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Seventeen year old Hayley Barnhill of Collierville,
Tennessee is claiming her place in history by winning the Pessoa/USEF
Medal on October 17 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and the ASPCA Maclay
National Championship on November 7 in Syracuse, New York. Riders
compete all year to qualify for each medal – considered the two most
prestigious equitation events for junior riders in the United States.
Previous winners are some of the
biggest names in equestrian sport, including Olympic champions.
“Winning the Medal was so amazing because you don’t
expect it and then to win the Maclay as well… it’s just unbelievable,”
remarks Barnhill excitedly.
Both events are the highest level of hunt seat
equitation and require riders to navigate their mounts over a series of
jumps that involve small turns, adjustments in stride and “spooky”
fences. Jumps must be at least 3-foot 6-inches tall and may be up to
5-feet wide. After two rounds of jumping and a flat phase at each
competition, Barnhill emerged on top, beating out 207-riders in the Medal
and 152-riders in the Maclay.
“It is the thrill of my career,” says David
Pellegrini of Spring Mill Farm in Eads, Tennessee where Barnhill has
trained for most of her junior career. “It is an historical event to win
both competitions in the same year. She joins an elite group of riders
that can make that claim.”
Barnhill’s other victories this year include a
bronze medal at the North American Junior Young Rider competition, and
championships in the Ronnie Mutch Equitation Final, Junior Hunter Finals
and the Small Junior Hunter division at Devon.
Currently living in Kentucky, Barnhill credits her success to a team of
trainers that have worked together to give her the experience and
opportunity to advance.
“I got to ride so many horses with Dave
(Pellegrini). He put me on everything in the barn,” laughs Barnhill.
Next year, Barnhill plans to focus on the jumper
divisions and the two other equitation titles she has still to win. She
hopes to someday become a professional rider and trainer.
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