November 8-23, 2013, Oklahoma City

Junior Hunter Hack

A former youth world champion returns to win her first open championship.

by Christine Hamilton
The American Quarter Horse Journal

On November 7, Kindel Ann Huffman of Corsicana, Texas, won the 2012 junior hunter hack world championship on Dirty Sexy Money for owners Janet and Kent Martin of Wells, Texas.

The last time she took home an AQHA gold trophy was in 2003, winning the world championship in youth hunt seat equitation; she also won the 2002 youth working hunter world championship.

And her first open win feels pretty good.

“(Dirty Sexy Money) is (AQHA Professional Horseman) Chuck Brigg’s horse,” Kindel said. “I ride for Chuck sometimes, so I’ve gotten to show ‘Vegas’ a lot. This is my third year showing him. I know him pretty well even though Chuck’s the one that trained him.”

Kindel said Vegas felt great in the class.

“He jumps so easily, it’s nothing to him,” she said. “It’s a piece of cake. And he’s good on the rail, too; he’s just a good horse.”

Earlier this week, Vegas and Chuck won the junior working hunter, and they still have junior pleasure driving to go. Vegas is a contender for the 2012 Farnam Superhorse award.

“He does a ton of classes, and he does the amateur in (just about) everything, the hunter, driving, etc.,” she said.

Kindel didn’t have much time to celebrate – she had to head back to Texas to get to work November 8. She is the Texas Christian University coach for the National Collegiate Equestrian Association western team.

“I have to get back and go to practice,” she said. “We’ve got one more show to go, and I’ve got to get them ready.”

She’ll be back during FedEx Open Week for the AQHA Collegiate Horsemanship Challenge.

As for Vegas, he’s continuing in his showing career with the Martins. Shortly after the junior hunter hack, he showed in the amateur hunter hack with the Martins’ daughter, Jenny, in the irons.