- Red Panda, with Hayley Barnhill in the irons, won the grand hunter champion at the National Junior Hunter Championships-East. This was the second title for Red Panda, owned by John and Stephanie Ingram, though a first for Barnhill, 16, from Collierville, Tenn.
- “There was a little extra pressure with him being so famous,” Barnhill said. “But it’s great that I get to do it.”
- Samantha Schaefer and Ashley Toffolon’s Castle were the grand reserve hunter champions.
- It was a first time equitation win for Catherine Tyree who went home victorious after four rounds in the Essex Classics/USHJA Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic sponsored by Essex Classics.
- “Hayley and I were freaking out a little bit. We didn’t know what was going to happen,” the 16-year-old from Chicago, Ill., said of waiting for the Hunterdon Cup standings.
- It was a lot of waiting as the original field of 71 riders was whittled down during three rounds of over fences classes in the Kentucky Horse Park indoor. Judges then selected a final six riders to take part in the testing round, which required riders to change mounts with their competitors. Within the top two going into the testing round, Tyree exchanged her own Triple Lutz for Barnhill’s mount Podest.
- “I was nervous in the beginning,” Tyree said of Podest. “I didn’t really know how he went. I’d seen him show a lot with Hayley, and he’s a little slow with a huge stride. I had to keep him in front of my leg.”
- In an unusual move, the judges, Scott Fitton and Jimmy Torano chose to have six riders, rather than the requisite four for the final testing round.
- “When it came down to the end there were a couple riders that were within a half point,” Fitton said. “After those two riders there was a big drop. It felt like the two riders really deserved to test.”
- Chase Boggio on Massimo and Shawn Casady on Worlds Fair both took advantage of being included in the final round, moving up to finish third and fourth, respectively.
- Artisan Farms’ Safari and Caitlin Ziegler, 15, from Milwaukee, Wisc., went home with an overall win in the small junior, 15 and under, division. “It feels really good, it’s really exciting.” Ziegler said. “It’s so nice here at the Horse Park. The rings and the footing are great.”
- Dr. Betsee Parker’s Way Cool and Victoria Colvin continued their winning streak, taking home the large junior hunter, 15 and under, title. “I was the last going in,” Colvin said, of the classic round which ran in reverse order. “So I thought if I was good, then I might get it.”
- Shawn Casady, aboard Cavallo Farm’s Cachet came in second.
- Taylor Ann Adams riding Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Oare’s Rosalynn took home the large junior, 16-17, overall championship, just edging out Norgan’s Rockford and Boggio.
- “My horse saved my life today,” Adams said. “After yesterday I came back sitting sixth overall, and I was a little bit down. Today, I went in there and I said, ‘I am going to sit here, and you are my best friend.’ ” Rosalynn took care of the rest of it, scoring a 90, 89 and 92 from the three judges in the Classic round.
