Ryan Moloney of Georgetown, KY, rode Vogue to the Children’s Hunter Older division championship, sponsored by Palm Beach International Academy, after earning two first place finishes over fences and a win under saddle during week eight of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
Ryan Moloney and Vogue. Photo by Sportfot Photography
“She’s one of the most incredible horses that I’ve ever ridden,” said Moloney, 16, of Vogue, the ten-year-old grey Swedish Warmblood mare owned by his mother, Karen Bailey. “She is just a rockstar. She has a big personality, and she loves to let you know that she’s there. I love her so much, and you can feel that it’s such a good partnership. She just really helps you out.”
Bailey acquired Vogue in July of 2017, and she initially had the ride on the mare before recently handing over the reins to her son.
“It’s just been learning with her and working on improving together,” said Moloney, who trains with Ken and Emily Smith at their Ashland Farms. “It’s been amazing to watch how far we’ve come in just the short couple of weeks.”
This year marks both Moloney and Bailey’s first season competing at WEF, and they could not have asked for a better debut, with week eight of the 12-week circuit proving to be a banner one for their family.
“It was an exciting week because we have three horses here, and all three were champions,” said Bailey, who rode Baton Rouge to the Low Child/Adult Training Jumper championship and who owns Simply Red, who Leylan Gleeson rode to the Performance Hunter 3’3” championship. “We put a little bit of pressure on Ryan, ‘You know it’d be really awesome son, if you were to be champion too.’ To pull that off was really, really cool. I’m so proud of him!”
Moloney will continue to compete in the Children’s Hunters throughout the remainder of the WEF season while commuting back and forth from Kentucky where he is a junior in high school.
Ryan Moloney and Vogue with Jackie Fagan of Palm Beach International Academy. Photo by Sporfot Photography