Last Updated on March 22, 2024 by adminahb
The future of U.S. show jumping took to the International Arena at Wellington International on Thursday evening for the coveted WEF Equitation Championship, presented by NetJets, during the IDA Development-sponsored Week 11 of the 2024 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). As Wellington International gears up for its final week of the winter season, kicking off on March 27, all eyes were on junior riders as 40 qualified rising stars took to the big ring.
The podium was dominated by 16-year-old Wellington-based Taylor Cawley as the only rider to post scores in the 90s in both rounds riding Oki d’Eclipse. Blake Rowan, 17, of Little Compton, RI on Ironman and J. J. Torano,13, of Wellington, FL aboard Favorite Edition Z made their debuts in the WEF Equitation Championship, finishing second and third, respectively.
Of her experience in the class, Cawley noted, “The first year I did the [WEF] Equitation Challenge, I was on a very green horse and I myself was very green. The second year I did it I was a little more advanced on a green horse. This year I was lucky to have the experience and be on a more experienced horse as well.
“I think that experience paid off really well,” continued Cawley, who trains with Stacia Madden at Beacon Hill Show Stables. “You have to be focused on what you’re doing and know your horse and yourself. Oki is big and doesn’t know where his feet are all the time but he’s super fun to ride and I’ve been bringing him up along with the whole team. This is his first championship under the lights, and it paid off really well.”
Derby Day on the Equestrian Village Field
It was a day for derbies on the grass field at Equestrian Village on Thursday, kicking off hunter action on the grass for week 11 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Junior, Amateurs, and Open riders alike took to the USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Snaks 5th Avenchew across their respective sections.
Split into three groups, thirty-five amateurs, thirty-one juniors, and thirty-four open riders competed over hunt-and-go course designed by Ken Krome (USA). Competing over a single round, riders completed both the classic and handy phase across the course, with fences one through seven representing the classic portion, and fences eight through 14 representing the handy.
Taking home the win in the junior section was Grace Majoros of New York, NY and Edgewood’s Wonder, owned by Tres Femme, LLC. The pair set the tone to win early on in the class, going forth in the order and laying down a classic phase score of 87 and a handy phase score of 89 for a total of 176.
“I’ve had Stevie [Edgewood’s Wonder] for exactly a year now, so this is an exciting win,” said Majoros. “We usually do the 3’3” juniors but he’s super fun to do the derbies on. He can make the tight turns and do the high options with no problem. This was also our first derby on the field.”
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