Ethel Walker School
Several members of Walker’s equestrian team traveled to Wellington, Florida to compete in the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events.
As a result of competing for two weeks with horse Felix BC, Janet Hedges ‘21 won the ASPCA Maclay, an equitation class that is judged on a rider’s position, style and timing both on the flat and over fences. Riders accumulate points throughout the year in qualifying classes that make them eligible for a national competition that runs at the end of the show season. The ASPCA Maclay Championship is considered one of the most distinguished equitation championships a young rider can win, and simply qualifying for the event is an accomplishment in itself. An event that has been running since 1933, the ASPCA Maclay was created to teach young riders proper horsemanship, and a kindness and respect for their horses. These Maclay wins also qualified Janet for an Excellence in Equitation class later on in the winter season during the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Impressively, in her first two weeks of showing, Ava Strohmeyer ‘21 was champion and reserve champion in Low Junior Jumpers, a competitive division into which she just advanced. Senior Trainer Jo Seaver ’99 says, “We are so excited to kick off our winter season in beautiful Wellington, Florida with so much success! Our girls have worked hard to improve their skills and become stronger, more sophisticated riders. The ribbons they have won are so deserved and proof that our system is working. We are looking forward to the rest of the season with even more of the team here to compete!”
Congratulations to Walker’s equestrians on their success during the first few weeks at WEF. Click on the links below to see individual results:
