Lexington, KY – August 1, 2025 – It was all about the Junior Hunters in the Stonelea Ring as riders showcased their mounts during the Kentucky Summer Classic at the Kentucky Horse Park. As the divisions closed out the day, Ava Barnes and Valentino were awarded the Grand Junior Hunter Championship, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. The duo’s stylish performance in the Large Junior 15 & Under Hunter division earned them the championship prize, and with top ribbons across the board, they also nabbed the grand championship title.
Barnes rides with David Belford of New Hope LLC, who accepted the award on her behalf on Friday afternoon. “It’s a real honor to be Grand Champion here,” he noted. “Ava and Valentino have been together for just a brief moment, but she just started doing him in the hunters. He’s such a special individual – just such quality. She usually does him in the equitation, but he really is an amazing jumper and so pretty across the ground.”
David Belford and Valentino
Over the last two days, Barnes and Valentino were smooth and consistent in each of their rounds, winning three of the over fences classes in the Large Junior 15 & Under Hunter division, and earning the top honors in the under saddle. After securing the division’s championship tricolor, they were also honored to win the Grand Junior Hunter Championship.
Valentino is a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Viscount that Rivers Edge owns, and Barnes has been working hard with him to qualify for the equitation finals later this year. Their accolades include a win in the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class during last week’s Kentucky Summer Horse Show.
Belford added, ‘He’s the bravest horse in the world. He just really wants to put his best foot forward every day, and the two of them just look beautiful together.”
Ava Barnes and Valentino
Based out of Cincinnati, OH, the Kentucky Horse Shows are always on New Hope’s schedule and they were thrilled to be back at the Kentucky Horse Park for another week of quality competition. “Lexington’s such a wonderful town, and the horse show they put on here is top-notch,” concluded Belford. “All the jumps are beautiful, the rings are beautiful, and it has a homey feeling.”
The Kentucky Summer Classic will feature more hunter action this week, including Saturday’s $7,500 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby and $7,500 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby. Many riders have gathered to prepare for the 2025 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship, the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship, and the 2025 USEF Pony Finals, which will all take place in August at the Kentucky Horse Park. For more information on Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.