Thermal, Calif. – The spotlight was on the professional hunter divisions on Thursday, February 5, at Desert International Horse Park as the first champions of the World Championship Hunter Rider week were crowned. Earning two of those Desert Circuit 5 championships was Halie Robinson who piloted Sinmigo Dos to the top honor in the High Performance Hunters and Simba de Vinck to the tricolor in the 3’9” Green Hunters.
Robinson and Sinmigo Dos, owned by Big Picture LLC, kicked off the morning in the Grand Prix Stadium with both a first and a second-place finish over fences. Those results, coupled with a win and a third-place finish on Wednesday, secured them the division championship. Taking home the reserve championship were Michael Dennehy and Hulla-Balou, owned by Dana Vollbracht.
“With ‘Dos’ you never have to worry,” said Robinson of the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. “He’s one of the easiest horses there is to ride, to manage, to take care of. He’s just the biggest pleasure when it comes to absolutely everything. We’re so lucky to have him.”
Of competing in the Grand Prix Stadium, Robinson continued, “The bigger, the scarier and the harder for Dos, the better. So, I really enjoyed going out there. I thought the courses were super interesting which is only better for him. It was a really fun time to get to try to dare him as much as I could.”
Next, Sinmigo Dos will compete in the Small Junior Hunters with owner Luciana Gonzalez So – which is also the end goal for Robinson’s second winning mount, Simba de Vinck.
The 8-year-old Belgian Warmblood, owned by the Gonzalez family’s Big Picture LLC, just began competing with Robinson two weeks ago, and the gelding has already made quite the positive impression.
“He has continued quite the winning streak!” said Robinson. “We have lost only one class so far and just by one point. He’s been phenomenal. He got a 95 yesterday and a 90. We’re really still kind of learning each other and figuring out the buttons. With the help of his old owner, Evan Coluccio, we’re just continuing on that process, and it’s been great fun.”
During Desert Circuit 5, Robinson and “Simba” earned three wins and a second place over fences to take home the 3’9” Green Hunter division championship. The reserve championship was awarded to Morgan Thomas and Chocotoff, owned by Robert Fries.
“I think he is going to be one of the best hunters of all time,” said Robinson of Simba. “I feel so lucky to get to be his rider. A big thank you to the Gonzalez family for trusting me with their wonderful horses…I think Simba’s name suits him very well. When I tried him, I asked, ‘If he gets on a big stage or does something new, does he shrink or does he grow?’ Evan said, ‘Oh he’s like a lion! He gets braver, and he charges!’”
In the High Performance Conformation Hunters, the championship was awarded to Jordan Kilkenny and B R Farms LLC’s Clear As Day, and the reserve championship went to Lindsay Stefanko and Kaskade, owned by Laura Shatzko.
Earning the Green Conformation Hunter championship were Simon Schroeder and Esquire, owned by the Bridgeport Group LLC. The reserve championship went to Stefanko and In Theory, owned by Abbey Lane Farm Inc.
The final division championship of the day in the Grand Prix Stadium went to Joie Gatlin and Cadiz, owned by Cathy Morris-Schmitt, as they topped the 3’6” Green Hunters. Finishing in the reserve championship position were Karli Postel and Calabria, owned by Lauren Bendowski.
For more WCHR results from Desert Circuit 5, presented by Frank & Eileen, click here. To learn more about all competition at Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.