Deeridge Farm's Lou Jacobs Wins $30,000 Otter Creek Grand Prix at Manchester Classic Horse Show

Deeridge Farm continued their winning ways last week at the Manchester Classic Horse Show. The show ran from July 23-27, 2008. Deeridge has bases in two locations in East Aurora, NY and Wellington, FL.

Lou Jacobs was unbeatable the past week. He celebrated his win in the $30,000 Otter Creek Grand Prix. He rode to victory aboard Kachina, owned by Deeridge Farm. Jacobs was able to go double clear and fast to beat Jimmy Torano, Kent Farrington, and even his own trainer, Joe Fargis, in the jump-off.

"Kent was really cooking in the jump-off; I was lucky he had that last jump down because I would not have caught his time," Jacobs said. "I knew I had Joe after me, so I had to go reasonably fast."

It was a great return to the winner's circle in the grand prix ring for Jacobs, who was a dominant show jumper in the 80s. "It's been a long time," Jacobs laughed. "It's quite a bit different now with teenage kids and a full-time job, but it's been a lot of fun and I really enjoy riding Kachina."

Jacobs and Kachina, a 10-year-old Selle Francais mare, have been paired for three years and are slowly working their way up through the jumper levels. "We've been selective, and I've been careful when I've used her," Jacobs noted. "We've taken our time and are not super aggressive."

Now that Kachina has shown that she can do well consistently in the grand prix level, Jacobs hopes to move her up to even larger classes. They will compete next in the $200,000 FTI Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic Horse Show.

Not only did he win the grand prix, he also had great success in other classes. Jacobs and Deeridge Farm's Soleil were a close second in the $10,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. In addition, he was fourth in the $10,000 Hickey-Freeman/Betsey Johnson Welcome class riding Kachina.

Charlie Jacobs was champion in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers on Pia with a first-place finish in a class. He was also third in the $10,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic with Pia.

Katie Jacobs Robinson rode her horse So You Say in the Amateur-Owner Hunters 36 and Over. The pair came away with first, second, third, fifth and sixth-place ribbons in the division. Robinson's horse was also reserve champion in the Low Hunters with rider Geoff Teall, receiving first, third and fourth-place ribbons.

Joan Jacobs did well on Deeridge Farm's Boyke 2 last week. She and Boyke 2 picked up a third-place ribbon in the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers. Kim Jacobs had no shortage of ribbons for herself either. In the Adult Amateur Hunters 46 and Over, she rode Oxbow and received second, sixth, two sevenths and ninth-place ribbons and fifth in the Adult Amateur Equitation. On Dawson, owned by Danielle Kaidanow, Jacobs came away with fifth and sixth-place ribbons in the $500 M&S Adult Amateur Hunter Classic and the $500 NAL/WIHS Adult Amateur Hunter Classic.

Junior rider Melissa Jacobs had some good rides last week as well. Riding Dakota, owned by herself and Alice Jacobs, she picked up two fourths, fifth and seventh-place ribbons in the Children's Hunters. Jacobs was also seventh in the $500 NAL/WIHS Children's Hunter Classic and ninth on Checkmate, owned by Alexandra Block, in the USEF Hunter Seat Medal. Charlotte Jacobs rode Missy Clark's horse Ramone to a fourth-place finish in the $1,500 NAL/WIHS Children's Jumper Classic.

It was a great week for Deeridge riders, who have all come together as a family to compete at the Vermont Summer Festival. "It really is a fantastic place to spend time, and we have a lot of fun here," Lou Jacobs said.

Deeridge Farm with attend the fourth week of the Vermont Summer Classic on July 30-August 3, 2008.