Thermal, CA – January 18, 2025 – For Karin Binz, riding is not about the ribbons or awards to be won; it’s all about the horses. However, days like Binz had on Saturday, January 18, at the Desert International Horse Park are a cherry on top. Aboard her own Vatikan, Binz earned the win in the $2,500 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, sponsored by CALLIDAE.
“I show because I ride; I don’t ride because I show,” said Binz, who purchased Vatican when the now 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding was 5 years old. “It’s really fun to make horses. You’ll see [fellow amateur Irene Neuwirth], she likes to make them up too. When you’ve ridden for a long time, it can be something new and fun. It’s very rewarding. It’s fun to see the progression.”
The progress that Vatican has made with Binz and trainer Paige Dendiu was on full display during Desert Circuit 2, with the gelding earning scores of 84.5 and 85.5 to win the $2,500 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic with an overall score of 170.
Second place with a score of 169.5 (87 + 82.5) went to Irene Neuwirth and Tamarindo, and Bailey Rose and Kinship took home third with scores of 85 and 83 for a 168 total.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s amazing!” said Binz of her win. “If I am allowing more than telling, he’s the happiest, and he’s super scopey and has a really big stride. Those are big pluses in this game. I had an early rub, and after that, I tried to really stretch up and give him room to come up. That’s literally what I thought, ‘Keep your body back. Don’t lay on the neck.’ That really worked, I guess!”
Binz continued, “I have to say too, Paige Dendiu is a young professional, and she’s done a really good job. Not only with this horse, but with me. She not only knows the horse, but she knows me. Yesterday wasn’t so great, even though I was second and third. He was lunatic out there, and she just said, ‘Take the spurs off and go.’ I was like, ‘Are you kidding!?’ It worked great. I just really appreciate her.”
Following the conclusion of Saturday’s class Binz had to hurry back to the barns to resume the other part of her day.
“I’m a professional braider; I have to be back on my ladder at 12:30, no later than!” said Binz. “I got here this morning, and I braided a bunch of tails. I showed, and now I’m going to get back to it. That is the life. It’s on the road at horse shows basically for this amateur!”
To view more results from Saturday’s 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, sponsored by CALLIDAE, visit dihp.showgroundslive.com.
