Kayla Wolfe Presented with Laura Pickett Excellence in Horsemanship Award at WIHS Regional Horse Show and USHJA Zone 3 Championship
October 19, 2020 -
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
The 2020 WIHS Regional Horse Show and USHJA Zone 3 Championship presented by TTR Sotheby’s International Realty concluded on Sunday, October 18, at Morven Park International Equestrian Center highlighted by the presentation of the Laura Pickett Excellence in Horsemanship Award to 17-year-old Kayla Wolfe of Burke, VA.
The Laura Pickett Trophy for Excellence in Horsemanship was donated to the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) by Vicki Lowell and created in memory of a very special equestrian and trainer – Laura Pickett.
Pickett lost her fight against breast cancer at just 52 years of age, after a five-year battle. The Trophy honors her contributions to the sport she loved and the legacy she left behind. She inspired enthusiasm for life, in addition to good horsemanship, and her award is presented to an “up and coming” rider who best exhibits the same qualities. Of those nominated, Wolfe rose to the top and was presented the honor from WIHS Project Coordinator Lara McPherson.
“While showing on the local circuit over the years I have learned how much Laura Pickett meant to the riding community, and it is such an honor to be a recipient of this award and carry on her name and what she stood for,” said Wolfe, who is a senior at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, VA, and is verbally committed to compete on the University of California, Davis Equestrian Team next year.
This year, Wolfe is serving her fourth term as a member of the WIHS Junior Committee and recalls attending Barn Night, watching the Laura Pickett Excellence in Horsemanship Award presentation, and dreaming of one day being a part of WIHS. Since then, Wolfe’s dream has come true and she even finished in the ribbons of the 2016 WIHS Children’s Hunter Championship.
Wolfe, who trains with Kristin Mangum, competed in the USHJA Zone 3 3’3” Junior Hunter Final on her own Sobri-K at the WIHS Regional Horse Show, noting, “2020 is so different and unexpected, but the [WIHS] Regional Horse Show went on beautifully at a gorgeous venue. It’s awesome to see people who do the local shows and the “A” shows come together for a great event.”
In the competition ring at the WIHS Regional Horse Show, riders were crowned in year-end hunter, jumper, and equitation classes. Highlighting the equitation ranks, Grace Walker of Rixeyville, VA, rode Ipache, owned by Jai Smith Rezac, to the VHSA/EMO Children’s Medal victory, while Cailyn Durand of Richmond, VA, took home the MHSA/VHSA Children’s Pony Medal riding Millpoint Farm's Prime Moment. Madison Busey of Ashburn, VA, and her own Queso Grande won the VHSA/EMO Adult Amateur Medal.
Highlighting USHJA Zone 3 Championship jumper competition, Telina Tibbs of Great Falls, VA, riding Stanley 151, was crowned champion in the children’s division, while Maryland’s Cassie Lively and Quite A Journey were named reserve champion. For adult riders, top honors in the USHJA Zone 3 Adult Amateur Jumper Final were presented to Perri Freeman of Ellicott City, MD, and Dedwig while Wendy Libert of Hughesville, MD, and Can Can VI were reserve champions.
In the USHJA Zone 3 Championship hunter divisions, Annabella Bozzuto of Baltimore, MD, aboard Hamilton, owned by Bozzuto Equine, LLC, collected the championship in the Children’s Hunter Horse 14 & Under Final, while Olivia Dougherty of Arlington, VA, took reserve on At Last. For 15-17 riders, Emma Hyde of Reisterstown, MD, and Saumur, owned by Twilight Equestrian, LLC, topped the list, while Allison Hines of Henrico, VA, riding Hugh Turner’s Swagger earned reserve.
Agnes Hahn of Richmond, VA, was named champion in the USHJA Zone 3 3'3" Junior Hunter Final riding Cansas, and Grace Walker on Caleesi split the reserve title with Caroline Booker of Charlottesville, VA, on Final Four, owned by Emmaline Booker.
The USHJA Zone 3 Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Final was topped by Kristin Finkelstein of Reisterstown, MD, aboard Mexicali Blue. Ellen Herrington of Memphis, TN, took reserve riding Pumba. The tricolor in the USHJA Zone 3 Adult Amateur Hunter 35 and Over Final went to Rachel Howell of Arlington, VA, and Flirtation Walk for owner Quiet Haven Farm, LLC. Christina Brady piloted I.P.A. to reserve honors.
Leading the charge for the Zone 3 Small and Medium Children’s Hunter Ponies was Abbygale Hamilton on Starbound with Virginia Harris, who hails from Virginia, taking reserve on Pescado. The Zone 3 Large Children’s Hunter Pony tricolor went to Tessa Brandon of Vienna, VA, on GF Aurelia, while reserve was presented to Eliza Laviolette of Ashburn, VA, riding Gotta Get Rockin.
Complete results from the WIHS Regional Horse Show and USHJA Zone 3 Championship presented by TTR Sotheby’s International Realty can be found at HorseShowing.com.
The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) presented by MARS Equestrian™ kicks off on Wednesday, October 21, at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Creek, NC. Victors will be crowned in the coveted WIHS Children’s and Adult Hunter and Jumper Championships, as well as the WIHS Equitation Finals, WIHS Pony Equitation Finals, and the $214,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix CSI4* presented by MARS Equestrian™.
Learn more about the WIHS Regional Horse Show & USHJA Zone 3 Championship presented by TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at www.wihs.org/wihs-regional.
For more information on WIHS 2020 and the $214,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix CSI4* presented by MARS Equestrian™, please visit www.wihs.org. Also, join us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat. Tag us using #WIHS2020.
