Alise Oken's Belmont Honored as Equis Best Presented Horse at Tryon Summer IV CSI 4*

Alise Oken (USA) and Belmont, owned by HiHopes Farm, LLC, won the Equis Boutique Best Presented Horse Award during CSI 4* competition at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) Summer IV, held July 20-24 in Mill Spring, NC. Equis Boutique sponsors the Best Presented Horse Award at the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Horse Inspection during all weeks of FEI-sanctioned competition at TIEC throughout the 2016 season.

Oken presented Belmont, a 15-year-old bay Canadian Warmblood gelding (Ahorn x Landfriese II), at the FEI Horse Inspection early in the week during TIEC Summer IV and was named Best Presented by the ground jury. After taking home Best Presented, Oken and Belmont jumped to a third-place finish in the $35,000 1.45m Opener.

Belmont was prepared for the FEI Horse Inspection by HiHopes Farm groom Gail Shepherd, who has been charged with the gelding's care for the past nine months.

“I would like to thank Equis for this honor, but also thank Gail for all her hard work,” said Oken. “She is the backbone of our whole operation, and she knows the horses from head to tail. I trust her with anything and am really appreciative of her efforts.”

Equis Boutique has been sponsoring the Best Presented Horse Award at horse shows along the East Coast for the past year, but TIEC Summer IV marked Oken's first time winning the honor.

“It's really great for the grooms to be recognized,” she said. “It's a wonderful award, and it adds more excitement to the jog while encouraging the horses to be turned out beautifully. We usually hope to get the award and we did this week, which was a great surprise.”

For her Best Presented honor, Oken was awarded a commemorative plaque, as well as a pair of reins from Equis Boutique partner brand, Dy'on.

Oken has had the ride on Belmont for three years and, based on their success in 1.45m classes at Tryon, hopes to keep him at that level and collect more top placings throughout the summer.

“I know him like the back of my hand,” said Oken. “He's the pet of the barn and he has been there, done that. He was so consistent in Tryon, so we are hopeful that he will continue to have success.”

Summer competition at TIEC wrapped on Sunday, and Equis Boutique will continue their tour at some of the nation's top horse shows in the coming months. The next horse shows that will host an Equis Boutique Best Presented Horse Award include The Hampton Classic Horse Show CSI 4*, taking place in Bridgehampton, NY, on August 28 through September 4, and the HITS-on-the-Hudson CSI 5* in Saugerties, NY, on September 7-11.

Equis Boutique is a shopping experience for the discerning equestrian and offers the most convenient and luxurious choice for top equine brands to dress the horse and rider. Featured brands include Parlanti, Manfredi Equestrian, KASK Helmets, Anna Scarpati, Kingsland Equestrian, Kentucky Horsewear, Animo, and Dy’on, as well as a variety of imported specialty bits and Official FEI and Just World International merchandise.

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About Equis, LLC
Equis LLC delivers superior service in order to educate their consumers on the brands and products they offer and show the variety and quality of their made-to-order, customized products. By providing a unique shopping experience, Equis rises above your normal tack shop to offer only the best. “Live the Experience – A Boutique for the Discerning Equestrian.”