Tyler, Texas—Sept. 26

Jacob Fletcher admitted he’d never been in the top position heading into show jumping at an event before, so as the last to jump in today’s Adequan Gold Cup advanced division and with top professionals having rails down, he was nervous.

But the 21-year-old showed maturity beyond his age and jumped clear with Atlantic Domino to stay on top of the leader board and bring home $20,000.

“I would say the show jumping on his record, and subjectively, is his best phase out of the three. Even saying that, I’ve never really been in the lead or even in the top three in a big competition, so I was very nervous,” he said. “I’m only riding two horses this weekend too. I think it’s much easier to stay in the game if you’re riding a lot of horses and you don’t have time to get off and sit and think.”

Fletcher had the advantage of riding his first horse, Fly Away Ferro, who picked up one rail and a time fault over Marc Donovan’s course.

“I thought it was a tricky enough course,” said Fletcher. “There were plenty of rails. It required a lot of technical thinking.”

Fellow young rider Caroline Martin moved up to second place with the only other double-clear round in the division. Buck Davidson and Wundermaske, who were second after cross-country, dropped to third with two rails.

Fletcher credited time spent training with Kevin McNab in England and his longtime trainer and “father figure” Mike Huber who helping him put all the pieces together with “Domino” this weekend.

“For me, I’m more happy with just having another confidence-building clean round,” he said. “I have had 20s in the past on him [on cross-country], and I think with Richland [Park CIC***] and this one and the few intermediates I did over the summer, I think we’re really getting on the right track. I enjoyed winning too. I’ve never done that before at a bigger competition. But the biggest thing for me is that the horse is going well and I can be more confident next time we go out.”

So what will he do with the big check?

“Probably invest it! I’m very much into the stock market, and I’ve got a few stocks waiting that I’m going to chuck it into,” he said with a laugh.

Ashley Hays and Call It Courage – Training Amateur champions

Ashley Hays still couldn’t believe she won the training amateur title when she came out of the ring on Call It Courage, a 7-year-old Holsteiner gelding she’s had for a year.

“It’s a little surreal,” she said. “It’s nice to have a horse who’s great on the flat. I’m not used to that. My last horse, it was a big struggle. My last trip to AECs was definitely not the best with that horse, so to come here on him, I’m still pinching myself.”

The 22-year-old from Denton, La., who is taking a semester off from community college to work as a groom for Julie Norman, isn’t sure if she’ll continue with school or pursue a profession in the equine world.

“I want to move up the levels. I want to ride advanced and maybe someday run Rolex, so I was looking for something that didn’t necessarily have to come made. The first five trot steps on him, I said, ‘I think this is the one,’” she said. “I’m on the verge of deciding what I want to do—whether I take the professional route in riding or stick with school and find somewhere I belong in the business world. I don’t know, this is kind of giving me the push! It’s a really big decision.”

Tristen Hooks and Learning To Fly- Preliminary Amateur champions

Tristen Hooks had one of the longest drives of any AEC competitor, taking three days to get to Texas from her hometown of San Luis Obispo, Calif.

The solo drive was worth it though as she took home the preliminary amateur championship on Learning To Fly, a 15-year-old Dutch/Holsteiner cross she’s had since he was 6.

“He has a very hardworking personality,” said Hooks of “Fly.” “He really wants to please and wants to do what I want him to do. We’ve just developed into a really nice team since beginner novice.”

The pair led the division from start to finish, but Hooks, 51, said the heat definitely took it’s toll on the gelding.

“He was rock solid out there,” she said of her cross-country round. “He just ate up the ground. I think I came in about 20 seconds under time. He felt like he was flying out there—in a good way. He was definitely tired in the show jumping. He still jumped around really well, but I think three days working in that heat took a little more out of him than I expected.”

Hook works as an equine vet at her own practice, The Horse Fixer, and was thankful to her understanding clients and her support crew.

“It takes a huge village for an amateur to do this, and I have a really, really great village and I’m really grateful for it,” she said.

Heather Morris and Charlie Tango – Intermediate champions

Heather Morris picked up two championships today, taking the training horse title with Team Express Group LLC’s Get Rowdy and the intermediate win with Charlie Tango, also owned by the Team Express Group LLC.

Get Rowdy, a 5-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, was second at the Rebecca Farm Training Three-Day in July. “This is sort of the next step for him and he was just fabulous all weekend,” she said.

This was the last run for Charlie Tango before heading east to the Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International CCI** (Md.).

“Some little things in the dressage to work on, but jumping-wise, he’s perfect,” she said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend from him. I [have] a lot of owners from this area here. For them to be here and watch him be so great this weekend was great.”

Novice and beginner novice champions will be crowned after show jumping tomorrow. Click here for full results.