The opening week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival came to a successful close today. The competition will continue through April 3, with eleven more weeks remaining here at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Championships were awarded today to conclude the week, including the honors in the Bainbridge Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter division.
Poetic, owned and ridden by Maggie Boylan, was this week's champion. Boylan came out on top over a field of eighteen starters. She secured the division championship by winning the first class, placing third in two more over fences classes, and was second in the under saddle.
Laura Sexton and her Hanoverian gelding, Zoom, missed the championship by only one point. However, she was still awarded the reserve championship by placing second in three classes, fifth in another over fences class, and third under saddle.
Boylan, who resides in Patterson, New York, is currently attending school at Texas A&M University. She came for this week of showing because she is still on winter vacation from school. Boylan stated, "I hope to come back for weeks five and six." However, she went on to explain that her show schedule really depends on her school schedule.
Boylan has owned Poetic, a 10 year-old Westphalian gelding, for the past four years. She began her relationship with Poetic showing in the Children's Hunters. They went on to have much success in the junior hunter ring and are now off to a good start in their first year together in the Amateur-Owner Hunters.
Maggie Boylan and Poetic
"He is so easy, he gets no prep, he's such a sweetie, and so much fun to ride," Boylan described.
There will be much more hunter action to come when next week rolls around. Week 2 of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival will begin next Wednesday, January 19, and will run until Sunday, January 23.
Stay tuned for next week's winners and champions here at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
For full results please visitwww.shownet.biz or for more information, visitwww.equestriansport.com.
Photo Credit: Maggie Boylan and Poetic were the Bainbridge Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter chapions during week one at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot, Official Sport Photographer of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival,
www.sportfot.com.
