On the final day during the opening week of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival, the Hunt Limited Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” 36+ wrapped up competition in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Ring. Returning for the flat phase and two additional over fences classes, Tina Allen of New Canaan, CT, accumulated 24 points to claim the championship title.
Tina Allen and Sinatra. Photo by Sportfot.
Already in good standing with a first place, a seventh, and eighth place, and a third in the under saddle, Allen piloted her self-owned grey gelding, Sinatra, to a win in the stake class. The victory was enough to push the pair into the lead just several points over Krysia Nelson who took home the reserve championship. Nelson finished the division on a total of 19 points aboard Cobham Park.
Allen purchased the coming seven-year-old Westphalian gelding (Last Man Standing x Lovely) two years ago and she has been bringing the young horse up through the divisions with their current division as the goal.
“My hope when I purchased him was to eventually be doing this class with him,” Allen said. “Last season it all really clicked, and he started in the conformation classes at the 3’3” height, then about halfway through the circuit we moved him up to the 3’6”.”
Tina Allen and Sinatra in their presentation ceremony. Photo by Sportfot.
While she hopes to once again qualify for the Devon Horse Show that takes place in the spring, Allen has been calling Wellington her winter horse show destination for 10 years and plans to continue to return.
“The warm weather is obviously a huge draw for me because I am from the north and the winters are so brutal, but it is also just a really great place to bring along young horses or keep your seasoned horses sharp,” she said of WEF. “The competition here is the best of the best so to compete and have a win here is special because you’re competing against some really incredible horses and riders.”