WEF By The Numbers: Kat Fuqua Closes Out..
WEF By The Numbers: Kat Fuqua Closes Out Winter Season with Championships & USEF Lettering
EQUINIUM SPORTS _ Wellington FL (April 19, 2019) - Six equines, twelve weeks of competition, and countless memories: for the sixth year in a row, Kat Fuqua spent her winter weekends in sunny south Florida, competing at the US's prestigious international hunter/jumper show circuit, the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival. Of the ten weeks in which she competed, Fuqua was invited to the Parade of Champions ten times, earning 43 blue ribbons, ten Championships, four Reserve Championships, and five Classic Championships. Joined by her grooms, mother, and trainer, she ventured into the International Arena during WEF 12 to receive two Circuit Championships: Large Pony Hunter with Brighton and Large Green Pony Hunter with Prestige (aka Prince). Prestige proved particularly unstoppable this season, taking Champion each week he showed.
During the 3.5 months of the Winter Equestrian Festival and the rest of the year, Fuqua attends full time school in Atlanta, Georgia, and maintained all As and Bs as part of her deal with her parents to be allowed to show most weekends. An impressive academic accomplishment, Fuqua's drive to do well in school is a compliment to her subsequent success each weekend, where she sometimes showed in more than 34 classes.
"My favorite part of WEF this season was week 9, when both of my ponies were Champion in the Large Ponies," said Fuqua, referring to the weekend the Large Pony Hunters were divided into two groups by a California split. "Brighton was Champion in Section A and Chic In Time was Champion in Section B. That was really fun, and my trainer [Jimmy Torano] helped me a lot."
In the last few weeks of WEF Fuqua also tested her mettle outside the hunter ring, taking a Champion ribbon with Cornell 22 in an equitation class and jumping to a top ten finish in the Low Children's Jumpers aboard Danielle Torano's Chantara. Of all the memories made with the horses, Kat also enjoyed time with her many equestrian friends and the wonderful tropical destination: "I had so much fun at the rodeo at the Palm Beach Fairgrounds with Caroline Signorino. We also went snorkeling and saw the dolphins during spring break, and I got to foot jump and watch movies with Savanna Adell too. I love that we can all be good friends in and out of the show ring. We all grow up together competing even though we live in different cities, and I like that a lot. It was also really exciting changing things up by riding Chantara in the jumpers and Cornell 22 in the equitation. I'm very grateful to Jimmy and Danielle."
Fuqua's wins at WEF began 6 years ago at the age of 5. Despite breaking her collar bone just before WEF began in 2014, she mastered cross rails and took home two Champion ribbons that year. Six years later, she is now several feet taller and jumps at least that many feet higher with her three large ponies and three Junior Hunter horses.
Following the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival, Fuqua will continue to show with Jimmy Torano in Tryon, NC before heading to Devon in May.
This past week Devon National Horse Show posted their qualified entry list where Kat earned spots for all her horses and ponies! The prestigious championship takes the top 25 entries of the country in each hunter category. Kat’s Brighton posted 1st and Chic In Time (Spicey) 4th both for Large Hunter Pony; Finesse RF (Ladybug) 4th for Medium Hunter Pony, RS Levitation (Jett) 4th and Calvaro (Elmo) 13th both for Small Junior Hunters, and Cupido Z is 15th for Large Junior Hunters. Qualifications alone is a very proud moment for Kat who looks forward to competing with the top riders in the country.
Her summer plans include new venues for Fuqua like Upperville, VA, Lake Placid, NY and on to the National Junior Hunter Championships in July back to Devon, PA. She has already qualified her three Junior Hunters. She will also return to the USEF Pony Finals Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm for the sixth time, where she will defend her title of 2018 overall Grand Champion
As of April 19, Fuqua's mounts are currently ranked as follows with the USEF, with all 6 horses top in the country for their category:
As of April 15, Fuqua's mounts are currently ranked as follows with the USEF:
▪ Brighton #1 Grand Champion Pony Hunter & #1 Large Pony Hunter
▪ Chic in Time (aka Spicey) #4 Large Pony Hunter
▪ Prestige (aka Prince) #1 Grand Champion Green Pony Hunter, #1 Large Green Pony Hunter
▪ Cupido Z #9 Large Junior Hunter Under 15
Fuqua is currently ranked 3rd in the country for USEF Leading Pony Owner. Her accomplishments also earned her placement in the 2018-2019 US Equestrian Athlete Lettering Program for student athletes.
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 5th 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.
