Lanie Walkenbach and McQueen were joined in their winning presentation by ringmaster Steve Rector and trainer Jim Hagman. Photo by McCool Photography

July 31, 2024 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – The spotlight was on the amateur hunter riders at the Blenheim Racing Festival, as they took center stage for the Blenheim EquiSports West Coast Amateur Hunter Challenge, presented by Marshall + Sterling’s Equisport Division and held July 27-28, 2024. 

Designed in part to give amateur riders a special week at the forefront of the show, the 2024 West Coast Amateur Hunter Challenge offered $2,500 Hunter Classics at the 3’, 3’3” and 3’6” levels and recognized the overall grand and overall reserve grand hunter champions in the Adult Amateur, 3’3” Amateur-Owner and 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions. 

Stealing the show in the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunters was Lanie Walkenbach aboard her two mounts, McQueen and Decisive.

With the 8-year-old Westphalian gelding Decisive, Walkenbach earned the win in Sunday’s $2,500 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, sponsored by Marshall + Sterling’s Equisport Division.

Lanie Walkenbach piloted Decisive to the win in the $2,500 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, as well as the 3’6″ Amateur-Owner Hunter reserve grand championship. Photo by McCool Photography

“He is just the best horse ever,” said Walkenbach of Decisive, who wears a duck charm in his braids in honor of his barn name, Donald (“like Donald Duck”). “He truly has the best brain.”

For their Classic victory, Walkenbach received a Marshall + Sterling coolerette and groom’s backpack, as well as a tack room pillow, courtesy of Nick Byassee of Equestrian Design LLC. 

However, the pair’s Amateur-Owner accolades did not stop there.

After taking a rough fall off Decisive in Sunday’s first 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter over fences class, Walkenbach and the gelding returned to finish extremely strong, immediately winning the next over fences class with a score of 89. That win, combined with a second place finish the previous day, would be enough to secure Walkenbach and Decisive the reserve grand championship in the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunters, sponsored by West Coast Equine Partners and The Oaks Equestrian Facility. 

The only horse to top Decisive in the division was Walkenbach’s second horse, McQueen. With the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Walkenbach claimed two wins and a second place over fences to take home the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter grand championship.

Lanie Walkenbach and McQueen. Photo by McCool Photography

For the grand championship, Walkenbach – and all three Amateur Challenge grand champions – received a Marshall + Sterling director chair and a groom’s backpack.

“Blenheim did a great job of making the class feel special – especially with all of the award presentations,” said Walkenbach. “As an amateur, it’s super fun to feel like we have the same opportunities as the juniors have. In a way, this was kind of like an amateur-owner hunter finals which I hope becomes a thing very soon! It was super special being able to go out there and take pictures with both of my horses for the grand and reserve grand champion.”

While McQueen has been shown to great success in the professional hunter arena with Nick Haness in the irons, the partnership is relatively new for Walkenbach as she just began riding “Dash” after the 2023 indoor show season. The Blenheim Racing Festival also marked only the pair’s second week competing in the 3’6” division.

“He is definitely a bit of a tricky ride for me, but he is so talented,” explained Walkenbach. “He zones in on the jumps from a mile away. He definitely knows his job. I’ve just had so much fun learning him, learning his style and just gaining more confidence on him.”

In the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunters, the grand championship went to Kaitlin Perry and Vanity RW. On their way to the overall tricolor, Perry and her 7-year-old Holsteiner mare first took home the division championship in the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunters, 18-35, sponsored by Dover Saddlery.

Kaitlin Perry and Vanity RW. Photo by McCool Photography

“She’s one of the coolest horses I’ve ever ridden,” said Perry of the mare known in the barn as “Twiggy.” “Kassy [Perry] and I actually bought her from Stal Wilten and immediately knew she was something special but really wanted to take our time with her. She has now really come into her own as a 7-year-old doing the 3’3” 7-Year-Old Young Hunters and the 3’3” AOs all with me.”

After sweeping three out of the four over fences classes in the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunters, 18-35, division, Perry and Vanity RW also topped the $2,500 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic.

Click to watch Kaitlin Perry and Vanity RW!

As part of her awards presentation, Perry received a $50 gift certificate to EQU Lifestyle Boutique and a tack room pillow, courtesy of Nick Byassee of Equestrian Design LLC. 

“It was one of those shows that you kind of feel like, ‘Oh, she fully kicked in! She knows what’s going on,’” said Perry of the talented young hunter. “It was so fun being able to be on the grand prix field. I just really appreciate all of the sponsors, Blenheim and everyone focusing on amateurs. I think there are so many of us that love this sport and will do it for as long as we can without being professionals, sometimes it feels that the focus is on other parts so being able to support the amateurs and specifically the hunters felt really special. The ribbons and the amount of swag provided by the sponsors was absolutely incredible.”

Gallery of Champions

In the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunters, the grand championship went to Kaitlin Perry and Vanity RW. On their way to the overall tricolor, Perry and her 7-year-old Holsteiner mare first took home the division championship in the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunters, 18-35, sponsored by Dover Saddlery. Perry and Vanity RW also took home the win in the $2,500 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic. As part of her awards presentation, Perry received a $50 gift certificate to EQU Lifestyle Boutique and a tack room pillow, courtesy of Nick Byassee of Equestrian Design LLC. All Amateur-Owner Hunter division champions also received coolerettes from Outdoor Outfitters. Photos by McCool Photography

In the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunters, 36+, sponsored by The Chronicle of the Horse, the championship went to Amy Gallagher and Five Star Z. Their results in the division would also earn them the 3’3” overall reserve grand championship. Photos by McCool Photography

In the Adult Amateur Hunter divisions, champions were presented with Outdoor Outfitters leather halters. Earning those halters were Lexie Looker and JoAnn Niffenegger. Looker piloted Dot Com to the top honor in the Adult Amateur Hunters, 18-49, sponsored by Horse Hair Analysis and FarmVet, and Niffenegger rode Notorious to the championship in the Adult Amateur Hunters, 50+, sponsored by the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. With three wins over fences, Niffenegger and the 16-year-old Hanoverian, Notorious, also claimed the overall Adult Amateur Hunter grand championship. Photos by McCool Photography

Topping the field in the $2,500 Adult Amateur Hunter Classic were Marissa Maas and Gray’s Anatomy. Photo by McCool Photography

For full results of all of the Amateur Hunter action at the Blenheim Racing Festival, visit blenheim.showgroundslive.com.