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Kat Fuqua “Brightons” Atlanta Summer Classic I & II

Fuqua and Sasha Fierce, Champions in the Medium Pony Division (Photo courtesy of Katherine Addison Photography)

Atlanta, GA (June 28, 2018) – Kat Fuqua’s team of Champion horses and ponies got just a bit brighter this past week as the 10-year-old wrapped up two weeks of competition at the Atlanta Summer Classic I & II. Adding to her already impressive resume of hunter achievements, Fuqua topped Junior Hunters, Large, and Medium Pony Hunters in the course of the two weeks, and added two exciting new equines to her line up: Calvaro, a stunning bay Junior Hunter competitor, and Brighton, famously known as Clemens, a distinguished chestnut Large Pony mount.

After only one ride on Brighton prior to his arrival in Atlanta last week, Fuqua rode him to a Reserve Champion in the second week’s Large Pony division, and took Champion in the Hack and Model classes. “Clemens [Brighton] has a really nice canter and a big stride,” said Fuqua. “I still need to learn all of his buttons but I’m so grateful to have him. I was also thrilled to be second in the handy over fences after only one previous ride.” Trainer Michael Newman, who has guided Fuqua to much of her success over the past year, arranged the purchase for Jeff and Shereen Fuqua of Collecting Gaits Farm. “When I was approached by the Fuquas to find a pony for Kat that can compete at the highest levels, my first thought was Brighton. In my opinion he is the best large pony in the country, and I could not be more honored to have the opportunity to be a part of this talented young lady’s career. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Fuqua also saw a number of wins with her new Junior Hunter mount, Calvaro, and her steady Junior Hunter Champion, RS Levitation, aka Jett. During week one’s Junior Hunter Classic, Fuqua took first with her decorated Junior Hunter mount, Jett. Calvaro topped the first week’s Junior Hunter division, kicking off his career with Fuqua, and during the second week the pair took Champion in the Junior Hunter Classic with a score of 87 as well as a top of the class finish in week two’s Junior Hunter division. Fuqua is pointing both horses towards her first ever Junior Hunter Championships, to be held in Saugerties, New York at the end of July.

Fuqua also took top honors in the Medium Pony division during the Atlanta Summer Classic series. Sasha Fierce, Fuqua’s gray medium pony mare, was crowned Champion of the Medium Pony Division for the series, while Fuqua’s Finesse RF, aka Ladybug, secured Reserve Champion. Ladybug, who has taken Fuqua to numerous titles, contributed significantly to her #1 rankings in the Pony Hunter Derby divisions and the chestnut pony mare is currently ranked #1 in the USEF Grand Champion Pony rankings.

Wrapping up Team Fuqua’s string of successes was the large palomino pony Chic in Time, another winning pony of Fuqua’s that flourished under a new handler. Kat’s close friend and recent Pony Reserve Champion at Devon, Maddie Tosh, showed Chic in Time, aka Spicey, in the Large Pony Model class, taking second to Fuqua and her new Large Pony mount, Brighton.

The USHJA also currently ranks Fuqua and her equines #1 in the Zone 4 Horse of the Year standings for the Junior Hunters, Pony Hunter Medium, and Pony Hunter Large divisions. In the USHJA 2018 Pony Hunter Derby National Rider standings, Fuqua is on top as a rider for overall money won and her pony, Finesse RF, aka Ladybug, tops the USHJA 2018 Pony Hunter Derby National Horse Standings.

For more information on Kat Fuqua (pronounced foo-quay), visit her website at www.KatFuqua.com.

Media contact:
PR and Marketing
Holly Johnson
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
www.equinium.com
holly@equinium.com
+1 954 205 7992

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