SENIOR HUNTER HACK

SIMPLE “SIMON” WINS HIS SECOND HUNTER HACK CHAMPIONSHIP.

BY MEGAN ALPERS, JOURNAL INTERN

When David Connors and Dominant Lord won the senior hunter hack world championship, he was more than willing to take his victory lap and jump, complete with the 11.2-pound gold trophy held in the air.

“That was the most perfect ride and that was the most relaxed I’ve ever been in hunter hack because he was just Mr. Perfect,” said Connors after the class. “Perfectly level, his ears were perfectly starched forward, he was perfect.”

Connors and Bill Ellis bought Dominant Lord, nicknamed “Simon,” when the gelding was 3 years old. When they looked at Simon, his owner had never taken him over a fence before.

“She was so nervous about us trying him, and we finally convinced her to let us try him over like a foot-high jump,” Connors explained. “She was panicking the whole time because she had made it to the finals in the under saddle (at the Congress), and we were like, ‘We jumped him. He went to it. He turned the corner, changed his lead. We’re taking him home.’” 

David Connors carries his new gold trophy during his victory jump with 9-year-old gelding, Dominant Lord. "Simon" is owned by Rodger Call.

In 2003, Simon won his first world championships in senior working hunter and hunter hack with Ellis

His natural ability and willingness to please are what Connors likes best about Simon.

“He does the jumps simple; you could have his name be “Simple Simon” because he’s so easy. He doesn’t take hardly any preparation, he’s easy to ride on the flat, and he’s just a wonderful horse.”

Rodger Call of Fort Worth, Texas, bought Simon two days before Connors and Ellis left for Congress and will be taking him home from Oklahoma City.

“I just said in the lineup, I will be sad to see him go because he’s been such a great horse for us,” Connors said.

Call hopes to begin showing Simon in hunter classes and compete at the Select World.

“They’re going to try to see if he’ll do the pleasure driving, which I’m sure he’ll do easily, knowing everything else he adapts to so easily. Rodger will show him, and hopefully he’ll be a Select World champion next.”

WINNER STATS Horse name: Dominant Lord Owner: Rodger Call, Fort Worth, Texas Exhibitor: David Connors, Colts Neck, New Jersey Trainers: David Connors and Bill Ellis, Colts Neck, New Jersey Breeder: Kramer/Davis, Kingston, Michigan Pedigree: Petite Lord x My Time To Shine (TB) by Red Wing Bold (TB) Total Class Entries: 26 Purse: $11,362 World Champion Prizes: Gold trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, Cripple Creek jacket, WeatherBeeta product, Justin ostrich Tekno Crepe boots, Professional's Choice products, Nutrena feed, neck ribbon