Hunters compete at Culpeper, NC State Fair

Posted on October 08, 2013 by Staff Writer

Riding coach Matt Payne’s hunter show team has wrapped up back-to-back weekends on the road with competitions at the USGPL Finals in Culpeper Sept. 27-29 and the North Carolina State Fair Horse show Oct. 3-6.

At Culpeper, Anne Bishop McMurrain ’16 rode her horse, Nelaleen, to fifth- and sixth-place finishes in the competitive Adult Jumper division. Kathryne Richard ’15 showed SBC’s Love Z in the Adult Equitation division, where her consistency earned her championship honors. She placed first, second, third and fourth.

Haley Reeves ’16 gave Richard a run for her money by placing second in each of the two Adult Equitation classes in which she showed to earn reserve champion honors. Reeves was also the most consistent rider, placing in each of the five Adult Hunter classes on Sweet Briar’s Theodore.

Verena Joerger ’15 showed her horse, Soleil, in the Adult Equitation and Adult Hunters, winning a third-, fifth- and two sixth-place ribbons. Showing as an independent competitor in the Amateur/Owner Hunters was Sara Baygents ’16 on her horse, Romantic Infatuation.

At the N.C. State Fair, McMurrain rode to reserve champion in the Adult Jumpers by winning a class and placing eighth and 10th in the others. Vixen riders claimed numerous ribbons in the Adult Amateur Hunters, including the Ariat Adult Medal, which senior Frankie Beyers won riding Sweet Briar’s Chinook. Joerger placed second, Katie Drake ’14 placed fourth, Haley Reeves ’16 placed fifth and McKenna Wilder ’16, who was competing independently, finished in seventh place.

Joerger placed third in the Adult Amateur Under Saddle class. Baygents competed individually on her own horse and Grace Griffin ’14 showed Sweet Briar’s More About Me.