Everyone in the world got a riding lesson watching the master Michael Jung win the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** over the weekend.
But he wasn’t always “The Terminator” and blue ribbon collector we all know and love. There’s a first time four-star for everybody. Get a dose of inspiration from some of the first time four-star riders who reached the pinnacle of the sport in Lexington.
Daniela Moguel was the only rider representing Mexico at Rolex, and on her maiden four-star voyage she finished 28th aboard Cecelia.
“It’s unbelievable. I didn’t think it was going to happen,” Moguel said. “It was like a dream. I actually woke up last night, at 4 a.m., thinking, ‘Was that a dream or was that reality?’ It took me a couple of minutes!”
Daniela Moguel on her way to completing her very first four star aboard Cecelia. Photo by Lindsay Berreth.
At 22, Avery Klunick can already say she has a four-star completion under her belt, an accomplishment that nearly didn’t pan out after a sticky start the third and final day of competition.
“I had a little bit of a rough jump school this morning—I actually fell off,” Klunick said, shaking her head and smiling. “It was pretty embarrassing; there were like 100 people watching, but whatever, bad rehearsal good performance I guess!
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“I’m really happy with my horse. He tried really hard, and that was a hard show jumping track to do after running so fast yesterday, so I couldn’t ask anything more of him,” Klunick continued. “I’m so happy. We finished our first four-star, and hopefully for our next one we can clean it up a little bit.”
Avery Klunick and In It To Win It looking pleased as punch after completing their dressage test. Photo by Lisa Slade.
Kurt Martin piloted Delux Z to 25th place with one of the only double-clear show jumping trips on Sunday.
“I’m so proud of the horse,” Martin said. “It’s been a long time coming, for myself and also the horse. Four years ago I bought a horse that had never evented at 7, and here I am at 11, and he’s going to just keep getting better.”
Delux Z wasn’t a horse everyone was fighting to get the ride on, either.
“He hadn’t done much of anything before we met. He had been a really naughty horse,” Martin said. “I found him in Aiken from some Irish friends who had started him, and then he had been sold, and it didn’t pan out, and I don’t think any of us know what it was.
“I didn’t even know I was coming here until the Fork [N.C.],” Martin continued. “I finally got through that event and was like, ‘You know, I’ve done enough work. I think we’re ready,’ and here we are.”
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Kurt Martin gives Delux Z a pat after the final horse inspection. Photo by Lisa Slade.
Sydney Elliott had a ride on her heart horse, Cisko A, for her first four-star completion. The pair finished in 37th.
“I thought it was a really stressful week, but gosh, now I can kind of think back and kind of enjoy it,” Elliott said. “I’m thrilled with my horse; he could not have been any better. I mean he really was pretty spot-on, and honestly I just had a blast. He is a horse of a lifetime. I don’t think I could ever find another horse like him.”
Sydney Elliott and Cisko A making easy work of the course. Photo by Lindsay Berreth.
Ashley Johnson may win the award for biggest cheering section after she piloted Tactical Maneuver around to 45th place.
“I’m just absolutely elated with the weekend,” she said. “My mom is here coaching [a Pony Club] games team, and they placed second, so all the Pony Clubbers are here. And about 5,000 of my students and friends came to watch, so it’s a really special weekend.”
Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver drop into the Head of the Lake. Photo by Lindsay Berreth.
