Caitlin Creel Captures ASPCA Maclay At 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular II

Today's hunter competition at the Showplace Spring Spectacular II at the Lamplight Equestrian Center began at 8:00 a.m. in the Main Hunter Ring. Juniors brought out their top equitation horses for the morning's competitions in the ASPCA Maclay and the USEF/Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal. Winning the ASPCA Maclay was Caitlin Creel aboard Calvin 46.  Shortly after a ring drag the USEF/Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal commenced. Coming from fourth place before the test and then taking home the blue was Nicki LaChapelle and Perfect Landing.
 
The ASPCA Maclay course and the USEF/Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal were both designed by Skip Bailey of Wellington, Florida. Both courses featured a diagonal two-stride, two option verticals coming home, and a figure eight to two split rail fences.
 
Twenty-one riders entered the ASPCA Maclay and twelve riders were brought back for the under saddle phase.  Riders were asked to showcase the utilization of their aids with a counter-canter in both directions and multiple transitions.  As the announcer picked up the microphone, he announced Caitlin Creel riding Calvin 46 as the winner of the ASPCA Maclay class.  Creel was quite excited for this win and so was her family who cheered Creel on as she received the accolade.
 
Creel has been working with Calvin 46 since she bought him in Wellington, Florida in April. "He has so much experience that he guides me a little through the courses," smiled Creel. "Today I had a really great round; we have been working on consistency, and our work has definitely paid off."

For the last three weeks Creel has been working on what all riders go through at certain times during their showing year, riding without stirrups.  Creel noted, "I have been working on not only consistency, but keeping my head in the game, and improving my track."
 
Creel continued, "Today's ASPCA Maclay course featured multiple left hand turns which are Calvin's strong suit.  I was also very proud of how he reacted to me at the split rail.  He really answered my call when I asked him to move up for a distance that most riders were not leaving at.  I love this horse!"
 
After the Showplace Spectacular Series Creel will be traveling to the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival in Traverse City, MI.
 
The USEF/Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal was the next class to present awards to the top equitation riders. Nicki LaChapelle and Perfect Landing earned the blue ribbon with her execution of the test phase of the class.
 
Four riders were brought back to the test phase and were asked to trot the first fence, halt after the trot fence, make a right turn and counter-canter down the long side, then make a sharp right turn back to a split rail fence while holding the counter canter.  Riders then continued to an oxer and then made a sweeping left hand turn to the option vertical fence.
 
First to attempt the test was Nicki LaChapelle and Perfect Landing. LaChapelle asked her horse to pick up the counter canter and hold it through the turn and Perfect Landing did the test as asked.  She had a slight rub on the split rail fence, but did a great job executing the entire test.  LaChapelle finished her test by choosing the inside option to the option vertical and wound up back in line next to the other three qualifiers.