January 14, 2024, Myakka City, Florida. The last weekend of competition during the 2024 Sarasota Winter Classic was all about the junior and amateur riders. A plethora of junior/amateur and child/adult classics took center stage in the Lakeside Arena at TerraNova Equestrian Center. In 2023, the Sarasota Winter Classic partnered with TerraNova Equestrian Center to elevate the exhibitor experience and provide unparalleled amenities and hospitality. The $15,000 1.30m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, presented by Leibold Irrigation, Inc. debuted the weekend’s non-professional competition with another win by young amateur Morgan Ashby.
$3,500 Michael Saunders & Company 1.15m Classic
Saturday morning competition kicked off with the $3,500 Michael Saunders & Company 1.15m Classic. Sunshine Buchanan (Morriston, Florida) took the top call aboard Hudson Meadows Racing LLC’s Don’t Stop. The pair stopped the clock in 39.630 seconds, just ahead of Ashby’s time of 39.886 seconds with her own 13-year-old warmblood gelding, Yalambi’s Garibaldi (Yalambi’s Carpino Z x Yalambi’s Siviola). Tobin was in the ribbons taking third-place honors on his own 13-year-old Oldenburg mare, Carla (Carrico x Anna W), with a time of 40.226 seconds.
$10,000 1.30m Open Jumper Classic
Classic competition continued Sunday with the morning’s first class, the $10,000 1.30m Open Jumper Classic. Flying high from her Saturday success, Ashby picked up the coveted blue ribbon, this time aboard her own Dutchess Carola (Contados x Korsika II). Five entries of the original 11-horse starting field advanced across Ballesteros’ first-round course. Only one pair put forth a better time than Ashby, but at the expense of the fallen rail, costing them the lead.
$10,000 1.20m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic
Next on the Sunday schedule was the $10,000 1.20m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic. In an exciting head-to-head duel, Ashby’s barn mate, Sharon Brown, fought for victory and won after besting Ashby by close to six seconds. Determined not to take the runner-up position, Brown blazed across the short course on her home-bred 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Thunderstroc USA (Roc USA x Contina).
$7,500 NAL/WIHS/M&S 1.10m Child/Adult Classic
The Sunday afternoon highlight was the $7,500 NAL/WIHS/M&S 1.10m Child/Adult Classic. Kaitlyn Nussel (Williston, Florida) and RCR Equestrian’s 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Nacint Z (Numero Uno x Cacinti), took the win after landing from the final jump-off fence in 42.529 seconds. As the only other combination to post a flawless first-round effort, Jordann Fabian (Miami, Florida) and the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding, Porthos, advanced to the jump off for second place. Tayler Eldridge (Dayton, Maryland) and her own 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Carlson Vom Dach (Clarimo x Silbermoon I), finished out the victory gallop in third.
$2,500 1.0m Child/Adult Classic
Classic competition closed out as six horse-and-rider pairs took on the $2,500 1.0m Child/Adult Classic. Of the three double-clear rounds produced, Lily Lidsky (Windermere, Florida) and her own 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Calisinni (Clinton I x Urania VII), earned the final classic blue ribbon of the day with a fault-free time of 36.498. Danielle Walawender (Plainsboro, New Jersey) and Kallie Schafer’s 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Kolohe (Jumpstart x unknown) ended in second place ahead of Sydney Woodroof and SPW Equestrian LLC’s Conner’s Boy (Connor x Annegrete).
The leadership of the West Horse Shows and TerraNova Equestrian Center are grateful to our sponsors, exhibitors, owners, spectators and guests for joining us for the Sarasota Winter Classic. Please join us for our upcoming events!