The art of equitation continues to be one of the healthiest aspects of the show horse world. Each year the parity is even more evident as riders from around the country challenge the traditional establishments for world and national titles.
“Equitation was harder for me to judge than the Saddle Horses,” said Ann Speck. “Some of those [equitation] classes didn’t separate themselves as much as the horses did and some of the riders you expected to make good shows didn’t have as good of rides as some of the lesser known kids. I think it was a very good division this year.”
Walk and Trot Equitation has grown from an introductory level division into all-out competitiveness with riders turned out to the hilt aboard big-time show horses which are doing their jobs safely. This is a credit to both the trainers and the instructors.
What a success story pert Lindsay Landrum has been. The daughter of famed Walking Horse trainer David Landrum and his wife Karla, Lindsey, who has a smile that could light up Freedom Hall, returned to Louisville to win the 7-year-old and under class for the second consecutive year. The DeLovely rider scored a unanimous decision. Landing two reserve votes Jessica Northcutt proudly rode out of Freedom Hall a reserve world’s champion. She is trained at Carowill Farm and her equitation was polished by the team at Cricket Hill Farm.
With nine riders on tap for the 8-Year-Old Walk and Trot class, Alexandra Waller turned in a world’s champion performance taking the Louisville blue back to the Shadow Run tack room. From a family of horsemen and women in North Carolina, Allie Wellington represented Drowning Creek Farm with the reserve world’s title.
Back in Saturday’s championship round for the 8 & under riders Lindsey Landrum delivered her second unanimous ride of the week to make a victory pass with a blanket of Louisville roses. A veteran horsewoman, even at this tender age, Lindsey then went into cheerleading mode to support stablemate Brittany McGinnis who was riding for the 9-10 championship a few classes later. Following that she jumped in the car with her parents and returned to Shelbyville, Tenn., to win a class at the Walking Horse National Celebration. Not a bad day’s work for a seven-year-old.
Rising to the occasion just like she did in the championship at Lexington Junior League, Callie Smith is a talent to behold as evidenced with her reserve world’s championship ride from Cryst-A-Kell Farm. She qualified with a third place ribbon. The remaining 8 & under championship ribbons went to Caroline Walker, a third place finisher in her qualifier, Alexandra Walker, Jessica Northcutt, Tyler DeVore, Max Kaplan, and Allie Wellington.
A ring of 12 rode for the 9-year-old world’s title and there were three very familiar faces at the top of the final card. DeLovely’s Brittany McGinnis graduated from last year’s 8 & Under World’s Grand Champion to ride as the unanimous winner of the 9-year-old class. Her stablemate Grace Mullins was there for the reserve world’s title, closely followed by Shelby Gregory. All three of these young ladies have enjoyed victory passes at major shows this year.
The 10-year-old competition was split with 10 riders in the first round and eight making it to the ring in the second split. Keeping the DeLovely lock on the division, Gabriella Flynn was the last rider to leave the ring with a blue ribbon flowing from the bridle of CF First Light Of Dawn. Newcomer Jacob Grieme showed the ladies how to ride with his reserve world’s champion performance under the direction of Lynda Freseth. Eleanor Watkins has stayed at the top all season and came away with third.
Division two of the 10-year-old riders belonged to Richlon Farm’s Kristen Meyers. This young lady just gets stronger every show and she put it all together on the green shavings. Bill and Nancy Becker greeted their multi-titled walk and trot star Amber Lynn Lowry as she rode from the ring with the reserve world’s title ahead of another sharp youngster, third place finisher Melissa Milligan.
Interest was high in the 9-10 Walk and Trot Championship as 16 riders had their sights on the tricolor and blanket of roses. There were lots of nervous parents and instructors as these calm and cool youngsters gave it their best shots. When it was over Brittany McGinnis received her second set of unanimous votes and rode out with her second world’s grand championship in as many years for DeLovely Farm. Giving DeLovely yet another title, Gabriella Flynn finished her dream week with a reserve world’s grand championship. The team of Amy Rives and Galahad’s Puppeteer has been right at the top every time they enter the ring and they left Louisville ‘02 with a third place finish in the championship round. Just getting started with Callaway’s Coraleen, Ashley Stine represented Fairfield South with a strong fourth place ride. Also taking great memories home were Grace Mullins, Amber Lynn Lowry, Jacob Grieme, and Ellen Medley Wright.
Looking at the junior walk, trot, and canter competition the numbers and the level of talent was very encouraging. The 10-year-old class which has usually suffered the greatest because of the walk and trot division, did have 12 entries this year. Nelson Gaker, a young man from Ohio who has been delivering winning rides all season, represented the Boggs’ Cape Cod Farm in the winner’s circle of this contest. Reserve world’s champion honors belonged to Colorado’s Gabriella Londono. Simpsonville, Ky., native Catie Ray Clark rode out with the yellow streamers.
A former walk and trot champion, Olivia Weber is no stranger to the winner’s circle in the walk, trot, and canter ranks either. She was this year’s 11-Year-Old Saddle Seat Equitation World’s Champion for Zubrod Stables. Under the direction of Michael Craghead, another former walk and trot star, Jared Hill was the reserve world’s champion representing California. An extremely versatile rider, Jessica Moctezuma was the third place finisher for North Wind Stables
The older the age group the stronger the competition. There were several household names in the 12-year-old class and could they ride! Mounted with Callaway’s Will Gillen, Alexandra Flynn flowed from transition to transition on her way to the world title. With her equitation face on, multi-titled Kelsey Price scored the reserve title placing in front of the savvy Kyle Gagnon.
Lexington’s Junior Equitation Grand Champion Shana Jo Brown blew into Louisville and gave another commanding performance with a unanimous tie in the 13-year-old age group for trainer/instructor Tom Sworm. From Cardinal Farms, Amy Rives has been battle tested and she garnered reserve on this Tuesday morning. Shadow Run’s Jessica Keys was right there with a third place finish.