The past few weeks have been packed with horse shows, with Guerry and Carlyle taking on the AHJA Kick Off show at Chatt Hills the first week of March, then The Hunter Place AHJA show this past weekend, to Allison and Michael tackling two weeks of Gulfport. With all these shows now under our belt for 2018, we are proud to report all the successes of our clients!
At the AHJA Kick Off Show, Lillian Reynolds, Sydney and Lauren Velazquez, Emma Grace Early, and Julia McAdam all tackled huge class numbers in the Schooling Hunter and Pre-Child/Adult Hunter and Equitation divisions. Lillian and Gabriel had a weekend full of learning experiences, where hard work paid off in good ribbons. Lillian's perseverance with "Gabe" earned her two 5ths and a 6th out of 14 in Schooling Hunter, and 3rd, 5th, and 6th in the Pre-Child/Adults out of a massive field of 17! Julia McAdam and Power Play took 2nd and 3rd in Schooling Hunter, as well as 4th in the Pre-Child/Adult undersaddle. Emma Grace Early and Wonderland won a Schooling Hunter class; they also took 3rd and 5th in the Pre-Child/Adults. Sydney Velazquez and Double Dutch came home with lots of high placing ribbons in the Schooling Hunters and the Pre-Child/Adult Hunters. Sydney also took 8th in the AHJA Jr Board Equitation Challenge out of 17! Lauren Velazquez and Caredan Z also took home ribbons in the Schooling Hunters and Pre-Child/Adults. Lauren and "Z" applied their hard work from home and put down some nice trips!
All five Pre-Children's riders brought their A-game and gained some learning experiences!
Mimi Colette Frei and Divide's Freedom Spirit made the top 12 out of 27 entries in the $1500 AHJA Hunter Derby. Their handy round set them up for a 9th place finish. "Spirit" was the only pony to come back for the second round, and the only pony to jump the 3' high options! Mimi and Spirit also took 3rd in the AHJA $500 Classic out of 18! In the Regular Pony Hunter division, Mimi and Spirit brought home some good placings as well. They might be small, but they pack a big punch in the show ring.
On the subject of pony power, Sarah Carson Hill and Benlea Rain Dancer had some fantastic trips in the Children's Pony Hunter and Equitation divisions. Sarah Carson and "Stormy" brought home lots of top 3 placings, including a winning hunter trip!
Sarah Carson and Stormy braving the cold to put down some great trips!
Hannah Banks and Capito made easy work of the Starting Hunter and Short Stirrup divisions in their first time out together! Hannah and "Otto" brought home two 1sts and two 2nds. They also made the second round of the AHJA Undersaddle Invitational Class, finishing just outside the ribbons. Bates Moody and Elliott also had a great first outing together. They took Reserve Champion in the Crosspole Hunter division; they also placed 2nd in the Crosspole Challenge!
Bates Moody sporting her Reserve Champion ribbon and prize!
Kate Knowles and Kingsley brought home blue ribbons in both the Children's Hunter and Children's Equitation divisions. Kate also took Reserve Champion on "Dax" in the Children's Equitation! For fun, she and Dax also competed in the $500 Pairs Jumper Class with Carlyle Brown and Power Play; the pair ended up 6th.
Two states away in Gulfport, Mississippi, Michael and Allison took a crew of horses to the Gulf Coast Winter Classic weeks IV and V.
At week IV, Abby Beaty brought home top ribbons on both her mounts. In the High Children's Jumpers, Abby and Via Dolorosa won the NAL/WIHS Classic out on Gulfport's beautiful grass field. Abby also placed very well on her own Corrado in both the 3'6 Junior Hunters and the equitation classes as well: Abby took 1st in the USHJA Jumping Seat Medal and 2nd in the ASPCA Maclay and the WIHS Medal.
Katie Habeeb also split her time between the hunter and jumper rings with her two mounts Simply Red and Alto Aviador. Katie and "Cinco" took top placings in the Children's Hunter division, while Katie and "Lucas" put down solid rounds with good ribbons in the Low Child/Adult Jumpers.
Lucy Reich and her own Indelible took on the 3'3 Junior Hunter division, and they placed consistently well in a large crowd of 12 horses. Over in the pony rings, Hagen Blackwell piloted Hey Scooby and Footsteps to good placings as well in the Large and Medium Pony Hunter divisions, respectively.
Week V also brought much success. Our two Amateur Owner riders both received tri-colors: Anna Kathryn Hymer and Cinsational took reserve champion in the A/O 18-35 3'3 division, while Cynthia Hallman and Fig Street's Duchess clinched reserve champion in the A/O 36+ 3'3 division.
Cynthia and "Gracie" posing with their well-deserved ribbons.
Michael Allen also piloted Cynthia's "Gracie" to 8th place overall in the USHJA International Hunter Derby. Michael and Gracie came into the second round sitting in the 12th place, but their stellar handy round bumped them to an 8th place finish.
Gracie, Michael, and Cynthia receiving their 8th award.
Hagen Blackwell put down several winning rides on Footsteps in the Small/Medium Pony Hunter division, including a win in the Small/Medium Pony Hunter Classic. She also put down strong trips on Hey Scooby in the Large Pony Hunters.
Abby Beaty and her two mounts had another successful weekend in the Junior Hunters with Corrado and the High Children's Jumpers with Via Dolorosa, as did Katie Habeeb in the Children's Hunters with Simply Red and the Low Children's Jumpers with Alto Aviador.
Back in Alabama during the 2nd week of March, Guerry and Carlyle took their crew to The Hunter Place AHJA show at Cameron Oaks Farm in Wilsonville, Alabama. Out of 11 riders, 7 brought home champion or reserve champion honors!
Emma Grace Early and Wonderland brought home champion in the Schooling Hunter Division and solid ribbons in the Pre-Child/Adult Hunters and Equitation. Sydney Velazquez and Double Dutch took champion in the Pre-Child/Adult Hunters. Lauren Velazquez and Caredan Z were right on Sydney and "Dutch's" tail, with several high placings ribbons in that same division.
Emma Grace and "Wonder" with Sydney and "Dutch," posing with their ribbons. Wonder and Dutch decided they were pasture buddies on this trip.
Julia McAdam and Cup of Joe took on the Children's Pony Hunter and Equitation divisions, along with Sarah Carson Hill and Benlea Rain Dancer. Julia and "Joe" won both hunter over fences classes, and they finished the day with reserve champion honors. Sarah Carson and "Stormy" also placed well in good company, taking home 2nd, 4th, and 6th.
Sarah Carson and Julia cleaned up in the Children's Pony divisions!
Kate Knowles and Kingsley took reserve champion in the Children's Equitation division; they also took several top 3 placings in the Children's Hunters.
Hannah Banks and Capito won three of their Short Stirrup classes and took champion in the division. Hannah was also named Best Child Rider on a Horse in her ring.
Both of our Crosspole riders had a stellar day. Brynn Smith made her Crosspole debut on Whispering Hill. Hard work paid off with great ribbons, including a 2nd place out of 16! Bates Moody and Elliott dominated the division, taking home champion honors.
Mimi Colette Frei and Divide's Freedom Spirit took home reserve champion in the Regular Pony Hunters. Mimi also won The Hunter Place Classic, as well as Best Child Rider on a Pony. After the conclusion of the show, Mimi also received high compliments on her riding from the judge!
Mimi and Spirit posing with their ribbon before Spirit headed home!
Now, Allison and Michael are in WEF for the next two weeks and Guerry and Carlyle are headed to Westminster Farm this weekend! We wish everyone good luck!