Gillian Sims and Copper Cruise Jump to the Take2 Thoroughbred Hunter Championship at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show Presented by MARS Equestrian™

UPPERVILLE, VA — Patience paid off for Gilliam Sims of Middleburg, VA, as she rode to the Take2 Thoroughbred Hunter Championship with her Copper Cruise at the 171st Upperville Colt & Horse Show presented by MARS Equestrian™. Sue Lyman, also of Middleburg, earned the Reserve Championship aboard Kensington Court.

“Copper Cruise is a Thoroughbred of wonderful talents,” Sims said of her equine partner of four years. “I would tell anyone who loves Thoroughbreds to not ever give up. After racing, this horse tried eventing, then the jumpers, and then he came to the hunters. With patience, you can find what these horses want to do. That is the way to go to give them the best of a second career.”

UCHS is the oldest horse show in the U.S. Founded in 1853 as a one-day show to encourage better breeding and care of horses, the show has grown to a weeklong tradition with more than 2,000 equestrian and equine pairs competing in a variety of disciplines. Many of the continent’s top professional riders as well as amateurs compete under the spectacular setting featuring the famous oaks at the Grafton Farm.

In addition to presenting sponsor MARS Equestrian™, UCHS is sponsored by Ethel M. Chocolates® and Lugano Diamonds (co-presenting sponsors of the 2024 FEI CSI4* Jumper Classic). Other sponsors include Buckeye Nutrition, Nutro Pet Food, Salamander Collection, B&D Builders, Douglas Elliman, Markel Insurance, Delta Air Lines, and Piedmont Equine Practice.

For more information on the show, visit upperville.com.

Photo courtesy of the Upperville Colt & Horse Show.

Posted on: June 5, 2024