Our Alabama Hunter Jumper Association students debuted their AHJA 2020 show season by competing at the Kickoff Show. We took 12 horses and 13 riders to the beautiful Chatt Hill Eventing Facility in Fairburn, Georgia. Many of our riders were on new mounts or in new divisions for the show year and we are extremely proud of everyone’s success.
Kayla Hawsey and Gabriel had an absolutely wonderful show in the older crosspoles divisions receiving a champion in the hunters and reserve in the equitation. Kayla was also fifth in the combined $100 AHJA Crosspole Challenge.
Camille Coco and Elliott and Sophia Latham and Whispering Hill both showed in the younger crosspoles both winning a class and having multiple top ribbons against a competitive group of riders. Sophia also earned a sixth place finish in the combined $100 AHJA Crosspole Challenge.
Sarah Carson Hill and Cherry Garcia, Paloma Caine and White Tie, and Bates Moody and Wonderland all made their 2020 AHJA debut in a large group of Pre-children’s. Bates took home a reserve in the pre-children’s hunter. Paloma received a second in one of the classes after not having been in the show ring in over a year. Sarah Carson also came away with top 3 placings in the starting hunter on Friday.
Sydney Velazquez and Caredan Z moved up in divisions at this show and showed that she belonged with a champion in the modified hunter division. Sydney did not stop there, she snatched a second in the $1500 One Moment in Time Photo Hunter Derby with impressive scores of 80 and an 82. Finally, to finish out the weekend, Sydney equitated her way to a fourth place finish in the AHJA Jr Board Eq Challenge.
Lillian Reynolds and Willie Be Mine and Kate Knowles and Kingsley joined up for the $500 Pairs Class racing to 3rd place. They had the fastest time by 10 seconds, but had an unfortunate rail. Lillian was also reserve champion in the children’s equitation as well as third in the AHJA Jr Board Eq Challenge. Kate had great ribbons in the jumpers including a second and third.
Anya Penherski and Whispering Hill, Brynn Smith and Private Party, and Mae Moody and Cup of Joe all competed in the short stirrup division. Anya and Brynn are both new on their mounts and moved up, both winning top ribbons, with Brynn snagging a first on Sunday. Mae moved up and won reserve champion in both the hunters and the equitation.
Finishing out our weekend of success, Pamela Adam and For Fun are a new combination that showed that they are going to be a force to reckon with right off the bat. They started the weekend off with a champion in the starting hunters. Long stirrup also brought this pair success with a champion in the equitation and reserve in the hunters. They continued their success with an 8th in the Hunter Undersaddle Invitational. They topped off their phenomenal weekend with a fourth in the $500 AHJA Challenge.
