Jef Lauwers of Belgium and Cupid, owned by Lindsay Holstead, captured the championship in the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Section A division. The pair earned two blue ribbons, fifth and sixth over fences, and fifth under saddle. Lauwers first rode in the hunters over two years ago with Peter Pletcher of Magnolia, TX. He did not compete much at that time, and has since spent the past two years working in Belgium as an engineer. He returned to the U.S. six weeks ago and has been intently focusing on riding and the hunters.
“Peter asked if I wanted to show. I told him yes, but that I didn’t have a horse,” Lauwers detailed. “Then, Lindsay said I could show her horse. We showed in Texas for two weeks and then came here. This is my first show in Wellington.”
Cupid is a 2009 Holsteiner gelding that Peter Pletcher has primarily shown in the Green Hunter and Performance Hunter divisions.
“He’s a really nice horse,” said Lauwers, “a good jumper, and a good mover. He’s very sweet, likes to show, and likes to jump. The hunters are fun because they’re another way of riding, another way of knowing the horse, and another way of teaching the horse. It was difficult for me to learn because I was not used to having loose reins. I still struggle with it sometimes, but I was lucky today. It’s fun, and Peter is a really nice guy.”Taking reserve honors was Lili Halterman of New York, NY, aboard Cussini, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding. The pair earned a second, two thirds, and a sixth-place finish over fences, and second under saddle to secure the reserve title.