Wellington, FL - February 27, 2010 - The Taylor Harris Insurance Services (T.H.I.S.) Children's Medal 14 & Under kicked off the day in Ring 6 this morning at the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.
Twnety-two competitors vied for the blue ribbon today, and a chance to help qualify for the T.H.I.S. National Children's Medal Finals that will take place at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in October 2010. Maggie Savoie received first place honors aboard her horse Danico. The 14-year-old Massachusetts native is currently a freshman in high school at the Lincoln School for Girls in Providence, and she commutes to Florida on weekends to compete at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.
"I get really tired, but this is what I do, and I don't do anything else, so it's worth it," Savoie explained of her busy travel schedule. Savoie has owned Danico, a 12-year-year old Westphalian gelding, for about three years and credits him for much of her winnings. "It was definitely a team effort between the two of us. I couldn't have done it without him," she acknowledged. "If he wasn't underneath my leg when I asked him to move up or slow down, I wouldn't have gotten the distances that I did," she continued. After the first round, the top four competitors were called back for the test. The test was described to the riders who stood in the middle of the ring, and they were instructed to have no further communication with anyone.
The test started over a direct approach to an oxer off of a very short turn, followed by a rollback to another oxer. The test continued over a trot jump, then riders rode directly to the last vertical, and were instructed to halt and back up afterwards. The final instruction was to return to the line at a walk on a loose rein. Savoie returned for the test in the top position with a score of 83 from the first round and held her lead throughout. The riders were tested in reverse order based on their scores from the first round. The cut-off to return for the test was a 79.
The test was very difficult for the competitors, and the first rider went off course, which caused some confusion amongst the remaining riders. Savoie commented on this, and said, "For the testing I watched everybody else's courses, and I knew which jumps I needed to go to. I don't normally get nervous, but when people did different courses, I knew what I was supposed to do, but I wanted to make sure I got it right." Ailish Cunniffe finished behind Savoie in second place. The third place ribbon was awarded to Hannah Baumann, and the fourth place honors went to Nikki Carr. Savoie competed at the finals of the T.H.I.S. Children's Medal last year, and placed 15th. She hopes to qualify again this year and improve on last year's results. If Savoie continues to be successful, she hopes to show in the ASPCA Maclay classes next year. Children's Hunters will continue tomorrow with both the Children's Hunter 14 & Under and the Children's Hunter 15-17 divisions competing on the North Grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
By: Clara Lindner
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