Double Devon Blues .. for Kat Fuqua
Double Devon Blues & Firsts at Upperville for Kat Fuqua
EQUINIUM SPORTS _ Devon, PA & Upperville, VA (June 19, 2019) - Drama and excitement in the International Hunter Derby, KISS Pony Hunt Team costumes, blues at Devon, Junior Hunter Reserve Champion, Large Pony Champion and Reserve, and second round callbacks in the MacClay: it was a whirlwind May and June for Kat Fuqua. Under the tutelage of Grand Prix show jumper and fellow Hunter Derby competitor Jimmy Torano of JET Show Stables, 11-year-old Fuqua reveled in the competition, camaraderie, and excitement of the US's two longest running and prestigious equestrian events. The 176th Devon Horse Show and 187th Upperville Colt and Horse Show provided challenges for the young rider's adaptability and precision, as well as her ability to perform under pressure.
During her first time showing at Upperville, Fuqua's highlights included a dramatic International Hunter Derby with Cupido Z, who finished 11th overall, and Cornell 22, who doubled as her equitation mount and jumped 3 of the 4 high options in the Derby. The complex course, field of professional riders, and simultaneously running Pony classes made for a pressure cooker situation, but Fuqua took it all in stride. With her and trainer Jimmy Torano the last two to go in the Derby, Kat and Cupido Z's final round kept the crowd on the edge of their seats and elicited cheers and applause at after their final jump. As the youngest in the class, Fuqua was thrilled by the her reception and support from the crowd at Upperville, which is now ranked among her favorite shows: "Upperville was so fun, jumping in the International ring against Jimmy and all of the other professionals was very exciting," she stated. "I was so proud of Cornell for jumping so many highs and of Cupido for coming in 9th in the first round with scores of 82 & 83, and finishing 11th overall. Jimmy finished 4th overall, and doing the victory gallop was one of my favorite experiences."
In addition to the International Derby, Fuqua finished 6th out of more than 30 highly decorated riders in the Maclay, where she was also called back for a second round. With JJ Torano sidelined with a baseball injury, Fuqua showed his Small Pony Hunter HP Mud Puddles at Upperville, taking 4th, 6th, 6th, 5th, and 4th in the Small Pony Classic. Her own Medium Pony, Finesse RF (aka Ladybug), scored double 86's to take 2nd, 2nd, 4th, and 5th. Her Larges, Chic in Time (aka Spicey) and Prestige (aka Prince) took Reserve and Champion. Chic in Time finished 3rd in the Classic with an 85 and 86 for Reserve Champion while Prestige won the Classic and was named Champion with fantastic scores of 88 and 90. Her Junior Hunter Calvaro finished only a few points off Reserve Champion, with scores of 83 and 84 over fences. Cupido Z finished 2nd, 4th, 2nd, 4th, and 1st to secure Reserve Champion with scores of 85 and 86. With Cornell 22, Fuqua also rode her very first WIHS Jumper Phase, and competed in the Dover Seat Medal.
The Devon Horse Show, a prestigious championship event, only permits the top 30 qualified horse and rider combinations in each division. Fuqua qualified 5 of her equines for the competition in the Junior Hunter and Pony divisions. Her favorite part of Devon this year, however, wasn't so much the competition as it was the team spirit: Fuqua partnered with Sterling Malnik and Lola Head for the traditional Pony Hunt Teams, a crowd favorite where teams of Large, Medium, and Small Pony riders dress up in costume and jump courses to music. Decked out in heavy metal attire, Fuqua and her team rode as the rock band KISS. "That was really my favorite event, and right before I had to run to jog Cupido Z in the Junior Hunters. Since I didn't have time to change, I had to jog in my KISS costume, which was really funny and my pony team waited for me." Her costume conundrum, much like the extra excitement and drama of Upperville's International Hunter Derby, was due to the fact that Fuqua seamlessly jumps between the Junior Hunter and Pony rings and the international jumper arena during both Devon and Upperville. And while the Pony Teams were the highlight of Devon, Fuqua also jumped to a number of top finishes under the multi-colored iconic ferris wheel.
Finesse RF scored an 85 to win the Medium Pony Hunter Stake, and was originally a ride Fuqua had passed off to JJ Torano, who's broken arm sidelined him just before Devon. In the Large Ponies, Chic in Time finished 3rd in the first hunter conformation round, 4th in the second, 2nd under saddle, and 5th in the hunt seat equitation. The palomino pony's 3-year-old and recently imported son, Notably Chic, won his first Hunter Pony breed class at Devon, and finished 3rd overall for all ages of Hunter Pony with handler Jimmy Torano. In the Junior Hunters, Fuqua rode RS Levitation to 6th & 9th, and Calvaro to 3rd with an 86 and 6th in the Stake. Cupido Z took 6th, 7th under saddle, and 5th in the Stake.
Kat Fuqua's passion for horses is reflected not only in her highly decorated Pony Hunter and Junior Hunter rider results, but also in the joy and dedication she shows each time she swings into the saddle. Based out of Atlanta, Georgia and under the guidance of trainer Jimmy Torano, every aspect of Fuqua's riding, training, and show career reflects a unique ardor for equines and horse sport. She balances her equestrian lifestyle with attendance as a full time rising 6th grade student and takes pride in developing alongside her horses. In addition to riding, Kat enjoys spending time with her school friends and her favorite subject is French.
As of June 17, Fuqua ranks as follows in the USEF:
▪Grand Champion Green Pony Hunter (all size ponies)
Prestige 3rd in country & 2nd in National Green Large Pony
▪Grand Champion Pony Hunter (all size ponies)
Chic In Time 4th in country & 2nd National Large Pony Hunter
▪Grand Champion JR Hunter 15 yr younger
CupidoZ 6th in country & 4th in National Large JR Hunter 15 yr younger
▪2nd Leading Pony Owner in the country
