Just ten minutes away from her home base in Georgetown, Kentucky, adult amateur Kady Abrahamson thrived while competing against the best at the Kentucky stop of the Split Rock Jumping Tour. With a trio of talented horses, she fought through the rain and some serious competition to bring home some of the biggest wins of the event.
A Great Start to the Weekend
With three horses to show, Kady had plenty of opportunities to succeed and that she did. On Thursday she showed her young horse, Hailey AD Z, in the $2,000 Animo Low Junior/Amateur 1.20m class in less than desirable conditions. “We showed in the pouring rain, I could barely see but she was very good,” she told JN. Despite the unforgiving weather, Kady and Hailey AD Z put in a great trip, bringing home second.
Kady Abrahamson and Hailey AD Z soaring despite the rain. PC: Taylor Pence Photography
Friday she went clear to take home the fourth place ribbon in the $5,000 LV Harkness and Co. 1.40m National class with her comeback kid, Bugatti. But, that wasn’t the end of her day. She also showed her mare Charline 28 in the $2,000 Brook Ledge High Junior/Amateur 1.40 class and won.
With plenty of showing left to do that weekend, on Saturday Kady and Hailey AD Z brought home runner up in the $7,500 Animo Low Junior/Amateur 1.20m Final. Later that day, she competed in the $10,000 U25 Young Rider Cup with Bugatti and found herself one of five clear for the jump off.
“I went last and only one had jumped clear through the jump off and that was Hunter Holloway. I knew if I turned really tight back to the second-to-last jump I could beat her and if I had it down I would come in second. So I had to go for it,” said Kady. “I turned really tight and unfortunately had it down. I was still a second and half faster, but I was second with the rail.”
Kady Abrahamson and Bugatti in the U25 class PC: Taylor Pence Photography
After overcoming an intense colic surgery last fall, Kady has been slowly bringing the 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding back up to speed, and even seem to be finding another gear. “He is awesome. “He is jumping better now than he did before colic surgery. He is just so consistent!”
Closing Out with a Win
To wrap up her weekend on Sunday, Kady prepared to show Charline 28 in the $7,500 Brook Ledge High Junior/Amateur 1.40m Final. “She is a chestnut mare, so she is a bit wild,” Kady laughed reminiscing on her preparation for the class that morning.
“I have to flat her every single morning before she shows. She was really wild in the mornings throughout the whole week, but that morning she was relaxed and calm. I was a bit nervous and thought maybe I was being tricked.”
Charline 28’s calm personality was no fluke and she proved that in the class. “She was just on it that day. She was jumping incredible, she wasn’t touching a thing. She was absolutely perfect from the moment I got on that morning to when we showed.” After being one of five to go clear, Kady and Charline 28 were second to go in the jump-off and set a standard that couldn’t be caught to clinch the championship.
The Year Ahead
Kady is using her time this summer away from school to really focus on riding, and she anticipates showing at the Ohio stop of the Split Rock Jumping Tour with hopes of jumping the FEI classes on Bugatti.
“With this being my first summer out of college, I am taking this time to get back on track,” Kady shared. “I’ve been taking 15-18 credit hours a semester to keep on track and take the summers off. I do the dirty work when I need to so that when I can take a break and ride, I can take full advantage of it!”
Kady Abrahamson and Charline 28 celebrating their win. PC: Taylor Pence Photography
Her dedication to the sport is apparent in her horses and their consistency. With a full summer of training and the continued support of her family, trainer Scott Keach, her barn manager Patricio Rodriguez, and her full time groom Alex Kalinich and summer groom Katelyn Simpson, Kady’s summer is a full slate of promising opportunity.