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AHJF
Hunter Classic Spectacular Has A Record Of Champions
In
1997 the first ever American Hunter-Jumper Foundation Hunter Classic
took place at the Winter Equestrian Festival in West Palm Beach,
FL and now seven years later this prestigious event, which will
take place on February 15, 2003, is still considered one of the
best hunter events in the nation. Up to 26 riders qualify to compete
in this annual competition and each of those riders hopes to add
his or her name to a very prestigious winners list.
EMILY
WILLIAMS AND STRAPLESS WIN BACK-TO-BACK VICTORIES
Strapless,
a Dutch Warmblood mare, earned back-to-back victories in 2001 and
2002 with Emily Williams, Cincinnati, OH, in the irons. (She was
also fourth on Azure in 2001.) Strapless competed under very different
conditions for her wins. In 2001, the class was held in its usual
setting, the main grass International Arena. However, in 2002 after
heavy downpours made the International Arena a sea of mud the class
was moved to a different arena with footing designed to work in
all kinds of weather. Again Strapless showed the style and form
that has brought the mare to numerous victories over her long career
in the hunter arena. Eight judges, grouped in teams of two, gave
Strapless the highest mark of 91.375 ahead of second place finisher
Dream Date, ridden by Louise Serio (90).
Williams
is not only a talented hunter rider but has done well in equitation
competition, having won both the AHSA Medal and the prestigious
ASPCA Maclay classes, the highest honors for an equitation rider
to achieve in hunter seat equitation. “As a junior that is
the biggest goal you can ever have,” explains Williams. When
Williams won the Hunter Classic in 2001 she commented, “I haven’t
been so excited…since I won the Medal.”
Then
when she won again in 2002 Williams commented, “Strapless was
so amazing. I tried as hard as I could but she tried harder,”
adding, “Winning it once was enough. Winning it twice means
a lot.” “I love her,” says Williams about Strapless,
who competes in the Regular Working Hunter division, which is a
4’ division. Strapless, who is owned by Clara Lindner, loves
peppermints.
Williams’s
horse career is not without its tough memories. In 1996, at 15 years
old, Williams had a crash that almost ended her career. After a
fall at a fence her horse stepped on her face crushing most of the
bones and dislodging all of her teeth. After a long recuperation,
she was back in the saddle again and this victory was just another
indication of how talented a rider she is. As if that fall weren’t
enough, Williams’s mom, Lynn, died of cancer in 2001.
PAST
WINNERS OF THE HUNTER CLASSIC
In
1997 Liza Towell rode Monday Morning to the victory. In 1998 it
was Hudson ridden by Elizabeth Bross who claimed top honors. High
Hearts, with Clara Lindner aboard, was the 1999 winner. In 2000,
the Hanoverian chestnut gelding Most Wanted carried the youngest
rider, 13-year-old Cody Baird (CT) to the win.
For
Cody Baird winning the event in 2000 was a surprise. “I wasn’t
planning on winning a ribbon. The victory for me was just getting
here.” Baird’s trainer, Scott Stewart, 1999 Chronicle
of the Horse Professional World Championship Hunter Rider, wasn’t
surprised. “We knew she could do it.” Most Wanted placed
eighth in the 2001 Classic and was fourth in 2002. Baird also placed
ninth in 2002 on Allstar.
While
all the horses compete over the same course of fences, the height
is changed according to the level they qualified at. Junior (such
as Most Wanted), Amateur-Owner, and the Green Professional Hunters
compete over a height of 3’6”. There is no entry fee and
riders have to qualify in order to compete by winning Championships
in a variety of hunter classes held during the February 11-15 Winter
Equestrian Festival. The class is unique in that it is run in the
evening under the lights and attracts an unusually large audience
for a hunter competition. And there is no charge to come through
the gates.
Also
featured is a sponsored dinner which is the major fundraiser for
the American Hunter Jumper Foundation and its programs. The AHJF
was formed to further the development of the sport of show hunting
by providing a national office to organize, coordinate and support
hunter rider and show jumping equestrian competition. Programs of
the AHJF include the World Championship Hunter Rider Awards, the
AHJF Emergency Relief Fund, AHJF Educational Programs, the AHJF
BSA Inc. 401k and Profit Sharing Plan and the Legacy Cup.
For
information about purchasing tables for the fundraising dinner call
the Winter Equestrian Festival Special Events Office – 561-753-3389,
Fax 561-753-3386 or email SJIpressoffice@aol.com.
For information about the Hunter Classic contact the AHJF at 335
Lancaster Street, West Boylston, MA 01583-0369, call 508-835-8813,
fax 508-835-6124 or email AHJF@aol.com.
For WCHR point standings: http://www.ryegate.com/AHJF/2002/stand/standing.htm
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