Saturday Was Showmanship, Halter And Hunter Day at Fox Lea Farm Winter Circuit

Saturday proved to be a busy day at the Fox Lea Farm Winter Circuit in Venice, Florida, as exhibitors competed in Showmanship, Halter, Hunter Under Saddle and Hunt Seat Equitation and over fence classes that included the Huntfield Trainer Medal, the $500 Huntfield Hunter Derby, the $500 Huntfield Low Hunter Derby and Huntfield Performance Hunter Under Saddle.

In NSBA Level 1 (Green) Hunter Under Saddle, Dakota Diamond Griffith piloted Pass The Details to the win for owner Abigail Hardy, of Hilliard, OH.

“Pass The Details is by Pass The Assets, and that is the same stallion that sired Hopeful Assets, the mare that I showed in Youth for five years,” Griffith said. “I really get along with that bloodline. He rides a lot like Hope, in that he has the same top line and really lays his neck out there.”

The six year old gelding known as Bentley shows in Hunter Under Saddle, and is being started Hunter Hack. “His owner used to show over fence classes and is just getting into the flat classes. She’s just having fun with him,” Griffith said.

In Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, Shanda King won the NSBA portion of the class riding Hes Gota Lota Appeal . “He was just Steady Eddie,” said King of the five year old gelding she calls Merlin.

“He has an excellent lope. He is such a sweetheart. He even gives me horse hugs! We’ve been together for four years.”

Barbara Johnson and Best Be Sweet repeated as NSBA champions in Select Amateur Hunter Under Saddle.  “I’ve just so happy with our go,” Johnson said. “It seems like we’re really getting things together.”

Judy Davis, Reddick, FL, and Just Like June (shown at left) had a busy day, after starting out in the halter pen, where they earned two and a half AQHA halter points in Performance Halter Mares. They continued their good run by winning Junior Hunter Under Saddle.

“She’s not used to going all day like this, so she’s pretty tired now,” Davis said. “But she’s learning.”

Doodle Jump and Jenna Jacobs, Poland, OH, (pictured at right) also had a busy afternoon, winning Youth Hunter Under Saddle and adding Youth Hunt Seat Equitation to their classes.

“We showed in Horsemanship yesterday, and we’ve been working on Western Riding, Trail, and Showmanship too,” Jacobs said. “It’s a lot of fun, and he really seems to like it. He’s pretty tired though!”

Jennifer Leckey showed Gota Dig It to win NSBA Senior Hunter Under Saddle for owner Melissa Meeks, Westfield, IN. They are pictured at left. “I love that he’s so big but yet he moves so soft,” Leckey said of ‘Big Nate,’ who is 18 hands tall. “We will be working to qualify for the AQHA Open and Select Amateur World Shows and showing in some of the maturities.”

To read the full article on NSBA.com, click here.