Equestrian: Minors Wins USHJA In Florida
Bermudian equestrian Ki-Juan Minors — who also happens to be a very talented singer — won the USHJA National Hunter Derby in Florida.
The PBIEC website said, “Ki-Juan Minors of Wellington, FL, and Clintano captured the spotlight in Friday’s $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Equiline, during ESP’s Summer II show of the ESP Summer Series.
“The newly-formed pair edged out initial frontrunners, Molly Sewell and Heartdancer H, in the handy round to celebrate their first competition win together and take the lead spot in the victory gallop on the grass field.
Ki-Juan Minors and Clintano, pictured with Monique Loehrer on behalf of Equiline, won the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Equiline
“I recently just caught the ride on [Clintano] and this is our first horse show together,” commented Minors.
“I thought the courses rode quite well and the ring was large enough that you were able to take a breath after each jump. Clintano was really relaxed and jumped up beautifully. He was perfect!”
Ki-Juan Minors and Clintano
“Seventeen entries contested the classic round, with the top twelve pairs returning for the handy phase of competition. Sewell of Wellington, FL, and Sophia Masnikoff’s Heartdancer H led the pack going into the handy round with their first-round score of 90. Minors and the 12-year-old gelding, owned by Sand Dollar Farm, LLC, earned a classic-round score of 88, placing them in second.
“I handled the handy round like it was my first round and rode it relaxed, easy, and didn’t overthink the turns. I tend to get a little anxious in the handy, so I just focused on keeping myself really composed and let the horse do his job,” explained Minors.
You can read the full story here on PBIEC website.. Photos courtesy of ©ESP
