Del Mar, Calif. – Oct. 29, 2017 – On Sunday afternoon, some of the nation’s best young equitation riders took to the indoor arena at Del Mar Horsepark to compete in the prestigious Onondarka Medal Finals. It was a highlight event of the Del Mar International Season Finale Week, and the culmination of a year of hard work by the equitation riders age 12 and under.
To participate in the medals finals, riders had to qualify by accumulating at least 12 points in Onondarka medal classes held throughout the year. All 35 finals qualifiers participated in rounds one and two, held on Saturday and Sunday mornings respectively.
Then the 15 top scoring riders from rounds one and two returned Sunday afternoon to compete in a final round followed by a work-off of the top eight. The challenging work-off requested by the judges included a simple change of lead, a trot fence, a halt, and a counter canter to the final oxer.
Avery Glynn earned the champion title with excellent rounds aboard Back In Business, a 14 year-old chestnut Oldenburg gelding owned by MaryKate Moulton of Mount Pleasant, California. The pair placed second in round one as well as round two, and then a high final round score put them first heading into the work-off, a ranking they maintained with a beautifully executed work-off course. Avery Glynn trains with her parents Ned and Hope Glynn at Sonoma Valley Stables in Petaluma, California.
Finishing second to Glynn was Stella Buckingham, who rode Lindenwood Farms’ 13-year old chestnut Zangershiede gelding, Nom De Guerre. Buckingham was ranked 7th in round one, but put in impressive rounds on Sunday to earn the reserve championship. Buckingham trains with Katie Gardner of Q and E Farm in Camarillo, California.
Rounding out the podium with consistently great rides was Skylar Wireman aboard Captivated, a 9 year-old bay Westphalian gelding. Captivated is owned by Shayne Wireman who is also Skylar Wireman’s trainer at Chestnut Hills Equestrian Center in Bonsall, California.
The Onondarka Medal Finals has a distinguished history and an impressive list of past winners including Susie Hutchison, Francie Steinwedell, and Lise Quintero. The Onondarka Medal was established in 1962 with the mission of furthering principles of classical horsemanship for equestrians 12 and under.
RESULTS
Onondarka Medal Finals
1. Avery Glynn
2. Stella Buckingham
3. Skylar Wireman
4. Alexa Leong
5. Madison Nadolenco
6. Virginia Bonnie
7. Avery Kalafatas
8. Ella Mccaw