Updates from Southwind boarders :)

Last week, Michael and Emily Friedman took 6 competitors to the multi-day nationally rated Showday National HITS Culpeper show. Michael’s team included Southwind boarder, Marina and her OTTB, Joey, aka Amaretto Gold. The team had a great week, especially considering that half of the team had never experienced either a rated show or an away show.  The competition was fierce and several classes had over 20 competitors with a large percentage of professionals competing in the same classes as our team.  Our competitors brought home over 60 ribbons including 9 Champion and Reserve Champion ribbons and about 15 blue ribbons.

Marina and Joey competed in 18 classes, placing in 15 of them.  They were confident and in good form, offering up great trip after great trip in several divisions.  Joey participated in several 3 foot classes on Thursday morning, and won a ribbon in a class that had 25 top professional riders and fancy horses that afternoon.  On Friday, Marina and Joey were winners in a big and very competitive Modified Childrens/Adult Hunter division, and brought home a Reserve Champion ribbon in that division.  Afterwards, they went on to win the Marshall & Sterling Equitation Medal on Saturday, along with top ribbons in the 2'9 Equitation divisions.  They finished out the week with a Reserve Champion in the Culpeper Childrens’ Hunter division on Sunday.  It was really great to see Maria and Joey "in the zone" this week.  Next big away show for Joey and Marina is the Lexington National Horse show.