Loyalty, winner of the Second Year Green Hunter championship (Shawn McMillen photo)
The 39th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show runs Aug. 24-31. The Hampton Classic features world-class equestrian competition, with more than 100 classes of competition including jumper, hunter, equitation, short stirrup and leadline classes, as well as competitions for riders with disabilities.
Barnhill, 20, said that John and Stephanie Ingram's Fonteyn is at her best over the four-foot jumps of the High-Performance division. And, she said, the Hampton Classic's expansive, grass-covered Anne Aspinall Hunter Ring encourages the bay mare to show off-she won three over fences classes and was second in the fourth.
"She had a big gallop today, and she jumped so high," said Barnhill.
She added that winning the High-Performance championship has special significance to her. "I really love this division, because of the big fences," she said. "It takes a special horse to do it, and it gives me a shot of adrenaline when I do it, especially at this show. We only get to come here once a year, and they make it great for us."
Scott Stewart, of Wellington, FL, said he usually brings about 50 horses to the Hampton Classic, and three of them won hunter championships on Wednesday: Showman, owned by Krista Weisman, won the Regular Conformation Hunter championship for the second consecutive year; Lucador, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, won the Green Conformation Hunter championship; and Loyalty, owned by Fashion Farm, won the Second Year Green Hunter Championship.
"Showman just loves it here," said Stewart. "He's my most experienced horse, and he just loves the whole environment here. It really perks him up."
Stewart said that all three horses responded well to Phil De Vita's courses and to the beautifully presented jumps.
"Whenever Phil designs the courses, you know it's going to be a little scopier than most-and this one was, especially with the two oxers on the in-and-out. It really makes the horses try harder," he said.
Sloane Coles of The Plains, VA, rode Autumn Rhythm, 7, owned by Nilani Trent , to the tricolor in the Huntland First Year Green Working Hunter division.
"He's extremely competitive, and this course, over the grass field, allows him to gallop and really jump. He couldn't have performed better," said Coles, 27.
Coles hopes that in the future Autumn Rhythm will be a horse she can show in the hunter derbies, events like the $50,000 Clear Channel Hunter Derby that was held in the Hampton Classic's Grand Prix Ring on The Atlantic Opening Day.
That's why Coles was especially pleased by Autumn Rhythm's performance in the spacious Anne Aspinall Hunter Ring-she thought he showed that he could be a derby horse.
"Rings like this are certainly not something we see at every show, unfortunately, and it makes some horses jump better," said Coles. "You can't beat the facility here. It's a special place for me to come every year."