Tuesday’s highlights included the $10,000 WIHS Children’s Hunter Championship, sponsored by The Heisley Family Foundation. Thirty-two entries showed over a beautiful first round course set by Kenneth Krome, of Westminster, MD, and the top 12 returned for a second round to determine final results. Samantha Karp earned back-to-back scores of 87, totaling 174 points to secure a concrete win with her horse, Zentina B. Carly Martin finished second aboard her own Czech Mate with scores of 82 and 79 to total 161. Lekha Ramachandran guided Jennifer Basile’s Playmore to third place, scoring 74.50 and 84, for a total of 158.50.
For the win, Karp and Zentina B were presented the H. Fenwick Kollock Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Friends of Fen. The 18-year-old rider trains with Heritage Farm, traveling to spend her summers in Katonah, NY, and remaining the rest of the year in her hometown of Wellington, FL. Karp purchased Zentina B, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (by Casantos), almost one year ago.
“I originally bought her to be my jumper, and I found out that I did not really like doing the jumpers,” Karp noted. “We decided to do her in the hunters, just for fun, to see if I could get some confidence, and her first week out, she won. She has won basically every show she has been to since that. She had never done the hunters in her life until this year, but I think she has really enjoyed it.”
Tuesday was Karp’s first time competing at WIHS and a memorable experience as the rider finished out her junior career and prepares to become an amateur.
“This is my first time ever doing a season of indoors. It was nerve-wracking, but she (Zentina B) is a pro. She has been to indoors before,” Karp explained. “I do not think I could have been on a better horse to show me the ropes and give me experience doing this. She did an amazing job, and I cannot thank her enough for that.”
