Clara Lindner Picks up Double Tricolors in 18-35 Amateur Owners

Jennifer Waxman Jumps to 15 & Under Junior Championship with Saloon

Tampa, FL – April 1, 2007 – The final hunter divisions of the week wrapped up their classes this afternoon at the 2007 Winter Equestrian Festival, and Jennifer Waxman of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, showed multi-faceted riding skills in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings today.

In the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, Waxman piloted her own Falcon to the blue ribbon to best a field of 25 horse-and-rider combinations. In addition, she and Falcon were victorious in the Washington International Horse Show equitation class jumper phase.

In the 15 & Under Large Junior Hunter division, Waxman and Saloon, owned by Whitney Roper, added another tricolor to their collection for the season. The pair took first and third places over fences yesterday and two thirds over fences today with a fifth place in the under saddle.

“Saloon was really good today. He’s a really cool horse and he knows his job – he’s been around for a while,” Waxman explained. “He had last week off between Wellington and Tampa, and he was really excited to show again, and he felt so good. He just rose to the occasion. We’ve been champion a few times this circuit and he’s just so awesome to ride.”

In the 18-35 Amateur Owner Hunter division, Clara Lindner picked up two more tricolors for the season. Riding In the Black, she captured the championship with a second place over fences and another second in the under saddle yesterday, in addition to winning both over fences classes this morning. In the Black is an 8-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Lindner’s mother, Frances.

Lindner also picked up the reserve championship on Hush, a relatively new ride for her and All Seasons Farm. The pair placed first in the under saddle yesterday and third and sixth over fences, and today earned second and fourth places over fences for the reserve championship. Earlier in the week, Hush was champion with Nicole Simpson in the First Year Green Hunters.

In the Medium Pony Hunters, Shawn Cassidy and Dark Star took the championship. Owned by Kathleen Mahoney, Cassidy said that the dark bay pony went well over the two days of showing and was “just cool.”

At age 12, Cassidy calls northern Tennessee home and rides with Bill Schaub of Over the Hill Farm. “I’ve just been riding him since the start of HITS Ocala. We did pretty good – I think we ended up circuit reserve champion,” he said. Cassidy was also named “Best Child Rider on a Pony” in Ocala this winter.

Alexandra Thornton spiced things up in the 15 & Under Small Junior Hunters this morning with Tobasco and extended their long list of wins in the division. With first and second places yesterday over fences, and a first and a fifth place over fences today, in addition to winning the under saddle class, Thornton clinched the victory for Dunwalke LLC.

Competition at the 2007 Winter Equestrian Festival will resume on Tuesday, April 4, 2007, for the final week of competition and the Tournament of Champions.

PHOTO CREDIT: Clara Lindner and In the Black. Photo ©2007 Randi Muster.