Emma Wujek pictured on Simsalabim.
The large field of young competitors was faced with a first-round course that required riders to be fluid, demonstrate efficient turns, and the ability to "ride off their eye" to several long approaches to single obstacles. Narrowing down the roster of first-round contenders, judge Steve Wall devised a shortened second round that tested the fundamental aspects of riding.
Lined up in the middle of the ring, the top four contestants, in reverse order, were asked to step out of the line-up, canter directly to Fence 8, rollback to Fence 2, trot Fence 9, canter another rollback to Fence 6, and trot back to the line-up.
Wall's clever test easily separated the top-four placings. In reverse order, Hannah Satterlund smoothly navigated the first part of the ride-off, but a tight distance after the trot jump made her ranking vulnerable. Jordan Allen, next up, didn't allow enough room to pick up the canter, resulting in a miss at the first jump.
Wujek, a Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan native, was third in the order-of-go. She proceeded to give the audience a riding lesson as she executed Wall's exam with precision, accuracy and attention to detail.
The last to go, and on top in the first round, Siana Stanton looked like she was going to stay in the top position, but she dropped to third place when she failed to negotiate the trot jump.
Wujek clearly won, but what wasn't obvious to the audience and judge was that this this was her first time competing Rolling Acres' Cavallino. Grinning from ear-to-ear, Wujek giggled, "I am so lucky to get to compete Cavalino! It's our first time together, and I'm just so thankful to Polly (Howard-Coberley) that she trusted in me and my desire to ride him because my horse, Simsalabim, is on R&R."
Wujek can also be found in the pony ring, and she successfully campaigned her Amulet in the small pony hunter division for three years. Having outgrown Amulet, Wujek now competes several medium and large ponies including, Houdini, Merlin The Magnificent and Mr. Valentino. However, the ever-focused Wujek claims that Simsalabim, her current small junior hunter, has taught her everything.
"My first pony, Amulet, whom my Mom surprised me with by having me walk down the aisles of Fox Meadow Farm, and asking, 'Do you see anything unusual?' When I walked past Amulet's stall and saw her hanging out with a big red bow around her neck, I was like 'Wow!' Thank you Mom!'" she said.
The sixth-grader humbly hints that while she has lofty goals, she wants to take them one step at a time. "After today's T.H.I.S. National Children's Medal win, I'm so excited to think about the fact that I've qualified for the T.H.I.S. Finals, and several other year-end finals and championship classes," she said.
In fact, Wujek, at only 11 years old, is one of the youngest this year to qualify for the ASPCA Maclay Finals. In addition, she has four ponies qualified for next month's USEF Pony Finals at the Kentucky Horse Park -- Merlin The Magnificent (Medium Pony), Mr. Valentino (Large Pony), Game Time (Small Green Pony) and Headlines (Medium Green Pony).
Final Results - T.H.I.S. National Children's Medal Class
1st: Emma Wujek
2nd: Hannah Satterlund
3rd: Siana Stanton
4th: Jordan Allen
Focusing on a different age spectrum in major equitation competition, the Ariat Adult Medal closed out events yesterday in the R. L. Polk Family Hunter Arena.
Again, the top awards were determined by the final test. In the end, it was Jennifer Bush who led the field of contenders as the first-to-go in the initial round, earning a leading score of 86 that held for the blue ribbon.
Final Results - Ariat Adult Medal Class
1st: Jennifer Bush
2nd: Emily Kowalchik
3rd: Julie Smith
4th: Karen Howey
Full results can be found by visiting www.horseshowing.com. For more information on the Horse Shows by the Bay Series, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.