Lindsay Maxwell’s Belgravia Named 2018 Grand Champion Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter at National Horse Show

Lindsay Maxwell and Belgravia (Photo: Shawn McMillen Photography)
Lindsay Maxwell and Belgravia (Photo: Shawn McMillen Photography)

Lexington, Ky. – Nov. 1, 2018 – The amateur-owner hunter athletes took center stage Thursday morning as the 2018 National Horse Show continued to award championship titles.

The first championship ribbon of the day went to Lindsay Maxwell of Beverly Hills, California, and her own Belgravia in the Rencourt Foundation Amateur-Owner 18–35 3’3” Hunter division, presented by Ms. Clementina Brown. The pair won three of the four classes in the division and placed fourth in Wednesday’s first over fences round. Reserve champion was awarded to Callie Seaman and her own Endeavor.

After claiming the same division championship at the Capital Challenge Horse Show and Washington International Horse Show, Maxwell was thrilled to end the fall indoor season with one more tricolor at the National Horse Show. In addition, Maxwell’s 10-year-old Warmblood gelding’s impressive performances over the course of Wednesday and Thursday ultimately secured him the overall 2018 Grand Champion Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunter title and the Susanne Stroh Perpetual Trophy.

Lindsay Maxwell's Belgravia claimed the Grand Champion Amateur-Owner 3'3" Hunter title on Thursday at the 2018 National Horse Show.
Lindsay Maxwell’s Belgravia claimed the Grand Champion Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter title on Thursday at the 2018 National Horse Show.

Following Maxwell and Belgravia’s championship win, the Oare & Adikes-Hill Amateur-Owner Over 35 3’3” Hunter division, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare and Mrs. Patricia Adikes-Hill, championship was presented to Virginia Fout and her own Carma. The duo claimed the under saddle and stake classes to help them win top honors in the division, while the reserve championship was won by Lynn Seithel and her own Walk The Line, who won the handy round.

Following the completion of the amateur-owner hunter divisions on Thursday, junior hunter competition began with the Small Junior 15 and Under Hunters, where Maggie Hill claimed the first over fences round with her own O’Ryan and Violet Lindemann Barnett rode to the top of the leaderboard in the handy round with Luscious, owned by Sloan Lindemann Barnett, to secure valuable points ahead of Friday’s stake and under saddle classes to determine the champion.

Violet Lindemann Barnett and Luscious
Violet Lindemann Barnett and Luscious

Junior hunter competition will continue Friday, when new division champions will be crowned. The day will also highlight the highly anticipated $50,000 National Horse Show Hunter Classic in the Alltech Arena at 7 p.m. All of the week’s hunter champions and reserve champions are qualified to participate in this inaugural event, where horse-and-athlete combinations will compete at the respective height of the section from which they qualified. The class, which counts towards Horse of the Year points, will consist of two rounds, with the top 12 horses returning for a second round from low to high score within their respective heights. The final average score from round one will be added to the final average score from round two to determine the overall total final score and winner.

For full results from Thursday’s competition, click here. For the complete competition schedule, click here.

Lindsay Maxwell and and Belgravia
Lindsay Maxwell and Belgravia

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Lindsay Maxwell – Owner of 2018 Grand Champion Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunter, Belgravia

On winning the Rencourt Foundation Amateur-Owner 18–35 3’3” Hunter division, presented by Ms. Clementina Brown, championship:
“It’s fantastic; it feels wonderful! Belgravia — his barn name is Prince — is a spectacular horse. He’s really come through for me this indoors. I’m thrilled with how he performed and it’s an honor to win this here at the National Horse Show. The courses were beautiful. It’s really exciting, I’m really proud of him.”

On Belgravia’s performances:
“We did Capital Challenge, Washington and here and he was grand champion at all three! The pressure was really on here because I was really excited to even have the chance to compete. He was first and fourth over fences [on Wednesday] and won the hack so he felt good going into today, but the competition is tough here so I couldn’t let my guard down. I really had to perform. [Thursday’s course] wasn’t an ideal course for me because I’m more left-leaded and it was a more right-leaded course so I was a little nervous when I came in and saw it but this horse has such a great personality and he knows when it really counts. I can tell as soon as I get on him in the morning how it’s going to go and I knew we were good as soon as he walked in the ring. It was a great feeling. We’ve gotten to know each other really well over the past couple of years. This is my second indoors with him and we’re really in sync right now. It’s a great feeling.”

On Belgravia’s personality:
“He has a huge personality! His barn name is Prince because he is a prince! He’s spoiled rotten. He knows his humans. As soon as I walk in the barn, he starts nickering. He definitely knows his people. He’s a happy horse and fun to be around but he also has this funny little attitude that he’ll give me every now and again, at home especially. When he’s at shows, he’s serious and knows that it’s game time, especially at big events like this. He knows when he has to step up and perform and he never lets me down. I can’t say enough good things about this horse.”

On competing and winning at the National Horse Show:
“Winning here is an honor. This is an incredible show with the long and storied history and they do a beautiful job putting it on every year. It’s definitely one of my favorite shows that I go to all year. I really can’t thank the management, the jump crew and the team behind-the-scenes enough because the logistics here are pretty intense. They dress up the ring beautifully and the show is really well run. Jennifer Burger is president this year and she’s done an incredible job. The show has gone fantastic so far so it really means a lot [to win this]. The competition was stiff and the pressure was on so I couldn’t be happier.”

Violet Lindemann Barnett – Small Junior 15 and Under Hunter handy round winner

On her performances with Luscious:
“Luscious felt amazing! I’ve had him for two years and this year is our first indoor season together. He’s never been here before and he was just amazing. The handy really suits him because he turns really easily and the trot jumps are always really nice on him. It was super fun.”

On her first impression of the National Horse Show:
“It’s amazing! I love this horse show. It’s such a prestigious venue. To win during my first time competing here on my amazing horse is incredible. I’m so thankful.”

RESULTS

Rencourt Foundation Amateur-Owner 18–35 3’3” Hunter division, presented by Ms. Clementina Brown, champion:
Belgravia, ridden and owned by Lindsay Maxwell
Reserve: Endeavor, ridden and owned by Callie Seaman

Oare & Adikes-Hill Amateur-Owner Over 35 3’3” Hunter division, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare and Mrs. Patricia Adikes-Hill, champion:
Carma, ridden and owned by Virginia Fout
Reserve: Walk The Line, ridden and owned by Lynn Seithel

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