2020 USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Regional South Championship Finds Geitner and Clark on Top

Lexington, Ky.—Jul. 2, 2020—After a delay in the 2020 competition season, the first USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Regional Championship of the year wrapped up with tricolors for Daniel Geitner aboard Mr. Manhattan and Tommi Clark with Executive Privelege at the South Championships. The North Carolina Hunter Jumper Association Annual Horse Show hosted the event June 24–28, 2020 at Bruce’s Field at Aiken Horse Park in Aiken, South Carolina.

3’/3’3” Section
The $10,000 3’/3’3” section of the South Championship saw Daniel Geitner take the top two spots aboard Martin Schlaeppi's Mr. Manhattan and Memphis Blue, both new mounts for the Aiken, South Carolina, native.

"I had three new rides for the Green Incentive Regionals—all first time rides for me from Eight Oaks Farm and Johnny and Kitty Barker. All three were nice horses that were simple to ride and performed well," said Geitner, who also took ninth with Linda Shuford's Diangelo.

No stranger to the USHJA's Green Hunter Incentive program, Geitner is a member of the International Hunter Derby and Incentive Task Force. In addition to competing in the program's championships on several occasions in the past, he has plans to participate in this year's Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park on August 11-13, 2020.

"I will be competing at the Green Hunter Incentive Championships in Kentucky," he said. "The Green [Hunter] Incentive program has really brought back the excitement into producing young hunters. It is a way of giving back some money to the owners and helping offset the costs of making up these green horses. I am really excited about the national and regional Green Hunter Incentive program and what it offers."

3’6”/3’9” Section
Claiming the tricolor in the $5,000 3’6”/3’9” section was Tommi Clark and Stephen Borders' Executive Privelege. The Tryon, North Carolina, professional rode the gelding through two rounds of competition to top the Championship.

"Executive Privelege jumped wonderfully. He is a new horse to us, so it was very exciting to see him excel in this class," Clark said of her rounds. "I think the Green Hunter Incentive program, as well as the International Hunter Derby program, are absolutely incredible tools for our hunters."

Rounding out the remainder of the 3’6”/3’9” leaderboard was Brian Feigus with Carmacho, Ramone, and Camelot BF, taking reserve through fourth.

This was the first of five Regional Championships available to USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Program participants. Remaining Championships include the East Championship at Saratoga Fall, September 10-13, in Stillwater, New York; the Southwest Championship at the International Jumping Festival, September 16-20, in San Juan Capistrano, California; and the Central Championship at the Harvest Horse Show, October 28–November 1, in Katy, Texas. The updated location and dates for the Northwest Championship are to be announced.

The USHJA extends a special thank you to the North Carolina Hunter Jumper Association, the NCHJA Annual Horse Show, Southbound Show Management, and Patrick Rodes and his team for hosting the Championship.

USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Program participants can choose from one of five regional championships held across the country. Exhibitors may choose whichever regional championship they want but horses may only compete in one regional championship per year. Each regional championship is two rounds, and the combined total score for both rounds will determine the winner. Prize money is awarded through twelfth place, and each championship will offer a minimum of $10,000 in prize money spread across all the sections offered. Horses must be enrolled in the program to be eligible to participate.

Learn more about the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Program at ushja.org/GreenIncentive.

Photos by Alison Hartwell Photography

USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Regional South Championship Results

3'/3'3" Section
Placing - Horse - Rider - Owner
1 - Mr. Manhattan - Daniel Geitner - Martin Schlaeppi
2 - Memphis Blue - Daniel Geitner - Martin Schlaeppi
3 - Rhythm & Balous - Pat Vogtle - Virginia Greene
4 - Exceed - Tommi Clark - Stephen Borders
5 - Double Tap - Martin Videla - Deborah Snyder
6 - London Calling - Brian Feigus - Susannah Shearer
7 - Farandola - Stephanie Von Bidder - Marguerite Munger
8 - Undeniable - Hunter Kay - Ann Rice Ervin
9 - Diangelo - Daniel Geitner - Linda Shuford
10 - Extravagant - Tommi Clark - Stephen Borders
11 - Spider Too - Erin Dombroski - Diane Semer
12 - Southern Living - Christy Burns - Ashley Cooke

3'6"/3'9" Section
Placing - Horse - Rider - Owner
1 - Executive Privelege - Tommi Clark - Stephen Borders
2 - Carmacho - Brian Feigus - Stella Thigpen
3 - Ramone - Brian Feigus - Hammer-Jadick Hunters LLC
4 - Camelot BF - Brian Feigus - Hammer-Jadick Hunters LLC