By Ashley Alden

Wednesday morning began early for the junior equitation riders and their Challenge Cup Preliminary round. A small group of 14 competed in a strong  split of railwork before completing the pattern. The workout was as follows:  Enter the ring to the right on the right diagonal to the on the rail. Stop.  Canter a circle to the left on the left lead. Without stopping drop to the trot  on the right diagonal to the on the rail and continue trotting a two
loop  serpentine across the end of the arena. Stop. Reverse. Trot to the end of the  rail, showing two changes of diagonal, beginning on the left diagonal.
Stop.  Exit the arena. 

The morning session began with the junior exhibitors 14 years of age and  under and their five gaited horses. Brittany McGinnis rode her recently  purchased mount, Carolina Cat to the win. Reserve in the very nice class 
was Suki Snowlet and Calee Dillion. Next for the juvenile riders in to the ring was the junior exhibitor  three
gaited class for the riders 14 and under. This class was as nice as the  youngsters five gaited class had been a few classes earlier. It was two years in  a row for a victory in this for CH Blackberry Delight and Rachel Machamer. 
Reserve went to Scott Pisarik and CH Steel in Love.
The 15-17 five gaited class was one of the most exciting and competitive classes of the day. When the twelve horses in the class lined up, it was still  anyone’s win. Callaway’s Independence Day with Laura Skinner under the direction  of John Biggins was the last out of the ring with the win. Ali Judah was the  first amateur to show Silverbrook Stables’ It’s More Than Likely and came
out  with the red ribbon.

The 14 and under pleasure class was packed with 16 entries, many of which  were reserve world and world champions. Callaway’s Queen of Crimson and Eric  Aschenbrenner topped the field. The Bess Yet took a new rider, Lizzie Edgar to a  reserve finish.  The three gaited 15-17 class was small but deep. Heir to a Star and  Kristen Koenig won the class with To Die For and Merideth Steinhauer at a strong  reserve. Michelle Krentz and her adorable gray horse, Day’s Grecian Gray were  third. The pleasure 15-17 class was as strong and large as the younger age  division’s. The top three horses could win any class around the country and it  came
down to each judge’s personal opinion to tie the class. Tara Grom rode  Callaway’s Torch Bearer to the blue ribbon. Second went to the many titled and  always “on” CH Riva Diva and Ali Judah. Third went to Maguire Hall and New York  Style.

Wednesday night saw only one junior exhibitor class, the Junior Challenge Cup National Final. Rachel Machamer stayed on the rail with perfect form  throughout the class, as everyone else raced for the win. In the end, the judges  all agree on the safe perfection, and Rachel was unanimous with the win. Reserve  was Delovely’s Ellen Medley Wright. The rest of the top ten were, in no  particular order: Eleanor Watkins, Caroline Skinner, Ashley Stine, Chelsea Jo  Roby, Deanna Lanigan, Jordan Schaye, Angela Darrow, and Jennifer  Roberts.

Thursday morning was another early one for the equitation  riders, this time for the senior age group. Twenty riders came into the ring in  two sections of
ten riders each. Both sections were equally strong on both the  rail and the workout. The workout was as follows. Without stirrups, enter the  ring at the trot on the left diagonal through the center of the ring to the one  third point and continue trotting a circle to the right. Stop. Canter a circle  to the left on the left diagonal. Stop. Pick up your irons. Pivot to face the  two thirds point of the left rail. Trot on the right diagonal and at the two  thirds point switch to the left diagonal and continue trotting to the end of the  rail. Stop. Pivot and face the beginning of the opposite rail. Canter on the  left lead to that point. Stop. Pivot and trot on the left diagonal out of the  ring. Twelve riders were asked to return for Thursday night’s final  round.

The Thursday afternoon session was reserved for the country pleasure, and pony classes. The first of which was the 14 and under country pleasure class.  Sing My Song and Kristen Smith took the blue. Faye Wuesthofen guided Heart  O’Summer for the reserve. The older age group of the country pleasure horses was very competive, as one could see by the range on the judges’ cards. So Much To  Say and Ali Leiterman were first in the class under the direction of Hollow  Haven. Cydni Simmons rode her cute and very young mare,When Heiry Met Sally for  reserve honors.

