It took Dawn Piper a while to get through the crowd outside of the arena after she won her world championship in amateur hunter under saddle. But that’s because it seemed like everyone in the building was waiting to congratulate the 21-year-old from Sunbury, Ohio.

“It couldn’t have happened to a nicer girl,” one friend said as he gave her a big hug.

Piper, the daughter of AQHA Professional Horsemen Duane and Heidi Piper, beat 42 other entrants for her first amateur world championship title with Hey Monn.

“The class couldn’t have been better,” Piper said. “He was so good mentally going into it. He was definitely ready to go.”

Dawn Piper and Hey Monn win the amateur hunter under saddle finals

“Bird,” a 3-year-old bay gelding, caught Piper’s eye when he was being shown by Heidi.

“My mom had him as a 2-year-old and showed him last year, so I knew him; he was already in the barn,” she said. “I’ve just loved him. He’s great to work with. He’s kind, he’s gentle and he loves to show.”

Piper said Bird loves to be the center of attention and has been great during their first show season together.

“I would have to say he’s very elegant and flashy, (with) the white on his face and legs. I just think he’s a beautiful mover,” she explained.

Her next move for the horse will be to take a few weeks off and then start up again showing at the Gold Coast Circuit in Florida. In the future, she looks forward to trying new events with Bird like hunter hack and pleasure driving.