Caroline Dance and Show Time (The Book LLC)

Old Salem, N.Y. - Fourteen-year-old Caroline Dance of Westchester, Pa., and her horse Show Time, a 12-year-old German Warmblood gelding, took home the Grand Junior Hunter Championship for the first week of Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. They rode to the top of the Large Junior Hunter division championship for the overall win. They received two firsts and two seconds over fences and they won the under saddle class as well.

The reserve champion was Capstone, ridden by Ailish Cunniffe for Mary Tyree. Another championship was awarded in the Large Junior Hunters; the top ribbon went to Further Lane Farm's Mahalo and Sophie Michaels, while the reserve champion was Eloquence, ridden by Isabella Russekoff for Taylor Willever. In the Small Junior Hunters, Kate Ross and KAR LLC's Friday Night were champions, and Coco Fath rode Hillside Farm LLC's Crystal Clear to the reserve championship. Ross was also named the Best Junior Rider on a Horse.

Dance returned to the show ring with Show Time near the end of WEF after eight months off due to Show Time's injury. While she has owned Show Time for a year, they haven't had many chances to compete. “It was a great comeback. It was so unbelievable that he could come back better than ever,” she said.

Dance described Show Time as very smooth and fun to ride. “We're planning on trying the equitation with him next year. He's so confident with himself, and it makes me have a lot of confidence. If I'm going to a jump, he'll see it too, but he always moves up. I'm still trying to figure out that deep distance and how I can handle that. Overall he's a great ride. It's so nice when you get there perfectly, and he gives you that nice, smooth jump. It's just awesome.”

But what Dance likes even more is Show Time's great personality. “He's just a big puppy dog. He's always going through your pockets and looking for treats. He's just a sweetheart. When he sees me coming through the barn doors, he pricks up his ears and nickers,” she said with a smile. “It's so cute. It makes you feel so special, having a horse like that, that loves you!”

Other special awards presented Sunday include:
Grand Pony Hunter Champion – Benetton, ridden and owned by Alexa Aureliano
Best Junior Rider on a Pony – Isabel Ryan
Grand Children's Hunter Champion – Einstein, ridden and owned by Isabelle Mann
Best Children's Rider on a Horse, presented with the Hunter Horse Challenge Trophy – Emma Weiss
Children's Hunter Pony High Point Overall, awarded a plate from Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Center – Mathilda von Guttenberg
Best Children's Rider on a Pony – Eliza Altman