Junior Hunters Took Center Stage at the Desert International Horse Park
Brooke Rose Morin and For Fun
For Immediate Release:
THERMAL, Calif. – March 13, 2021 – Junior hunters took center stage in Hunter Ring 2 during Week VII at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, CA. Fresh landscape, new jumps, and attention to the footing set the scene for fantastic hunter competition including a $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic for 3’3” hunters and another for 3’6” hunters.
Brooke Rose Morin and For Fun rode to the top call in the $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic 3’6” while Surf’s Up and Lauren Little, took home the blue ribbon in the 3’3” section.
Large Junior Hunters 15 and under – 3’6”
Zoe Wolf and Cassario 8
Zoe Wolf,13, of Santa Barbara, rode to the championship in the 15 and under section with her 8-year-old hunter, Cassario 8, owned by Ashland Farm. Wolf has had Cassario 8 for about two years and trains with Corinne Bevis. Shawn Casady sometimes rides the nine-year-old Holsteiner in the Hunter Derbies and usually shows it in the Green Hunters 3’9”. Wolf rode the gelding to the Junior Hunter Championship in Week III as well and added a Classic win to their resume.
Reserve champion in the 15 and under was Understudy with Ella Cate Duke in the saddle.
Ella Cate Duke and Understudy
Junior Hunters 16-17 – 3’6” sponsored by Callidae and Shady Lady
For Fun, ridden by Brooke Rose Morin, jumped to the championship in the division and took the top prize in the $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic 3’6”.
Reserve went to Chacco D’Accord and Zoe Brown.
Zoe Brown and Chacco D’Accord
Small Juniors Hunters 15 and under – 3’6” – Sponsored by Parlanti
Claiming the championship title in the Small Junior Hunters 3’6” 15 and under was Stella Wasserman (Beverly Hills, CA) and Castle, owned by Shadow Mountain Farms LLC.
Taking home the reserve championship honors was Violet Tatum and Fiorucci. Fiorucci is an equitation horse that doubles as her hunter and the pair hit it off in the hunter sections today.
Violet Tatum and Fiorucci
Large Junior Hunters 15 and under – 3’3”
Champion Early August with Lanie Walkenbach
Reserve went to Belgravia and Lauren Little
Large Junior Hunters 16-17 – 3’3” – sponsored by Noelle Wolf stables
Champion was Paddington with Kyra Slutzky
Reserve went to Cortee and Gabriella Gashtigian
Small Junior Hunters 15 and under – 3’3” – sponsored by Antares
Champion was Caso 2 with Elizabeth Simpson
Reserve to Classic with Paige Walkenbach
Paige Walkenbach and Classic
Small Junior Hunters 16-17 – 3’3” – sponsored by Antares
Rachel Rosenblum and Louis Le Bon
Champion was Louis Le Bon with Rachel Rosenblum
Reserve to Blue Moon and Gariella Ghoshtigian
Gabriella Ghoshtigian and Blue Moon
Hunter riders will gear up for World Championship Hunter Rider Week during Week VIII featuring the prestigious $100,000 West Coast Hunter Spectacular under the lights on Saturday, March 20, 2021. Some of the junior riders may also participate in the coveted R.W. Mutch Equitation Championship on Friday evening, March 19, 2021.
Both events will be available on the livestream. To watch the livestream, visit the website at Deserthorsepark.com and click the “Watch Live” tab.
About the Desert International Horse Park
With nearly 1.3 million square feet of competition and riding space, the Desert International Horse Park is one of the largest equestrian facilities in North America. Offering multiple weeks of world-class equestrian competition from October through March, the facility is a destination location for thousands of equestrians, their horses, family and friends for several months annually. Competitors from all over the world travel to Thermal, CA to not only compete but to enjoy everything the desert has to offer.