'Spicey' Spectacular Marks WEF Midpoint for World Champion Fuqua
'Spicey' Spectacular Marks WEF Midpoint for World Champion Fuqua
EQUINIUM SPORTS _ Wellington, FL (February 22, 2020) - WEF 6 is not only the midpoint in the Florida winter equestrian season, it's the biggest week for hunters with the USHJA World Champion Hunter Rider 2020 festivities. 12-year-old Kat Fuqua, who rides under the tutelage of Jimmy Torano of JET Show Stable, marked her first official $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular appearance during WEF 6, and was Champion every week at WEF. with her Equitation horse, Junior Hunter, new International Derby horse, and, of course, her eye catching Large Pony Chic in Time (aka Spicey). In addition, a number of catch rides for prominent names in the performance hunters provided for a well rounded 6 week wrap up at WEF!
Fuqua's World Champion Hunter Rider success began in the Junior Hunters, where she claimed Champion and Reserve in the Small Jr. Hunter Younger aboard Cornell 22 and Consent. Cornell 22 is her equitation mount, and proved himself capable to compete against the best with Fuqua in the irons. Consent, Kelley Farmer's International Derby Champion, was purchased from Larry Glefke and Kent Farrington days before the beginning of WEF 6 and is the newest addition to Fuqua's Collecting Gaits Farm.
Cornell 22's success at WEF 6 was the culmination of hard work put in by Fuqua during previous weeks: during WEF 4, the pair competed against the best in the business in the $15,000 International Hunter Derby, including her own trainer Jimmy Torano. The performance against a field of 60 set the stage for more success in the International arena. Cornell 22 was also not to be left behind in the big Equitation, where he and Kat finished 5th in the WIHS Jumper Phase during WEF 2 and 6th in the Dover Seat Medal out of 37 during WEF 5.
Putting the ultimate 'spice' into the arena at WEF's Pony scene, Fuqua rode the gorgeous palomino pony, Chic in Time (aka Spicey), to Champion in the WCHR Large Pony Hunter, an impressive feat against some of the top hunter ponies in the world. The hunter pony gelding was trained by Fuqua, and has been a fabulous addition and top ranked pony with Fuqua for years. The USEF Horse of the Year Report awarded Chic In Time the 6th Large Pony in the country for 2019, and each week of WEF has been placed top 5 in the Larges.
Fuqua's dark bay gelding, a newly acquired Junior Hunter playfully named Hashtag, had top 8 finishes each week he was shown during WEF, including a first over fences and 2nd in the Handy. Grand Remo, another bay beauty owned and piloted by Fuqua in the Junior Hunters, had a stand out week WEF 2, winning the Large Junior Hunter Younger Championships. The pair finished with impressive scores including an 88!
During all WEF weeks, Fuqua has also acted as a premier catch rider for some of the top names in the sport. Dr. Betsee Parker's Large Green Pony Brixton, which has been Champion each time it has come out at WEF, took two Championships during WEF 3 & 5 with Kat in the irons. The pair brought in four 1sts, a 2nd, and 2nd in the Classic during WEF 5 landed their second Championship, while during WEF 3, they took 5 out of 6 blues for their first Championship. Brixton is trained by Scott Stewart. During WEF 4, Fuqua was Medium Pony Champion riding for Ponies and Palms aboard Woodland's Talulah. The pony, who is trained by J Gee, had many top finishes with Kat, including firsts over fences and under saddle each week.
"My favorite moment so far from WEF was winning the Small Jr. Hunter Younger Championship with my equitation horse Cornell 22 WEF 6," said Fuqua. "My parents, my trainer, horses, ponies, and all of my sponsors are the best, and I also really enjoy riding ponies and horses for other owners and trainers! I'm so proud of Cornell and Consent for taking me through my first time in the Hunter Spectacular under the lights, and can't wait for the rest of season."
Kat Fuqua's passion for horses is reflected not only in her highly decorated Pony Hunter, Equitation, 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. Fuqua is also training in dressage with her Dream Girl under Olympic trainers. She balances her equestrian lifestyle with attendance as a full time 6th grade student at Holy Innocence Episcopal School 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.
