Grace Howard and Bethel's Peri with trainer Jack Towell and groom Alberto Ramirez
After an incredibly successful show season with Finally Farm in 2014, Grace Howard decided to conclude her year with competitions at the East Coast fall indoor shows. After impressive performances at the Capital Challenge in Maryland in early October, she traveled to the Nation's Capital for the Washington International Horse Show at the Verizon Center, October 21-26.
There, she and Bethel's Peri made their presence known in the Large Junior, 16-17, section, where they earned third- and fourth-placed ribbons competing among the elite few to qualify for this prestigious event.
After showing at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show last year, Grace chose to skip that competition to better prepare for Washington, and her decision paid off.
Grace Howard and Bethel's Peri
"It was my first time showing at WIHS, and it was so much fun!" said Grace. "He really couldn't have been better, and he is really the perfect horse to bring to a show like that. He doesn't need a lot of ring time before showing and loves a spookier atmosphere. I'm so excited for Kentucky with him this week and hope he will be just as good as he was in Washington!"
Grace Howard and Bethel's Peri hit Washington, D.C.
Stella Styslinger also enjoyed accolades at Washington, where she guided Eloise to an impressive third-placed ribbon in the Small Junior Hunter, 15 and under, Stake class. Her superb performances in Washington, D.C., followed on the heels of Harrisburg, where she and Eloise jumped to second place in a Small Junior Hunter, 15 and under over fences class with a score of 85.
Stella Styslinger and Eloise with trainers Jack Towell and Liza Boyd
Elizabeth Fogleman and Fonteyn HF also posted some impressive rounds at Harrisburg, earning ribbons and jogs in the Amateur-Owner, 18-35, section.
On the West Coast, Hardin Towell added more ribbons to his growing collection during the Del Mar International Horse Shows in California, held October 15-26.
Highlights included second place in the $50,000 Intuit Welcome Stake aboard his own Flip. He also guided Flip to fifth place in the $10,000 Open Jumper Stake.
Aboard Jennifer Gates' Lucifer V, Hardin was fourth in the $10,000 Open Jumper Stake and eighth in the $45,500 Grand Prix of the Pacific. Hardin also collected blue ribbons with Gates' Cadence in the 1.40m and 1.45m open jumper classes and with Emillie De Diamant A S in the 1.35m section.
