Thanks to Jump Media LLC for the great write up on our time down at HITS Horse Shows Ocala this year! Special thanks to our 2016 partner sponsors for their continued support: Tucci, Samshield America, BUTET Saddles Usa, Hayward Sportswear Ltd., Éce Equestrian Co., EquiFit, inc. And Blueberry Hill – we are so grateful! Congrats to our team on a great circuit.

Canterbury Farm Concludes Fantastic Florida Circuit

Published April 1, 2016 by Lauren Fisher for Jump Media

Hampshire, IL – Canterbury Farm wrapped up ten weeks competing at the 2016 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit in Florida this week. The team, led by trainers Greg Franklin and Caitlyn Shiels, had great success throughout circuit, with top ribbons in everything from ponies up to the grand prix level. Young rider Abigail Brayman joined the Canterbury team for the winter and rode several horses to top ribbons. Amateur rider Michelle Durpetti had great results with her mounts throughout the circuit, and Shiels developed some of Canterbury’s future equine stars.

Owned by the Franklin Family, Canterbury Farm is a family-owned and operated hunter/jumper training facility based in Hampshire, IL. For more than 30 years, they have dedicated themselves to providing exceptional service to their clients by offering personalized training and care for both horse and rider.

Hillcrest Songbird had a memorable winter competing in the Large Pony Hunter division and concluded the circuit with great success. The 12-year-old mare (by Hillcrest Blue Smoke) was overall reserve circuit champion after earning the division championship during weeks three and four, ridden by Abigail Brayman.

Brayman (17) of Ashaway, Rhode Island, began riding at a young age at her family’s Hunter Ridge stables. She began training with her mother, Wendy, and grew up traveling to horse shows with her father, Matt’s, job in the business. Brayman has worked with a lot of trainers over the years that helped her get to where she is today. This winter, Brayman had the opportunity to train with Franklin and Shiels in Florida. Brayman trained with Canterbury Farm throughout the winter and learned a lot, while also earning great results.

In week three, Brayman and Hillcrest Songbird also won the $1,000 Perfect Products Large Pony Hunter Classic. In week four, the pair finished second in the Classic. They were also third in the Classic during week five. Hillcrest Songbird is available for sale or lease. She is qualified for U.S. Pony Finals 2016 and is currently in the top 12 in the country in the Large Ponies.
Trained with them the whole winter.

“She was wonderful,” Brayman said of Hillcrest Songbird. “When she went in the ring she always wanted to win. She was easy to ride and she has a nice, big step. She was always really good.”

Brayman also showed Margo Lyons’ Kadence Darco and Katherine Heywood’s Balida to tricolor ribbons. Kadence Darco continued her success throughout the winter, earning the reserve circuit championship in the Small Junior Hunters for the second half of the circuit. She was reserve champion in the division in week seven ridden by Brayman, and also won the Small Junior Hunter Classic during week eight ridden by Melissa Deryn Foster.

The gorgeous six-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (by Darco) is for sale. Kadence Darco is an excellent Small Junior Hunter. She is a beautiful mover, has not been lower then fourth in the under saddles at HITS, and is a super jumper with an excellent brain…. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL FEATURE!