July 31, 2024 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – The spotlight was on the amateur hunter riders at the Blenheim Racing Festival, as they took center stage for the Blenheim EquiSports West Coast Amateur Hunter Challenge, presented by Marshall + Sterling’s Equisport Division and held July 27-28, 2024.
Designed in part to give amateur riders a special week at the forefront of the show, the 2024 West Coast Amateur Hunter Challenge offered $2,500 Hunter Classics at the 3’, 3’3” and 3’6” levels and recognized the overall grand and overall reserve grand hunter champions in the Adult Amateur, 3’3” Amateur-Owner and 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions.
Stealing the show in the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunters was Lanie Walkenbach aboard her two mounts, McQueen and Decisive.
With the 8-year-old Westphalian gelding Decisive, Walkenbach earned the win in Sunday’s $2,500 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, sponsored by Marshall + Sterling’s Equisport Division.
“He is just the best horse ever,” said Walkenbach of Decisive, who wears a duck charm in his braids in honor of his barn name, Donald (“like Donald Duck”). “He truly has the best brain.”
For their Classic victory, Walkenbach received a Marshall + Sterling coolerette and groom’s backpack, as well as a tack room pillow, courtesy of Nick Byassee of Equestrian Design LLC.
However, the pair’s Amateur-Owner accolades did not stop there.
After taking a rough fall off Decisive in Sunday’s first 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter over fences class, Walkenbach and the gelding returned to finish extremely strong, immediately winning the next over fences class with a score of 89. That win, combined with a second place finish the previous day, would be enough to secure Walkenbach and Decisive the reserve grand championship in the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunters, sponsored by West Coast Equine Partners and The Oaks Equestrian Facility.
The only horse to top Decisive in the division was Walkenbach’s second horse, McQueen. With the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Walkenbach claimed two wins and a second place over fences to take home the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter grand championship.
| For the grand championship, Walkenbach – and all three Amateur Challenge grand champions – received a Marshall + Sterling director chair and a groom’s backpack.“Blenheim did a great job of making the class feel special – especially with all of the award presentations,” said Walkenbach. “As an amateur, it’s super fun to feel like we have the same opportunities as the juniors have. In a way, this was kind of like an amateur-owner hunter finals which I hope becomes a thing very soon! It was super special being able to go out there and take pictures with both of my horses for the grand and reserve grand champion.” |
| While McQueen has been shown to great success in the professional hunter arena with Nick Haness in the irons, the partnership is relatively new for Walkenbach as she just began riding “Dash” after the 2023 indoor show season. The Blenheim Racing Festival also marked only the pair’s second week competing in the 3’6” division.“He is definitely a bit of a tricky ride for me, but he is so talented,” explained Walkenbach. “He zones in on the jumps from a mile away. He definitely knows his job. I’ve just had so much fun learning him, learning his style and just gaining more confidence on him.” |
