2007 Maclay Regional
Championships

Junior Riders Face Off

Tami Masters

Not often in a trainers’ busy schedule do we find time to enjoy the entertainment offered at the shows we attend. If we do find time in the schedule to watch it’s ordinarily centered around the featured jumper events. In this year’s Northwest Autumn Finals, another type of event was showcased: the ASPCA, or Maclay, Northwest Regional Championships. This class features junior riders under the age of 18, over a technical hunter-style course of jumps with various work-offs to follow.

The intent is to find the junior rider who can demonstrate grace and poise in their riding style while having their riding abilities tested. Exhibitors in this class have to qualify by accumulating points throughout the year. The show’s schedule highlighted the event and made it possible for friends, family, and other exhibitors to attend. It’s not often these junior riders have the opportunity to perform in front of a crowd, and performing in front of a crowd is the defining test of a future rising star. How would I know? Thirty years ago I rode into the arena at Madison Square Garden in New York City in front of 10,500 people and demonstrated the fact that in the Pacific Northwest, not all riders were cowboys and Indians.

Saturday night I put on my pre-selected, “Medal Finals Watching” outfit, and headed to the arena. The pre-funk began at Legacy Hunters and Jumpers, with Shelly Kerron and my brother, Bo, hosting a small gathering before the event. Shelly had a student in the Maclay that night, O.J. (Otto Junior) Berkes, a young man I had watched over the last few years and had finished 8th the previous year. After indulging myself of their food and libations, I pledged my spectator support to O.J. and headed to the arena.

I took my place in the stands with brother Bo, and two of my students (future medal contenders). The evening performance began with a Special Equitation class. This class allows the medal finalists the chance to get in the ring and work the kinks out. This fun preview of the competitors provided great entertainment. Carly Anthony won the class and looked sure to be in the top of the field for the Maclay final. Alexa Anthony, Carly’s younger sister, had another strategy. She used the junior class to tuck in some loose ends, sacrificing an early ribbon for possible a better one later on. Last years winner of the Maclay regional finals, Lindsey Thornton, placed fourth in the class and looked to be in contention for a good ribbon.

As the awards were being presented for the special Equitation class course designer, Blake Alder and crew began building the Maclay course. This years judges were allowed to work with the course designer to be sure the courses presented tests appropriate for this level of competition.

Next, enter the riders and trainers for the official course walk. Watching the course walk took me back to the vision of the course walk at the Garden. 125 riders faithfully follow their trainers’ around the maze of technically constructed obstacles, hoping that by simply following their trainers instructions they would make it through to the next round. Ha! It takes more than hoping.

Saturday night’s class also had a second round, flat phase followed by a final test over fences that would decide the winner. The course walk ended and riders and trainers exited the ring to begin preparation for the class. The order of go was drawn earlier in the day and competitors were encouraged to participate. At the time of the draw each rider was given a bag of equine goodies sponsored by Potcreek Meadow Farm. Nice touch!

Rebecca Sexton was the first competitor to go, not an easy position, but somebody had to do it. The first few riders had their share of difficulties, including Lindsey Thornton who had an uncharacteristic biff at the narrow jump and Carly Anthony who left quite long to the first combination. Then, O.J. Berkes entered the ring and put in the first solid ride. Following him was Alexa Anthony, who also put in a good competitive round. The competition was on. A few more riders were added to the list. Alexa Allen and McKenzie Woolley both had decent rounds. There were a few riders with difficulties. Then, at the end of the class, Jackie Stuckens and Hannah Evans, with an interesting approach to fence number two, were added to the solid round list.

Next, the flat phase. The judges brought the riders back in two groups. First the bottom half of the class; followed by the top. If the judges read the list in order of their preference, O.J. Berkes and Alexa Anthony were called back one and two. I took this opportunity to visit the loo. Flat phases, in my opinion, are not really a spectator sport. When I returned the judges and jump crew were setting for the final work off.

The judges called in the top six riders. It appeared as though O.J. and Alexa had been dropped down a bit after the flat phase, to somewhere in the middle of the pack.

The judges then gave instructions for the work off and, one-by-one, six competitors attempted the test. It became immediately apparent that the most difficult part of the test was counter-cantering fence two. The first, McKenzie Woolley, did a simple change to the counter lead and held it. The next rider, Carly Anthony, ran into a predicament because her horse landed on the counter lead, but she was unable to hold it, which snowballed into chaos and confusion. Next was Carly’s sister, Alexa, who also did a simple change to the counter lead, which worked out quite well. Following Alexa was O.J. and he did what Carly had attempted: he landed on the counter lead and held it all the way to fence two, having a near-perfect work off. The two remaining riders missed the counter canter. It was a great work off and entertaining class, resulting in O.J. winning the class and Alexa Anthony placing second. See Show Results for further placing.

As I stood to salute the winners of this class, I realized not much has changed in the last 30 years. The judges are still looking for that elusive combination of grace, poise, education in horsemanship and the ability to perform under pressure. But, when everything goes to hell-in-a-handbasket, as we know it sometimes does, what really defines a great competitor is the realization that our careers are not defined by a moment but many moments filled with successes and failures. The best horsemen never deviate from their path to improve.

Read an interview with the winners.