The race to be included in the 5th Annual CHSA Finals is in full swing. This year’s Finals will take place August 26-28 at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center in Old Lyme. With approximately two months left in which to qualify, the competition is heating up. Last year more than 334 horses and riders in 21 divisions qualified for the 2010 Finals. Therefore, this year CHSA has expanded their Finals to three days in order to accommodate all of the qualifying divisions and classes.
The purpose of the CHSA Finals is to provide a show-case to encourage and promote interest in the beginner and intermediate classes for all members of CHSA. For a division or class to be included in the Finals, there must be a minimum of 10 horses/riders each having more than 25 points by the qualifying deadline on July 31, 2011. The exception to this will be the CHSA Pleasure class which only needs 12 points to qualify due to the fact that this class is only offered once at each show.
Points in all classes, except Medals explained below, are tracked from the beginning of the 2011 show season on December 1, 2010 to the deadline of July 31, 2011. As of that closing date the top 20 riders/horses in each division or class that has qualified will be invited to participate in the Finals.
With the CHSA Medal Classes, points are tracked year round, starting with the closing of the qualification period for the 2010 Medals last August (2010) and finishing with this year’s deadline on July 31st. Riders qualify by earning a minimum of 12 or more points in CHSA Medal classes held at recognized shows. Riders may continue to enter the Medal classes after they have accumulated the requisite 12 points, then, at the end of the qualifying period the top 30 qualified medal riders will be invited to participate in the CHS Medal Finals. Riders reaching 70 points in the Medal classes are automatically qualified and are exempt from continuing to show in the appropriate medal qualifying classes. Riders may only compete in one Equitation Medal Class at Finals.
Friday, August 26 will feature all of the Pleasure Divisions that have qualified as well as the Walk-Trot Equitation and Pleasure classes. The two judges on Friday will be Joyce Przebowski of New York and Doug Raucher of Massachusetts. Saturday will feature the Hunter classes, and Sunday will have the Medal Equitation Finals. Barbara Filippelli of New York and Ken Whelihan of Massachusetts will be the judges on these two days. On Sunday there will also be the very popular Lead Rein Demonstration class.
Special Thank you to our returning Sponsors Nutrena, Troiano Chrysler Jeep Dodge and Artioli Chrysler Dodge.
For more information visit www.chsafinals.com
