Kerrigan Gluch Lands Five Wins and Laura Graves Showcases Rising Star at World Equestrian Center October Dressage
Ocala, Florida – World Equestrian Center – Ocala hosted the latest in its popular series of rated dressage shows on October 21-22, 2023. Sponsored by Hampton Green Farm and Discover Dressage, there were USEF/USDF-rated classes from Training Level to FEI Grand Prix. In addition to national-level competition, the Iberian Spectacular showed the popular Spanish breed horses with demonstrations on Friday, October 20, and various horses were recognized throughout the weekend.
Local rider Kerrigan Gluch dubbed the show “a huge success” when winning five out of the six classes she contested with her three horses.
“Each horse went into the arena and did exactly what I wanted,” explained Gluch, who works for the show sponsor, Hampton Green Farm, and is based 15 minutes from the showgrounds in Ocala, FL. “Their training at home was very similar to what was produced in the arena and, as a rider, it’s that consistency that I look for.”
Her best two scores came at Grand Prix level riding Hampton Green Farm’s 12-year-old PRE gelding Mejorano HGF by Grandioso III. Their crowning score of 76.196% was achieved on Saturday in a competitive field of 10 starters across the divisions. Gluch finished almost 10% clear of the second-placed combination in the class.
“Mejorano is a spectacular horse,” enthused the 27-year-old. “He was bred at Hampton Green, and I’ve known him since he was three, but I’ve been training him since the fall of 2019. I’ve been lucky enough to develop him into a secure Grand Prix horse and gain that relationship — that’s really special.
“I was very pleased with the feeling he gave me in the ring, and that it was reflected in the score. It’s always good when the judge is aligned with what you feel; that was a huge confidence boost,” added Gluch, who has been training with Shelly Francis since February.
Gluch spent the summer of 2023 in Europe, gaining valuable experience, and is now gearing up for the winter circuit.
Another horse bred by Hampton Green, Soldado HGF, was the conduit for two more victories for Gluch. The PRE gelding is now owned by Corie Bannon, and Gluch has been training him since he was three. At WEC – Ocala he led two FEI five-year-old classes, with 71% and 72.2%.
“He’s really rideable and a spectacular character who tries hard,” enthused Gluch. “That’s something special that you don’t see every day.”
At small tour, Cartujano SFR produced a blue and a red ribbon in the Prix St. Georges classes. Hampton Green Farm bought the horse in Spain and imported him.
“I’ve been working with him about a year, and he’s green in the small tour,” she said. “I really enjoy his character and natural ability — he’s a super sweet stallion with a lot of potential.”
Gluch is a convert to Iberians since starting work for Kim Van Kampen at Hampton Green Farm 12 years ago.
“I didn’t know much about PREs before that, but through Kim and Hampton Green I was introduced to the whole culture of Spanish horses and that kick-started my love for them,” she explained. “They’re generally simple, easy horses who are very intelligent and quick to learn so you can teach them everything pretty early on and develop their gaits after the fact.”
Living and working just a close drive from WEC – Ocala, Gluch and her team brought eight horses to the October dressage show.
“From a rider perspective, WEC is incredible,” she added. “The facility has everything that you might need in terms of horse care — you don’t find that anywhere else. When you show there you don’t just get one venue; you could be inside or outside and in multiple different places. It really sets the horses up for success.”
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