Ziegler Shines With New Mounts at Showplace Spring Spectacular Shows
Equestrian News Release
Wayne, IL – June 20, 2006 - When Cookie Beck began searching for client Caitlin Ziegler’s first junior hunters, she hadn’t even considered what are now two of Ziegler’s new mounts, Priceless and Fellini. Even though both are well known, very successful hunters, she didn’t anticipate they’d be right for the 11-year-old. “Cate needed horses to take her from the children’s hunters to the junior hunters,” explained Beck. Still riding the large pony Navigator, Ziegler just began showing in the children’s hunters this past winter at WEF with Sports Page. They leased Sports Page during WEF from Lisa Cudahy and then bought him at Spring Kentucky.
“One day this past spring, Tom Wright and I were standing at the ring watching Priceless. We looked at each other and, at the same time, both thought ‘why not,’” Beck recalled. “So, on a whim, we had Cate try Priceless. It was amazing. They clicked immediately and the rest is history – well, recent history,” she said. Zeigler showed Priceless for only the second time at Showplace Spring Spectacular I and was champion in the 14 and under children’s hunters. In a clean sweep, against more than 35 terrific competitors, she was reserve champion on Sports Page.
A busy weekend for Ziegler, she also showed Charleston Z successfully in the children’s hunters with a win in the WIHS Children’s Hunter Classic. Not ready to leave the pony ring behind, this busy rider managed a second in the WIHS Pony Equitation class, plus she garnered the reserve championship in the large pony hunters.
With two outstanding large junior hunters selected for Ziegler, Beck began shopping for a small junior. “I went to Scott Stewart’s looking for a small,” she said. “Fellini was on the crossties and Scott suggested Cate ride him, even though we both assumed he was a large. It was unbelievable,” Beck recounted. “After a couple of jumps, Cate cruised around a course with him like she’d been riding him for months. It was just one of those great connections.”
Back at the barn, Beck and Stewart decided it was worth a try and pulled out the measuring stick. “When he measured a small, first we were surprised and then we were ecstatic,” she said.
Ziegler showed Fellini for the first time at Showplace Spring Spectacular II in the children’s hunters. “Watching them on course was absolutely adorable,” said Beck’s friend and fellow trainer Heidi Fish. “Fellini certainly seems to like his new job!” In her first outing on Fellini, Ziegler captured two blue ribbons. Plus, Sports Page came through again with the reserve championship in the 14 and under children’s hunters. Beck captured the Second Year Green championship on Fellini.
“I’m having so much fun showing all of my horses. And my pony, of course,” said Ziegler. “I can’t believe how lucky I am to be able to do this. My parents are really great. My mom likes the horses a lot, too, so that’s good.”
Priceless and Charleston Z took this past weekend off. “It’s nice having more than one horse for Cate so we can alternate them,” said Beck. “That way, Cate can get plenty of experience in the show ring without wearing out any one horse.”
“We bought these horses to be Cate’s junior hunters,” she continued. “They’re certainly ready for that job, but we’re going to take our time with Cate – she must be very consistent in the children’s hunters before she moves up.”
Ziegler hopes to begin showing Charleston Z in the equitation. According to Beck, he’s an extremely versatile horse with a lot of range. And Ziegler adds “he’s really fun to ride."
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