Vivian Yowan and Crackerjack (E.Riden/Phelps Media Group)

Lexington, Ky. - As a Lexington native, Vivian Yowan is no stranger to competing and winning at the Kentucky Horse Park.  Today, she added to her list of victories in her own backyard with a win in the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Class at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show.

Yowan bested the field through an over fences and a flat phase to ride away with the win aboard Crackerjack, owned by Saddle Ridge, LLC. Finishing in second behind Yowan was Emma Kurtz aboard Scott Stewart's  VIP Z. Lizzie Van Der Walde rounded out the top three riding Gregor, owned by Dasilva Investments.

While riding at the Kentucky Horse Park and in the equitation division is nothing new for Yowan, it is new domain for her winning mount, Crackerjack.

"Cracker just started doing the equitation in Florida, so he's just figuring it out," Yowan said of the 8-year-old gelding. "He's a little young, so at home we practice a lot of courses and bending lines to get him a bit more experienced."

Yowan is also competing in the High Junior Jumpers throughout the two weeks of Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, but she places high value on the equitation classes.

"It really is the basis of all the other disciplines in riding," said Yowan of equitation. "I really want to move up in the jumpers, so this really helps you with the track work and all of that so, as you move up, you feel even more comfortable doing those bigger jumps."

Yowan and Crackerjack also finished second in today's Hunter Phase of the WIHS Equitation, while Kelli Cruciotti and Monterrey finished in first. Both riders will return for the WIHS jumper phase on Sunday at 8 a.m.