Courtney McKay Saddles Up Sideways for the Championship

Wellington, FL - December 3, 2005 - The National Horse Show continued the tradition of Ladies Side Saddle as riders mounted up for competition under the Friday night lights. The under saddle class started off the division prior to last night’s “Jumping Under the Stars” $100,000 Lexus National Horse Show Jumper Championship, presented by Chesapeake Petroleum.

The NHS Ladies Side Saddle was sponsored by The Hunter Experience (T.H.E.), a stable owned by Davera Ackenbom. Ackenbom specializes in side saddle training and coached all of the riders who participated in this weekend’s side saddle classes.

The competition is composed of three classes: the under saddle, the over fences, and the hunter hack. The under saddle class is scored 75 % on performance and 25% on formal hunt appointments. The over fences and hunter hack are judged upon the horse’s performance, suitability, manners, jumping form, and consistency. They were held today in the Rost Arena.

Top honors in the under saddle class were awarded to Bye Day and Chelsie Liming of Fredericksburg, Va., with Just One More and Courtney McKay finishing in second. Both mounts are owned by Sally Lamb of Gordonsville, Va.

Today’s top finisher over fences was professional Jocelyn Dayus of Spotsylvania, Va. Dayus, who rode her own horse Devon, rides and trains at Ackenbom’s farm in Keswick, Va. Just One More and McKay finished in second.

Courtney McKay, who has not ridden side saddle since she was four, triumphed in the hunter hack class and trotted her way to first place. This win sealed McKay and Just One More’s division championship.

McKay participated in the discipline because she was recruited by her mother, a side saddle rider herself. McKay is the professional hunter and jumper rider for Jay Golding at Laureling Farm in Keswick, Va.

“It’s really hard!” giggled McKay. “I have to say that riding around here was harder than showing some of my young pre-green horses! The horse was so good…to put up with me. I’m sure it’s used to people who are a lot more balanced than I am.”

McKay noted how different the ride felt compared to hunters, “You have to keep your hands lower and lean farther back. It’s a lot of overcompensating on the right side, so you have to keep reminding yourself to pull your right shoulder back and keep your weight in your hip bone.”

Jocelyn Dayus and Devon took home the reserve champion silver medal.

Hunter competition finishes tomorrow with the Pony and Children’s Hunters; Championships will be decided after they complete their final rounds.