49th Annual Menlo Charity Horse Show
Wrap Up Article
The 49th Menlo Charity Horse Show came to a close
as over 200 volunteers were carefully packing up
and storing everything from table cloths to jumps,
while at the same time planning for the upcoming
50th Anniversary Celebration next year.
The gorgeous Northern California weather made for
a spectacular week of three-ring competition across
the country club setting at the Menlo Circus Club.
Majestically presiding over the Grass Hunter and
Jumper Fields, the sold out VIP tent was the place to
see and be seen in Silicon Valley, as spectators from
Sponsors to businessmen to generations of families
cheered on their favorites in the victory gallop.
2019 Highlights
The Windy Hill Larry Mayeld 1.20m Horse
and Hound Jumper Classic
The Windy Hill Larry Mayeld 1.20m Horse and
Hound Jumper Classic had a very special result, as in
the end, it was Natalie Gerst, the Granddaughter of the
late Larry Mayeld in the winner’s circle.
The event was established in the memory of Larry
Mayeld by Laura Gerst, Natalie’s mother, and family
members. Three generations have now consistently
participated in, and attended, Menlo Charity Horse
Show and a young Natalie was over the moon having
won the event held in her grandfather’s honor.
The $25,000 USHJA International Hunter
Derby Presented by Dr. Daryl K. Hoffman
The $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
Presented by Dr. Daryl K. Hoffman has long been a
highlight of the Menlo Charity Horse Show, and was the
showcase event on Thursday afternoon. John French
returned to the Grass Hunter Field after sitting out the
2018 event due to injury. John had the ride on friend
and client Kristen Hiller’s Center Court. It is clear
that strong relationship built between horse and rider
remains rmly in tact, as the two have been separated
geographically for nearly a year, and were both happy
to return to Menlo, which French and Hiller consider
to be their hometown show, and on this, his 32nd year
coming to the event, took the Championship title.
Winning horse & rider combination
Natalie Gerst & Philadelphia
Winner of the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter
Derby Presented by Dr. Daryl K. Hoffman John French &
Center Court
49th Annual Menlo Charity Horse Show
Wrap Up Article
$10,000 Rhys Vineyards Ryman
Memorial Speed Class
Cassio Rivetti and Dakota Of The
Lowlands owned by Jamine Talleywere
the superstars of Friday evening’s
$10,000 Rhys Vineyards Ryman
Memorial Speed Class. Practice
seemed to make perfect as he also took
second place on his trainer, Neil Jones’
horse Isoline Van Doperheide. Rhys
Vineyard’s Catherine Harvey, a Menlo
Co-Chair and her husband Kevin have
been dedicated to supporting the horse
show for many years. 2019 marks the
third consecutive year as host and
Sponsor of the Friday evening event
and speed class.
$40,000 Stephen Silver Grand Prix
2019 marks the third year that Chairman and CEO of
Stephen Silver, the leading Silicon Valley jewelry and
watch retailer, based in the Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel,
has sponsored the $40,000 Grand Prix.
Thirty horse and rider combinations accepted the
challenge presented by international Course Designer
Bernardo Costa Cabral.Those lucky enough to make it
to the jump off had to take a huge risk as every attempt
at acceleration could result in a rail. Brown and Mylord
Cornet managed to set a time that was hard to beat.
Those who tried fell pray to a rail (or more) as they
attempted to knock Brown off the top spot.
Winner of the Rhys Vineyards Ryman Memorial Speed Class Cassio Rivetti (&
Dakota Of The Lowlands) shown here on his 2nd place horse Isoline Van Dorperheide
Winner of the $40,000 Stephen Silver Grand Prix Harley Brown & Mylord Cornet
Cynthia Hyde and Hey Sugar!
Photograph by Alden Corrigan Media
A Classic Sunday
$1,000 Peninsula Equine Medical Center Adult
Amateur Hunter Classic
Tonia Cook Looker and Deja Blue won the $1,000
Peninsula Equine Medical Center Adult Amateur
Hunter Classic in great style riding against a eld of
17 entries. Tonia was thrilled with the performance of
her young horse. Shabnam H Behzadpour on Escher
followed on her heels to take second place and Emily
Goldberg on Salud took home third.
The $1,000 Adult Amateur Hunter Classic is sponsored
by PeninsulaEquine Medical Center. Russ Peterson,
MS Animal Nutrition, DVM, President and CEO of
Peninsula Equine, Inc. was on hand to present the
awards.
$5,000 China Blue Farm 3’6 Adult Amateur
Classic
The competition was stiff in the $5,000 China Blue
Farm 3’6” Adult Amateur Hunter Classic in the Grass
Hunter Ring. In the end, it would be Alexis Meadows
and her own Antwerp leading
the victory gallop. Alexis
also took home the second
place ribbon with Legato and
Jacqueline Attwood-Dupont
on Black Label placed third.
Priscilla Tamkin of China Blue
Farm Sponsored the classic.
The farm is located in the Santa
Ynes Valley of California
is devoted to breeding and
developing top hunters,
jumpers and equitation horses.
1.20m Junior/ Amateur
Owner / Amateur Jumper
Classic Sponsored by
Charlebois Farm
Lauren Kee on her own Black
Irish was over the moon with
her rst win at Menlo against
eighteen entries. The high
standards this year made for
an exciting class.
The 1.20m Junior/ Amateur Owner / Amateur Jumper
Classic is sponsored by John Charlebois, Owner and
Trainer at Charlebois Farm.
The Menlo Charity Horse Show, a 501 (c) (3)
organization which Started in 1970 as a one-day horse
show, and has a tradition of providing outstanding
competition as well as raising funds for community
partners. Over the past four decades, Menlo
has provided funding to numerous charities including
Planned Parenthood, Amigos De Las Americas, and
our current charitable partner Vista Center for the
Blind and Visually Impaired.
Now a six-day event, Menlo was recognized in 2012
as a USEF Heritage Competition. Menlo has been
nationally recognized as one of the top horse shows
in the country. Designated as the USHJA World
Champion Hunter Rider Competition, Menlo plays
host to the USHJA WCHR South West Regional
Awards ceremony.The rich history of this show and its
philanthropy is unsurpassed.
Winner of the $1,000 Peninsula Equine A/A Hunter Classic NAL Tonia Cook Looker &
Deja Blue
Links and Information:
facebook.com/MenloCharityHorseShow
instagram.com/menlocharityhorseshow
twitter.com/MenloCharity
#MENLO2019
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Photo Credit ©Alden Corrigan Media
Winner of the $5,000 China Blue Farm 3’6 AO Classic Sponsored Alexis Meadows & Antwerp
Winner of the 1.20m Junior Amatuer Owner Amateur Jumper Classic Sponsored by
Charlebois Farm Lauren Kee & Black Irish