Addison McQuaker Top 5 at Junior Hunter Nationals

The 2022 Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship was held at Flintfields Horse Park during the Traverse City Horse Show in Michigan, June 28 – July 2. Since 2001, this Championship has been a showcase for top junior hunter riders, with over 2,000 eligible to compete in this prestigious final annually.

This year, 14-year-old Addison McQuaker of Schomberg, Ontario took on the formidable competition riding Golden Ticket (Snoopy), a seven-year-old, 15.3 hand Oldenburg gelding. Coached by her parents, Mac and Christi McQuaker at their Gryphon Farm, Addison rode in the small junior hunter division which had a field of 38 and three judges, placing 13th in the 3’3″ Classic and third in the Handy Hunter on the final day to finish a very commendable fifth overall.

She described her prep leading up to this event. “We made a plan to show in Florida this past winter, and used the HITS shows in order to qualify for Junior Hunter Finals. We also showed at WEC in the 3’3 and 3’6 juniors as well as the derbies and the WEC Equitation Finals.

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“Snoopy and I went to Wellington for a week also to show during World Champion Hunter Week. After Florida, we showed at WEC Ohio and here in Ontario to get prepared.”

She remarked that her horse is relatively easy to get ready for big events. “Snoopy likes thing simple and he is such a good boy he doesn’t take much prep for showing. He is very good about walking into new rings and is never spooky.” She describes the attractive bay by noted sire Stakkato Gold as “very sweet and cuddly. He has the best personality. He has a small rip in his ear because when he was a baby his mom bit him. He is very comfy to ride!”

Addison and her family are planning to going back to Traverse City again in August, and of course “I am looking forward to showing at the Royal Horse Show in November.”

And farther down the road? “Next year, I would like to qualify again for Junior Hunter Finals in the 3’6″ division and qualify for the Gladstone Equitation Final.”