Day three of the Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – East (JHNC) put the spotlight on junior riders aged 15 and under as they tackled both the classic and under saddle phases of competition. Nearly 200 trips took place in the Walnut Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park, marking a lively and competitive start to the summer season for young equestrians and their families.
3’6” Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under
Saturday morning kicked off with the 3’6” Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division, featuring 30 talented combinations. Claiming top honors in the classic round was Paisley Park, a 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Andesite Equestrian and piloted by Faith Schuttemeyer of Boynton Beach, Fla., earning a standout score of 270.79. Primrose, a 2015 Westphalian mare owned by Frog Pond Stables and ridden by Katherine Mercer (Wellington, Fla.), secured second place, while Becoming, a 2012 Westphalian mare owned and shown by Wyatt Rofey (Brooklyn, N.Y.), finished third.
Becoming and Rofey went on to dominate the under saddle phase in the Rolex Stadium. Debonair, a 2017 Warmblood gelding owned by Kathleen Feeley and ridden by Veronica Feeley (Canton, Ga.), finished second, and RSH Kallahan Z, a 2016 Zangersheide gelding ridden and owned by Ellie Goodfriend (Wimberley, Texas), claimed third.
After two phases, Paisley Park leads the overall standings, followed closely by Becoming and Debonair.
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3’6” Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under
In the 3’6” Small Junior Hunters, Ocean Road—a 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Marnell Sport Horses and leased by Maddock Horses LLC—earned the top score of 265.6 in the classic round with Mimi Maddock (New York, N.Y.) in the irons. Just half a point behind was Ladies First, a 2016 Warmblood mare owned by Elysian Stables LLC and shown by Faith Schuttemeyer. Imaginary, a 2015 Holsteiner gelding owned and ridden by Vivian Golden (Wyomissing, Pa.), rounded out the top three.
In the under saddle, Leisure, a 2015 Hanoverian mare owned by Wade Equestrian Farms, LLC and ridden by Presley Wade (Laguna Beach, Calif.), took first place. Adler, a 2014 Oldenburg gelding owned and shown by Alice Goodwin (Richmond, Va.), was just two-tenths of a point behind in second, with On The Bay, a 2016 Warmblood mare shown by Ella Tarumianz (Charlotte, N.C.) and owned by Jennifer Dean, finishing third.
With two phases complete, Leisure holds the overall lead, trailed by Imaginary and On The Bay.
3’3” Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under
A strong field of 70 competitors entered the 3’3” Large Junior Hunter division for the classic round. Topping the leaderboard was Filou’s Lady, a 2012 Oldenburg mare owned by Rafferty Farm LLC and ridden by Lauren Blu Zarnegin (Aspen, Colo.). Close behind in second was More Fun, a 2011 Oldenburg gelding owned by Glade Run Farm LLC, leased by CKF Equestrian LLC, and shown by Caroline Freeman (Wellington, Fla.). Charolette, a 2015 Holsteiner mare owned by Lillian Valiquette and shown by Victoria Valiquette (New Canaan, Conn.), took third.
3’3” Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under
The day concluded with 59 entries competing in the 3’3” Small Junior Hunter classic round. Sweet Caroline, a 2011 Warmblood mare owned by Kimberly McCaslin and ridden by Ashley McCaslin (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), delivered an early and unbeatable round to win the class. MTM Casallita, a 2017 Holsteiner mare owned and ridden by Charlotte Weber (Houston, Texas), earned second, while Chazeaux, a 2008 Warmblood gelding owned by Claire Parkinson and ridden by Serenity Wolk (Chestnut Hill, Mass.), claimed third.
Competition resumes Sunday, June 22, beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET.
