By Nancy Brannon; photos by Lili Weik Photography
After finishing its Spring horse shows in April and May, Brownland Farm in Franklin, Tenn. hosted its annual Nashville Country (May 26-20) and Nashville Classic (June 2-6) horse shows. In compliance with USEF requirements, Brownland ensured the safety of those attending by requiring all horses be microchipped; all owners, riders, and trainers must have completed their safe sport certification; and all had to present a hard copy of their horse’s Coggins test before being allowed to pick up their show number.
Nashville Country
The Nashville Country show featured the $7,500 Brownland Farm Hunter Derby on Friday morning (May 28). Don Sheehan and Caroline Mirtz’s beautiful gray, Gelato, topped the class with over 30 horses for the win. Allison Ventura’s Jordantinus, piloted by David Jennings, finished with the red rosette, while Golden (Joy-Elizabeth Elliott) and Kelly Mullen finished third. The weather held out for the first half of the class, but that didn’t stop Courtenay Billings and her Vegliantino from finishing 4th place in the rain and also earning the top amateur award, sponsored by Cornerstone Equestrian. Billings and Vegliantino won the A/O Hunter Classic and were Reserve Champions in the A/O Hunter 3’3” division.
The Nashville Country $7,500 Welcome Stake M 1.35 attracted 14 entries, with the top three placements:
1st - Cendatus PS (Woodrun Farm) and David Jennings;
2nd - My Lord Castanoo and Michael Tokaruk;
3rd - Iliano Van D’Abelendreef and Haley Gassel.
In the $30,000 Brownland Grand Prix, David Jennings was again at the top of the ranks with Follow Me, followed by Christian Currey in second on Unesco Du Rouet, and Julie Cleveland Beam on Lancelot placing third. Evie Jaeckle and her Clochard were fourth, besting Michael Tokaruk on Quality Iris, who placed fifth.
In the $5,000 Meter 1.30 Stake, Tokaruk and D’Almgravin were the winners.
In the $1,000 Brownland Pony Hunter Derby, Elizabeth Zoe Mielenz earned the blue ribbon on Penten’s Icy.
Kali Wright Ryan continued her success with her mother’s horse Comaraderie as Children’s 14 & Under Reserve Champion. The pair were also second in the WASH/NAL Children’s Hunter Classic.
Nashville Classic
More rain came into the area for the Nashville Classic, so the start of the first day of showing was delayed for a couple of hours. This show also featured the $7,500 Brownland Farm Hunter Derby, the $7,500 Welcome Stake M 1.35, and the $30,000 Brownland Grand Prix.
In Thursday’s (June 3) $7,500 Nashville Classic Welcome Stake, Michael Tokaruk and Cupid Shuffle (owned by Ava Hernandez) won the blue ribbon, plus a new Helite air vest from Franklin Horse Supply. Second place finishers were Lancelot and Julie Cleveland Beam, and third went to Fashion Prince and owner/rider Molly Kenney. Tokaruk also took fifth place on Quality Iris, co-owned with Ava Hernandez, and seventh on his My Lord Castanoo. Last week’s Grand Prix winners David Jennings and Follow Me were sixth in the Welcome Stake.
There were 32 entries in Friday morning’s (June 4) $7,500 Brownland Farm Hunter Derby. After all the rounds were completed, Kelly Mullen was on Cloud 9, literally and figuratively, as the winner of the Derby.
The $1,000 Pony Derby saw Amy Krebs and Somermist Storm Warning taking home the blue ribbon. The pair also took the blue in the Green Pony Classic.
Saturday’s (June 5) Grand Prix saw David Jennings pilot the winning round on Cedatus PS. Coming in second was Michael Tokaruk on My Lord Castanoo. Third was Christian Currey on Unesco Du Rouet.
Michelle Anderton summarized the two shows: “The highlights for both weeks were that we were sold out again. We were able to resume some pre-covid things, giving us a taste of post-covid normalcy – namely our Derby continental breakfasts, and the wine and cheese ‘safe, social distancing’ gatherings held during the Grand Prix class each week. Unlike pre-covid years where the food was set up under a 20’x20’ tent on tip of the berm, the current set up for the wine and cheese was on the backside of the viewing berm so that nobody would congregate around the food and be drawn into close contact mingling around the food. It was so nice to see spectators once again for all the classes, but especially the big ones.
“One of the specific horse/rider highlights is that David Jennings jockeyed victories in both weeks’ Grands Prix! In the Nashville Country Grand Prix, he rode Follow Me (owner, The Follow Me Group, LLC) to the win. During the Nashville Classic he won again, this time on Cendatus PC (owner, Woodrun). And Franklin’s own Christian Currey rode his new horse, Unesco Du Rouet, to second and third place finishes for the Nashville Country and Nashville Classic, respectively.”
