Showplace Spring Spectacular Provides Quality Horse Show Experience

Wayne, IL -- The Showplace Spring Spectacular is in its full swing of competition this week with a schedule of classes for hunters, jumpers, and equitation. The two weeks of top competition bring riders from around the country to the Chicago suburbs for great prize money, superb footing and course design, and a wonderful show experience. The show runs through June 14 at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL.

The two weeks of the Showplace Spring Spectacular are events for the $60,000 Showplace Leading Riders Series, which awards money to the top three riders in the following divisions:
$30,000 Leading Open Rider
$10,000 Leading Junior/AO Rider
$10,000 Leading Children's/Adult Rider
$5,000 Leading Low Children's Jumper Rider
$5,000 Leading Low Adult Jumper Rider

$50,000 Grand Prix held on Saturday, June 13
$60,000 in prize money awarded total for all hunter classics held over the two weeks
$10,000 Open Welcome Stake on Thursday, June 4, and June 11
$20,000 High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic on Sunday, June 14
$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Tuesday, June 9
$10,000 Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic on Sunday, June 14
$10,000 NAL Children's Jumper on Sunday, June 14
$10,000 NAL Adult Jumper Grand Prix on Sunday, June 14
$10,000 Low Children's/Adult Jumper Classic offered both weeks
$5,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Speed Derby on Tuesday, June 9
$5,000 Gentlemen's Invitational on Friday, June 12
$5,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Gambler's Choice on Friday, June 12
$5,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Gambler's Choice on Friday, June 12

In order to provide the best possible show experience and award some of the best prize money in the nation, the Showplace Spring Spectacular relies on the generosity of their fantastic sponsors. One of those sponsors is Nancy Whitehead, who sponsors under the name of her successful breeding stallion, Roc USA.

Whitehead has been teaching, training, and matching up horses and riders for over 35 years. She has been responsible for the training and success of many horses and riders, including USEF National Champions, NAL and WIHS League Champions, and equitation finals winners. She is based out of Dr. Rachel Kane's Entropy Farm in Woodstock, IL, and attends the Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Shows every year.

"My clients and I have sponsored shows here for many, many years," Whitehead confirmed. "I believe that (show manager) Pat Boyle puts on fantastic horse shows. He tries to make everything go smoothly. He makes it a good place for clients to bring their horses and for me to bring my horses. I do try to get as many people to help sponsor as possible so that he can keep putting on these wonderful horse shows. I believe in it."

Whitehead/Roc USA currently sponsor the $25,000 Showplace Grand Prix, which was held at Ledges Sporting Horses on May 16 in Roscoe, IL. At the Showplace Spring Spectacular, Roc USA is the sponsor of the $10,000 Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic on Sunday, June 14.

Whitehead has been deeply involved with breeding and raising quality horses for more than a decade and the venture is based around her stallion Roc USA. The 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood is an Approved Oldenburg/ISR Testing 2002 and is registered with the Continental Studbook. He is sired by the Olympic contender Idocus and out of a Selle Francais daughter of Galoubet. Roc USA is an exemplary stallion choice for the modern sporthorse breeder, and Whitehead believes that he passes on his best traits to his offspring.

Whitehead purchased Roc USA as a yearling and raised him; he competed up the Five Year Old Young Jumper level. "Then I decided that I should either have him as a breeding horse or a competition horse. If you're going to have a stallion, I think it has to be one or the other," she explained. "I wanted to do the mare and foal thing. That is really fun for me; I love working with the babies."

She has had that chance through the many babies that are on the ground now by Roc USA. His offspring can be found all over North America, and they are all showing great potential.

Rendezvous 22 (Roc USA - Friendly Holly xx, by Roving Minstrel xx), was one of the most consistent six year olds in Wellington at the Winter Equestrian Festival and was a class winner today at the Showplace Spring Spectacular. She posted double clear rounds in the last three Young Jumper Championship Qualifiers to take the lead in the Six Year Old standings. Another successful offspring is Renowned, who finished as the champion and co-Grand Champion in the Future Hunters at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. Roc USA also has more than 18 other offspring with successful young careers.

What Whitehead believes that Roc USA passes on to his sons and daughters are sound minds, careful jumping form, and wonderful attitudes. "They're very aware, but they do everything calmly. Basically I like that they have just enough blood," she said. "I call them a true Warmblood; they're not cold and they're not hot. I love that about them. I breed to a lot of Thoroughbred mares and some cold mares, and they all come out the same way. They have to have a little edge to them."

In addition to breeding, Whitehead is a top trainer. Her current student, Nick Novak, is an amateur jumper rider in the grand prix ranks, and student Morgan Kennedy placed well in the 1.50m Jumpers at the Winter Equestrian Festival this winter. She also helps top rider Lauren Tisbo and other up-and-coming young professionals.

Nancy Whitehead is joined at the Showplace Spring Spectacular by other generous sponsors, and she helps make the show special for competitors and spectators. For more information on her business and breeding stallion Roc USA, please visit www.rocusa.net.

The 2009 Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Show Series carries a "5" Jumper rating. The highlight classes for the open jumpers include the $30,000 and the $50,000 Grand Prix events on each Saturday afternoon. Open jumper riders can also compete for more prize money in the $10,000 Welcome Stake classes held each Thursday.

Offering some of the best prize money for junior and amateur riders in the country, the Showplace Spring Spectacular series will hold the $20,000 High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic on the final Sunday of the series, and a $10,000 classic for the division is held the first week. The Low Junior/Amateur Jumpers will be able to compete for $17,500 in prize money in their classics over the two weeks. The Children's Jumpers and Adult Jumpers will each have a $10,000 classic on Sunday, June 14, while the Low Children's/Adult Jumpers will have a $10,000 classic each week.

Hunter riders will have a vast variety of classes and divisions in which to compete as well. The highlight event of the series is the $15,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby on Tuesday, June 9. There will be $60,000 in prize money awarded for all of the hunter classics held over the two week competition.

For further information on Showplace Productions and the Showplace Spring Spectacular, please visit www.showplaceproductions.com.