A quartet of riders from Abigail Equestrian in Vernon competed in the recent Milner Downs Hunter/Jumper horse show in Langley and achieved great success.
Milner Downs is rated as an A circuit Equine Canada Gold horse show, featuring competitors were from all over B.C., Alberta and Washington State. The riders are coached by Erica Van Meenen, an Equine Canada certified coach who also competed.
Highlights of the two weeks included Reserve Championship of the 2-foot-3 Hunter Division by 15-year-old Hailey Correale.
Correale, riding her Leopard Appaloosa pony Spot the Difference, also placed regularly in the top ribbons in every class they entered, including many first-place wins in Equitation and Hunter Under Saddle classes.
Julia Knopp, 16, aboard her Warmblood mare Cadence, received Championship of the 2-foot-3 Hunter Division, winning every class in that division. In addition, Knopp and Cadence competed in the 2-foot-6 Division with many strong showings both over fences and under saddle, placing in the top ribbons in all classes, including a first.
Anika Hennig, 13, guiding her Dutch Warmblood Figaro, was Champion of both of her 2-foot-6 Hunter Divisions, in the Children’s division and in the Open division. Hennig won top placing ribbons in all her classes, including first in two stake classes, and third in the very competitive Hunter Classic.
Van Meenen also competed with her horse Lucifer, a Holstein Warmblood. The first week they showed in the Hunters and placed in every class entered, while the second week they showed in the Jumpers and moved up in to the Grand Prix ring and placed in some very large competitive classes.
“We couldn’t be happier with the tremendous success that this group of horses and riders had at this big competition,” said Van Meenen.
