Calgary, AB – June 17, 2013 – Double H Farm has been competing at the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments for the past two weeks, and rider Quentin Judge scored a major victory with HH Dark de la Hart in the $35,000 Husky Energy Cup 1.50m. Along with leading that victory gallop, Judge had top ribbons in seven other classes at the first two tournaments. Double H Farm is owned by the Harrison Family and based in Ridgefield, CT, and Wellington, FL.
Quentin Judge and HH Dark de la Hart were fastest in a jump-off of 10 competitors when they stopped the clock in 41.20 seconds and no faults in the $35,000 Husky Energy Cup 1.50m. Christine McCrea (USA) and Wannick WH were second in 41.55 seconds, while Ashlee Bond (USA) rode Cadett 7 to third in 41.67 seconds.
Quentin Judge and HH Dark de la Hart. Photo © Spruce Meadows Media Services.
Judge is working with 10-time Olympian Ian Millar of Canada, and he gave Judge valuable advice for winning the jump-off. He felt that he had to be fast in the beginning of the course in order to catch the early time set by Bond and Cadett 7. “I knew that I needed to be fast from number one through three in the jump-off. My horse is really good at eyeing in on a jump and jumping at an angle, so I knew I could be quick there,” he recalled.
Judge and HH Dark de la Hart, a 10-year-old Belgian Sport Horse stallion by Kashmir van Schuttershof x Nonstop owned by Double H Farm, have been paired together for nine months. “We’ve really just started to click here in Calgary,” Judge revealed. “He was good all through Florida, but I was getting used to him and he was getting used to me. Being here, I think he really loves the venue and the jumps and the grass.”
Quentin Judge raises his trophy and Husky for victory with Asim Ghosh, President & CEO of Husky Energy. Photo © Spruce Meadows Media Services.
This was Judge’s first FEI-level victory, and his first victory in the main ring at Spruce Meadows. “This venue is amazing, and to win your first big class and have a presentation like that is really special,” he expressed. “I’ve seen people lead the victory gallop for years and I’ve always really wanted to be there. I’ve tried to work hard and get there, and now that it’s happened, it’s a great feeling.”
Watch a video of Quentin’s and Dark’s winning round!
One of the best things about their victory this week was that Hunter and Jeannie Harrison were there to see it. “The Harrisons are so supportive, no matter how I do, but for them to be here and see the horse win is really great,” Judge related. “Mr. Harrison always says he picked that horse. It’s special because he really loves that horse and he really believes in him. It was great for them to be here.”
Judge said that working with the Millar family has been extremely helpful for the Double H Farm program, especially for their new horses. “It’s based on basic good riding and giving the horses what they need to be successful. Then when you go in the ring, you’re as prepared as you can be,” he explained. What’s also helped is that riding advice is coming from three show jumpers who know what it’s like to be tall and have to control their position on a horse. “Ian, Jonathan, and Amy are all tall and they know what it’s like. They all have the same philosophy but explain it differently,” he said.
Other top ribbons in the ‘Continental’ Tournament for Judge came with Ace High Mike, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Randi x Clover Hill co-owned by Double H Farm and Andrew Bourns. They were sixth in the $33,000 RSA 1.45m Speed and seventh in the $33,000 Talisman Energy Cup 1.50m. HH Fleur, an eight-year-old Belgian Sport Horse mare by Darco x Bon Ami, was eighth in the Friends of the Meadows 1.40m competition, and HH Rosine de Beaufore, an eight-year-old Selle Francais mare by Diamant de Semilly x Toulon, was eighth in the ATCO I-TEK Jumper 1.35m competition.
In the ‘National’ Tournament, HH Rosine de Beaufore had two great placings: fourth in the $5,000 Jayman Cup 1.30m and fifth in the $1,000 Friends of the Meadows Welcome 1.30m. Judge and HH Fleur were eighth in the $1,000 Friends of the Meadows Welcome 1.35m.
“It feels like all the goals we are working toward are starting to come together,” Judge said. “I have a long way to go, but it feels like it’s going in the right direction. We’re trying to put each horse in the right class at the right time. It’s great to find success in the program we’re using.”
Double H Farm will continue to compete at the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments on June 25-July 14 before moving on to the CSI Ascona 3* in Switzerland on July 25-28.
Judge was also named to the five-person team that will represent the United States in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ competition in Bratislava, Slovakia, on August 1-4. This will be Judge’s second time at a Nations Cup competition, having been part of the winning team in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last fall.
In addition to Double H Farm’s success in Calgary, another horse has been extremely successful in Europe. Cornet D’Amour, who is half owned by Double H Farm, won the German National Championships with rider Daniel Deusser. In addition, they helped the German team at the CSIO in Rome, Italy, with double clear rounds. They were also eighth in the Rome Grand Prix. They placed second in the Hamburg Grand Prix CSI 5* at the Global Champions Tour. Recently named to the German team, they will compete in the prestigious Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ in Aachen, Germany, next week. Double H Farm wishes Cornet D’Amour and Daniel the best of luck!
About Double H Farm
Based in Ridgefield, CT, and Wellington, FL, Double H Farm focuses on show jumpers and hunters that are born to compete at the top level. With riders Quentin Judge and Cayce Harrison, the horses of Double H Farm show at the best competitions in North America and the world. Double H Farm has seven amazing stallions available for breeding, and there is always a selection of high quality hunters and jumpers available for purchase. For more information, please visit www.doublehfarm.org, visit their Facebook page, and follow them on Twitter at @Double_H_Farm.