After a stellar winter circuit in Ocala, FL, Kacey McCann continued her hot streak in the first week of the Atlanta Spring Classic. McCann blew away the competition in Ocala, where she picked up circuit championships in the Equitation 12-14 on My Way; Large Junior 15 & Under and Modified Junior Hunter divisions on Pharrell for Euri Uchiyama; Small Junior 15 & Under Hunters on Jo Malone, another Uchiyama horse; and reserve circuit championships on Mick O Angelo in the Low Junior Jumpers and the Large Junior Hunters on Shogun.
Shogun was a versatile mount this week for McCann. The pair have been together for a year and a half, and Shogun is owned by Barbara Kearney. “We’ve gotten to know each other really well,” said McCann. This week in Atlanta they were reserve champions in the Junior Hunters.
Since McCann’s equitation mount is resting for the Devon Horse Show, Shogun stepped in to help McCann win the USEF Talent Search and the jumper phase of the Washington International Horse Show Equitation Classic in Atlanta. She was also first in the Modified Junior Jumpers on Mick O Angelo.
The move to the equitation classes was not hard for Shogun. He was originally supposed to be rider/trainer Jennifer Alfano’s jumper mount. “He switched professions,” said McCann with a laugh. “He’s pretty universal. We were worried at first that he might get too bored in the hunters, but he’s such a good-spirited horse that it didn’t affect him.”
Shogun was a perfect mount for the equitation classes, and McCann stated that his favorite class is the Handy Hunter. “He’s really brave and his jumper experience helps him turn so tight,” she replied. “It never gets old spending time with him. “He’s great in the barn and he’s a goof. He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.”
McCann comes to Atlanta after an amazing five weeks at the Ocala Winter Circuit. “We just started out really well. I was really pleased with that,” she said. “When it goes that well in the beginning, you just say, ’I hope it’s not just dumb luck!’” McCann proved it wasn’t, as she was one of the most successful riders on the circuit. She also showed her talent this week in Atlanta, and will return next week to contest more championships.
After Atlanta, McCann and trainers Jennifer Alfano and Susie Schoellkopf will travel to Charlotte, NC, and then to their homebase in Buffalo, NY, for the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center’s Finale Horse Show in April.~~~