Temecula, Calif. – May 23, 2019 – Hunter competition continued Thursday at the Temecula Valley National Horse Show during the third week of the four-week circuit, with Temecula local Nick Haness once again reigning supreme across multiple divisions to accumulate further wins to add to his growing trophy case. Beginning the day with As Requested, Haness impressively pocketed two consecutive division championships with the horse in the Performance 3’6” Hunters and Green 3’6”/3’9” Hunters, then later rode Titanium to the coveted tricolor in the Young 3’ Hunters 5 and Under division.
In the Performance 3’6” Hunters, local trainer-rider Haness logged another championship to his list, one that has grown substantially during the two seasons he has spent at the Temecula Valley National Horse Show. Sweeping two over fences classes with West Coast Equine Partners, LLC’s As Requested in the grass AON Grand Hunter Arena, Haness piloted the 9-year-old bay gelding to two exemplary trips despite the rain to emerge as the clear championship pair. Wednesday’s competition finished with the horse-and-rider combination sitting in second position thanks to a win under saddle and second and fourth placings over fences, but their double high-scoring efforts Thursday propelled the team to the top of the overall scorecard.
The division championship was the second of the day for As Requested, who topped the Green 3’6”/3’9” Hunters for the second week in a row, having also earned the tricolor honors in the division just seven days prior. With two blue ribbons over fences and a second place awarded to him in the hack, Steele Yard, LLC’s Be Our Guest carried Lindsay Ransom to the reserve title in the Performance 3’6” Hunters.
Later in the day in the Young 3’ Hunters 5 and Under, Haness navigated Titanium, also owned by West Coast Equine Partners, LLC, to the top of the leaderboard thanks to a series of consistently smooth trips aboard the young horse. After the first half of riding Wednesday, the duo sat well-positioned behind the early leaders Lisa Wall and Winterfell, owned by Summer Osborn, who were awarded two first prizes over fences. With two second place finishes in hand, Haness and Titanium returned to the ring Thursday with even more momentum, twice capturing top honors over fences and earning second position under saddle to accrue more valuable points and ultimately clinch the Young 3’ Hunters 5 and Under championship rosette. Wall and Winterfell also turned in solid performances, earning second, fourth and sixth placings to finish as the overall runner-up.
The Temecula Valley National Horse Show will resume Friday, with the juniors and amateurs taking to the ring for the first half of divisional competition. In the afternoon, the $5,000 1.10m Open Equitation Championship will feature the talents of professional, junior and amateur athletes, and Saturday’s highlight class will be the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Nick Haness – Young 3’ Hunters 5 and Under champion
On Titanium:
“Titanium is an exceptional little young horse. I imported him last summer as a 4-year-old and now he is competing in the 5-Year-Old Young Hunters and Green 3’ Hunters. He is not mighty in size, but his personality and jump is pretty mighty. We have high hopes for him to eventually make into a top small junior hunter someday.”
For more information, please visit www.jump-nee.com.
