Nick Haness Leaves His Mark On WCHR Week at Wellington International
The country’s top hunter horses and riders have flocked to Wellington, FL, for World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition during Week 6 at Wellington International’s Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Professional riders took to the 3’6” height in the International Arena on Friday as the first tricolors of the week were awarded. Throughout the week, hunters in all divisions will be featured as amateurs, juniors, and professionals alike vie for a chance to qualify for Saturday night’s $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.
The final phases of the Equine Tack and Nutritionals 3’6” Green Hunter division, consisting of a stake and a handy, kicked off the day in the main arena as combinations competed over their final two jumping rounds. The division was held in a California Split format where each class had two sets of results as well as two overall division champions and reserve champions.
Collecting the first tricolor of the day, the Section A championship went to Circa, an eight-year-old Holsteiner mare by Casall, ridden by West Coast professional Nick Haness for owner Glade Run Farm LLC.
“Circa is the most incredible horse and I just have so much love for her,” Haness gushed. “I was fortunate enough to import her from Europe as a five year old and continue to be part of her life and her journey. She has been very successful through the pre-greens and now as a first year horse because she is a truly exceptional mare.”
The mare proved just how exceptional she was throughout the division as she earned the highest scores both Wednesday and Thursday with results of 93 and 94, respectively. Another blue ribbon under saddle clinched the division title.
“We haven’t shown her a lot this year because we were getting her primed and ready for this important week and I feel like it has really paid off,” continued Haness, who hails from Temecula, CA, and splits his time between competing in California and Florida during the winter season. “She has a beautiful expression, and she jumps in textbook form every time. I’m so honored to continue to be a part of her career and her life, she is very special to me.”
When asked about his plans for the weekend’s pinnacle event, Haness conceded that Circa was a strong contender for the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular as his chosen mount for ‘Saturday Night Lights.’
“I have two buys into the class already this week, so I can choose from a lot of horses which is a great place to be but it’s also difficult to decide,” he detailed of his many top mounts. “As today winds down, we’ll see how everyone has done and who feels ready. This was her first time jumping in the International Arena and she felt incredibly brave and confident – even loving the atmosphere – so I’m pretty confident that she could be one of my better choices to use in the class.”
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Nick Haness Leaves His Mark On WCHR Week at Wellington International
