Ken Smith And Carmen Win Regular Working Hunter Championship

For the second week in a row, Ken Smith, 36, of Wellington, Florida, rode Carmen for owner Millridge LLC, to the Regular Working Hunter Championship. Carmen is a 10-year-old, 15.3-hand, bay Oldenburg mare that Smith has had the ride on since October 2003. The duo competed in four over fences classes and one Under Saddle class over two days. "She had the best round of her life yesterday until the last jump," said Smith. "She just touched the back rail and had the last jump down unfortunately. She jumped so high and so nice, she just made a little bit of an error at the last jump. It was too bad." That error put them out of the ribbons, but Carmen rallied in the Internationale Arena and won her second class yesterday with an 89 average.

Competition for the Regular Working started with Under Saddle today, and Carmen and Smith placed third. "There was a lot of pressure to have two solid rounds over jumps today," Smith noted. "She went really nice." Carmen scored 89 in the first class and placed second, and then scored a 90 in the second round and won the class. "Luckily today she was really on her game," said Smith. "She went really even and smooth and jumped great. She was really, really consistent." Smith is looking forward to competing in the AHJF Hunter Classic Spectacular on Saturday night.

Sandy Ferrell riding Fiddlers Bridge for owner Stephanie Riggio earned the Reserve Regular Working Hunter.