“It is always exciting to win an award like this. I didn’t know if we were going to be in contention or not,” said Springsteen. “Yesterday we were first and fourth, so I knew I needed a good ribbon today if we were going to have a shot.” Springsteen ended up with two firsts, a fourth, and third-place ribbons in the division.
Tiziano, 8, was purchased in
“This is his second year doing the indoor circuit. He is pretty simple to ride; he has a huge stride and never usually looks at anything. He is pretty much the same every time he goes out there. No surprises,” said Springsteen. “He will give me a good ride as long as he is reacting to me and not spooky. He has definitely matured since I have owned him. He was a little spooky last year at
This is Springsteen’s fourth time competing at WIHS and is a favorite horse show for her. She started on ponies and has grown into horses. On Saturday Springsteen will compete in the WIHS Hunter Classic Derby, a class open only to division champions. Last year she placed fourth in the class.
Small Junior 15 and Under Hunters
In the Small Junior 15 and Under Hunters, taking home the championship was Katie Dinan, who piloted her nine-year-old Angelo to first, second, third, and fifth-place ribbons in the division.
“He was really good and jumped especially well. I think he knew it was important. I thought the courses were all really nice to ride. All the lines rode nice and forward so you could really open them up,” said Dinan. “The jumps were really pretty so I think all the horses were jumping well.”
Making the move from outdoors to indoors, Dinan has her own riding philosophy: “Personally, I don’t try and do anything different. I just make sure I am conscious of the smaller space and make sure I don’t get backwards because it is a small area. I try not to psych myself out.”
Dinan has had a good year with Angelo. They were champions at the Capital Challenge, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show last week, and the 2007 National last year. Even so,
“He has been so good throughout the year, so we have been really lucky,” said Dinan. “I love
Small Junior 16-17 Hunters
Caitie Hope and Lyle were champions of the Small Junior 16-17 Hunters with first, second and third-place ribbons. Owned by Stephanie Keen, Lyle and Hope make a great pair. They have been champions at Capital Challenge, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, and now Washington this fall. In addition to indoors, they have also been champion at almost every major national horse show they attended this spring and summer.
“Lyle gives me the confidence to try different things. I know he will always give me what I ask from him,” said Hope. “I am not afraid to really go in the ring and gallop, which is exactly the type of ride this course demanded. He is teaching me so much and allowing me to get some consistent rides. I can get off of him and feel ready to do the jumpers too.”
Hope continued, “I am so excited to win this award. The atmosphere is great, and I always like to come to
Large Junior 16-17 Hunters
Next to compete was the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters. With a first, second, third and sixth-place ribbons, Nicoletta Von Heidegger and her horse
