Victoria Colvin and Inclusive captured the Overall Grand Junior Hunter Championship at the Alltech National Horse Show. (Shawn McMillen)
Inclusive with Victoria Colvin in the irons earned the top call in the $7,500 Large Junior 15 and Under Hunter Stake Saturday afternoon. Coupled with their sweep of the over fences yesterday, they scored the division's championship tricolor. Hannah Showell and Just Dessert, owned by Rolling Acres Farm of Brookeville, MD, rode to the reserve championship honors with their consistent ribbons.
"He is jumping higher and higher, to the in and out today he really surprised me with his jump," Colvin laughed. "It can be a little surprising. He gets there and just explodes of the ground. He is getting more comfortable with showing."
Owner Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA, remarked, "He's fearless, there is nothing that can frighten this horse. No matter what you throw at him he will go around like a quarter horse. He just loves to jump. I think he is an animal that just really loves to jump. You can see him looking forward to the next one as soon as he has landed."
Colvin returned to the ring for the presentation of the Large Junior Hunter Grand Championship, and the Overall Junior Hunter Grand Championship. She was also awarded the "Blue By You" Memorial Challenge Trophy for the Best of Large Junior Hunter Handy Classes.
Earlier in the day, Colvin also captured the championship title in the Small 15 and Under Junior Hunters. She was only one point ahead of Vivian Yowan and Whatever, owned by Boggs Hill of Wellington, FL, but the cards fell in her favor as she narrowly edged out the competition. Colvin took the top call in the Small 15 and Under Junior Hunter Handy and Under Saddle.
"It was close," Colvin stated. "He got a little funny in the schooling ring. He is usually perfect with his changes. The handy was full of turns, which I really liked. Inclusive loved it out there, and so did Ovation. It was fun. The stake was also a lot of fun, it was more like a derby course with its length."
Parker concluded, "I think we are a great team, and we have been since Tori was eight years old. I feel responsible to see her through her junior years. I am delighted to do this for her-it just works and it has been an amazing partnership. I feel like she teaches me more than I teach her."
Today's Gochman Family Small Junior 16-17 Hunter Champion came down to Hasbrouck Donovan and Anna Cardelfe. Donovan had piloted one of the most foremost hunter horses of the last two decades, Lyle, owned by Stephanie Keen of Ocala, FL, to top ribbons throughout the division. They earned the blue ribbon in yesterdays first over fences class, as well as securing their championship ranking with the first place finish in the handy and the third place in the stake. Anna Cardelfe was dually awarded the reserve championship for the division with her own Nadia having earned the first place in the stake, the second in the handy, and the fourth place in the under saddle.
"This is my last show with him, and I am so lucky that I got to show him," Donovan described. "I feel very special and honored to be showing him, he's such an awesome horse-he's very sweet. It means a lot to win this because it is my last year. I thought the courses were challenging, there were a lot of options, but I had a lot of fun, it was a great way to end the year."
Ashley Foster and Charade posted a beautiful stake round during the Greentree South $7,5000 Large Junior 16-17 Stake, riding to the blue. They were awarded the "Whiskey Before Breakfast" Memorial Challenge Trophy for their high scoring ride. Combined with her first and fourth place ribbons, Foster took the division's championship. David Oberkircher and Bishonen were awarded with the reserve championship.
"This is crazy, the whole Indoors have been a great experience, especially with him," Foster said. "He is such a calm horse, and I really liked the handy, we had a really good round. He doesn't take much to get to the ring, and is such a professional. I have learned to be patient with him. He has been great all year, and we have gotten to know each other more and more. You just stay out of his way, and he'll do his job. It feels fantastic to have this win at the National."
Concluding the awards presentations, Erin McGuire led her own Casallo center ring for the Alltech National Horse Show Grand Hunter Championship. McGuire accepted the "Overdressed" Challenge Trophy as the horse that accumulated the most points in the 3'6" and over hunter divisions.
"It's surreal, I didn't expect it to happen," McGuire explained. "I am really blessed to have him. To come here and accomplish this is amazing, he is such a special animal."
Trainer Jack Towell concluded, "This show is built for horses, this ring is built for horses to show in. If I was a horse I would like to be in there. I feel comfortable in there, and so does he. They do such an unbelievable job here. When Mason does something he does it great. The judging was fantastic. I can't say enough about it, I really like this horse show, and I don't have a single complaint."
Today marked the conclusion of the hunter divisions at the Alltech National Horse Show, but 200 junior riders will return to the Alltech Arena tomorrow morning to compete during the Maclay National Championship for the ASCPA Maclay Horsemanship Classes - Presented by Hadfield's Saddlery. For more information about the 2012 Alltech National Horse Show, 129th Edition, please visit www.nhs.org.