13/07/2025
Baran Global Hunter Classic
Seven teams consisted of an international jumper rider, an amateur or junior rider, and a professional hunter rider. The professional hunters served as Team Captains who chose their other two team mates.
Twenty-one horses represented our American discipline on the world stage for the very first overseas Hunter competition ever, in Europe. Six judges offered 3 scores for one average per round. At this level, about half the scores were in the 80s.
Some of the horses were very experienced hunters and some were jumpers who had their debut on this big gallopy field at Tops International Arena, in Holland.
The palatable feeling was horsemanship and camaraderie. The horses did not appear tired. In fact, some were quite fresh at the beginning of competition. The eagerness of most of the horses was very encouraging.
There were a handful of eye-catching upcoming stallions to challenge Emily Esau Williams hunky big-boned Star Quality, who from start to finish, remained the top-placed and most consistent "granddaddy" stallion of the show.
It was a pleasure watching the young and typey stallion Hickstead Dark under Irish rider Michael Duffy. He began the competition adrenaline forward and prancing into the under saddle... yet by Sunday he went around brilliantly as a proven Hunter.
I appreciated seeing the freshness that Hunter of the Year Babylon showed up with. While his Friday and Saturday scores were not a reflection of his typical winning style.. the fact that his enthusiasm and excitement were not lunged or sedated out made me happy. He was one of a few horses a bit too fresh early on, but who by Sunday, softened into beautiful rhythm. That horse is a pleasure to watch. Babylon is one who epitomizes Hunter conformation and spirit.
The Walkenbachs provided the three horses on Team French - what a barn of ponies to call your own! John and Crystal Blue were unbeatable in the Classic Round. No better example of how to ride this track. Love learning from the choices and plan that John sets forth. It was fun seeing many riders out there who John French has helped, and set examples of excellence for, working together now to show off the sport that he has dedicated his life to, and now on a true world stage.
Young Faith Schuttemeyer and the sweet-faced, consistent-character, and smooth brilliance of her partner, Juan Carlos, were arguably a crowd favorite. They embodied the Hunter spirit - second in the under saddle, second in the classic and first in the handy.
Their handy round was so well-organized as to cause me to wonder if they were daring, and with enough pace, to wow in this tulip-dappled handy. Indeed, the ease in which they glided these tracks were some of the most efficient of the day, and it was only the smooth cadence that gave the appearance of a lesser step.. really, this young rider and brilliant bay gelding gave a masterclass in efficient and elegant partnership and track. They totally nailed it.
It was fun to see dedicated International jumper stars, like Harrie Smolders, doing their personal best in this delicately challenging sport. Harrie was also aboard a Walkenbach mare - one of the best hunters in the nation. Mares like Ever So Often and Ladies First (the young Katherine Babun's horse) set a precedence of how the most fabulous jr/am hunters go. I especially enjoyed multiple views of what a foodie the cute chestnut Ever So Often is when she isn’t on course - routinely looking for snack trays and extra carrots from any passerbys.
Caidinus PP Z is clearly an athletic & springy stallion who, in my opinion, is better in the jumpers. He's a jumper with great technique over fences. Interestingly, on Sunday he didn't feel like jumping the first jump and then another jump shortly after. Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida gave a riding lesson to all watching about how to improve the cheeky stallion for now and for future rides. The horsemanship was classy and correct and I was as glad to see this quality of training as I was many of the other successes over the weekend. The format instilled a very good camaraderie - good planning organizers!
In no showjumping competition ever, have I, ever, witnessed 21 horses relaxing together on the field all behaving with calm demeanor and proper manners. Kudos to this well-organized, first of its kind event, which fulfilled its purpose of showcasing top quality hunters in a format that set horses and riders with varying types of experience, up for success, together.
The level of relaxation, charm, tolerance of giangantic ribbons on their faces, and the willingness every single horse, including many young stallions and mares, exhibited while hanging out and photoshooting during the 21-horse awards ceremony. . . was the absolute cherry on the top of the Baron Global Hunter Classic sundae.
https://www.thebaran.org/
THE BARAN Global Hunter Classic is the first international event of its kind, uniting top hunter riders in a Nations Cup-style format. Featuring elite teams of professionals, amateurs, and international riders, this groundbreaking competition will showcase the grace, precision, and tradition of the....
