DEVON, PA--Hunt Tosh rode two horses owned by different members of the Wheeler family to championships on May 29, the second day of hunter competition at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
Hunt Tosh and BastogneTosh rode Douglas Wheeler’s Bastogne to win the championship in the Green 3’6” Hunters section,
Last year, Tosh of Milton, Ga., and Bastogne had great experiences in the Pre-Green Hunter division, and this year in Florida they moved up to the Green 3’6” Hunters.
At the beginning of the month, Tosh showed Bastogne in Aiken, S. C. at the Aiken Charity Horse Show and rode to excellent ribbons in their respective division as well.
The 6-year-old gelding is a beautiful mover, and judges Timmy Kees and Brian Lenehan rewarded him with a win in the under saddle on Monday morning.
HE RETURNED to the Dixon Oval on Tuesday where he showed off his rideability in the handy phase, scoring an 88 to take the blue ribbon, and, with their consistent effort over the two days, Tosh and Bastogne captured the championship.
They racked up 22 points to lead just ahead of reserve champions, Sandy Ferrell and Stephanie Bulger’s Moonshot, who had 21 points.
“Douglas Wheeler owns him, and he has been great for us," said Tosh of Bastogne. "He is a beautiful mover, so that’s always nice when you have that, especially at Devon. He went beautifully in the first round. To end up champion is extra good. In my head, it happened so fast, I didn’t know what the points were going to be, but it worked out in his favor.
Devon decorates the show grounds"Everyone here is the best of the best. Being able to compete with everyone is so special, and it’s great to be champion where everyone is trying their hardest. We’ve been lucky and have had some horses who have gone really nicely here. It is fun to be able to come back here and be champion again, especially in the first division.
“We showed him a couple of times last year," said Tosh. "We did the Pre-Greens last year for one year. He hasn’t shown a ton, but he was great in Florida this year. He’s quiet and he’s pretty simple. He’s very easy to get to the ring, he’s got a great canter and is just a beautiful mover.”
Next on the show schedule for Tosh and Bastogne is the Upperville Colt and Horse Show in Upperville, Va., where they are hoping to achieve more top results.
In the Green Conformation Hunters section, the championship was won again by Tosh.
He rode Ceil and Kenny Wheeler’s Lights Out, while reserve went to Tori Colvin and Huckleberry Farm’s Grand Affair.
In the Green 3’9” Hunters section, the championship was won to Brad Wolf’s Private Practice ridden by Colvin, who won two classes Monday, and the reserve went to Callie Seaman’s Chicago and Patricia Griffith.
