Lexington, KY – August 14, 2024 – The 2024 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship continued on Wednesday in the Rolex Stadium during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park. The first round of the 3’/3’3” Championships featured 143 horses as they aimed for a top 10 finish and the chance to advance directly to the Tier I Championship. At the end of the day, there was tie for the top spot between Kate Conover aboard Straight On and Nick Haness riding Odette, who each earned scores of 274. Just a half a point behind them was Tori Colvin and Northern Lights with a score of 273.5 for third place.
The 3’/3’3” Championship consists of two rounds offered at both 3’ and 3’3”. All horses are invited to compete in the first round and second round, but the top 10 from the first round may elect not to compete in the Second Round. The top 10 horses from the Second Round are automatically qualified for the Championship Tier I Round. Lastly, the top 10 horses from cumulative scores from the First and Second Round qualify for the Championship Tier I Round. The 30 horses advance to the Championship Tier I Round, where they start with a clean slate.
Ken Krome and Meghan Rawlins created another flowing course for the young horses competing in the Rolex Stadium, allowing them to showcase their style over the beautiful fences. Conover and Haness each had brilliant rounds on Wednesday to land at the top of the leaderboard.
“Marissa Metzger asked me about a month ago if I would show Straight On for her at Green Finals,” explained Conover regarding the 7-year-old German Sport Horse gelding owned by LSMB, LLC. “I jumped him around for the first time last night. He’s pretty incredible to ride. She told me Straight On was one that could really go and win, and she sure was right.”
Watch Kate Conover and Straight On’s winning round
This marks the first year that the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship has been held in the Rolex Stadium and Conover enjoyed having the opportunity to compete with the green hunters in the new location. “It’s just such an exceptional facility, and to get to canter in the Rolex with these hunter jumps, especially for these greener horses is amazing,” she said. “It’s going to set them up even in the future for Derby Finals. It gives such a good training experience that they can do this as a young horse and then progress into Derby Finals. I think that’s a really amazing addition to hear at the finals this year.
Haness was carrying momentum from Tuesday’s victory in the Green Hunter Incentive 3’6”/3’9″ Championship and had an equally beautiful round on Wednesday with Odette, an 8-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by John and Stephanie Ingram. “My round on Odette was pretty fun,” he smiled. “She is a dream to ride and she’s a natural champion. There’s pressure to do well because she’s so, so fancy, but at the same time she’s so easy. It was just like a walk in the park for her today.”
Watch Nick Haness and Odette’s winning round
While all 143 horses are invited to return for Thursday’s second round, the top 10 have the opportunity to wait to show again until Friday’s final round, and that is an option Haness plans to utilize for Odette. “I definitely think it’s a great formula,” he concluded. “They’ve given us now a great opportunity to strategize with your individual horse. All these horses are all so different. It’s nice to be able to have the ability and the options to really give your horse the best opportunity to showcase their abilities and win the finals. I’m excited for this particular mare to skip a day and rest and be ready to go and be in prime condition for the final round.”
Rounding out the top three and also earning a berth to Friday’s Championship was Tori Colvin riding Northern Light. The duo finished just behind Conover and Haness, just half a point off of the leaders.
Tori Colvin and Northern Lights
The 2024 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship will continue on Thursday with the second round 3’/3’3” Championship followed by the Final Championship Round on Friday. The week continues with the 2024 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship, which will get underway on Friday in the Rolex Stadium.
For more information about the Kentucky Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.