Lexington, KY – October 31, 2015 – Tori Colvin concluded her exemplary junior riding career Saturday afternoon in much the same way that she has spent the past six years – winning junior hunter championship titles.
Colvin and Dr. Betsee Parker’s Canadian Blue captured the CP National Horse Show Small Junior 16-17 Hunter division championship, the Small Junior Hunter Grand Championship and the overall Junior Hunter Grand Championship, giving Colvin her final junior division tricolor honors.
In addition to marking the conclusion of Colvin’s extraordinary time in the junior hunters, the 2015 CP National Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park also marked the final competition for each of Colvin’s talented junior hunter mounts owned by Parker.
“I’ve basically had the same horses all of my junior career. I’ve had these guys for like six years,” Colvin said. “I think they’re all going to go to Virginia [to Dr. Betsee Parker’s farm, Huntland], but wherever they go I’ll come and visit them.
“Ballou has been there [in Virginia] all the time, so hopefully they’ll go with Ballou. Then I’ll come up and visit Ballou, the best pony ever,” Colvin said, speaking of her highly successful pony hunter mount, also owned by Parker.
Winning the prestigious CP National Horse Show Junior Hunter Grand Championship served as the perfect finale to Canadian Blue’s career with Colvin. Saturday’s classes also added the final exclamation point to the career of Colvin’s Large Junior Hunter, Way Cool, also owned by Parker.
In Way Cool’s very last time competing over fences in the show ring, he was awarded the highest score of the day from the judges. Way Cool also clinched the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter Reserve Championship.
“My mom cried a lot when I came out of the ring on Way Cool for his last round,” Colvin said. “It was my very, very last round, but it was a good one.”
While Colvin’s junior career has come to a close, the rest of her bright future is just beginning, and spectators will see her return to the ring in the Alltech Arena again Sunday for the $250,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Lexington.
“I did the Washington [equitation] and then I did the grand prix,” Colvin said speaking of her win in the equitation at last week’s Washington International Horse Show. “I went clean in the grand prix. I was like weighing it. The equitation was amazing. You were just hoping that you didn’t mess up, and you wanted to do great. Then when I was clear in the grand prix, it just felt so good. It felt like the start of something else.”
Finishing in reserve behind Colvin and Canadian Blue in the Small Junior 16-17 Hunters were Hunter Holloway and Cascina.
Bailey Smith and Papyrus Prove Victorious
In contrast to Colvin’s many hunter championships, for 18-year-old Bailey Smith, her final year in the junior divisions has marked her first year claiming indoor finals championship honors.
The young rider from Portland, Oregon, has had an incredible indoor season with her 8-year-old German warmblood, Papyrus. The duo picked up winning honors at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and did the same again Saturday at the CP National Horse Show, ultimately winning the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter division championship.
“It’s amazing and surreal,” Smith said. “I didn’t expect this would ever happen, so I’m feeling a lot of emotions right now. I did not expect to even win anything or get any ribbons. It’s just so totally unexpected.”
What is special about Papyrus is his ability to perform double duty. Before proving himself to be quite the exceptional hunter, Papyrus was purchased to be Smith’s equitation mount, and she competed him in the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Championship Saturday morning.
Kingpin and Cuba Conquer Junior 15 and Under Hunters
In the Junior 15 and Under Hunters, this year’s top honors went to Annabel Revers and Kingpin and McKayla Langmeier and Cuba.
Similarly to Bailey Smith’s Papyrus, Cuba, owned by Missy Clark and North Run, was originally purchased to be an equitation horse. Now, the 8-year-old Warmblood gelding is making quite the positive impression in the Large Junior 15 and Under Hunters with McKayla Langmeier.
The duo earned a first and second over fences before also winning the Large Junior 15 and Under Hunter Championship.
“At this event it can’t get any better. I think it’s one of the most prestigious horse shows,” Langmeier said. “[Cuba] went so great the whole weekend. He’s so handy and pliable; he really sparkles in the handy. He’s one of my favorite hunters.”
The reserve championship in the division went to Rachel McMullen and Clear Sailing.
In the Small Junior 15 and Under Hunter division, the highest honor was awarded to Annabel Revers and Kingpin, owned by Beechwood Stables LLC. Revers and Kingpin finished with the first place award in both the handy and stake rounds and the second place award under saddle.
“I’m just so excited,” Revers said. “This is my second year [at the National Horse Show]; it’s just really great to have such good results. I’m so happy with how my horses went, and I can’t thank everyone enough.”
Revers continued, “This is probably my favorite show. I love the atmosphere, and everything about it. They make you feel really special, and it’s really nice to compete here.”
Finishing in reserve behind Revers and Kingpin were Grace Prochilo and Irasir, owned by Teton Farms LLC. The pair earned two second place finishes and a third in the over fences classes before riding away with their tricolor.
While Saturday marked the conclusion of junior hunter competition at the 2015 CP National Horse Show, 30 of the nation’s top junior riders will return Sunday morning for the second and final day of the 2015 ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Championship Finals.
For more information on the CP National Horse Show, visit www.nhs.org.
