Cooper and SS Carino Claim the Crown at USHJA Zone 7 Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, Presented by SmartPak
St. Louis, Mo.—September 9, 2019—Quinn Cooper and SS Carino led the victory gallop at the end of Individual Competition at the USHJA Zone 7 Children’s and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak, on Sunday, September 8 at the Lake St. Louis Indoor Preview. An under saddle, classic hunter, and handy hunter round tested the competing horse-and-rider combinations and it was Cooper’s overall score of 352 that put her on top.
Judging the Championships hosted by the Lake St. Louis Indoor Preview at the National Equestrian Center were Robin and Otis "Brownie" Brown, Linda Andrisani, and Lynn Forgione. Skip Bailey designed the weekend's courses.
Cooper, of The Woodlands, Texas, claimed the gold medal and champion title after earning a 77 in the under saddle, 140 in the classic and 135 in the handy aboard her own SS Carino, a Holsteiner gelding. Cooper said, “Our first [round] was definitely better than our second one. We rode very nicely in the first and our nerves got to us in the second, but we still ended up on top—thank you to my horse because he is my savior!”
“It feels crazy,” Cooper continued of her win. “I thought I was maybe going to be a little bit lower than I was, so when I heard my name, I gasped!”
Competing in her first USHJA championship, silver went to Sara Palmer of Bentonville, Arkansas, and her own New Dream with a score of 348.
Rounding out the top three with a 322 and bronze was Kristen Davison, a member of the gold medal team, aboard her own Captivated. “My flat was great—she’s a wonderful mover so that is the easy part for us,” Davison said of the Hanoverian mare. “I got a little nervous for my handy and a little overexcited, but she packed me around great and it turned out wonderful.”
Of the two medals she is taking home, the Layton, Utah native said, “It feels good! This is my fourth year here at the Championships, so it was nice to come away with a team win. I’m looking forward to an individual win next year!”
All Zone Championship riders received polo shirts and tote bags from the Championships' presenting sponsor, SmartPak. For their wins, riders are awarded ribbons, and Cooper took home numerous prizes, including an embroidered cooler, Charles Owen helmet, CWD halter, Parlanti paddock boots, Essex Classics Show Shirt and FITS Riding breeches.
The USHJA extends special thanks to John McQueen and the entire Queenie Productions team for hosting the Championships, Chef d’Equipe Patricia Jellerson for leading the teams, and presenting sponsor SmartPak for their generosity and support of the sport. USHJA also thanks awards sponsors Charles Owen, CWD, Parlanti, Essex Classics and FITS Riding.
For more information about the USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak, visit ushja.org/ChAAHunter.
Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Individual Results
Rider / Horse / Hometown / Zone
GOLD: Quinn Cooper / SS Carino / The Woodlands, Texas / Zone 7
SILVER: Sara Palmer / New Dream / Bentonville, Ark. / Zone 7
BRONZE: Kristen Davison / Captivated / Layton, Utah / Zone 8
4: Connie Fry / Fanci That / Saint Louis, Mo. / Zone 7
5: Gabrielle Karam / Mill Creek Houdini / Lake Charles, La. / Zone 7
6: Riley Townsley / Sir Hansel / Lake Charles, La. / Zone 7
7: Rebecca Bynum-Avery / Falco / Siloam Springs, Ark. / Zone 7
8: Mia Holstead / Cupid / Houston, Texas / Zone 7
About SmartPak
Presenting sponsor of the Championships SmartPak Equine was founded by riders and horse owners for riders and horse owners in 1999 with the purpose of simplifying the administration of nutritional supplements to horses. Their patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system has been adopted by thousands of barns and horse owners across the country, who value knowing that their supplements will be fed correctly. In addition to the SmartPak supplement system, they offer a broad line of horse health, show apparel, tack, and canine supplies sold online and through their catalogs. More information is available at smartpakequine.com.
