Small and Large Junior Hunter Competition Kicks Off at 2021 National Horse Show

Lexington, Ky. – Nov. 4, 2021 – The nation’s top Junior Hunter riders were the highlight of competition Thursday morning in the Alltech Arena as each horse-and-rider combination navigated their way through an over fences and handy round to vie for top honors. In the end, four horse and rider combinations took the overall lead in their respective age group divisions, helping them secure a strong start going into day two of competition Friday. Kat Fuqua and her very own Consent took the lead in the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under, Mimi Gochman and Commentary received the top honors in the Small Junior Hunter 16-17, Princeton carries Stella Wasserman to the lead in the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under, and Montauk was ridden by Libbie Gordon to top the Gochman Family Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division.

Bobby Murphy (USA) once again set forth a hunter course fit for the occasion, allowing the Junior Hunter riders to keep an open and forward pace to help showcase their horses’ stride and jump. Many riders found difficulty in the winding handy round that included several tight rollbacks, a long hand gallop to an oxer set on the outside rail, and the short turn to the brush trot jump, but Fuqua, Gochman, Wasserman and Gordon stepped up to the plate in their respective age group divisions to take the top spot, securing them the leading position going into the final day Friday.

Mimi Gochman

After winning both over fences classes with scores of 90, Fuqua and Consent, her own 11-year-old Westphalian gelding, topped the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division during day one of competition. The dynamic pair were awarded for their precision, fluidity and forward pace they demonstrated throughout the over fences and handy round, earning them the top scores of the division. Their valiant efforts have put them in contention for the division champion and Grand Junior Hunter Champion, to be presented Friday.

Lillie Gordon

Gochman and Commentary, a 10-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Bikoff Equestrian LLC, lead the way in the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division after claiming the win in the first over fences class with a score of 89, and placing fourth in the handy round with a score of 86.5. Gochman navigated Commentary through the winding and flowing 8-obstacle course with ease and accuracy during round one of the over fences classes, catching the judges’ attention to be awarded the blue ribbon and earn their spot at the top of the division standings. Despite the challenging handy course, Gochman and Commentary rose to the occasion and executed a beautiful handy round, showcasing their ability to keep a forward pace while being handy. The duo were rewarded with an 86.5 from the judges, helping them to secure the overall lead in the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division going into Friday’s conclusion.

California native Wasserman leads the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division aboard Princeton, an 8-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Walkenbach Equestrian LLC. Wasserman and Princeton impressed the judges with their consistency, pace, and fantastic form over each fence, helping them secure top placings in both over fences classes. The dynamic pair earned a score of 87.5 in the first over fences class and were awarded a high score of 88 in the handy, helping to secure them the win in the second round and pushing them to the top leaderboard for the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division.

Stella Wasserman

Gordon and Montauk, her own 12-year-old Warmblood gelding, bested the Gochman Family Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division after laying down two beautiful rounds. The strong partnership between the two truly shone in the first over fences class, where they scored a 90, and earned the red ribbon, just two points shy of the leading ride. Once again, the dynamic duo proved to be a force to reckon with in the handy where they rose above the rest of the class to take home the blue ribbon with a score of 89, securing them a strong position going into the final day of the Gochman Family Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division Friday.

Junior hunter competition will continue Friday, November 4 at 7:00 a.m. with the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under Saddle. The Junior Hunter divisions will conclude with the crowning of the Grand Junior Hunter Champion for both the 3’6” and 3’3” fence heights.

RESULTS


Place / Horse / Rider / Owner

Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under
1. Consent / Kat Fuqua / Kat Fuqua
2. Coronation / Sterling Malnik / Sterling Malnik
3. Aribo / Lauren Little / Lauren Little

Small Junior 15 & Under Handy 
1. Consent / Kat Fuqua / Kat Fuqua
2. Reston / Henry Healy / Blue Mountain, LLC
3. My Time / Ellie Aronson / Ellie Aronson

Small Junior Hunter 16-17 
1. Commentary / Mimi Gochman / Bikoff Equestrian LLC
2. Paper Trail / Ellie Dupuis / Ellie Dupuis
3. High Society / Libbie Gordon / Libbie Gordon

Small Junior Hunter 16-17 Handy
1. Heaven’s Dream / Stella Propp / Isabella Griffin
2. Ashton / Stella Propp / Aquitaine Equine
3. High Society / Libbie Gordon / Libbie Gordon

Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under
1. Romeo / Caroline Signorino / Signorino Family Farm LLC
2. Grand Remo / Kat Fuqua / Kat Fuqua
3. Princeton / Stella Wasserman / Walkenbach Equestrian LLC

Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Handy 
1. Princeton / Stella Wasserman / Walkenbach Equestrian LLC
2. Likely Story / Shiloh Roseboom / Enchantment Farms LLC
3. Grand Remo / Kat Fuqua / Kat Fuqua

Gochman Family Large Junior Hunter 16-17 
1. Monday Balous / Claire Campbell / Maher Family LLC
2. Montauk / Libbie Gordon / Libbie Gordon
3. Chacco D’Accord / Payton Potter / Emma Catherine Reichow

Gochman Family Large Junior Hunter 16-17 Handy 
1. Montauk / Libbie Gordon / Libbie Gordon
2. Cash / Alex Alston / Alston Alliance, LLC
3. Chacco D’Accord / Payton Potter / Emma Catherine Reichow