Thermal, CA – January 16, 2025 – Desert Circuit 2 marked Autumn’s Boy’s first time competing in the 3’6” Green Hunters, and rider Katie Taylor-Davidson could not have asked for a better start at the 3’6” height for the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding.
On January 15-16 at the Desert International Horse Park, Taylor-Davidson piloted Autumn’s Boy to two wins, a second place and a fourth place to ultimately take home the 3’6” Green Hunter division championship.
“He was an absolute rock star!” said Taylor-Davidson, who has had the ride on the gelding, owned by Jaymes Piercey, for what will soon be a year. “He’s one of my favorites in the barn to ride. He just gives his all, and he just comes out the same almost every day.”
Taylor-Davidson continued, “Yesterday, in my first round, I hadn’t shown in a while. I felt a little behind the eight ball, but he was right there with me. Then in the handy, I was back in my groove, and he was right there again. We got an 88 yesterday and won the handy, and then today he came out just like he did yesterday and gave his all the entire time. He came out with a champion ribbon, which is awesome.”
Next, “Maverick” will show with Piercey in this weekend’s 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunters before the gelding returns home until Desert Circuit Weeks 9 and 10, where Taylor-Davidson hopes to compete him in the $100,000 WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular.
Finishing as the reserve champions in the 3’6” Green Hunters were Nick Haness and Kannon Hill, owned by HLF Equestrian LLC. In addition to two wins in the 3’6” Green Hunters, Haness and the 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding swept all four of the Green Conformation Hunter over fences classes to take home that division championship.
Haness also earned the reserve championship in the Green Conformation Hunters aboard Ultimate Romance, owned by Romance Sport Horses.
To view a full list of all Week 2 professional hunter division champions, click here. To learn more about all competition at the Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.
