As week two of the Winter Series of the Midwest comes to a close today, we like to take the time to shine the spotlight on a Junior or Amateur rider who truly stood out throughout the week. This week, we are focusing on two: Amatuer rider Emily Morin and her daughter Junior rider Gabrielle L. Morin of McLean, Virginia. Between them, they have a string of four stunning bay horses who caught our eye this week.
Gabrielle rides a Large Junior Hunter, Ace Of Spades, who is a 14 year old Selle Francais gelding owned by her mother, Emily Morin. Gabrielle also rides a Small Junior Hunter called Truth Be Told, a 12 year old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Indoctro x Calienta II Z) owned by Marianne Ash. Rounding out her string is Gabrielle’s Medal and Equitation horse, Fleetwood, a 13 year old Irish Sport Horse/Holsteiner gelding (My O My x Coleen Diamond), also owned by her mother.
The show week started on Thursday for Gabrielle where she piloted Ace of Spades around the 3’3″ Performance Hunters. In the first round, the pair placed third out of nineteen entries. Gabrielle and Ace of Spades then continued into the handy round where they placed fifth out of sixteen entries.
On Friday, Gabrielle rode Fleetwood in the 12-14 Equitation division. In the over fences portion of the division, Gabrielle and Fleetwood placed fourth and second out of ten entries. The flat portion of the 12-14 Equitation division saw nine entries, and Gabrielle and Fleetwood took home second. For their fantastic placings, Gabrielle and Fleetwood were awarded Reserve Champion of the 12-14 Equitation division. The pair also competed in the NHS Medal 3’3″ on friday, where they were seventh out of fifteen entries.
Gabrielle rode all three horses on Saturday, beginning with Truth Be Told in the Small Junior Hunter 3’3″ division, where the pair took home a second, a fourth and a fifth place out of six entries. Next, Gabrielle and Ace of Spades took to the ring again to contest 18 entries in the Large Junior Hunter 3’3″ division. The pair continued their trend of successes from Thursday, placing first, third and fifth in the division. For her last ride of the day, Gabrielle piloted Fleetwood in the THIS Children’s Medal 14 and Under 3′. Out of the seven entries, the pair placed fourth.
Sunday was purely a Hunter day for Gabrielle. She first rode Truth Be Told in the Small Junior Hunter 3’3″ division, where the pair placed fourth out of six entries. Her next mount was Ace of Spades in the Large Junior Hunter 3’3″ division. The pair received two impressive second place ribbons out of eighteen entries, which deemed tham Champion of the Large Junior Hunter 3’3″ division. Rounding out the weekend, Gabrielle and Ace Of Spades competed in the $1,000 Junior Classic 3’3″, where they placed fourth out of twelve entries.
Gabrielle has just returned from the Washington International Horse Show, where she and Fleetwood earned second place in the VHSA Children’s Medal, and sixth in the 1.00m Jumpers. Gabrielle also took top honors aboard Ace of Spades in the 3’3″ Junior Hunters at the Washington International Horse Show, placing second and third over fences and first in the under saddle.
While Gabrielle had quite a successful week at the WEC Winter Classic #1 show, her mother, Emily Morin, also had a great week. Emily showed her own 7 year old Warmblood gelding called Eclipse on Wednesday and Thursday in the Green Hunters 3’6″. David Q. Beisel of David Beisel Stables in Goshen, Ohio also showed Eclipse in the High Performance 4’/3’9″ Green Performance Hunters on Wednesday and Thursday.
Both Gabrielle and Emily Morin ride with Tammy Provost of Meadow View Farm. Meadow View Farm is a Hunter Jumper barn based in Sheridan, Indiana that offers boarding, training and sales. Provost has trained many Hunter, Jumper and Equitation riders and horses to top placings at some of the most prestigious shows in the industry.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.