Revealed and Julie Holzberger Top Adult Hunter. (Al Cook)
"I am so thrilled," said Holzberger. "I love competing here and in the NAL. I am so blessed. You always have a high expectation. You always go into it striving for something great and then I always have to step back and say, you know what, it's not about that, it's about riding consistently and doing the best I can."
Holzberger and "Clay" as he is affectionately called did perform the best in the first round receiving the highest score of 87 points in the field of 28 qualifiers. Holzberger was surprised with the result, but not her groom.
"I was so excited when I received the highest score in the first round. Clay is just such an amazing animal," said Holzberger. "It was funny because Fred, one of our grooms said '87, 87' when I walked into the ring. Then I walked out with an 87 and he said, 'see!' I told him to stop because I still had one more round to go."
Holzberger had a right to be concerned. The pair received an 81.5 for the second round, which gave them a total of 168.500, just barely ahead of Laurie Barna of Dallas, PA, and Laguna who received a score of 84 points in each round for a total of 168, a mere .500 behind the leader.
Holzberger trains with Dave Belford and Chris Payne of New Hope Farm in Cincinnati, OH, and gives them much of the credit for her success.
"They are such amazing trainers, I adore them. I have been with them for almost ten years. I can't imagine my life without those two as my mentors," said Holzberger. "I stopped riding for 25 years and came back to it ten years ago. I never intended to come back and compete. I just wanted to ride for pleasure and the next thing I know I own a horse and I'm showing and I'm like, wow!"
Holzberger had no time to celebrate her victory. "I have a plane to catch in two hours because I have to work tomorrow," said Holzberter. "I wish I was staying so I could celebrate! I think I get in at midnight."