After finishing its Spring horse shows in April and May, Brownland Farm in Franklin, Tenn. hosted its annual Nashville Country (May 26-20) and Nashville Classic (June 2-6) horse shows. In compliance with USEF requirements, Brownland ensured the safety of those attending by requiring all horses be microchipped; all owners, riders, and trainers must have completed their safe sport certification; and all had to present a hard copy of their horse’s Coggins test before being allowed to pick up their show number.
Nashville Country
The Nashville Country show featured the $7,500 Brownland Farm Hunter Derby on Friday morning (May 28). Don Sheehan and Caroline Mirtz’s beautiful gray, Gelato, topped the class with over 30 horses for the win. Allison Ventura’s Jordantinus, piloted by David Jennings, finished with the red rosette, while Golden (Joy-Elizabeth Elliott) and Kelly Mullen finished third. The weather held out for the first half of the class, but that didn’t stop Courtenay Billings and her Vegliantino from finishing 4th place in the rain and also earning the top amateur award, sponsored by Cornerstone Equestrian. Billings and Vegliantino won the A/O Hunter Classic and were Reserve Champions in the A/O Hunter 3’3” division.
The Nashville Country $7,500 Welcome Stake M 1.35 attracted 14 entries, with the top three placements:
1st - Cendatus PS (Woodrun Farm) and David Jennings;
2nd - My Lord Castanoo and Michael Tokaruk;
3rd - Iliano Van D’Abelendreef and Haley Gassel.
In the $30,000 Brownland Grand Prix, David Jennings was again at the top of the ranks with Follow Me, followed by Christian Currey in second on Unesco Du Rouet, and Julie Cleveland Beam on Lancelot placing third. Evie Jaeckle and her Clochard were fourth, besting Michael Tokaruk on Quality Iris, who placed fifth.
In the $5,000 Meter 1.30 Stake, Tokaruk and D’Almgravin were the winners.
In the $1,000 Brownland Pony Hunter Derby, Elizabeth Zoe Mielenz earned the blue ribbon on Penten’s Icy.
Kali Wright Ryan continued her success with her mother’s horse Comaraderie as Children’s 14 & Under Reserve Champion. The pair were also second in the WASH/NAL Children’s Hunter Classic.
Nashville Classic
More rain came into the area for the Nashville Classic, so the start of the first day of showing was delayed for a couple of hours. This show also featured the $7,500 Brownland Farm Hunter Derby, the $7,500 Welcome Stake M 1.35, and the $30,000 Brownland Grand Prix.
In Thursday’s (June 3) $7,500 Nashville Classic Welcome Stake, Michael Tokaruk and Cupid Shuffle (owned by Ava Hernandez) won the blue ribbon, plus a new Helite air vest from Franklin Horse Supply. Second place finishers were Lancelot and Julie Cleveland Beam, and third went to Fashion Prince and owner/rider Molly Kenney. Tokaruk also took fifth place on Quality Iris, co-owned with Ava Hernandez, and seventh on his My Lord Castanoo. Last week’s Grand Prix winners David Jennings and Follow Me were sixth in the Welcome Stake.
There were 32 entries in Friday morning’s (June 4) $7,500 Brownland Farm Hunter Derby. After all the rounds were completed, Kelly Mullen was on Cloud 9, literally and figuratively, as the winner of the Derby.
The $1,000 Pony Derby saw Amy Krebs and Somermist Storm Warning taking home the blue ribbon. The pair also took the blue in the Green Pony Classic.
Saturday’s (June 5) Grand Prix saw David Jennings pilot the winning round on Cedatus PS. Coming in second was Michael Tokaruk on My Lord Castanoo. Third was Christian Currey on Unesco Du Rouet.
Michelle Anderton summarized the two shows: “The highlights for both weeks were that we were sold out again. We were able to resume some pre-covid things, giving us a taste of post-covid normalcy – namely our Derby continental breakfasts, and the wine and cheese ‘safe, social distancing’ gatherings held during the Grand Prix class each week. Unlike pre-covid years where the food was set up under a 20’x20’ tent on tip of the berm, the current set up for the wine and cheese was on the backside of the viewing berm so that nobody would congregate around the food and be drawn into close contact mingling around the food. It was so nice to see spectators once again for all the classes, but especially the big ones.
“One of the specific horse/rider highlights is that David Jennings jockeyed victories in both weeks’ Grands Prix! In the Nashville Country Grand Prix, he rode Follow Me (owner, The Follow Me Group, LLC) to the win. During the Nashville Classic he won again, this time on Cendatus PC (owner, Woodrun). And Franklin’s own Christian Currey rode his new horse, Unesco Du Rouet, to second and third place finishes for the Nashville Country and Nashville Classic, respectively.”
