Ken Berkley has had a phenomenal fall season in the hunter ring, and he capped it today, Dec. 4, by winning the National Horse Show Open Hunter Championship aboard Good Point. Berkley and the striking bay gelding posted an 89.33 average from five judges in the first round today, and followed it up with an 82 in the second round. They claimed victory over Holly Shepherd and Tobasco, a phenomenal first year green horse.

“It’s been a very nice season, for sure,” said Berkley with wry understatement. He prevailed in the class, for which only 11 horses competing in the professional divisions at the National qualified. The totals of scores from three rounds during the week qualified the 11 for the two-round classic, where they returned with a blank slate. Good Point, a second-year horse, was joined by two other second year horses, two regular horses, and six first year green horses.

Berkley had two other rides in the class, Truly and Marvel, but Good Point was the clear star today. “It was a big class, and the best of the best. He had a great day. His gallop across the ground is so soft and light, and his expression is worth 10 points the minute we step into the ring. He’s a 10 across the board; he’s beautiful to look at, he’s a top jumper and he’s wonderful to ride,” said Berkley.

Berkley and his partner, top hunter rider Scott Stewart, bought and imported Good Point, a 6-year-old Trakhener, as a 4-year-old. He started last year in the pre-greens and upgraded quickly to the first years mid-way through the year. “He probably could have used a whole year in the pre-greens, but he did well moving up. He was always in the ribbons as a first year horse, but never really champion,” Berkley said. At the end of the Florida early this year, in April, they sold Good Point to amateur rider Glenn Senk, who rode with Louise Serio. So, Berkley said good-bye to Good Point for a while.

But, in September, Senk decided to make a change and came to ride with Berkley and Stewart. Berkley got the ride on Good Point at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, after Stewart broke his ankle. They were reserve champions in the second years there, and then got ribbons at the Metropolitan National (N.Y.).

In other action today, Berkley’s student, Carolyn Kelly established a firm lead in the Victor Hugo-Vidal Equitation Championship. She won the flat phase, then scored an 89.66 in the hunter phase to win that too. Pessoa/USAEq Medal Finals and ASPCA Maclay Finals winner, Megan Young, was in second after the flat phase but scored just a 79 in the hunter phase. Hayley Jayne was third in the flat, and then scored an 87.83 over fences. The final standings will be decided tomorrow in the jumper phase.

Tomorrow’s action also includes the $100,000 Budweiser AGA Championship Grand Prix.