By Summer Grace for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Pairings in the ESP Open Hunter 3’3” division made their way to Ring 12 on Thursday to finish out their performances and designate a champion. Recent college graduate Tyler Petrie piloted Ann E. Rice Ervin’s Galileo under the guidance of trainers Ron Danta and Danny Robertshaw to add a third and sixth place to their previous day’s results of two firsts and a sixth.
The young pro only acquired the ride on the 11-year-old mount in June after she graduated from the University of South Carolina and began working for Robertshaw and Danta’s Beaver River Farm.
“He is a new mount for me, but he has been perfect each week for both me and his owner, so there’s not much more I can ask for,” explained Petrie. “He is basically a unicorn! He has a very rhythmic canter that almost always puts you at the right distance, and if you can just stay out of his way, he will find the distance every time.”
Reserve champion was also earned by Petrie with Ervin’s other mount, Alright. For only their second competition as a team, the duo had great results worthy of a first, second, and third.
“I am so fortunate to be able to ride horses as amazing as these,” added Petrie. “Words can’t describe how I am feeling. I am truly on cloud nine. Everyone at the farm has been supportive with my best interests in mind, and I just feel so blessed.”
