Olivia Esse Named Grand Junior Hunter Champion at the 52nd Annual WIHS
Illusion and Olivia Esse Named Grand Junior Hunter Champions at the 52nd Washington International Horse Show Goodson-Cutt Sweeps Older Junior Hunter Championships, Casady and Cachet Capture Younger Large Junior Tricolor
Esse trained with James Hagman of Elvenstar for several seasons including Indoors 2010.
Washington, D.C. – October 29, 2010 – The best junior hunters in the nation went head-to-head today in their respective divisions to determine championships at the 52nd Washington International Horse Show. The West Coast was well represented in the presentations. Olivia Esse of Los Angeles, CA, rode Illusion, owned by Oscany, Inc. to the Grand Junior Hunter Championship after they topped the Small Junior 15 & Under Hunters. Hannah Goodson-Cutt of Beverly Hills, CA, topped both of the older junior hunter divisions on Caretano and Superman. Shawn Casady of Midtown, TN, rode Cachet, owned by Caroline Spogli of San Diego, CA, to the final junior hunter division championship.
The WIHS continues through Sunday, October 31 with the best hunter, jumper, and equitation riders in the nation competing for top prizes at Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C. The highlight classes of the week are tonight’s $25,000 Puissance sponsored by The Boeing Company and the $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix presented by Washington Convention and Sports Authority, CSI 3*-W on Saturday, October 30.
Olivia Esse and Illusion were very successful in the Small Junior 15 & Under Hunters. Their first, second, and third places over fences and second under saddle gave them enough points to also garner the Grand Junior Hunter Championship. The reserve champion was Falcao, ridden by Hasbrouck Donovan and owned by Donald Stewart. They placed first and second over fences.
Illusion and Olivia Esse
For their Grand Junior Hunter Championship, Esse and Illusion were presented with the Ides of March Perpetual Trophy donated by Linda Lee and Lee Reynolds.
Fifteen-year-old Esse started riding Illusion, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, last year. “He used to do the High Junior Jumpers before we had him. He likes the hunter ring though because he’s really smooth and easy going,” she described. “He’s really scopey, (and) he has a nice big stride. He is totally fine with long distances. He has a really smooth rhythm and round jump.”
This is Esse’s first championship at the WIHS. “It feels really great. I am so glad that the California people did really well this year. In the ponies it was impossible to beat the East Coast girls but I feel like now it is a little more evened out,” she said.
Hannah Goodson-Cutt contributed half of California’s championship haul with her horses Caretano and Superman. Caretano, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, was the champion in the Small Junior 16-17 Hunters. They won the handy hunter and stake classes and were fourth in the remaining over fences class. The reserve champion in that division was Ruby, ridden and owned by Holly Labry of Memphis, TN. They were second and third over fences and second under saddle…
Except from WIHS Press Release
About the Washington International Horse Show
An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show brings top horses and riders from the U.S. and abroad, including Olympic champions, to the nation’s capital to compete for more than $400,000 in prize money and championship titles. About 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation events during the six-day show. Special exhibitions, Kids Day, Barn Night, WIHS World of the Horse, boutique shopping and educational and community events round out this family-friendly show. Since its debut, the Washington International has been a popular Washington, DC, fixture visited by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. WIHS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable organization, is headquartered in Washington, DC. Learn more at www.wihs.org.
Photo Credit: Photos © Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. Illusion and Olivia Esse jumping photo © Diana DeRosa. These photos may only be used in relation to this press release and with full photo credit.