Posted March 13, 2006

Kacy Jenkins and Signature are Letter Perfect for Tricolor in Small Junior Hunters at Winter Equestrian Festival

Wellington, FL – March 12, 2006 – It was another exciting and competitive Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) this year at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Center. The entries in the hunter divisions were incredible, as was the competition.

Rounding out the last week of WEF were the Junior Hunters, among other divisions. The Small Junior 16-17 Hunter Division Championship is going home with Signature and owner/rider Kacy Jenkins. The duo won both over fences classes yesterday. Reserve champion in the division was Thursday Night, ridden by Alex Paradyzs for Paradyzs Farm.

Jenkins has owned Signature since 2001. After an injury sidelined the sweet bay gelding for a year, Jenkins has slowly brought him back into work and competition. They were champions at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show last fall, which is looking like the beginning of their big comeback. Signature only showed three weeks during this year’s circuit, but Jenkins recognized, “We’ve let him rest a little bit, but he actually goes better when he stays in work. We showed him last week and this week.”

Signature’s second week of showing in a row made him ready to win this week. “He came out just on it,” Jenkins said. “I could tell when I was flatting him in the morning that he was ready.”

Jenkins pointed out that winning in the last week is a great start for the year. “It was a great way to end and such a good feeling to end on a high note. He was perfect,” she remarked. “It was very exciting. I’ve been working hard this season, so hopefully we’ll go home and this will continue.”

In the Small Junior 15 & Under division, a brand-new relationship was forged with a blue, red, and yellow ribbon. Double Cinco and Paige Allardice won an over fences class yesterday and returned today for the win under saddle and second place in the Stake class. Allardice is only 14 years old and this was her first time showing in the Junior Hunters. Reserve Champion in the division was High Cotton, ridden by Jennifer Waxman for Christy Russo.

Allardice purchased Double Cinco at the beginning of circuit and her sister, Rowlanda Blue Stephanos, won a championship with him in the Amateur-Owner Hunters in the fourth week of WEF.

After competing in the Children’s Hunters, the decision was made to move up to the Junior Hunters, but Allardice stated, “I didn’t expect anything this weekend at all. I just wanted to get around. It was amazing. I never would have thought this would happen!”

The fancy bay gelding “might look easy, but he’s hard to ride,” Allardice said with a smile. “He’s slow; you need a lot of leg. I think that the more I get to know him, the easier he’ll be.” Double Cinco is also fondly reminiscent of someone from Allardice’s past. “He’s most like my old horse, Castaway, who passed away a few years ago. He’s the same type of ride and look. I think that’s why I like him so much,” she acknowledged.

In the Amateur-Owner 36 & Over division, the championship went to Saline and Kelly Klein, while reserve champion was Acapella and Mary Jane King. Brianne Goutal rode Priceless for the All Seasons Farm to the championship in the Large Junior 16-17 division. Reserve champion was Cala Millar and Nancy Gottwald.

Although competition is finished at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, the Winter Equestrian Festival continues in Tampa, FL, from March 22 to April 1.

Photo Credit: Signature and Kacy Jenkins, champions in Small Junior 16-17 Hunters at Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo by Randi Muster.