Kendall George and Reveren Sargoun Garner NCEA Hunt Seat Medal at Lamplight Summertime II
Wayne, Ill. – July 16, 2022 – Junior riders focused on perfecting their equitation Saturday afternoon at the Lamplight Equestrian Center during Lamplight Summertime II. The NCEA Hunt Seat Medal tested riders both over fences and on the flat, where Kendall George showcased her skills aboard Reveren Sargoun to earn the day’s winning title.
The NCEA Hunt Seat Medal was introduced in 2016 to offer junior riders the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the NCAA collegiate format. The course for Saturday’s NCEA Hunt Seat Medal included a rollback to a bending line, followed by an in-and-out to a second bending line before finishing with a long approach to a single vertical headed towards the gate. Riders were then invited to return for the flat phase, where they were asked to demonstrate shoulders in, haunches in, and the counter canter.
Kendall George and Reveren Sargoun. Photo by: Alison Hartwell
George and Reveren Sargoun demonstrated a smooth and flowing course, returning for the flat phase at the top of the leaderboard. Showing a good haunches in and shoulder in, as well as maintaining the counter canter each direction, George was able to solidify her top placing to earn the blue ribbon. Second place went to Chloe Butler with Rio’s Chimeras, while Hailey Steiner and Boogaloo Kangaroo rounded out the top three.
Reveren Sargoun is a 7-year-old Warmblood gelding that George began riding just over a year ago after her trainer, Sirena Liggett of Platinum Farm, imported the talented gelding as a 5-year-old and started him in the Baby Green Hunters. George rides five days a week, working closely with Liggett to continue to improve with her young mount.
“He’s still very green, he’s only 7, so our main goal was just making sure he went forward to the jumps,” explained George. “He is the best – very sweet and trustworthy. Today, I think we really thrived in the counter canter, we went down the quarter line and he held it both ways.”
Kendall George and Reveren Sargoun. Photo by: Alison Hartwell
George lives just 30 minutes from Lamplight Equestrian Center and has been competing at the prestigious event for seven years. “It’s so close, and I love showing in all of these rings,” she commented. “The people and great, and it’s run very well.”
One more week of hunters, jumpers, and equitation remain as part of the Lamplight Summertime Series at Lamplight Equestrian Center during the HITS Chicago Series, which runs through September at the world-class facility. Lamplight Summertime III will feature a $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and the $5,000 USHJA Hunter Team Challenge to close the series. For more information click here.