Victoria Colvin and Waminka (Sportfot)
Dana Scott and Nod Hill Farm's KM What Ever RV finished second with four faults in 43.65 seconds. Niclas Hofmann and Trelawny Farm LLC's Babbe Van't Roosakker placed third with four faults in 50.87 seconds. Fourth place honors went to Alexandra Thornton and Dunwalke Ltd.'s Blue Curacao with eight faults in 45.17 seconds.
Sunday's class was only Colvin's second time competing in the young rider events in Wellington and she was happy that it went so well. She has had previous experience showing on the grass field in the equitation, hunter and junior jumper divisions, but was excited to compete against some of her top peers in the series.
"It went pretty well," Colvin smiled after the class. "It is so nice to be out on the field and she just went amazing."
Waminka is one of Colvin's top mounts and the pair has had a lot of success recently, including winning yesterday's $10,000 Griffis Residential High Junior Jumper Classic. Riding on the grass field was a little different, but the pair handled it perfectly.
"With her, I feel like she doesn't have to get as quiet, so that she just has a nice gallop," Colvin explained of the different preparation. "We pretty much just walked her this morning and then she was just ready to go."
"She is pretty straightforward," the rider added. "You have to hold her mouth a little bit, but she goes to the jumps and you don't really need much leg. She is one of my favorites except for my own, of course, but she is a lot of fun."
Commenting on the jump-off, Colvin continued, "I was trying to just have a nice, clear round, but I think I just felt the wind and ran to that oxer. I was gonna go slow and clean, but it didn't really work that way. I think the wind makes it more fun. It feels like you are on a beach galloping."
Sunday's class was the final event in the 2013 Artisan Farms Young Rider Series, presented by the Dutta Corporation in association with Guido Klatte, which also awarded the top prizes on Sunday for its overall standings. Sixteen-year-old Chloe Reid was named the top rider under 21 and will get a spot on the USEF European Young Rider Tour this summer as her prize, with transportation provided by the Dutta Corporation in association with Guido Klatte. Along with that, as the overall winner she takes home a Bruno delGrange saddle. Wilton Porter and Niclas Hofmann were second and third in the overall standings.
"I am really excited. This was definitely one of my goals for the year," Reid said of the honor. "Every year we sit down with my trainer (Kim Prince) and my parents and they say 'Chloe, what would you like to have as your accomplishment for this year?' Last year it was to make the European Tour and this year I said that I would love to finish in the top for this class and I was able to make that achievement."
Watch an interview with Chloe Reid
Reid went on the European tour last year and enjoyed her time competing abroad. "That was an amazing experience last year," she stated. "I have never really ridden on a team before and it is a completely different atmosphere over there. It is a great learning experience and I learned so much more than if I just stayed here. I was really happy with everything over there."
Reid is developing a great partnership with her horse, Damascus, and felt that this year's young rider series was very helpful to their development.
"This series is great with all of the different kinds of rounds they give us," Reid acknowledged. "We had a night class, we had a Nations Cup theme, we had on the grass today and just all of the different experiences for helping you succeed. I have had Damascus since last spring and she has really learned to become my horse and I have learned our strengths and weaknesses together. Every round I am just getting to know her more and try to exceed even more."
A full schedule of competition was also held at the main show grounds at PBIEC on Sunday in the International Arena. In the $10,000 Charles Owen Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, Daisy Johnson and Atlanta 447 jumped to victory. In the $10,000 Maria Mendelsohn Low Junior Jumpers, Eugenio Garza and Marbella were victorious.