String of Championships sets Nick Haness up for Saturday Night Lights
The stars have aligned for Nick Haness at Wellington Equestrian Festival’s [WEF] Hunter Week, as he claimed five Championships in five different Divisions on five different horses – and there is still a chance to add more to the tally when he competes in the $100,000 Hunter Spectacular at Saturday Night Lights.
“This has been my best performance ever in Florida during this week with so many Championships,” said Nick who has been commuting between Wellington and Thermal, California, where he also has a string of horses showing. “But, you’re only as good as the horse you’re riding,” he added. “And I think this year was exceptionally good for me because I had such a nice string of horses to show and all of the teams behind the scenes and all of these horses were on their ‘A’ game.”
Nick had a hard time narrowing down his choice for Saturday night to just two horses. He has picked Circa, Champion in the 3’6 Green Hunters, and McQueen – Reserve Champion in the High Performance Conformation Hunters this week, and Champion in the $100,000 WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular last year.
He also scooped up Champion in the 3’6 Performance Hunter with Queen Celeste Section B, Champion with Romeo in the 3’6 Performance Hunter Section A and Champion with Dinner at 8 in the 3’3 Performance Hunter class.
Strategy may have played a part in this winter’s WEF success story, since the horses had a special spring in their step. “This year’s formula really worked out well for us,” said Nick who rides in Wellington for John and Stephanie Ingram, and also for Laura Karet with Glade Run Farm.
“I came to Florida to compete in Week 4 here and then we gave the horses a week off,” he said, giving them a break before Week 6 – Hunter Week. “I feel that the horses were very well rested and mentally and physically prepared. They felt fantastic for a great jumping week this week.”
Nick goes into the Hunter Spectacular knowing that McQueen – owned by Walkenbach Equestrian – brings experience to the night class. On the flip side Circa, a first year green horse, will be experiencing the lights for the first time.
“She’s an incredible and very, very talented horse,” said Nick. “And I feel like if she’s comfortable and she’s focused on her job she could go great. But we have no expectations, knowing that it’s her first time, we’re hoping for the best with her.”
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