From the Finish Line to the Start Box: Thoroughbreds at Jersey Fresh

-- Sarah Andrew


Monmouth County, New Jersey is the home of many excellent equine events, including the Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event, held at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown.

For those who are not familiar with the sport, eventing is comprised of three phases.

Phase One of eventing is dressage, a test of strength, balance, and discipline for horses and riders.

  
Phase Two is cross country, which highlights the heart, speed, and endurance of the teams.

Phase Three is stadium jumping, which requires precision, accuracy, and rateability.

This weekend at Jersey Fresh, I photographed top-caliber riders, some of whom compete at an Olympic level. The horses were also tremendous athletes, and for some of them, this was not their first career. Here are a few of the two- and three-star Thoroughbreds from Jersey Fresh 2011 who were racehorses before finding their second career:

©2011 Sarah Andrew

Vaunted, ridden by Ashley Adams: Two Punch - First Quad. Lifetime 2-0-0-0 Earnings $0

©2011 Sarah Andrew

Mensa, ridden by Andrea Leatherman: Colonial Affair - Fire the Secretary. Lifetime 40-5-7-4 Earnings $92,901

 Buckingham Place, ridden by Amanda Silver: Buckaroo - Old Maid. Lifetime 40-4-3-4 Earnings $23,298

Here's To You, ridden by Emily Beshear: Will's Way - China Sky. Lifetime 3-0-0-1 Earnings $1,290

High Finance, ridden by Melissa Miller: Peruvian - Centerfold Rebe. Lifetime 39-2-3-4 Earnings $35,549

 Sea Lion, ridden by Pam Fisher: Sea Salute - Ivory Today. Lifetime 12-1-2-4 Earnings $63,360

Loki, ridden by Jeff Kibbie: River Quest- Bea Gifted. Lifetime 11-0-0-0 Earnings $746

For more information about this sport, visit the United States Eventing Association website.