The first recognized horse trial of the year in our area took place this past weekend, March 28-29, at Morven Park in Leesburg. The competition is always popular with Maryland event riders, and this year they did well.
Amateur rider Katie Novotny (Aberdeen) won the Senior Training Rider division on her Oldenburg mare Jaguar Rosette WG, who was bred in Maryland by Eileen Pritchard-Bryan of Jarrettsville. This pair competed at this level seven times last year — they won five of those competitions, finished second in one, and third in another.
Junior rider Emma Whitaker (Clarksville) won the Junior Training Rider division on her Irish Sport Horse Sing to Me Cooley. This is a new ride for Emma, and it was the pair’s first time out in recognized competition. Sing to Me Cooley was previously campaigned up to the CCI2* level by Irish 5-Star event rider Tim Bourke.
Ashley Beheler, a professional based in Sykesville, dominated the Senior Beginner Novice division, taking the first and second spots in the division on two of her home-bred Dutch Warmblood mares. The mares are full sisters, by Riverman out of Noblesse Oblige. Her 2015 mare Kirika won the division, and her mare 2014 mare Jubilee took second.
Congratulations all!
Left to right: Katie Novotny and Jaguar Rosette; Emma Whitaker and Sing to Me Cooley; Ashley Beheler and Jubilee. All photos by Erin Gilmore Photography.
