Canterbury Farm Kicks Off 2016 Show Season with Top Ribbons in Florida

March 2, 2016 - Hampshire, Illinois

Hillcrest Songbird and Abigail Brayman.
Photo by ESI Photography
Abigail Brayman and Zops.
Photo by ESI Photography
Cydelle and Caitlyn Shiels.
Photo by ESI Photography
Balida and Caitlyn Shiels.
Photo by ESI Photography
Caitlyn Shiels and Cavalier II.
Photo by ESI Photography

Canterbury Farm, of Hampshire, IL, is currently in the midst of ten weeks of competition at the 2016 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. The team, led by trainers Greg Franklin and Caitlyn Shiels, has already received many top ribbons throughout the first six weeks of competition, and looks forward to continuing their success through the second half of the tour in Ocala, FL, through its conclusion on March 27.

Owned by the Franklin Family, Canterbury Farm is a family-owned and operated hunter/jumper training facility based in Hampshire, IL. For more than 30 years, they have dedicated themselves to providing exceptional service to their clients by offering personalized training and care for both horse and rider.

“Everyone at Canterbury Farm is excited about the great start that we have had to the 2016 season, and we hope for continued success throughout the winter and beyond,” Franklin stated. “We have a fantastic group of horses and riders. We look forward to some of our young horses coming up this season; we have a few great horses for sale, and a few new ones that we have high hopes for. The team is stronger than ever, and we can’t wait to see what this year brings.”

Canterbury’s Farm’s Hillcrest Songbird has been the star of the winter thus far, jumping to back-to-back championships in the Large Pony Hunter division in weeks three and four, ridden by Abigail Brayman. In week three, the pair earned the championship and went on to win the $1,000 Perfect Products Large Pony Hunter Classic. In week four, Brayman and Hillcrest Songbird were champions once again and finished second in the Classic. They were also third in the Classic during week five. The pony was then Mid-Circuit Champion for the Large Pony Hunters.

Hillcrest Songbird is for sale and available to be tried throughout the final weeks of the HITS Ocala circuit. She is a 14-½ hand, 12-year-old mare by Hillcrest Blue Smoke.

In 2015, Hillcrest Songbird won the $5,000 Pony Hunter Prix at HITS as well as numerous championships in Ocala, Wellington, St. Louis, HITS Saugerties, Lamplight and Traverse City. She also earned ribbons at the 2015 Pennsylvania National Horse Show and Washington International Horse Show.

Brayman also competed in the equitation divisions over the last several weeks with tops ribbons. She finished second in the USEF Hunter Seat Medal during week six and placed second in week four and third in week five in the ASPCA Maclay National Horsemanship classes.

Marcia Franklin’s Cydelle has also had great results throughout the first half of the HITS circuit, jumping to the reserve mid-circuit championship in the Low Hunters. Cydelle is a talented nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Popeye K.

In week five, Cydelle jumped to the championship in the Low Hunters with Caitlyn Shiels in the irons, winning two classes over fences. She also competed with Madeline Pogorzelski, who earned the reserve championship in the Novice Equitation division and won a class over fences in the Modified Children’s Hunters. Cydelle was also reserve champion in the Low Hunter division with Shiels in week one.

During week three, Shiels guided Katherine Heywood’s Balida to the reserve championship in the Performance Working Hunter 3’6” division. They won one class over fences and finished second in three others. The 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Indorado has really come into her own this year and continues to improve.

Also competing in week three, Margo Lyon’s Kadence Darco was eighth in $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. The gorgeous six-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Darco is for sale and available to try in Ocala.

Kadence Darco is an excellent Small Junior Hunter. She is a beautiful mover, has not been lower then fourth in the under saddles at HITS, and is a super jumper with an excellent brain.

Greg Franklin’s neice, Molly Zygmont, was back in action in week five showing her adorable pony, Pumpkin Pie. Zygmont earned great ribbons in the Small/Medium Children’s Hunter Pony division as well as the Equitation 11 & Under. She also placed second in the Marshall & Sterling Children’s Pony Medal.

Shiels and her young jumper Cavalier II jumped to a fifth place finish in week four’s $2,500 Brooke Ledge Open Welcome Stake. Cavalier is nine years old this year and has begun stepping up to the bigger classes as he continues to develop beautifully.

The team at Canterbury Farm will continue to compete at the 2016 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit through March 27.

Canterbury Farm continues its sponsorships with Blueberry Hill, Butet, EquiFit, Ardie Hastey, O’Shaughnessy Apparel, Samshield, and Tucci in the 2016 season. They would also like to welcome Hayward Sportswear Ltd.

About Canterbury Farm
Canterbury Farm maintains a horse show schedule on a local, regional and national level that is created with their customer’s competitive goals in mind. For over 35 years, Greg Franklin has ridden hunters and jumpers to numerous championships nationally and has brought home numerous Zone 5 ‘Horse of the Year’ awards. Franklin has qualified horses and riders for the Pennsylvania National, Washington International and the National Horse Shows including the Medal and Maclay Finals. He has also shown internationally at Canada’s Spruce Meadows in the 1.40m and 1.45m divisions and is a certified trainer with USHJA. Additionally, Franklin holds his ‘R’ card in Hunters, Hunter Seat Equitation, and Jumpers, and judges throughout the country.

Born and raised in Sheffield, Massachusetts, Caitlyn Shiels began riding at the age of eight. A highlight of Shiels’ early career was being a team and individual gold medalist at the 2004 North American Young Riders’ Championship. Shiels went on to apprentice under such professionals as Andre Dignelli, Mclain Ward, Ken Smith and Kate Stoffel-Oliver. Almost immediately after she joined the Canterbury team in 2013, Sheils and Franklin both began earning multiple championships at major shows including Spring Spectacular, Horse Shows by the Bay, Traders Point Charity Horse Show, and Kentucky. Their partnership is an excellent balance of training both on the horse and from the ground.

With qualified trainers, attention to detail, and a caring staff, Canterbury Farm is committed to excellence in horsemanship, and to giving all of their riders a great experience in the show ring.

For more information, visit www.canterburyfarmchicago.com or email info@canterburyfarmchicago.com.