Traverse City, MI – July 10, 2011 – An overcast morning gave way to a rather blustery but pleasant day on the final day of week one of Horse Shows by the Bay in Traverse City, MI. The R. L. Polk Family Main Hunter ring bustled with many junior riders vying for the Grand Junior Hunter Champion title. There was no stopping Jessica Blum and The Real McCoy, who topped them all when they earned first place in every Large Junior 15 and Under class this weekend. Also highlighting the day was the $2,000 Junior Hunter Classic and the $30,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City, both drawing quite impressive crowds.
The Large 16-17 Junior Hunters kicked off the Junior Hunter division today. Madison Hayes and Santiago, owned by Ilan Ferder, won the hunter round with a smooth and consistent showing of her handsome horse. Sydney Glazer and Emily Arneson’s Amika jumped with beautiful form into the second place position in the hunter round, followed by Mary Abbot aboard Devotion, who is owned by Jessica Warren. Laura Baginski and Jordan Weaver’s Devout showed off their skills in the handy hunter round, easily making the turns right into first place in the class. Hayes and Santiago grabbed the red ribbon and Sydney Glazer and Amika snagged its yellow counterpart in the handy round. After all the points were tallied-up, Hayes and Santiago accumulated the most points over the weekend – 38 total – and took home the champion prize. Laura Baginski and Devout took home reserve champion honors with 28 points.
It was the Large 15 and Under Junior Hunters who stole the show today, with Blum and McCoy earning first place honors in every class of their division, including the under saddle class. Blum and her own “Mac” closed out the weekend with a total of 50 points in the section, as well as the sought-after champion ribbon. These incredible 50 points allowed the judge to announce early, before the Small Junior Hunters, that the pair could not be topped by any other pair in the Junior Hunter division, making them the Grand Junior Hunter Champions. Lauren Westerhouse and her horse, Debonaire, took home the reserve champion ribbon, with a total of 26 points. Westerhouse and Debonaire earned second place in both classes today.
Continue reading A Blue Ribbon Day for Junior Hunters at Horse Shows by the Bay