Paige Walkenbach and Babylon Clinch Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship Title
The final lap of honor for the 2024 Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship at Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, MI, was led by Paige Walkenbach aboard Babylon on Sunday. After tackling a final phase of intricately designed handy courses in the Turtle Creek Hotel & Casino International Ring on the final day of the coveted final, overall champion titles were decided at both 3’6” and 3’3” heights.
The overall grand champion, coming from the 3’6” Small Junior Hunter section was Paige Walkenbach of Paradise Valley, AZ, riding the already decorated Babylon, owned by Marnell Sport Horses. Walkenbach made her mark with Babylon after winning both Thursday’s classic round and Saturday’s handy round, as well as taking second under saddle.
Walkenbach walked away with more than one championship to her name this week after also winning the tricolor in the 3’6” Large Junior Hunter atop her second mount, San Pedro 15. Walkenbach and Babylon were paired together in 2023 after the nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding established his impressive talents with fellow junior rider, Ariana Marnell.
“Winning a championship with both of them is really special because it proved that I can not only do it on Babylon—who’s won pretty much everything—but also with the one that I’ve kind of brought up and developed, so that really made it for me,” said 17-year-old Walkenbach.
Becoming well-known as a fierce competitor as her junior career continues, Walkenbach finds herself starstruck by the four-legged partners she gets to work with on a daily basis. “I’m so lucky to be able to ride them. It’s honestly incredible and I’m still blown away by it,” she said.
Babylon adds an Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship to a trophy case that includes winning multiple junior hunter titles throughout the country with owner Ariana Marnell—including the Junior Hunter National Championship reserve placing in 2022—in addition to professional and derby accolades with John French. “Crumbles” as the gelding is called after sire Crumbie is now taking Walkenbach straight to the top.
“I think right when he walks in the ring he knows what he wants,” she concluded. “Every time I get to go in the ring with him I learn so much, and he teaches me a lot about the hunters. Every moment with him is special in its own way.”
Overall reserve champion honors over the 3’6” height went to Kate Hagerty of Terrebonne, OR, and small junior hunter Magic Moment, owned by The Hagerty Family.
Over fences measured at 3’3”, Caroline Olsen of Sherborn, MA, guided Spencer, owned by Andesite Equestrian, to the overall title. The horse-and-rider combination topped the rest after winning Saturday’s 16-17 Large Junior Hunter Handy, taking second under saddle and second in Thursday’s classic round.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the Hesslink Williams team for the ride on this horse. He’s truly incredible,” said Olsen of the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.
Read more:
