Hello! My name is Jamie Hylton, and I’m from Gainesville, Virginia. I’m here at the 2015 Level 1 East Championship in Lexington, Virginia with my horses, Gettin Pretty, competing in Level 1 Western Pleasure, and To Sleepy To Sparkle, competing in Level 1 Performance Halter Geldings. I’m so excited to be here with my trainer, Lucas Cash, whom I’ve been with for two years now. I would like to wish all the exhibitors good luck and may you make lots of new friends. Check out my pictures of the day from the show.
Final Picture of the Day #6, Sunday Oct. 4
That’s a wrap on the Level 1 East Championship folks! After horsemanship, western pleasure classes, more cold temperatures, and wind, we have survived. We had an amazing group of horses, show staff, stewards, and judges. Thank you to everyone who made this show possible. I think we are all looking forward to doing it again next year in a new location, and a new set of dates.
My picture of the day is Christin Carter of Greensboro, NC. She is the 2015 Level 1 Amateur Western Pleasure Champion with is pictured with her parents and mount, RR Time To Step Out, who is by RL Best of Sudden. Christin and I have become good friends this year competing in the Level 1 western pleasure together, and I am very happy that I got to watch her win her gold trophy this afternoon. Congratulations Christin! Good luck to everyone at your future horse shows, and safe travels!
Picture of the Day #5, Saturday Oct. 3
We are in the final count down here at Level 1 East Championships. Today we endured wind, cold temperatures, rain, and a short power outage. We had halter and some of the most beautiful showmanship patterns I’ve ever seen. My picture of the day is the finals line up of the Youth Rookie Showmanship. These kids worked their butts off today. They practiced all morning and when they thought they had it down pat, they did it some more. This was dedication at its finest. Great job kids, we are all very proud of you!
Picture of the Day #4, Friday Oct. 2
The rain is back and the temperature is down here in Virginia. We had ranch pleasure, barrels, poles, and trail today. Staying dry and warm was a real challenge, but we wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world.
My picture of the day is Colby Ringer, of Virginia Beach, Va. Colby and his mount, Coosamotion, a 16 year old gelding better know as “Jack” around the barn, have been a team for five years. This is their fourth year competing at the Level 1 East Championships. After one top ten placing in 2011, the team has finally made their dreams come true, in their last year as a youth and as a novice. The team placed third, better know as the bronze champion in the youth trail.
Anyone who knows the struggles that Colby and Jack have been through the last few years, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Congratulations Colby. We are all very proud of you!Â
Picture of the Day #3, Thursday, Oct. 1st
Well, the rain is still holding off for us here at the Level 1 East Championships, but we did have a 20+ degree drop in the temperature, which made for a lot of time spent in the longing pens. But we’re all still happy to be here, and all hoping that the hurricane goes to sea instead of dumping the oceans worth of water on us. My picture of the day is Tami McAllister doing her trail clinic this evening. This is one of the things that makes this show so great. There are clinics that you can attend to learn tips on having your best pattern, and they will even answer all your questions.
Picture of the Day #2, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015
The weather gave us a break today and the rain held off for the first day of showing here at the Level 1 East Championships. The excitement was everywhere. We even had some sunshine during the reining and hunter hack classes this morning. My picture of the day is Sydney Krebs of Grove City, Ohio with Im The Last Captive, and Ava Rosenberry of New Philadelphia, OH with Sheiks In The Irons. Sydney was seventh, and Ava was tenth in the Rookie Youth Hunt Seat Equitation. These friends were happy to be able to cheer each other on to Top Ten finishes.
Picture of the Day #1, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015
My first picture of the day pretty much illustrates everyone’s feelings at the show. Despite the pouring rain and muddy conditions, we are here because we love our horses. The rainy weather today made unloading horses and tack a little more difficult, but all part of the experience. For now, it isn’t raining but it is supposed to rain from Thursday on–Tropical Storm Joaquin is causing all this wet weather. Let’s pray the weather decides to shift directions. The facility is very well equipped to handle the rain and the show grounds has plenty of covered pens to ride. The AQHA staff have been wonderful, and they have taken very good care of everyone here. The struggle of today is worth it in the end. All this rain cannot wash away the excitement in the air for the chance to end up in the Winner’s Circle. Stay tuned for more pictures throughout the show!
