A Day of Firsts for Canterbury Stables!
On May 31st, Smoke Tree Farm of Baldwinsville, New York was the first stop on the 2009 Classic Show Series summer tour, a circuit made up of several horse shows hosted by participating barns across Central New York.
While the rain held off, unusually high winds that occasionally blew a fence or two down provided a dramatic back-drop for a day the riders from Canterbury Stables will never forget.
For seven year-old Miss Sophia Wojcik, it was her first horse show. Standing no taller than the new ribbons she will be taking home to her Fayetteville, New York bedroom, she rode Canterbury’s Carli-Sue to win Reserve Champion in the Walk/Trot division.
It was also the first horse show for Canterbury’s Oh-Henry. Together Henry and eleven year-old Allison Muller of Cazenovia, New York were champions in the Beginner Equitation division, and reserve champion in the Beginner Hunter division.
Henry’s very first blue ribbon at his first horse show came early in the day when he was paired up with eleven year-old Lydia Leonard of Manlius, New York. Together they won the Walk/Trot/Cross Rails division.
It was also the first horse show for Canterbury’s Oh-Henry. Together Henry and eleven year-old Allison Muller of Cazenovia, New York were champions in the Beginner Equitation division, and reserve champion in the Beginner Hunter division.
Not to be outdone by her stable-mate Henry, thanks to twelve year-old Amy Kelley of Manlius, New York, Canterbury’s Mama Mia’s Olive won her first blue ribbon – at her first horse show too.
There were two firsts for thirteen year-old Max Michelson of Georgetown, New York – not only did Max ride Canterbury’s Liz-Beth-Arden to become Champion of the Intermediate Equitation Division, but the two also took home the championship ribbon in the Intermediate Hunter division. Max will be the first one to admit, his outstanding performance would not have been possible without the love and support of his mother Lucy. In between Max’s rounds of competition, Lucy took time out from cheering on her son to add to the family’s ribbon collection after performing several solid rides of her own aboard her horse Cymon Cez.
Max’s Georgetown neighbor and friend fourteen year-old Matt VanHeusen rode Canterbury’s Carli-Sue to participate in his first horse show with Canterbury Stables.
Placing first of over 30 horses in the warm-up division which started this windy day, twelve year-old Hayden Nolan of Hamilton, New York rode Canterbury’s Captain Madison to become Champion of the Open Equitation division.
Fourteen year-old Lizzy Ballard of Manlius, New York rode Brooke Cagwin’s horse Just A Flirt to take home the championship ribbon in the Limit Hunter division. The two also placed second in both the Medal Class and Pre-Childrens/Adult Hunter Classic.
Both the Medal and the Classic were won by Ms. Jennifer Poplarski of Camillus, New York on Brenda Oliver Peck’s Tommy’s Delight. Jen and "Tommy" scored a virtual equestrian hat-trick by also winning the championship ribbon in the Pre-Childrens/Adult Hunter division.
According to Ms. Poplarski, a college student who drives for over an hour from campus to train at Canterbury Stables, “it was a great day for everyone from our barn, we all work really hard at home, and even with this crazy wind, thanks to Canterbury's incredible horses and ponies, we were ready to do our best.”
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