BY ANNIE BIRMINGHAM
Lindsey Klein captured the coveted High Score Junior Award and cooler sponsored by The Plaid Horse in the USHJA National Hunter Derby at the 2018 Blenheim EquiSports Spring Classic II. Riding her Econtador to a 12th place finish, Klein was the top placing junior rider in a field of 37 combined professional, amateur, and junior competitors. “The competition was especially hard this derby. Professionals like Jenny Karazissis, Jamie Taylor, and Peter Lombardo all rode to top placings. The first round was a pretty simple hunter course, including a two-stride and a bending line. The handy round was a very fun course with lots of inside turn options. I rode in the Junior Hunters the week before to prepare, and my plan was to just keep my horse slow and steady, as his stride is very big. He’s a new horse, so I was mainly just focusing on having two solid rounds.”
Klein said of receiving the award, “It’s a huge honor for me, and I’m so grateful. I’ve only competed in the National Derby one other time, and I think it’s a very fun class. I go in knowing I’m competing against amateurs and professionals, but I just use that as a motivation to ride to the best of my ability.” Klein primarily competes in the Equitation and Junior Hunter divisions with trainer Hailey Flowers at Flower Hill Farms in San Diego, California. Her sights are set on all of the major Equitation Finals for the rest of the 2018 season as well as venturing into the jumper ring.
Results:
- Big Shot – Jenny Karazissis
- Small Anecdote – Jamie Taylor
- Holland – Jenny Karazissis
- Conux – Jaime Krupnick
- Easy Company – Kendall Bourgeois
- Cresent – Jasmin Stair
- Romeo – Peter Lombardo
- Small Joy – Jaime Taylor
- Pirouette – Nicole Kane
- Quotable – Crystal Theisen
- I’m Special – Jaime Taylor
- Econtador – Lindsey Klein
About the Author: Annie Birmingham is an 18 year old equestrian from Long Island, New York. A freshman at Long Island University studying equine management, Annie can usually be found spending time at the barn and grooming at horse shows up and down the East Coast.
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