October 18, 2014–The Amateur Owner riders were dressed to impress in their shadbelly coats at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show as riders sailed over the 3’6″ courses and vied for the prestigious championship titles.
GOLDEN RULE, owned and ridden by Stephanie Danhakl of Pacific Palisades, Calif., received the high honor and was crowned Grand Amateur Owner Hunter Champion. The pair dominated the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6″ 18-35 division, clinching the Handy and Formal Attire classes, the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6″ 18-35 Championship, and the Wintarra Ring Perpetual Trophy. Antonio Aguilar, GOLDEN RULE’s groom, received the Grand Amateur Owner Hunter Grooms Award.
“It’s so exciting!” said Danhakl with a smile. “I’m so happy and I don’t even know what to think. My horse was awesome and I’m so proud of him. I would have been happy just leaving with a Championship, so to get the Grand is just icing on the cake.”
Reserve Champion in the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6″ 18-35 Championship was LA PATRON owned by R & R Hunter Horses and ridden by Meghan Rohrbaugh of Mechanicsburg, PA.
John Ingram of Nashville, TN, and AIRPORT 48 owned by John and Stephanie Ingram, stepped into the winner’s circle after clinching the Amateur Owner 3’6″ 36 & Over Championship and the Carlos F. Bodwell Memorial Perpetual Trophy. The pair won the Handy class in the division, and his groom Aurelio Pacheco was awarded the Grooms Award. EMPIRE, owned by David Gochman and ridden by Becky Gochman of New York, N.Y., took Reserve Champion after winning the Formal Attire class in the division.
John and Stephanie Ingram were thrilled as AIRPORT 48, who earned the highest numerical score throughout the amateur owner hunter division, was awarded the EMO Agency Amateur Owner Hunter High Five Award.
“It feels great,” said Ingram. “We bought him as an equitation horse and all I can say is that he’s really exceeded all of our expectations. He’s just great.”
MINDFUL, owned by Kensel LLC and ridden by Kelley Farmer, was awarded the EMO Agency Overall Hunter High Five Award, as the horse that earned the highest numerical score during the show, which was 95.0 points.
