Hunters: Wellington: WEF: Ballard and Sigfried take the 2nd Year Green Working Hunters

Photo Credit: Erynn Ballard and Sigfried are the Second Year Green Working Hunter champions during the fourth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot, Official Sport Photographer of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, www.sportfot.com.

For Immediate Release
Brooke Bidgood for Equestrian Sport Productions

Wellington, FL - February 3, 2011 - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3, starts yet another week of competition. Week 4 began yesterday and awarded its first championships of the week today. Among the early top honors awarded was the Second Year Green Working Hunter tricolor.

Top Canadian rider Erynn Ballard rode Susanne Stroh's entry, Sigfried, to the championship honors in the Second Year Green Working Hunters. This week marked Sigfried's first time in the Second Year Green Working Hunters. Ballard, who only recently began showing Sigfried said, "Last week I did him in the 3'3" Performance Hunters, and we talked about our options with him. I thought if he did the Second Years he had a good chance of qualifying for Devon."

Sigfried, who is lovingly referred to as Roy, is a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding by Sterling. His owner, Susanne Stroh, brought him all the way from Colorado to show him here at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. So far, their long trip has paid off.

Sigfried won four out of the division's five classes this week to secure the championship. He was also third in the remaining class.

Not far behind Sigfried was the reserve champion, Generous. Generous is owned by Lori Gaudet and was shown by David Oliynyk. The pair won one class, placed second in three classes, and was fourth in the remaining class.

Ballard plans to continue showing Sigfried throughout the remaining weeks at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. "We'll do World Championship Hunter Rider week and go from there," said Ballard.

Sigfried is not only showing as a Second Year horse here at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Look for Sigfried in the Amateur ring with owner Susanne Stroh.

Week 4 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival continues tomorrow. The junior riders will be down to business tomorrow as the equitation rings swing into action. Among the numerous equitation classes here, the USEF Talent Search class will take place tomorrow in Ring 10.

For full results please visit www.showgroundslive.com or for more information, visit www.equestriansport.com.

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