Shade and Katie Lambert-Boone.
In a rare feat, all four professional hunter divisions--First Year Green Working Hunter, Second Year Green/High Performance Hunter, Green Conformation Hunter and Regular Conformation Hunter--saw one horse/rider combination sweep all three classes offered in each section.
Shade, owned and ridden by Katie Lambert-Boone, dominated the Equisport Insurance Agency-sponsored First Year Green Working Hunter division today, winning all three classes, including two over fences and the under saddle competition.
Juggling rides between the two main arenas--Grand Prix Arena and the Polk Family Main Hunter Ring--Martien Van Der Hoeven flowed around both over fences classes on Paul Stuart, to claim the second-placed standings and a third in the under saddle class.
In the Second Year Green/High Performance Hunter division, sponsored by Horse Gym USA of Wellington, Florida, again it was a clean sweep. This time Dynamic and Lindsay Lyden won both over fences classes and the under saddle.
With pressure mounting for riders to be consistent and try to duplicate what had preceded them, Cookie Beck didn't disappoint. Aboard Hidden Creek Farm, Inc.'s Graffito, Beck conquered all three Green Conformation Hunter classes sponsored by the Traverse City, Michigan-based media publication, The Record-Eagle. And, to top off the day, Beck did it again! She glided around the Regular Conformation Hunter over fences classes aboard Lisa Cudahy's Last Call to both wins and put the icing on the cake by winning the under saddle.
After her multiple wins today in the Polk Family Arena, Beck said, "I consider myself so lucky to have such wonderful horses, and, as always, my horses delivered! Today was a great start to our stay here at Horse Shows by the Bay.
"If you can consider a horse show a vacation, this is it," added Beck. "From the incredible vantage points, meticulously groomed arenas, beautiful jumps, accommodating staff and the ability to experience all that Traverse City offers, this is my absolute favorite show of the year. We wouldn't miss it for the world!"
Looking forward to the next four weeks of competition, Alex Rheinheimer, competition manager and competition owner of Horse Shows by the Bay, stated: "It was a spectacular start today for hunter competition in all of our arenas. The caliber of horses just keeps getting better and better each season, and to see the best hunters in the nation competing at Horse Shows by the Bay is humbling."
For complete results, please visit www.horseshowing.com. For more information on the Horse Shows by the Bay Series, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.