Makhloghi and Burke Record First Day Wins at Saratoga Classic II Show
June 19, 2024 - Stillwater, NY
Photo by Jess Windhurst Photography
Photo by Jess Windhurst Photography
The Saratoga Classic II Horse Show kicked off on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at White Hollow Farm with the professional hunters and several jumper classes. The show will run through Sunday, June 23, and features a $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby on Friday as well as a $25,000 Saratoga Grand Prix and the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championships on Saturday.
In the jumper divisions, professional Kyla Makhloghi rode her longtime partner, Rosemont Farm Inc.’s Hurry Up B, to a win in a 1.10-meter class of 16 entries.
While “Scarlet” has jumped to the national and international grand prix level since Makhloghi bought her as a six-year-old, the 12-year-old KWPN mare (Kojak x Cade Z) has decided she wants to jump at a lower level these days.
“She’s been trying her heart out for the last five years,” said Makhloghi. “She’s only 12, but she’s done amazing things for me, and I don’t ever want to put her in a position where she feels like she can’t go. I’m seeing if she’ll be happy jumping smaller jumps and maybe doing it competitively with someone else. I put a working student of mine on her last week, and she was awesome.
“I was just doing a training class,” she continued of her Wednesday plan. “With Scarlet, you can’t go slow! It’s a 1.10m class for a horse who’s been doing big stuff, but she owes me absolutely nothing, and I just want her to be happy.”
Makhloghi, who is based in Wellington, FL, said Scarlet tries hard no matter how high the fences are. “She was ready!” she said. “She gives 1,000% at everything you ask of her. She treated today like she treated the grand prix she won here a few years ago. She’s a competitor always. It’s going to be a little bit of an experimental summer with her, and she’s going to tell us what she wants. She’s been the best thing in my life for a very long time.”
This is the fourth year that Makhloghi and her students have competed at the Saratoga Horse Shows at White Hollow Farm.
“Management has really worked hard at making it better in all the ways that you want a horse show to,” she said. “They’re really conscious of improvement for the competitor and for the horse.”
Boom Does the Hunters
While Zonik Boom’s sire, Glock’s Zonik, has been to the World Championships, European Championships, and an FEI World Cup Final in dressage, the five-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding has shown talent for the hunter ring with rider Jennifer Burke.
Burke has been enjoying the ride as she brings “Z” along as a sales horse. Z topped a 3’ Green Hunter over fences class and a Low Hunter over fences class on Wedesday and will make his hunter derby debut on Friday in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby.
“He felt great. We had a little bit of a break after Florida, and I think it just kind of sunk in after that circuit,” said Burke, who owns and operates Grist Mill Farm LLC in Plainville, MA, with her sister, Tracy Burke. “He felt amazing in the warmup. I think he enjoys horse showing,”
Burke describes Z as a giant puppy dog. “He wants to be right in your lap,” she said. “I joke with all the girls at the barn that he must have been brought up as a foal in a Baby Bjorn because he’s very people-oriented! He’s super sweet. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him have a bad day or be upset about anything.”
Burke competed at the Saratoga Horse Show in its previous venue at the Saratoga Race Course but loves White Hollow Farm showgrounds and makes the Saratoga Horse Shows a normal part of her show calendar.
“I love how the show is run,” she remarked. “I think it runs really smoothly. All the rings are centrally located. We’ll be back for sure.”
Saratoga Classic II Horse Show Highlights
Thursday, June 20
$5,000 1.35m Welcome
Professional Hunter Champions and Grand Hunter Champion award
Friday, June 21
$10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Saturday, June 22
$25,000 Saratoga Grand Prix
$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championship
Sunday, June 23
President’s Cup Equitation
$1,000 Non-Pro Hunter Derby
Grand Hunter Champion awards
Looking for horse show photos? Visit official photographer Jess Windhurst Photography at www.JessWindhurst.com to view all of your show proofs!
For more information on the Saratoga Horse Shows, visit www.saratogahorseshows.com.
About Saratoga Horse Shows
Now in its 26th year, Saratoga Horse Shows will offer nine USEF-rated competitions on the 2024 show calendar, along with an additional seven schooling show dates. Managed by Southbound Saratoga Management Group and held at White Hollow Farm in Stillwater, New York, Saratoga Horse Shows is situated on more than 100 acres and located eight miles from downtown Saratoga Springs. With eight large arenas featuring state-of-the-art drainage and all-weather performance footing, permanent and tented stabling, and turnout paddocks, it is the ideal place to show during the spring and summer months. Visit www.saratogahorseshows.com to learn more.
