The penultimate day of hunter competition at Equifest I began on Saturday, hosting many amateur and junior riders in the Main Hunter Arena of the Lamplight Equestrian Center. In a competitive field of 24 horses, Natalie Jayne and Caston jumped above all, winning the $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic and taking home the lion’s share of the prize money.
Natalie Jayne and Caston. Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography
The classic combined both juniors from the 3’3” and 3’6” hunter divisions, where their scores from two rounds were combined to give them a total score for the day. A score of 85 in the first round gave Jayne and Caston an edge but not the lead into the second round. However, their consistency proved unbeatable when Caston jumped with grace to a second round score of 83, totaling to 168 and ranking them first.
“Caston was really great today, this is the best he has ever gone,” commented Jayne. “He was really smooth and he went really well. I just wanted to have some good rounds today and give him some confidence. He went so well and I am really proud of him. I am excited to get back in the equitation ring with him next week.”
The 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Jayne and Molly Mcadow made a clean sweep in the Large Junior 3’6’’ 15 & Under division, winning both over fences classes. Jayne often competes Caston in the equitation classes, crossing into the jumpers and hunters to give the gelding experience and confidence.
Taking the red classic ribbon for the Junior Hunter division was Ashley Shaw and Contemporary with a total score of 84. Contemporary, a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding that is owned by Amanda Shaw, scored an 80 in his first round and a 164 in his second round. In addition to their classic ribbon, Shaw and Contemporary earned third and second in their over fences trips on Saturday in the Large Junior 3’6’’ 16-17 Hunter division.
Representing the Junior Hunter 3’3’’ division by taking third in the classic was Elizabeth Nestor and Claire Azar’s At Last. At Last received a first round score of 81 and second round score of 82, totaling to 163. The 13-year-old Mechlenburg gelding is a regular in the 3’3’’ Large Junior Hunters and even took ninth overall out of 67 horses in the 16-17 section of the East Coast Junior Hunter National Championships earlier this month.
RESULTS
$1,000 Junior Hunter Classic results:
Place / Horse / Rider / R1 Score / R2 Score / Total Score
- Caston / Natalie Jayne / 85 / 83 / 168
- Contemporary / Ashley Shaw / 84 / 80 / 164
- At Last / Elizabeth Nestor / 81 / 82 / 163
- Codiak / Hannah Terrance / 75 / 80 / 155
- Salt / Brynn Kuhnell / 80 / 70 / 150
- Ideal Image / Maggie Bresch / 74 / 75 / 149
- Blue Monday / Brynn Kuhnell / 73 / 75 / 148
- Jerez Mail / Avery Wegmann / 85 / 61 / 146
- Quinn 42 / Brynn Kuhnell / 80 / 64 / 144
- Giselle / Mira Stephens / 72 / 60 / 132