Thermal, Calif. – Lise Quintero and Always A Gentleman made their show debut a winning one on Friday, December 12, as they rode away with the victory in the $20,000 CWD Young Hunter Classic.
Quintero had only ridden the 5-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding one other time when owner Naomi Wegner asked her to take the reins for the class held as part of Desert Holiday 2 at Desert International Horse Park.
Lise Quintero and Always A Gentleman. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Things went well straight out of the gate for Quintero and Always A Gentleman as they shot straight to the top of the leaderboard with a first-round score of 87. Riders then returned for a second round, where the leading duo nearly replicated their efforts. This time, they earned a score of 86 to clinch the win with an overall 173 winning total.
Second place with a score of 171 (83+88) went to Skylar Wireman and Ada Goates’ Canturano Uno, and Allison Kroff and Ayrton, owned by Ruby Ransco, finished in third with a score of 169 (84+85).
Lise Quintero and Always A Gentleman. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“He was very, very brave,” said Quintero of Always A Gentleman. “He marched right in there like he knew what he was doing! He really hasn’t spent much time in [the Main Hunter Ring]. Because he’s green, he’s spent time in all the other rings, so that was a little bit new to him even. Good on him, he just marched right around like he was an old soul. He’s really a very, very sweet, very kind guy. He likes doing it.”
The $20,000 CWD Young Hunter Classic is just one of the many hunter offerings during this week’s World Championship Hunter Rider competition at Desert Holiday 2 – and Quintero says that it is a class that is particularly appreciated for those with young, developing horses.
“This class is fantastic,” said Quintero. “I think letting us come in the big ring, letting us get their little toes wet in there and letting them see all the jumps is terrific.”
Lise Quintero and Always A Gentleman. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Quintero concluded, “I want to thank Shari Rose and Rainie Rose for giving me a chance. Thanks to Gail Ellis and the owner of this horse, Naomi, for giving me a chance to ride him.”
To view all results from the $20,000 CWD Young Hunter Classic, click here.