For 17-year-old Brian Walker, the first two phases in the most important competition of his busy year were used to familiarize himself with his mount, the Dutch Warmblood, Jashar, owned by Cayce Harrison.

Joined with his mount only the day before, Walker executed the flat phase demonstrating to the judges the required moves of extensions, shoulder and haunches in, and flying changes, more to get a feel for his horse, and to see if he was spooky about the water jump which would be used in Phase III.

The course designed by judges Norman Dello Joio and Cynthia Haskins, had a series of grids, ground poles, and verticals, which could be jumped in a variety of ways as determined by the competitor. Walker executed the course with the talented horse as if they had been together all summer.

Trained by Missy Clark, Walker has been riding since he was two, and while he is a well rounded athlete in golf, tennis and hockey, his aspirations are to become a full time rider with Olympic and World Championship goals.

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