had to begin over a wide oxer and make a sharp rollback after the first line. They then galloped across the ring to the vertical-oxer double combination before making another sharp turn to a new vertical and galloping home over the final line towards the gate.
Jodie Camberg & Hendrick Des Forets
Kris Killam was the pathfinder with Coupanasa, opting for a conservative clear as the first to go and setting the time to beat at 47.200 seconds. His lead did not hold for long, as Camberg and Hendrick Des Forets entered the ring next and picked up a quick gallop. They upped the ante as they cleared the course in a very quick 41.269 seconds. A few rounds later, the lead changed hands once again as Turner and Nova Scotia Z zipped through the course in 41.106 seconds, leaving all the rails intact. Atherton had the advantage of going last with Kyra, and after watching Camberg and Turner she knew her plan. She added a stride in one line to be able to make a sharper rollback, and that small change paid off as they galloped through the timers in a clear 41.007 seconds to claim their first big win together.
Hugh Turner & Nova Scotia Z
“I think some people were doing seven up the first line, so I decided to do eight so I could turn back faster to the third oxer, and I think that’s where we made up a lot of time,” explained Atherton, who rides with Matt Cyphert of Woodhill Farm. “Matt just told me to keep kicking, have more pace than I think I need, and be careful with my track, especially down the last line.”
The $25,000 Kentucky Summer Classic marked the duo’s first major victory together, and although she only began riding the 11-year-old KWPN mare a few months ago, she is very excited about the future together. In addition to aiming for Saturday’s $50,000 Rood and Riddle Grand Prix, Atherton also hopes to start showing her in the FEI divisions this fall.
The Kentucky Summer Horse Shows are always a favorite for Atherton, who concluded, “It’s just so special here. It’s horse country, and it’s just a lovely time being here!”
The next highlight event in the Rolex Stadium will be Saturday night’s $50,000 Rood and Riddle Grand Prix, which will be part of the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hats Off Day. Show jumping action will continue next week as well during the Kentucky Summer Classic. For more information on the Kentucky Summer Series please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.