The three gaited pony class saw only three entries, but two of those are  former world champions. Manhattan’s Irish Cream and Whitney Bennett  took another win to add to their many from this season, including the World’s  Grand Championship title. Yasmin Wazir rode her Lost Token for the  reserve. The junior exhibitor Hackney pleasure driving class was next on the day’s  schedule. Aliyah Asch drove Calisto to top eight very nice ponies. Heartland  Spectacular, driven by Christjon Sannes Mielke was second in the competitive  class.

The five gaited pony class was very small as well, this class with four  entries, all of which hold many titles, including world titles. CH Sammyshine  topped the class with a very happy Cydni Simmons in the irons. This pair 
continues to be the one to beat even after their many years together. Callaway’s  Exception to the Rule has done very well for Alexa McWIlliams all season long 
and took the reserve in this class. Thursday evening was classics night but it did hold two very nice  juvenile
classes. The first was the AHHS Roadster Pony Under Saddle Medallion  National Finals. Jordan Shaye rode Power Of Attorney for Dr. Joseph and Judy  Lowry and
the victory. Heartland Little Gem and Alexa McWilliams were reserve in  the deep, seven entry class.

Twelve riders returned from the morning’s Challenge Cup Preliminaries for  the Final rail work round. Kelsey Nicole Smith is apparently unbeatable and this  class was no exception. She won unanimously, even with a few mistakes from the  morning. Emily Garten rode strong and perfectly for a well deserved reserve  title to add to her reserve in the NHS Good Hands Finals. The remaining top ten  were: Jacqueline Beck, Ashley Alden, Mandy Martin, Brittany McGinnis, Michelle  Krentz, Shana Jo Brown, Yasmin Wazir, and Emma Nichols.

Equitation continued Friday morning, this time a little  bit later within the normal show seesion. The young walk and trot riders began  the session with the 9 and 10 year olds. The Midwest dominated this class with the top two
entries.  Jessica Wuesthofen won the class with Maya Manilow in reserve. The eight year  olds followed. Courtney McGinnis was tied first, and Taylor Haas was 
reserve.

The Junior Exhibitor Pleasure Championship split the equitation age  groups. The class changed results from the qualifiers. Maguire Hall took her  previously park horse, New York Style, to the championship. Callaway's Queen of  Crimson and Erich Aschenbrenner took reserve in the incredibly competitive,  sixteen entry class.  Eleanor Watkins won the 11-13 age group qualifier, topping a very large  field of fourteen entries. Reserve Challenge Cup champion, Ellen Medley Wright, 
was reserve again in this class. The Hackney Ponies had another under saddle national championship, this  time
with the pleasure ponies. Forecaster's Penny took the national title with  Jessica Randall in the irons. Thyen's Gem was reserve under the direction of  Brittany Logan.
Jessica Moctezuma was back in the winner's circle after a bout of  appendicitis in October and a few mistakes in the challenge cup workout. She  easily redeemed herself in the 14-15 year old equitation qualifier. Tara Grom  was a very strong reserve in the class. 

Kelsey Nicole Smith saw the winner's circle yet again in the 16-17 year  old equitation qualifier. Good friends, Mandy Martin and Michelle Krentz were  second and third, respectively.  The juvenile classes ended the afternoon session with only two entires in  the 10 and under equitation qualifying class. Abigail Mutrux took the win and  Hannah Baldwin was reserve.   

Friday night began for the junior exhibitors with the AHHS 13 and under  roadster pony medallion national finals. It was a small class, with only five  entries, but filled with top contenders from throughout the season. The winner 
was Hearltand Sweet Lady driven by Jessica Randall for Charles and Jackie Browning. Jordan Shaye had a great week in the roadster pony division, finishing  up second with Dr. Joseph and Judy Lowry's pony Power Of Attorney. 

Kelsey Nicole Smith finished up her juvenile year emotionally with a win  in the American Royal Equitation Championship. Another small class for Friday  night, only five equitation entries came into the ring. Mandy Martin was reserve  in the class. Michelle Krentz made a perfect ride with a precise pattern aboard  her pretty Louisville Lass. 

The Hackney pleasure ponies saw their AHHS medallion finals on Friday  night as well. Aliyah Asch drove Calisto to a very strong win, topping nine  entries. Wonmore Unique Diamond with Brittany Logan at the whip was named the  reserve national champion. 

