Stony Lane Riders Compete at Marshall & Sterling “The League” Finals 2024

Stony Lane riders qualified for and competed at Marshall & Sterling “The League” Finals 2024, including Ellie Beffert, Alex Bussan, Sarah Gleason, Isabelle Grutkowski, Jessica Grutkowski, Zoe Grutkowski, and Tina Reicin. Results are as follows:

• FW-PHA Short Stirrup Medal - 1st - Ellie Beffert

• The League Junior 3’6” Medal - Winner - Isabelle Grutkowski

• The League Low / Novice Adult Hunter Classic - 6th - Alex Bussan

• The League Adult 2’6” Medal Final - 10th - Sarah Gleason

• The League Jr/ Am 0.90m Jumpers - 4th & 5th - Tina Reicin

• The League Jr/ Am 3’3” Horsemanship Medal - 5th Place - Zoe Grutkowski

• The League Children’s Hunter Horse Classic - 5th Place - Zoe Grutkowski

• The League Jr/ Am 3’3” Horsemanship Medal - 10th Place - Isabelle Grutkowski

• The League Low / Novice Adult Hunter Classic - 11th - Sarah Gleason

• Hudson Children’s Equitation Classic - 5th - Zoe Grutkowski

• Hudson Children’s Equitation Classic - 7th - Tina Reicin

• FW-PHA Modified Adult Medal - 2nd - Jessica Grutkowski

Saratoga Frost and Ellie Beffert take the blue at FW-PHA Finals!

Stony Lane Rider Ribbons for Second Consecutive Year at CHJA Finals!

Sarah Gleason and her very own Cashmire once again claimed a top prize at the Connecticut Hunter Jumper Finals (CHJA) held during the August Show at Fairfield County Hunt Club. In 2023, the duo placed 4th in the Modified Adult Medal, and this year they secured a podium finish with a third place! Congratulations!

Stony Lane Rider Helps Team Abdullah Earn Gold at USHJA Zone 1 & 2 Jumper Finals 2024

Isabelle Grutkowski and Loxley were double clear the first two days of the three-day championship to help team Abdullah earn gold at the 2024 USHJA Zone 1 & 2 Team 1.0/1.05m Championships.

Stony Lane Riders Selected for USHJA Emerging Athletes Program 2024 Regional Clinic

Isabelle and Zoe Grutkowski were selected from a sea of applicants to participate in the USHJA Regional Clinic at Centenary University with clinicians Linda Allen and Chris Eadline. Read more here.

Stony Lane Riders Earn 2023 USHJA HOTY Ribbons

Cashmire, owned by Sarah Gleason, rose to the top in 2023 winning the Champion HOTY Award in the Low Adult Hunters for Zone 1, Channel 2. They were also 10th in Channel 1.

Gratitude P, owned by Jessica Grutkowski, placed 6th in the HOTY Awards for the Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Division in Zone 1, Channel 2.

Isabelle Grutkowski placed 3rd in the USHJA HOTY Awards in the 12-14 Hunter Equitation for Zone 1, Channel 1 with 201 points over 7 competitions.

Riders in Zones 1 and 2 Earn Medals in USHJA 1.00/1.05m Child/Adult Jumper Championship

Saugerties, N.Y.—Aug. 1, 2023—Riders from Zone 1 and 2 took to the podiums in the inaugural USHJA 1.00/1.05m Child/Adult Zone Jumper Championships at HITS Saugerties, July 26-30 during the HITS-on-the-Hudson V. Riders from Zone 2 dominated the top podium spot while Chefs d'Equipe Lisa Tomaselli from Zone 1 and Taylor O'Dell from Zone 2 oversaw the competition.

A new championship that offers competitors in the 1.00/1.05m classes to gain experience at higher levels of competition and provide a chance to earn Zone Horse of the Year points. Created to emulate the Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships and Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships, riders compete over three days as an individual and on a team to represent their Zone.

"The gold and silver teams were tied with four faults over two days which is amazing. They were both very fast – the winning team with their times from yesterday were cumulatively only three seconds faster," Chef d'Equipe O'Dell said of the competition. "The biggest thing for the last day is making sure there is still some gas left in the tank – showing three days in a row is tiring on any horse. For the riders coming in from the gold team they are going to be pretty pumped up and need to keep riding confidently.”

