Sweet Briar’s riding team competed in the Southwest Virginia Hunter/Jumper Association’s Annual Horse Show and Medal Finals Nov. 10 through 12 at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington. SBC sent 19 horses and was represented by hunters and jumpers of various levels.

On the first day of competition, all of the hunters showed in the center’s coliseum, which was decorated with brush, flowers, hay bales and pumpkins in keeping with the season. As you might imagine, some of the festive decor spooked the horses, but by the second day the horses settled down and performed well as usual.

The following riders and horses were awarded ribbons:

Katie Davilli on SBC's Hatrick.
Kathryn Davilli ’09 with SBC’s Hatrick won the Children’s/Adult Hunter Derby. Davilli and Hatrick also placed first in one of the Adult Hunter over fences classes and second in the Adult Hunter under saddle.

Jesse Leiner ’10 with her horse Bellagio was reserve champion in the Children’s Hunter division. She placed first and third in the over fences portion of the Children’s Hunter.

Alison Sims ’09 and SBC’s Renaissance had several good ribbons over the weekend. They were first in the Hunter Hack, fourth and fifth in Adult Hunter over fences classes, and fifth in the Adult Hunter under saddle. Plus, Sims placed 10th in the Medal Finals.

Jessica Leonardi ’07 also competed in the Adult Medal Finals and finished eighth with her SBC mount Lindros.

On the second day, Jessica McCarthy ’08 with SBC’s Morning Edition placed fifth in an Adult Hunter over fences.

Meg Hammock ’08 and her horse The Gentleman placed third out of 11 riders in the Oak Ridge Medal.

Heather Theunissen ’09 with her horse Double Dutch placed fourth in the Oak Ride Medal. Theunissen also placed third in a Level 2 class, fourth in a Level 3 class and sixth in a Child/Adult jumper class.

Lauren Stephens ’09 with her horse Legoist placed fourth in a Level 3 jumper class.

Jennifer Gottfried ’07 on her horse Ocean Pacific II placed fourth in a Level 3, fourth in a Level 4 and sixth in the $150 Level 3 class.

Alison Carr ’08 rode SBC’s Honigan and placed third and sixth in the Special Adult Hunters over fences.

Rachael Field ’10 rode SBC’s Maxwell Smart to a third in a Special Children’s Hunter over fences class.

Mollie Linden ’10 riding SBC’s Special Occasion received a second and third in the Special adult hunter over fences classes. Plus she placed third in the Randolph-Macon Medal and fourth in the Adult Equitation on the flat.

Chelsea King ’10 rode SBC’s The Sportsman to a fifth in the Randolph-Macon Medal and a sixth in the Special Children’s Hunter over fences.

Corinne Davies ’07 with her horse Lovingston placed sixth in the 3-foot Green Hunter over fences class as well as third in the 3-foot Green Hunter under saddle.

Celeste Rustom ’10 placed second in the SWVHJA Hunter Seat Medal final qualifier on SBC’s Special Occasion.


— By Mimi Wroten and Jon Conyers, SBC riding instructors