The AHHS 14-17 roadster pony medallion national finals followed later in  the evening. Meredithe Steinhauer drove in this class for the final time and  came out an ecstatic winner. Her mother, Denise Steinhauer's, pony named Thunderation won this class, following a World Champion title in August. Reserve  in the class was Albert Kaponey driven by Tyler Volz for Ray Sperl and Shirley  Trimble.

Saturday morning saw the last of the equitation finals for the year. The USEF medal preliminary round began at 8 am in the early morning session. Twenty four riders competed in the finals, in two sections. The pattern for the preliminary round was as follows: Enter the ring at a trot on the right diagonal and trot a diagonal line to the midpoint of the rail. Halt. Canter on the right lead to the end of the straightaway. Stop. Canter on the left lead to the midpoint of the turn. Stop. Trot a two-loop serpentine beginning on the right diagonal. Canter a two-loop serpentine beginning on the right lead. Stop, reverse and canter a half-circle on the right lead and continue cantering to the rail. Stop, drop your irons and pivot to your left. Trot down the rail and out of the ring on the correct diagonal.

At the traditional breakfast twelve riders were announced to come back for the last class of the afternoon session, the final round. Those riders were said to have come in alphabetical order but the list was really numerical. A number of riders, including three of the top four finishers believed they had not made the cut as this list was called out. But this was not the case and those riders in the final phase were, in alphabetical order: Ashley Alden, Jacqueline Beck, Shana Jo Brown, Kyle Gagnon, Emily Garten, Kaitlyn Grom, Michelle Krentz, Rachel Machamer, Mandy Martin, Brittany McGinnis, Jessica Moctezuma, and Emma Nichols. Now all those riders had to do was wait for the last class.

The show resumed again at 11 am, continuing equitation classes, this time with the walk and trot riders and their championships. With so many young entries, the class was split into the 9-10 and 8 and under age groups. Caroline Moeller rode Lady Gabriella to win the older age division. Rebecca Eberley made her best finish ever with the reserve honors. In the 8 and under class the winner was Courtney McGinnis. Courtney has been improving all season and it’s no doubt her progress with continue through the winter. Taylor Haas made an aggressive ride for second.

Rachel Machamer and CH Blackberry Delight continued their winning ways in the Junior Exhibitor Three Gaited National Championship. The class had thirteen entries, all with multiple titles behind them. In the end, however, Blackberry Delight came out on top for the second year in a row. Heir to a Star and Kristen Koenig were reserve in the great class after winning the 15-17 age group qualifier earlier in the week.

The three gaited pony championship saw only three entries. The class turned out to be exciting anyways. Yasmin Wazir and Lost Token defeated the World Grand Champion pair, Manhattan’s Irish Cream and Whitney Bennett for the tricolor. Bennett and Irish Cream finished in reserve with a hearty applause from the audience.
The Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure National Championship was crazy with 15 entries. Ashley Alden was very surprised with her win aboard Marjorie Fergusson’s Tamale Wally. After winning the older age group class earlier in the week, So Much to Say and Ali Leiterman took a strong reserve.
 
Saturday night saw two junior exhibitor classes, both in the five gaited division. First on the agenda was the fie gaited pony championship. Although there were only four entries, someone walking into Kemper Arena would have thought there were at least fifteen with all of the cheering from the crowd. Two of the four ponies, CH Sammyshine and Callaway’s Exception to the Rule were battling it out for the win. By the end of the class, as Cydni Simmons took Sammyshine a few extra racking rounds while everyone else lined up, the judges had all agreed. Sammy was the unanimous winner of his first American Royal championship title. Cyd was incredibly excited, as were her parents, Jeff and Cathy Simmons, who had cheered louder than most of the crowd throughout the class. Alexa McWilliams guided last year’s winner, Callaway’s Exception to the Rule to the reserve.
Sixteen entries vied for the Junior Exhibitor Five Gaited Naitonal Championship title. But tonight, it was all Callaway’s Independence Day’s. Laura Skinner wore a stunning white day coat and found a spot by herself despite all of the entries. This combination made the pair stand out winners and they were rewarded with the tricolor. Ali Judah repeated her reserve finish aboard Silberbrook Stable’s It’s More Than Likely. Finishing in third was Shame on You and Maguire Hall.
So the junior exhibitors wrapped up their 2005 season on Saturday night with two exciting five gaited classes to close it. The juvenile ranks will be losing many great riders to the amateur division next year, but the young riders have all winter to improve themselves and come back even stronger next season.