Katie Tyler Claims $10,000 Classic at Vermont Summer Festival

Katie Tyler of Old Lyme, CT, riding Seattle 6 was the fastest of two jump-off contenders to win the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, presented by Dr. Robert Barber and Team Barber, on Sunday, July 5, at the Vermont Summer Festival. The Vermont Summer Festival runs for six consecutive weeks, from June 30 through August 9, at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.

Tyler and Seattle 6, her 14-year-old Holsteiner mare (Cassini x Condrieu) were first combination to successfully master the track set by course designer Alan Wade of Ireland. Kc Van Aarem of Wheaton, MD, and her own Mastermind soon followed suit to guarantee a jump-off.

Returning first, Tyler and Seattle 6 gave everything they had for the win. Rounding the corner to the final line at a blistering pace, Tyler planned for the leave-out, but changed her mind after jumping into the line.

“Once I got in, I saw another step, so I pulled and she chipped,” said Tyler. “She saved me and we jumped it, but had the rail down. She is very fast, and never one that I have to worry about the time allowed with.”

Speed proved to be Tyler's saving grace as she crossed the timers in 32.32 seconds. The door was open for Van Aarem to take the win with a clear round, but when she pulled a rail near the end of the track for four faults, her time of 37.23 seconds left her in second place.

Anastasia Bezsylko of Pound Ridge, NY, and Cakao 2 produced the fastest four-fault effort in the opening round to claim third, while Hannah Patten of Williamstown, MA, also incurred four faults for fourth place riding Filou vd Wateringhoeve. Tyler rounded out the top five with her second entry, Wild Card.

“It was a great class,” said Tyler, 22, who is entering her senior year at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY, where she studies Economics. “The course was challenging enough, but still gave us a jump-off, the height was great, and there were some technical lines that you really had to ride. There was great competition today.”

Tyler, who trains with Sachine Belle, has had the ride on Seattle 6 for more than six years and is currently focused on earning enough points to qualify for the Washington International Horse Show this fall.

”When I first got her, we did the lows and have since moved up to the highs, but this summer she has been great,” said Tyler of the mare she affectionately calls ‘Princess’ around the barn. “She's an unbelievable horse and definitely lives up to her barn name; she is the most spoiled horse in the barn.”

Tyler will be training with Belle for the duration of the Vermont Summer Festival, noting, “Hopefully we keep moving in the same direction as today!”

Also on Sunday, Alyssa Kinsey of Danville, NH, and Grisset won the $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Adult Jumper Classic while Saly Glassman of Gwynedd Valley, PA, won the $5,000 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic riding Doctori for owner Kindle Hill Affiliates.

Lea Marie Trudel of Granby, QC, and Evelyne Racine's Merlot won the $1,500 Marshall & Sterling Children's Jumper Classic under the direction of Canadian trainer Paul Bélanger. Bélanger, who operates Écuries Bélanger Stables in Bromont, QC, was awarded the Horse Sport Canadian Sportsmanship Award during the first week of the Vermont Summer Festival. The new award, sponsored by Horse Publications Group, will be presented each week during the circuit, with the winners collecting several prizes, including a subscription to Horse Sport Magazine.

Competition at the 2015 Vermont Summer Festival runs weekly from Wednesday through Sunday, beginning each day at 8 a.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children from Wednesday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, admission is $9 for adults, $5 for children. 100% of the gate proceeds benefit the Manchester Community Library and Dorset Equine Rescue.

The Vermont Summer Festival is New England’s largest hunter/jumper competition, and the richest sporting event based on purse in the state of Vermont. It is a proud member event of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL). For over 20 years, the event has attracted exhibitors and their families to the Manchester region in southern Vermont for great competition in an ideal summer setting.

Please e-mail or visit the website for more information about the Vermont Summer Festival.

$10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner High Jumper Classic,
presented by Dr. Robert Barber & Team Barber
Sunday, July 5, 2015

Rider Hometown Horse Faults Time
1. Katie Tyler Old Lyme, CT Seattle 6 0:4 32.32
2. Kc Van Aarem Wheaton, MD Mastermind 0:4 37.23
3. Anastasia Bezsylko Pound Ridge, NY Cakao 2 4
4. Hannah Patten Williamstown, MA Filou vd Wateringhoeve 4
5. Katie Tyler Old Lyme, CT Wild Card 4
6. Tye Donaldson Chepachet, RI Dunja 4
7. Catherine Wachtell Chatham, NJ VDL Theresa Lady 4
8. Samantha Kasowitz New York, NY The Man To See 4