Small Town Elected To Big Win At USEF Junior Hunter Finals West Coast

“When I was little, I would watch the junior hunter ring and think ‘Wow, it would be so amazing to be like them someday.’ And now it seems like I’m living that dream,” said Caroline Ingalls.

Ingalls is living the dream indeed, riding Small Town to the grand and large junior hunter, 16-17, championships at the USEF Junior Hunter Finals West Coast, held Aug. 11-12 in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

“I’ve always watched Junior Hunter Finals through the years, and it was the first time I got to do it,” Ingalls said of her appearance this year. “I was asked to catch-ride Small Town, and I always thought it would be amazing to be grand champion, but I never really thought it would actually happen.”

Ingalls, 17, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., had ridden Iwasaki and Reilly’s Small Town once before, at the Showpark Ranch And Coast Classic (Calif.) in May, and they’d been champion. But she hadn’t ridden him since.

The flashy chestnut Hanoverian gelding (Espri—Goesta) has been showing this summer with his former owner, Nicoletta Von Heidegger, but Ingalls got the ride for the finals.

“I was really looking forward to it. He has such an even, smooth canter, and he’s really trustworthy. He’s got a fun jump. He’s a great horse—it was an honor to be able to ride him,” Ingalls said.

Ingalls, who trains with Hap Hansen, doesn’t own a junior hunter of her own and is focusing on the equitation ring this year.

“But I’ve been catch-riding all year, and I’ve been able to ride a lot of great horses. I’ve always loved to do the junior hunters, and I was so fortunate to have all these offers to ride,” she said. “I’ve really started to pick up the habit of being able to hop on a horse the day of and go in the show ring and put in solid rounds.”

She has also had the ride on the small junior hunter, Falcao, for Hansen all summer.

“Riding a ton of different horses is such good practice because you get to handle so many different situations. It’s given me a lot of great experience,” she said. “I’m a pretty quiet rider. I’ve ridden some jumpers, and it’s fun, but I just love the hunters. I’ve always had a pretty good eye, and I love being able to go out on the big field, float the reins, and get a big jump.”

That soft, forward ride showed Small Town to his best on the open, grass field at the Blenheim facility. Ingalls and Small Town won the handy class and the classic round to take the two tricolors.