Lexington, Ky. – May 9, 2019 – Hunter competition resumed in the Stonelea Ring on Thursday, highlighted by the presentation of the Grand Hunter Champion award to the horse and rider who accumulated the highest scores throughout professional hunter competition across Wednesday and Thursday. After competitive rides from a variety of competitors at the Kentucky Horse Park, it was Chris Payne and Fibonacci who ultimately claimed top honors and walked away with the Grand Hunter Champion prize.
Chris Payne and Fibonacci
Still Water Farm LLC’s Fibonacci garnered points with Payne throughout the High Performance Conformation Hunter division, sweeping both of Wednesday’s over fences rounds as well as the under saddle. The pair finished Thursday’s competition with an impressive score of 90 to win the handy round and a third place ribbon in the over fences to capture the High Performance Conformation Hunter award and ultimately the grand champion title.
Payne and Fibonacci boast an impressive list of accolades, most recently earning the circuit champion title in the High Performance Conformation Hunter accumulated through 12 weeks of competition at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.
The Grand Hunter Champion award is presented each year by Visse Wedell. Wedell has been a continuously great supporter of the Kentucky Horse Shows by sponsoring grand championship prizes in multiple divisions every year.
Chris Payne and Fibonacci
Hunter competition will resume Friday in the Stonelea Ring with the Open Hunter and Amateur Owner divisions beginning at 8 a.m. The Kentucky Spring Horse Show will culminate Sunday, May 12, with the $5,000 USHJA National Derby, sponsored by World Equestrian Center and Kentucky Horse Shows, followed by the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.
View the original article on Phelps Sports.