Lexington, KY – July 25, 2025 – Top riders gathered at the Stonlea Ring on Friday afternoon during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show to showcase their equitation skills in the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class. Following the over fences and flat phases, it was Ava Barnes and Valentino who earned the day’s top prize. Katherine Mercer and Mr. Anderson placed second, while Caitlyn Gidley and Klutch took home third place.
Friday’s victory marked Barnes’ first event of the week and earning the blue ribbon was a great way to kick off her time at the Kentucky Horse Shows. “It feels good to win,” she smiled. “I showed him last week up at WEC Ohio and he was perfect all week. This was my first time riding him this week because he was so good last week. It feels good to be able to come in here and win the first class of the week.”
In the first round, riders were asked to ride accurately through bending lines, rollbacks and make multiple technical turns. Following that, the 12 riders were invited to return for the flat phase to help determine the winner of the class, which included work at the walk, trot and canter, as well as demonstrating the sitting trot while changing direction.
Ava Barnes & Valentino
“Valentino is definitely a very straightforward horse,” explained Barnes. “If you just look whichever way you want him to go, he’ll really follow you. The course was really nice for him. The two bending lines were technical with the striding, but he has a very open stride and can compact very well, so I wasn’t too worried about it. He really followed the first eight and I really liked it – it felt nice.”
Barnes trains with New Hope’s David Belford and has been riding Valentino, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Viscount who is owned by Rivers Edge, for almost two years. They also compete in the Junior Hunters, but have been focused on the equitation and will be aiming for the ASPCA Maclay National Championship at the end of the year.
As an Ohio native, Barnes enjoys competing at the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows each year, concluding, “It’s a really nice atmosphere. I’ve been riding here since I can remember – for my entire life. The competition is so good and all of the jumps are so beautiful – it’s a really nice show.”
As a World Champion Hunter Rider week, the Kentucky Summer Horse Show will feature more hunter action this week, including Sunday’s $5,000 USHJA 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.