Team Medalists

1.00/1.05m Children's/Adult Zone Jumper
GOLD: Milton
Winter Tietjen - Jett B - Zone 2
Marcellina Vitale - Remirevo - Zone 2
Tatiana Basch - In Style - Zone 2

SILVER: Abdullah
Adina Gesthalter - MTM Fiona 621 - Zone 2
Abigail Davis - Out of Sight - Zone 2
Cierra Simmons - Meet Virginia - Zone 2
Kayden Marsh - Bijoux Vincenza - Zone 2

BRONZE: Hickstead
Alexa Massimin - Cen - Zone 1
Zoe Grutkowski - Goteusi - Zone 1
Isabelle Grutkowski - Loxley - Zone 1
Krista Reynolds - King Gettigan - Zone 1

“Going into this round I was pretty stressed out because I set high expectations for myself. My mom always tells me that you're going into the ring with your best friend, and that helped me calm down and just had the best time," said Davis, Gold Individual medalist from New York City, New York.

"My horse has a lot of blood so he really needs me to be patient, but he is very good at coming back to me," Davis continued. "In the jump-off, I just let him gallop and do his thing. I love his personality in the barn and how he is always there for me when I ride him and how he just wants to win.”

The USHJA 1.00/1.05m Child/Adult Zone Jumper Championships provide Children's and Adult Amateur Jumper competitors an opportunity to earn Zone Horse of the Year points in the Children's and Adult Amateur Jumper (1.00/1.05m) in both team and individual competition. To qualify, riders must apply and earn a minimum of 20 points in their respective Children's and Adult Amateur Jumper sections at USEF-licensed competitions by their zone’s deadline, which is 45 days prior to the selected championship. Riders must also be current Active USEF and USHJA Junior or Amateur members in good standing. 

During the championship, riders compete in a three-day competition format. Day one entails a first round of the team championship and first individual qualifying class. Day two consists of the second round of the team championship and the second individual qualifying class. For the last competition day, the top 15 individual finalists from the qualifying classes return to jump for the individual championship title. 

One more USHJA 1.00/1.05m Child/Adult Zone Jumper Championships will be held throughout the 2023 competition season. The final championship will be held during the Temecula Valley National Fall 3 in Temecula, California, for Zones 9 and 10 on October 18-22. 

The USHJA extends special thanks to the team at Colorado Horse Park for hosting these Championships. The USHJA also thanks official sponsors CWD, Nutrena and Parlanti. 

For more information about the USHJA 1.00/1.05m Child/Adult Zone Jumper Championships, visit ushja.org/lowzonejumper. 

Photos: ESI Photography 

Five Questions With Lisa Tomaselli

How did you get into riding?

I had my first pony ride at a friend's birthday party when I was six and the rest is history!

Professional who inspired you?

As a junior, I trained with Eamonn Hughes of Drumnacross Farm. He taught me about the importance of hard work and maintaining high levels of quality when it comes to choosing horses, and overall turn out of horse and rider. You'll always see me with shiny, clean boots! He gave me opportunities purely based on my strong work ethic and desire to truly learn all the aspects of a program.

I firmly believe you can learn something in any situation. You'll always see me talking to other people at the show and around the barn. Whether it's another professional, veterinarians, or farrier - always listen carefully and ask questions. Even if you don't agree, you'll walk away with something important.

Heart horse?

My first pony Snowy was as good as they come - kind, sweet, and to ride him was a pure joy! Once I felt that, there was no going back. My jumper Magic has done all the jobs that a professional's horse should do, and has contributed to my business in so many ways over the last 11 years. He's been a lease horse, taught lessons, and is now trotting around with my own daughters - he came as a sale horse and never left!

Advice for students?

Most students believe they don't have a great eye, or that they can't see a distance because of their eye, but it usually boils down to rhythm and track. Once that is resolved, the eye is just fine! I always say that riders are not finished when their junior careers are over - it's a lifelong pursuit. Enjoy the process, evolution, journey and learning.

Favorite horse show experience?

I had the opportunity to show at the National Horse Show at the Meadowlands in NJ, my home state. Being a part of that historic show was a moment I'll never forget!