Wilmington, Ohio – The R+L Annex Arena at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington once again played host to the anticipated WEC Medal Final of Midwest Indoors II. Riders qualified throughout the year in Wilmington in two sections; the WEC Medal Final 3’-3’3” and the WEC Medal Final 2’-2’6”. Winners of the class were crowned after their equitation and rideability was tested over a track designed by Scott Alder (USA) and a flat phase. Each winning rider rode away with a brand new Gotrax Scooter and $500 Trainer Bonus!
In the 3’-3’3” section, Emily Kowalchik came out on top aboard her own equitation mount, Fundamental (Hornet Rose x Stutbach 1 Fauna), after an exemplary jumping phase and flat phase.
“I bought Flynn [Fundamental] last September. He was my first big adult purchase! He is so wonderful and I knew right away that I liked him. He makes me brave and has taken me on the big stages already in the past year. I love him, and I say he is a barn favorite! He is easy, simple and very dependable,” Kowalchik spoke about ‘Flynn.’
Coming off a successful indoors circuit competing at The Capital Challenge Horse Show and The National Horse Show in the adult equitation finals, Kowalchik knew the best plan for her nine-year-old Westphalian gelding, “I could have gone inside from six to seven a-b. That is where he likes to dive in for the lead change, so I decided to go around and keep it nice.”
“He keyed in really well from one, two and three. Everything showed up really nicely for us in here today. There weren’t a ton of related distances, so I was able to play with my gallop when I needed to.”
Brooke Barket rode to the win in the 2’-2’6” section aboard Land’s End Electra (Land’s End Love Note x Third Try).
“I think the WEC Medal is a really fun class. We do it almost every time we show here. It has taught my pony a lot and made her better in the equitation. I like how it is two phases so I can practice a little bit of everything,” Barket shared about the WEC Medal class and it’s benefits for her pony.
Barket is a frequent exhibitor in R+L Annex with the eight-year-old Welsh Pony Cross, ‘Ellie,’ “Land’s End Electra is Ellie in the barn! We just lease her and she was my green pony last year. She is so fun to ride. We will do Pony Finals next year and hopefully indoors!”
Out of 19 entries in the section, Barket impressed the judges over both phases to stand atop the podium.
WEC Medal Final 3’-3’3” Results:
1 Fundamental, Emily Kowalchik
2 Cristallo’s Carlchen P, Greer Dixon
3 Clive, Ellie Welte
4 Wkm Zona, Reagan Sutley
5 Khalifa, Maxwell Brown
6 Galway, Taylor Condon
7 Quelle Carte, Isabel Greer
8 Rock Angel, Taylor Schuh
WEC Medal Final 2’-2’6” Results:
1 Land’s End Electra, Brooke Barket
2 Sugar Rush, Corrigan Janiak
3 Cremissimo, Claire Kerrigan
4 Nicolette Wf, Pamela Domash
5 For Tonight, Emery Weston
6 Elder, Lillia Downey
7 Happy Hour, Bella Hostutler
8 Alato, Emma Jurkowitz
9 Snapdragon, Maeve Sheldon
10 Stevens, Grace Rhea