Lexington, Ky. – Nov. 3, 2022 – 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. Coronation and Sterling Malnik took the lead in the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under, before Bond and Augusta Iwasaki received top honors in the Small Junior Hunter 16-17. In Writing carried Sterling Malnik to the lead in the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under, and Paisley Park was ridden by Lauren Little to top the Gochman Family Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division.
Starting the morning strong in the Small Junior Hunter 15 and Under, Malnik and her own 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Coronation, laid down two flawless hunter rounds. The duo scored a pair of 89’s in the first over fences round and the handy round to take the lead in the division. In the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division, the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Shadowfax Equestrian LLC, Bond, carried Iwasaki to scores of 88 points and 87 points to claim a blue ribbon and red ribbon to secure their leading position going into day two.
In the Large Junior Hunters, Malnik’s very own In Writing, put her in the lead for the second time of the day in the 15 and Under section. The 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding topped the group of horse-and-rider combinations in the handy round and earned second place honors in the first over fences round. In the 16-17 section, sponsored by the Gochman Family, Little piloted Paisley Park to the winner’s circle. The 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by Little Brook LLC had the highest score of the day, 91 points in the first round, to put them in the lead heading into day two of junior hunter competition.
Thursday afternoon will see the beginning of jumper competition at the 2022 National Horse Show, kicking off with the $37,000 International Speed and concluding with the $73,800 International Welcome Stake. Hunter competition will resume Friday, November 4th at 7am EST with the under saddle classes of the junior hunter divisions and will reach its pinnacle with the National Horse Show $50,000 Hunter Classic. Friday evening will also see elite jumper riders back in the Alltech for the T&R Development $37,000 International Speed.
Results
Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Score
1. Coronation / Sterling Malnik / Sterling Malnik / 89.00
2. Solitude / Sophia Tabasso / Sophia Tabasso / 87.00
3. Inquisitive / Clara Propp / Aquitaine Equine / 86.00
Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under Handy
1. Babylon / Ariana Marnell / Marnell Sporthorses / 90.00
2. Coronation / Sterling Malnik / Sterling Malnik / 89.00
3. Iladin Du Rouet / Eva Mackenzie / Eva Mackenzie / 87.00
Small Junior Hunter 16-17
1. Bond / Augusta Iwasaki / Shadowfax Equestrian LLC / 88.00
2. Ceremony / Lauren Little / Little Brook LLC / 83.00
3. Axel / Henry Healy / Blue Mountain LLC / 82.50
Small Junior Hunter 16-17 Handy
1. Commentary / Ella Bikoff / Bikoff Equestrian LLC / 88.00
2. Bond / Augusta Iwasaki / Shadowfax Equestrian LLC / 87.00
3. Ceremony / Lauren Little / Little Brook LLC / 85.00
Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under
1. Snippet / Raina Swani / Shadowfax Equestrian LLC / 88.00
2. In Writing / Sterling Malnik / Sterling Malnik / 87.00
3. Grand Remo / Kat Fuqua / Kat Fuqua / 86.00
Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Handy
1. In Writing / Sterling Malnik / Sterling Malnik / 89.00
2. Cameo / Maddie Tosh / Dr. Betsee Parker / 87.00
3. Princeton / Paige Walkenbach / Walkenbach Equestrian LLC / 86.00
Large Junior Hunter 16-17
1. Paisley Park / Lauren Little / Little Brook LLC / 91.00
2. Small Love / Augusta Iwasaki / Iwasaki & Reilly / 90.00
3. Category / Blythe Goguen / Belhaven Stables LLC / 86.00
Large Junior Hunter 16-17 Handy
1. Montauk / Augusta Iwasaki / Libbie Gordon / 90.00
2. Paisley Park / Lauren Little / Little Brook LLC / 87.00
3. Small Love / Augusta Iwasaki / Iwasaki & Reilly / 85.00