Lexington, VA – August 16, 2017 – Chris Wynne’s vision to revitalize small horse show participation in Virginia culminated with another successful year during the Virginia Hunter Champions at the Virginia Horse Center (VHC). Created to encourage and reward hunter competition held in the state of Virginia, the Virginia Hunter Championships are run on an accumulating point system, with competitors needing a set amount to qualify.
“You nominate your horse at the beginning of the year, and that’s your only cost,” Chris Wynne, founder of the Virginia Hunter Championships, said. If you qualify for the finals, there are no additional fees to compete at the Championship Horse Show at VHC. The fees to nominate your horse at the beginning of the year is $250, or $400 to nominate one horse for two divisions.
“We have a special community and hunter niche in Virginia,” Wynne added. “We wanted to give them an event they could be excited about and proud of without costing them a fortune. We grew exponentially from the first year to the third, and look forward to the fourth.”
In 2017, they gave away more than $60,000 in prize money.
Peg Seals aboard Robin Hood. All photos by Teresa Ramsay Photography.
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Kate Elliott wins top honors on Orion. |
“It was very exciting to participate in the Virginia Hunter Championships for the second time,” Elliott remarked. “It is a great event and the organizers go out of their way to make everyone feel special throughout the day, with beautiful courses and fabulous hospitality and awards. Supporting the tradition of show hunters in Virginia is important.”
“Showing at the Virginia Horse Center is always a treat and the management continually strives to improve the facility to benefit horses and people,” Elliot continued. “We are lucky to have such a venue in our region.”
Winner of top honors in last year’s Professional Hunter Classic and Virginia resident, Jason Berry, rode the 5-year-old mare, Something Special, to claim the blue ribbon in the Pre-Green Hunter Classic. Berry has regularly placed at the top of the leaderboard, frequently returning to the Virginia Horse Center for competition.
“I imported Something Special and sold her to the Wheelers. She is so easy and smart. Everybody says if you have a good mare you have a great horse and that’s what she is, phenomenal,” Berry shared. “She’s brave, jumps high, and has super style. She’s everything you want a hunter to be.”
Jason Berry aboard Something Special. |