Eight Year Old Hannah Holik of Wyoming Grabs Silver

(Lexington, KY_ - At the end of a heated jump-off, Annie Laurie Cook from Woodside, CA, took home the coveted Gold medal in a two-ride jump-off to determine the top two finishers. Posting the only completely clean set of rounds at during the Individual Jumper competition, she finished the jump-off on a time of 41.295.

Cook, a soon-to-be 7th grader at Menlo Junior High School was the only rider representing Zone 10 to compete in the final round of competition for the Individual Jumper title at this year’s Pony Finals.

Annie has been riding for five years and this was her first year participating at the Pony Finals. Her mount, NZ My Mini Milton was originally her brother’s horse, but the pony soon found its way to becoming Annie’s. He is a 14 hand New Zealand bred gelding, age 16.

“Winning at the Pony Finals is really exciting,” said an excited Annie. “But, I knew my pony could do it.”

The West Coast young pony rider’s composure and grace was impressive. “Coming from the West Coast, it’s not as competitive as it is on the East Coast,” said Annie. “But, before the Pony Finals, I was at two of the competitions at Pebble Beach getting ready. Pony jumpers on the West Coast is three-foot, so it’s nothing like this.”

Her work at the Children’s jumpers aided her in getting ready for the challenge she would meet at the Kentucky Horse Park under humid and hot conditions.

“We did Children’s jumpers which is 3’6”, so I had ridden for two weeks before,” she said.


Eight-year-old Hannah Holik looked the picture of the perfect pony jumper – eyes focused with long blond pigtails bouncing – as she took to the final jump-off. Going into the jump-off, Holik brought with her a totally clean score. As fate would have it, the final fence kept her from bringing home the Gold medal at her first Pony Finals. She finished the test on a score of 4 faults and a time of 37.739 (the second fastest of the four riders to compete in the tie breaker). Her 4 faults were the only ones she picked up during the three-phase competition.

Hannah is a third grader attending Jackson Hole, Wyoming’s Jackson Elementary School.

Of her pony, Frosty, a smiling Hannah said, “He sure is good in the jump-offs. When he hears the beeper, he just goes!”

“My Mom got me into riding, and I really got into it,” said Hannah. “[I’ve been riding] for five years…and this is my very first Pony Finals.”

Renee Holik, Hannah’s mother, had nothing but praise for her daughter’s performance, and her love of riding.

“It’s a great thing for kids, it’s great discipline and gives them responsibility,” she said. “It’s such a huge commitment for such a young kids, and whether they have success or not – it’s fun.”

As any proud parent would be, Renee said, “Success comes with hard work…and she [Hannah] works really hard at it. I’m very proud of her.”

But the Silver medal wasn’t the only honors that young Hannah took home from the competition. She was also presented the prestigious Style Award.

The bronze medal went to Kaitlin Campbell of Doylestown, Pennsylvania riding Magic BB, a 16 year old, 14 ½ hand, New Forest Pony gelding. Kaitlin finished with four faults in a jump-off time of 43.150.


ENDS
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