Lexington, Ky.—Nov. 3  

Shaw Johnson Price couldn’t believe what she was hearing over the loudspeaker at the National Horse Show. Sure, she and Custom Made had already managed to capture two grand amateur-owner championships at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and the Washington International Horse Show, but she and her trainer Havens Schatt had looked at the points in the division from her performances at the National Horse Show, and they didn’t think she was even in the running for a tricolor.

But Price and “Red” won the final over fences class, and the way the points shook out, it was just enough to snag the tricolor. Price and Red walked back into center ring with Schatt and groom Wayne Robertson to collect their champions cooler, with tears springing to Price’s eyes as she patted her horse.

“I’m completely overwhelmed, I don’t know, that’s the most amazing thing that’s happened,” Price said, wiping her eyes. “It’s really unexpected, and I’m just thrilled. I was really happy after the last class to end on a good note, that’s what I was thinking, because we’ve had an incredible circuit. I was just really nervous because I wanted to end well.”

Custom Made and Shaw Johnson Price captured the amateur-owner hunter, 36 and over, championship as well as the grand title. Photo by Ann Glavan.

Price took an eighth place ribbon in the first over fences round and a sixth in the handy.

“She just rode a little bit cautious—she didn’t ride badly at all but she just rode cautious becaue she didn’t want to make a mistake,” Schatt said. “Even this morning in the handy she rode a little bit nervous, and I just said to her before the last class, ‘This is your last class, just go in there have a good time and trust your horse,’ and she went in there and just nailed it.”

As proud as she is to win the championship, Price is just happy she didn’t have any “amateur moments” at the show.

Shaw Johnson Price poses for a picture with her champion, Red. Photo by Ann Glavan.

“I thought I was going to leave off three legs at least once, I mean it had to happen, right?” Price laughed. “I was just waiting for that to happen!”

No scary moments here—just two solid trips followed by a knock-out round in the stakes class and a win in the under saddle to capture her third grand amateur-owner hunter championship of the indoor season.

“I think everything for Shaw happened so fast at Harrisburg and Washington, it never really sunk in to what she had accomplished,” Schatt said. Price went home to Chestertown, Md. for a day or two at a time between indoor finals before returning to the hustle and bustle horse show life.

Jane Gaston and Because took the reserve championship title in the amatuer-owner, 36 and over, divison. Photo by Ann Glavan.

“And then she got here, watched me ride him, and then the next day started at 7 a.m. There was no time to think about it. She was busy thinking ‘I don’t want to mess up, I don’t want to look like an idiot, everbody is going to be watching,’ ” Schatt said with a grin. “I think that’s why she’s so emotional—the week didn’t start out that great for her, the riding wasn’t so easy, and then to go in there and nail the last class when we wanted to have a good ending to a great season, that was great.”

Red was excited for the end of this horse show too, though for his own reasons.     

“That horse is so tired right now, so tired, but he just goes in there and give his all every time,” Schatt said, patting the big liver chestnut. “He’s going to get a nice long break.”

Luckily for Red, his home is just up the road from the Kentucky Horse Park—Schatt is based in Georgetown, Ky., and Red was already unbraided and ready to jump in his shavings bed for a nap when he got called back in the ring for the best performance in the amateur-owner divisions award.

Red and Price will pick up where they left off for the winter season in Wellington, Fla.

Laura Sexton and Set To Music took the amateur-owner hunter, 18-35, championship title. Photo by Ann Glavan.

Laura Sexton and her horse Set To Music hit a high note with their championship finish in the amateur-owner hunter, 18-35, division. Sexton actually bought “Calvin” from Schatt in Oct, of last year, so Schatt had the distinction of training both the amateur-owner champions at the National Horse Show.

“I love to see my graduates do well,” Schatt said, giving Calvin a big pat on the shoulder as he came out of the ring with Sexton.

The amateur-owner hunter, 18-35, division is one of the most competitive groups at any major horse show, and the National Horse Show is no different, so Sexton was very pleased with how her horse fared.

Laura Sexton and Set To Music. Photo by Ann Glavan.

“It’s a very hard-hitting division. It’s very exciting, he’s a younger horse, and it’s my first indoor [season] ever on him,” Sexton, 33, said. “I did Harrisburg and here, and it was an amazing experience to have it pan out that way.”

Stephanie Danhakl and First Light took the reserve championship title in the amateur-owner hunter, 18-35, division. Photo by Ann Glavan. 

The 10-year-old gelding Calvin was also champion at the Devon Horse Show (Pa.) this year.

“After Devon we did Lake Placid, and we were champion both weeks there, and I was like you’re done, you’ve earned your rest, so we took a really easy, relaxed summer,” Sexton said. “We went to the [Hampton Classic] and Harrisburg and here, so it was nice to be able to reward his performance with a little bit of down time and relaxing.”

Calvin and Sexton spend their down time at Whipstick Farm in South Salem, N.Y., with trainers Frank and Bonnie Cunniffe.

“This is going to age me, but I’ve ridden with them for…over 25 years?” Sexton said with a laugh. “They started me on short stirrup, they are my family. I was warming up this morning and said ‘Mom!’ and then caught myself, and Bonnie laughed and said it’s ok! But they are the absolute best, and this was a lot of hard work on Bonnie’s part, and she did a super job.” 

Want to know what happens when at the National Horse Show, and how you can watch from home? Click here! Check back with the Chronicle later in the week for more from the National Horse Show, and don’t forget to check out the Nov. 24 issue of the magazine for more in-depth coverage.