The Green Conformation Hunter division wrapped up on Thursday in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring with the crowning of the champion. Victoria Colvin rode Parker Peacock’s Acclaim to top honors in the division, with three firsts, a second, a third, and a fourth-place finish.
Victoria Colvin and Acclaim
Colvin has only partnered with Acclaim for a month, which is also how long the gelding has been a hunter. This week marked Acclaim’s first time showing in a hunter division, which did not stop the pair from rising to the top of the class.
“He had been a jumper, so this was his first class as a hunter and he was pretty spectacular,” Colvin said of the nine-year-old Oldenburg by Heartbreaker. “He is super, super easy and also has a great personality.”
Loxahatchee, FL, resident Colvin piloted Acclaim to win three of the four over-fences classes and a high score of 87 on the second day of the division. “I thought today he was a little more relaxed, being his second day as a hunter,” Colvin commented. “He goes around easy and doesn’t want to make any mistakes, so he is very consistent.”
Colvin plans to continue Acclaim’s already successful hunter career for the rest of the circuit. “I think we will continue in this division and then probably show in a hunter derby or two,” Colvin explained. “His owner may also show him in the junior hunters.”
Reserve champion honors in the division went to Julie Curtin and RPW Show Horses, LLC’s Ice. Curtain, of Woodstock, GA, rode Ice to first, second, third, and three sixth-place ribbons.
Competition will continue on Friday with the $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic taking place in the International Arena and the naming of the Young Hunter 2’9” Five-Year-Old Champion in the Rost Arena