Ponies closed out competition on Sunday, October 29, for the 2023 Washington International Horse Show, presented by MARS Equestrian™. Betsee Parker’s Brixton and Vivian Golden won the Grand Pony Hunter Championship, presented by the Castellanos Family for the second year in a row.
Capping off a spectacular two-year partnership, 14-year-old Vivian Golden of Wyomissing, PA, won the Grand Pony Hunter Championship for the second year in a row. This was their final competition together as Golden continues on in her equestrian career.
“I’ve had him for a long time, and he’s done more than enough for me,” reflected Golden. “We have a good bond, but I think he’s ready. I’m definitely going to miss him though.”
Coming into Sunday’s final two classes, Golden was unsure if she would be able to pull off the Large Pony Hunter championship, much less the Grand, as they only had a second-place ribbon on Saturday. They had a solid ride in the handy hunter for another second place, but it was their score of 92 in the stake that propelled them to the win, the division championship, and the Grand Championship.
“It was a little nerve-wracking coming into today,” admitted Golden. “I work best under pressure though; I kind of create my own pressure. I have really high expectations for myself. I know what I have to do, and I have a good plan. If I follow the plan, I know it will work out.
“In the stake, the pressure was on because I really needed to win to be grand,” she continued. “He was so good. I know what I have to do to give him a good ride. He’s going to help me where I need it, and I’m just going to try my best. I knew if somebody else won, I wouldn’t have been grand. Everything worked out.”
