Saturday January 11th the Alabama Hunter Jumper Association hosted their annual Year End Awards Banquet at The Harbert Center in Birmingham, Alabama. This year many members of the Fox Lake Farm family were recognized for their hard work and show results during 2019!
In the Walk Trot Hunter 9 & Above division, Sophia Latham and Maggie Blackstone shared 9th place, both having shown Whispering Hill during the year. Sophia also took 9th in the Walk Trot 9 & Above Equitation division! In the Crosspole Hunter division, Mae Moody and Cup of Joe took 5th; Mae also took 7th in the Equitation with Kayla Hawsey just behind her in 8th!
Kayla Hawsey with her 8th place finish, with Carlyle Brown, Guerry Force, and Amy Knowles.
Whispering Hill made another appearance in the Hunter awards for his 3rd place finish in the Short Stirrup Hunters with Brynn Smith aboard. Brynn also took 6th in the Equitation. In the Long Stirrup Hunters, Kaelin Taylor piloted For Fun to a 3rd place finish; Kaelin also finished 3rd in the Long Stirrup Equitation.
In the Schooling Hunters, Sydney Velazquez and Caredan Z pulled out a 5th place finish out of a huge group of competitors.
The Velazquez ladies with their ribbons!
Lillian Reynolds and Willie Be Mine had a very successful Banquet, taking 6th in the Low Hunters, 3rd in the Children’s Hunters, and Reserve Champion in the Children’s Equitation. Also in the Children’s Hunter division, Julia King and Beckford took home 5th.
Some of our lovely ladies with their ribbons, from left to right: Brynn Smith, Katie Habeeb, Kaelin Taylor, Bates Moody, and Lillian Reynolds.
Kate Knowles and her mount Kingsley also walked away from Banquet with multiple accolades. Kate and “Dax” won the Spirit of the Horse Award, chosen by the Madison Family to honor an equestrian who has dedicated their time, energy, and love to a special horse in their life. Guerry Force nominated Kate for the award, and the nomination read as follows:
“When I think of a kid who has overcome great odds, shown amazing dedication and shown great improvement with their horse I can only think of Kate Knowles and her horse Kingsley.
Kate and Dax have been together for just over 3 years and have truly transformed over that time. When Dax first arrived he was unbroke, weak, and dealing with some physical discomfort. Kate was just coming off her large children's pony, Best Kept Secret. She went from 14.2 hands to 17.2 hands over night!! Their first show was in the pre children's hunters and I think they knocked down more rails than stayed up and there was no lead change in sight. They continued to work hard and they both kept improving.
Two years ago we made the decision to have Dax undergo kissing spine surgery. This required a 3 month rehab consisting of a combination of stall rest, hand walking, and lunging (30 days of daily lunging). Kate was the best physical therapist a horse could ask for. She was out lunging her horse on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day that year. Temps in the teens...Kate was out lunging. Dax never missed a day of rehab. Her work was not done after those 3 months. She still works to this day to keep his back, core, and hind end as strong as possible. Dax is the strongest he has ever been. He is the most rideable he has ever been. He is the happiest we have ever known him.
Because of her hard work and dedication to her horse she and Dax have become quite a team winning countless ribbons and year end awards. However, what matters most to me as her trainer is the horsemanship lessons and skills she has gained. From the top of his ears all the way to the end of his tail (and if you have ever seen Dax without a martingale you know how long he is) this kid knows her horse.She has a bright future ahead of her with Dax right there with her. Their 2020 show season has the 1.10m jumpers in their sights!
I hope you will consider Kate for this award. It's difficult to put into words how hard this kids works and how much faith she has in her horse. I think that's what makes her so special. She just has that extra bit of something when it comes to Dax.”
Kate and Dax took 3rd in the Junior/Amateur Owner Hunters, Reserve Champion in the Regular Working Hunters, Reserve Champion in the Junior Equitation, 3rd in the .95 Jumpers, and Reserve Champion in the 1.00 Jumpers. We are so proud of all she has accomplished with this horse. Katie Habeeb and Alto Aviator also took 6th in the 1.00 Jumper division as well!
In the Children’s Pony Hunters, Sarah Carson Hill took the Champion prize with Benlea Rain Dancer. Sarah Carson was also Champion in the Children’s Pony Equitation! Bates Moody finished 3rd with Cup of Joe in the Children’s Pony Hunters and Reserve Champion in the Children’s Pony Equitation! We are proud of these girls’ sportsmanship and camaraderie with one another throughout the year.
Sarah Carson with her champion prizes with trainers Guerry Force and Carlyle Brown
The Alabama Hunter Jumper Association also honors those who were highest in their USEF Rated Divisions at AHJA Recognized “A” Shows throughout the year.
Romney Velazquez and her own A Timely Affair dominated the Adult Amateur Hunter division, claiming Champion honors. Daughter Lauren Velazquez took home 3rd with Balladeer in the Children’s Hunters as well. Also in the Children’s Hunters, Julia King clinched 6th with Beckford.
Mimi Colette Frei had two mounts claim prizes in the recognized divisions, with Hillcrest Songbird taking home 3rd in the Regular Pony Hunters and At Last claiming 4th in the Junior Hunters.
In the Children’s Jumper division, Clayton Mullis and Tower Lux took 3rd with Katie Habeeb and Alto Aviator claiming a 6th place finish.
Some of our Fox Lake ladies at Banquet. Left to right: Brynn Smith, Emma Grace Early, Sydney Velazquez, Lauren Velazquez, Bates Moody, Lillian Reynolds
Guerry Force was also recognized multiple times over for her incredible dedication to the sport, her riders, and their mounts. Guerry was awarded The AHJA Service Award by the AHJA Executive Board for her volunteer efforts throughout the show season. Guerry also won The Jerry Morrison Award for her exceptional time and efforts dedicated to her job, nominated by Carlyle Brown.
Fox Lake Farm was also voted best horse show of 2019 for their hunter show hosted in May!
In all, we could not be more thrilled with our riders, horses, and staff for all they accomplished during the 2019 show season. Not only did our girls grow as riders and horse women, they also grew as people as they learned valuable life lessons both in and out of the saddle. Bring on 2020!
-Carlyle Brown