Michael Desiderio Takes Top Honors in $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, Presented by Eastern Hay
Michael Desiderio and Cromwell. Photo by Anne Gittins Photography
Long Valley, N.J.- Aug. 19, 2021 - The 2021 Monmouth at The Team horse show kicked off this week. The event hosts seven days of top-notch USEF-rated hunter, jumper, and equitation competition. This year's event marked its debut at the Centenary University Equestrian Center location with multiple arenas and a boutique row. Exhibitors enjoyed high-touch hospitality synonomous with the show and its co-owners Tucker Ericson and Michael Dowling. The first featured hunter class of the week was the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Eastern Hay. Michael Desiderio earned the victory gallop with Deborah Bianco’s Cromwell.
Sixteen top hunter combinations contested Skip Bailey’s original track with Scott Fitton in the judges booth. Twelve of those original entries, consisting of both professional and amateur athletes, returned for the shortened handy track. Desiderio, a New Jersey native whose family owns and operates Tranquility Farm, held the early lead in the class from the beginning and was confident in his horse’s ability to maintain the position going into the handy phase.
“I was a few points ahead after the first round so I wanted to put in a nice trip in the handy but knew I didn’t have to do anything crazy,” Desiderio said. “Cromwell is such a great hunter derby horse because he always maintains an even rhythm. I set the pace I wanted to have and he was consistent throughout the whole track.”
Amy Miller and Michael Dowling with Michael Desiderio and Cromwell.
Photo by Anne Gittins Photography
He and the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Silka) have had many successes together over the years at Monmouth At The Team.
“The course was very well done and the footing and venue were excellent,” Desiderio said “It included a few bending lines and single jumps which gave you enough room to get a good canter and maintain pace around the course so I was able to just find everything out of stride.”
Kianna Luscher and long-time partner Carissima W moved up from third position to second after their performance in the handy round, and Liz Porter rounded out the top three with David Kimm’s Perspective. Luscher and the Northeast EquiWave Therapy LLC’s 17-year-old Mecklenberg mare (Captain Paul x Jutta) only recently repartnered after an out-of-farm lease took Carissima to the lower levels for a time.
“I only recently got Carissima back from her lease and she had stepped down quite a bit to the 2’6” height while she was gone,” Luscher said. “I began showing her again and we decided to go ahead and compete her in the derby at Princeton and it was like she had never missed a beat. She is truly special!
We had a great first round but I think her ability to be so handy really blossomed in the second round,” she continued. “There was one turn that was possible but extremely difficult, and it paid off when we made the decision to do it because we were the only ones to do so.”
Kianna Luscher and Carissima W. Photo by Anne Gittins Photography.
Kathryn Blount and Laramy Rise to the Occasion in PHA National Medal Finals
Kathryn Blount with Barbara Filippelli, Michael Fugaro, Jess Martin, John Scapelhorn,
Michael Dowling, and Lynne Peters. Photo by Anne Gittins Photography.
The Professional Horseman’s Association held its annual National Medal Finals for the first time at Monmouth At The Team on the evening of Wednesday, Aug.18 with ten top horse and rider combinations vying for top prize. Earnings from the class’s completion were special this season as all profit in the winners name went to Danny & Ron’s Rescue. Among top competition, it was ultimately Kathryn Blount aboard Eyckenhoeve Sales LLC’s Laramy who claimed the honors.
The class, serving as the year-end finals, was held at both the 3’3” and 3’6” height. The course included a built-in equitation test with the option for judge Scott Fitton to require further testing.
“ I am so beyond excited to have won the PHA final in such great company,” detailed Blount. “I feel that my horse and I really came together as a team, and that we knew what each other was thinking the entire time.
I went in feeling very confident and comfortable after getting second in the WIHS jumper phase, so I had a clear mindset when I walked in,” she added.
Blount is a student of Michael Dowling and Michael Meyers at Windham Hill.
“We are very excited to be a part of this horse show,” said PHA representative Lynne Peters. “It is truly fantastic, top notch, and first class. The entire show management team has been overwhelmingly excited for the class and excited to hold it here so we are very grateful for their support.”
Kathryn Blount and Laramy. Photo by Anne Gittins Photography.
Blount’s victory aboard the eight-year-old Warmblood gelding meant a $1,500 check in her name was donated to Danny & Ron's Rescue. The nonprofit, led by two members of the equestrian industry, Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta gained world-wide attention by the popular documentary, “Life In The Doghouse,” directed by Ron Davis. To date, Danny & Ron’s Rescue has saved the lives of more than 12,000 abused and neglected dogs.
“Ron and Danny have done so much for so many beings - both two footed and four-footed - and are wonderful horsemen,” stated Peters. “We felt there were no two horsemen more deserving than Danny and Ron for this first-time award.”
Other notable successes of the day went to Kenzie Smith and Derby Hill Farm LLC’s Escapade who were crowned the Trip of the Day winners, and Ella Buano and Czechmate Z came out on top of the Bit O’ Straw Classic.
Classes will resume for another full day of hunter competition, featuring the Bobcat Derby, presented by The Nature Conservancy.
Fast Facts
Dates
Aug. 16-23, 2021
Location
Centenary University Equestrian Center
40 Califon Road
Long Valley, NJ 07853
Get Directions
Website
www.monmouthattheteam.com
Prize List
Available summer 2021
Enter Online
Horseshowing.com
Entries close Aug. 1
Owners
J. Tucker Ericson
(908) 303-1956
jtericson1969@gmail.com
Michael T. Dowling
(914) 850-0508
windhamhillllc@gmail.com
Grain/Hay/Shavings
Eastern Hay
(845) 855-3291
easternhay.com
Poster Artwork
Ellen A Gavin / Green Boots Studio
(856) 293-8832
egavin@greenbootstudio.com
Show Manager
Creigh Duncan
(609) 213-3737
creighduncan@aol.com
Show Secretary
Mary Norris
515 Fourth Ave.
Avon by the Sea, NJ 07717
(908) 963-3465
maryenorris@gmail.com
Sponsorship and Hospitality
Julie Berman
(908) 303-6999
jjb@juliamfarm.com
Stabling
J. Tucker Ericson
(908) 303-1956
jtericson1969@gmail.com
Course Designer
Skip Bailey
Official Show Photography
Anne Gittins Photography
annegittins.com
Media
Carrie Wirth
EQ Media
carrie@eqmedia.agency