Thermal, Calif. – Ellie Aitchison just made the move up to the 3’6” Junior Hunters during Desert Circuit 5, but a few weeks in, she and her large junior hunter, Dominion, are already clinching championships together – including during this week’s Desert Circuit 7.
Aitchison and the 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding, owned by Stacey Lucko, earned two second-place finishes over fences and a win under saddle on their way to the 3’6” Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division championship, awarded on Sunday, February 22, at Desert International Horse Park.
“He’s been really good to me!” said Aitchison of the horse that she has been partnered with for the past year. During that time, Dominion has taken Aitchison from the Children’s Hunters to the 3’6” under the tutelage of trainer Dustin Goodwin.
“Circuit 5 in the big grand prix ring was our first time ever [in the 3’6”]; he was so good!” said Aitchison. “He took me around. I was trying to figure myself, and he still kept ahold of me and was so good.
“This week, my favorite was probably my handy round,” continued Aitchison. “Even though I had a little bit of a rub, he was ready for it. Me and him both love the handies. We always do so well with him in the handy. He likes turning tight.”
Aitchison will now return home to Woodinville, Wash., after enjoying her time spent competing in Thermal, Calif.
Finishing as the reserve champions in the 3’6” Large Junior Hunters 16-17 behind Aitchison and Dominion were Darya Davoudi and Southland.
In the 3’6” Small Junior Hunters, the division championship went to Luciana Gonzalez So and Sinmigo Dos. The duo took the win in three out of the four over fences classes and finished in second in the only class that they did not win.
“He’s the most amazing horse ever,” said Gonzalez So. “Literally, I’ve never met a horse like him. He’s just the best. It doesn’t matter if you’re just hacking around or if you’re showing. He tries his hardest for you every single time.”
Sinmigo Dos has been shown in the professional hunter divisions by Halie Robinson for roughly a year and a half, and about a year ago, Gonzalez So began training with Robinson, and soon after, her family’s Big Picture LLC purchased the talented gelding.
Finishing as the reserve champions behind Gonzalez So and her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood were Payton Fuller and Kensington.