It’s Time for the American Royal!
Knollwood horses, trainers and riders are doing their best Fats Domino impression this week singing:
Fourteen horses in all left Knollwood on Saturday for the BBQ Capital of the World to compete in the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show in Kansas City, Missouri. Some of the nation’s top riders will be competing for more than $200,000 in prize money, and 32 national champions will be crowned by the end of next Saturday night. This show is also home to the last two equitation finals of the season, the UPHA Challenge Cup Final, and the United States Equestrian Federation’s Medal Final.
The last show of the season promises some great competition! You can watch the webcast from here.
Carol, Syd, and Cartman
Wednesday evening highlights the UPHA Challenge Cup Final for riders 13 and under, including our own Syd and Cartman. This is a final open to both pleasure equitation and trimmed equitation riders, and will be deep deep deep with strong riders.
Thursday evening is UPHA Classics Night, highlighting national finals for the top three year old horses in the country in a number of divisions. The finals of the UPHA challenge cup for riders 14-17 are also at this performance.
Emily, Muddy, and Eric and Mane Event
Knollwood riders in the competition will be Emily and Muddy, Ashley and Castle, Allison and Pogo, and Jenna and Bella. Competition for this final begins bright and early Thursday morning with phase I. Riders will be selected to advance to the second phase in the evening, so stay tuned to see who makes it through this high level competition with the best riders in the country!
Connie and Jasper
Friday night brings ‘Pink Ribbon Night’ and the amateur championships for many divisions. Connie and Jasper will be competing in the national championship for three-gaited horses shown by amateurs.
The performance will also showcase the UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup Final for riders with disabilities.
Saturday morning will start really early again for the equitation riders as they start competition in the USEF Medal Final. Arguably the most prestigious of the finals, it’s for riders of all ages on either pleasure equitation or trimmed equitation horses.
Nick and Mojo winning the triple crown, 2010
This will be a huge event with the best riders from all over the country. All five of the Knollwood riders who competed in the UPHA Challenge Finals will also show in this event. Riders who advance after the morning work will continue to the second phase and final event of the Saturday morning performance.
Emily and Garth
The morning show will also feature some additional championships, including performances by Emily G and Garth in the Junior Exhibitor five-gaited pleasure championship, Toni and Pinto in the western pleasure championship, and Ashley and Kabu in the junior exhibitor country pleasure championship.
Saturday evening is Stake Night with the last of the amateur championships, and the open championships.
Ashley and Rosemary, Reserve World Champs at Louisville 2011
Knollwood will be represented by Ashley and Rosemary in the junior exhibitor three-gaited national championship,
Jenna and Freaky at Louisville, 2011
and Jenna and Freaky in the junior exhibitor five-gaited national championship.
This will be an exciting evening, with $50,000 being awarded in the gaited stake, the last event of the night.
Best of luck to everyone competing at the Royal!
Leave a Reply
