Katerina Mendel and Willys On The Green Win Congress Youth Hunter Under Saddle 15-18
By: Brittany Bevis
Thus far this year, Katerina Mendel and Willys On The Green have claimed a Youth World Championship in Hunter Under Saddle and three NSBA World Championship titles. Today, the pair added a Congress Championship title to their long list of accolades.
“Indy,” or as he’s fondly called in trainer Rosie Sheffer’s barn, “Baby Giraffe,” is a five-year-old gelding by Willy Be Invited and out of Dancin The Green.
“We have all of our little giraffe good luck charms,” Mendel says.”[Good luck giraffe] is riding one of his win trophies from earlier in the week!”
Baby Giraffe has been a very busy horse at the 2013 Congress. He won the Non-Pro Open Hunter Under Saddle Maturity with Mendel in the saddle. Then, Rosie Sheffer won the Limited Hunter Under Saddle Maturity as well. This was his last class of the Congress.
Given all of her recent success, we wondered if Mendel was nervous going into her Youth Hunter Under Saddle class today.
“I went to the NSBA World and won all my hunter under saddle classes,” she says. “We won three NSBA World Championships, so I was happy with that. Coming in here, I was like, ‘I’ve done everything I can.’ I’m just going to see how it goes and have fun. Whatever happens, happens.”
Mendel admits that it did take a little extra motivation to slip into those hunt seat breeches in the 37 degree weather this morning. However, winning her first two Congress Championship titles was well worth it. As for Baby Giraffe, the cold doesn’t bother him too much.
“He’s easy,” Sheffer says. “[Give him] a 20 minute longe and you’re good to go.”
Youth Hunter Under Saddle 15-18-
1-Willys On The Green/Katerina Mendel
2-Only In Showbiz/Kaylee Mellott
3-Doodle Jump/Jenna Jacobs
4-Cowboys R Hot/Paige Stopperich
5-One Hot Kat/Vanessa Gillette
6-Dancin In My Sleep/Nicole Kuklinski
7-Call Me Blazin Hot/Cydney Benes
8-Naturally Graceful/Leonie Fischer
9-Zee Only Escape/Connor Griggs
10-Zippos Bo Bar/Kristina Kiersch
