Samba and Jessica Ungerer were awarded championship honors for the Adult Amateur 18-35 Hunter division during week three of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Ungerer and her eight-year-old German Warmblood gelding are trained by Robert Bielefield and Jeff Ayres. The pair won both over fences classes during day one of competition for the division and were second and fourth over fences before winning the under saddle class on day two.

Reserve champion was Charity Durgan and Fit to Print Farm's Lead Story. Durgan and Lead Story were third in both over fences classes during day one of competition. The pair took home two blue ribbons during day two over fences, followed by a third place finish in the under saddle class.

Ungerer only recently aged out of children's divisions, where Samba was her trusted partner in Children's Hunter divisions for the last two years. The 2013 FTI WEF marks the beginning of Ungerer's show career in adult divisions, which she hopes to continue throughout college.

"I'll be starting college at FAU Honors [Florida Atlantic University Honors College] in Jupiter this fall. I hope to compete down here for the next four years with Samba and continue to do our best," Ungerer stated.

Ungerer describes Samba and herself as driven and goal-oriented, a strength that gives the pair an edge against tough competition at the FTI WEF. "We're a good match because we have the same personality," Ungerer described. "We're both very competitive! We both like to go in and do our best to win."

Samba's competitive drive complements his good training and lovable personality. "He's like a dog. He'd sit in your lap if he could," Ungerer described. "He's a dream to ride. You point him at a fence and he just goes. He's great."

"He's very quiet and easy to get to the ring. He has a big stride and just lopes down the lines. He's very athletic," Bielefield, who trains the duo during the winter, stated.

Ungerer and Samba, fueled by their first championship in an adult division, look forward to the upcoming weeks of the FTI WEF. "Hopefully we get to do the A/O's [Amateur Owner divisions] next week. He's a good horse and he loves what he does," Ungerer stated.