Jason Berry Takes Upswing to $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic Win and New Career

CULPEPER, VA (September 28, 2014) – Earlier this year, Upswing was imported as a dressage prospect at three-day eventer Phillip Dutton’s barn. Quickly proving that piaffes and passage weren't his calling, Upswing left them in the dust for an over-fences career. Pamela Deslauriers purchased the eight-year old Mechkenburg gelding and handed the reins to Jason Berry (Verona, Virginia) less than three months ago.

“He has come full circle in a matter of weeks,” said Deslauriers. “He may have come to this country as a dressage horse, but he was destined for the hunter ring. I knew as soon as I tried him that he would excel.”

 
©ESI Photography
Jason Berry guides Upswing to success in the Hunter ring.

As HITS Culpeper bid farewell to its 2014 season with high-stakes offerings at all levels, Upswing didn’t shy from the dollar signs on the line and posted impressive scores in the $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic. Their 88 gave them a two-point advantage over the top 12 moving into the second round.

Upswing turned heads yet again, jumping to a 90 with only several weeks of hunter experience under his belt.

While a vision of fluidity and elegance in the ring, Upswing has attitude on the other side of the fence. “We call him Black Snake around the barn because he’s a sneaky biter,” joked Berry. “He’s got his certain people, but he’s not a love-bug. However, he’s always willing in the ring and has gotten along with both Pam and me so well.”

Berry’s scores combined for a 178, proving that Upswing may have more than beginner’s luck. With a bright start to Upswing’s Hunter endeavors, the gelding is soon headed to the Green Conformation division with loads of untapped potential.

Cassandra Kahle (Langley, British Columbia) piloted Redfield Farm’s Camelia to the red ribbon. Their 84 and 81 gave them a 165 total. Fellow Redfield Farm rider Jennifer Jones (Marion, South Carolina) jumped Orlon to third for Margot Peroni just one point shy of Kahle with a 164.

MTM Farm rounded out the top five with Dorothy Douglas (Flower Mound, Texas) on MTM Retro in fourth and Tracy Fenney (Flower Mound, Texas) fifth aboard MTM Passport for Cammy Turgon. Continuing the tight race for $10,000 in prize money, they scored a 163.5 and 163, respectively.

The $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic highlighted the innovative offerings making the Culpeper Finals a week to remember for hunters and jumpers of varying levels.


©ESI Photography
Jason Berry and Upswing collect top honors in the $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic.

$10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic
 

PlaceHorse                Owner                          Rider                    Prize $Rd 1 ScoreRd 2 Score
1 Upswing Pamela Deslauriers Jason Berry $2,800 88 90
2 Camelia Redfield Farm Cassandra Kahle $1,800 84 81
3 Orlon Margot Peroni Jennifer Jones $1,250 81 83
4 MTM Retro MTM Farm Dorothy Douglas $900 82 81.5
5 MTM Passport Cammy Turgon Tracy Fenney $800 85 78
6 Promised Land Jennifer Blacker Caitlin Lane $700 80 82
7 Rose Gold Oak Ledge Farm Jason Berry $600 86 72
8 Select Jennifer Parish Peg Seals $450 75 79
9 Three Rivers Woodhaven Stables Denice Perry $350 76 74
10 Salinger Barbara Armitage Amy Zettler $350 79 70
11 All For Fun E.S. Equine Broker Winn Alden - 72 76
12 Platinum Kailey Williams Peg Seals - 74 40

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
Jennifer Jones collected not one exciting hunter ribbon, but he weekend got even sweeter with a win in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix to kick off qualifying for the 2015 HITS Championship. She and eight-year old Warmblood gelding Count Down, owned by Redfield Farm, are proof that horse sport is more than poker faces and golf claps.

“He’s an all-around fun horse and we have a blast together,” said Jones. “We trail ride all the time and his favorite thing to do is go swimming. I ride him bareback – sometimes double – and he lets me stand on his back. He’s more like a pet.”


©ESI Photography
Jennifer Jones and Count Down shine in $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

With an 87 delivering them the second-highest score in the first round, Jones and the unflappable Count Down returned with the top twelve to earn an 88 and the blue ribbon. “He doesn’t have a lot of experience in the hunter prix, but he just missed the top 25 of the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final [at HITS Saugerties earlier this month],” said Jones.

The duo first entered the ring together this winter at HITS Ocala and will soon head to indoors in the First Year Green Division.

Sloane Coles (The Plains, Virginia) led the first round with an 88 aboard Nilani Trent’s Autumn Rhythm. They coupled it with an 86 for second. Adding to an already successful outing for Jason Berry, he and Limited Edition, owned by Frances Porter, finished third in the Devoucoux Hunter Prix with an 86 and an 85.

Katie Cooper (Owings Mills, Maryland) claimed fourth in the irons of Lauren Watts’ Fenway, while Robin Sweely (Madison, Virginia) rounded out the top five on San Patriano II for Michelle Beck.

Jones’ win has comfortably settled her as the leader in the 2015 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final rider rankings moving into the winter show season. To keep track of winter qualifying for the HITS Championship, click here.


©ESI Photography
Jennifer Jones and Count Down collect winner’s awards.

About Devoucoux
Devoucoux, maker of fine French saddles, is proud to be the title sponsor of each and every qualifying Hunter Prix leading up to the phenomenal Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. Devoucoux offers a wide range of saddles in many colors and sizes and matching accessories. Devoucoux craftsmen are devoted to creating beautiful products that reflect their obsession with quality and lovingly finished work. For more information on Devoucoux, visit devoucoux.com.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
 

PlaceHorse                Owner                          Rider                    Prize $Rd 3 ScoreRd 4 Score
1 Count Down Redfield Farm Jennifer Jones $1,500 87 88
2 Autumn Rhythm Nilani Trent Sloane Coles $1,000 88 86
3 Limited Edition Frances Porter Jason Berry $700 86 85
4 Fenway Lauren Watts Katie Cooper $500 81 82
5 San Patriano II Michelle Beck Robin Sweely $400 80 80
6 Wallstreet Rumor Jennifer Baron Jennifer Baron $350 83 75
7 Lion Sarah Scott Ian Silitch $300 78 79.5
8 Ship Shape Hannah Taylor Hannah Taylor $250 76 81
9 Sandlot Cherry Knoll Farm, Inc. Katie Cooper - 82 72
10 Cerrano Melissa Hart Baily Dent - 75 72
11 Eye Phone Doreen Toben Darby Toben - 77 74
12 Color Up Jacqueline Watts Katie Cooper - 74 60