End of Winter Equestrian Circuit 2024

We blinked and it was over! The 2024 Winter Equestrian Festival has come to a bittersweet end. The True North Horses have made their way back to Illinois for some well deserved rest before a busy summer show schedule. Here are some highlights from our second half of WEF.

Angela Swanson and Dilona Blue

Angela Swanson had a fantastic finish to WEF picking up a few more wins and multiple top placings in the Adult Hunter Divisions with Attaboy. She competed with Dilona Blue to a top 5 finish in the $10,000 1.15 Amateur Jumper Classic.

Charlotte Galley continued her winning ways in the Low Children’s Hunters with Upside, topping the field both under saddle and over fences. The pair capped off their time in Wellington by moving up to the 2’9 USHJA Hunter Division putting in great rounds. Charlotte also showed her medium pony, A Bit Lucky to great ribbons in a competitive division including a 6th place finish in the Medium Pony Classic.

Charlotte Galley and Upside

Olivia Galley capitalized on her success from the first half of WEF in the equitation and carried it forward throughout the entire circuit with her partner Cashman.The two placed in multiple Medal and Maclay Classes highlighted by a 6th place finish in the Maclay on Week 12. This pair competed in the WIHS Equitation with well ridden rounds . Olivia also had success in the Jumper rings with Canturino in the High Children’s Jumpers to great ribbons as well as starting a new partnership with Zineline, a recent new addition to her string of horses.

Karyn Armstead and Theodore finished off their WEF partnership with consistent rounds in the Adult Equitation Classes including top placings in the Ariat and The Bruno Delgrange Palm Beach Adult Medal. Thank you to Greg Prince for sharing Theo with us this winter!

Emma Lackey finished her circuit with Cody Wooten’s Providence competing with some beautiful rounds in the Junior Hunters. We all look forward to watching Emma this summer before she goes off to college in the fall where she will be on the Riding Team for the University of Georgia.

Emma Lackey and Providence

The newest member of Team True North is a lovely horse called Charmander. He quickly made the transition from Jumper to Hunter Rings. Cody Wooten and Charmander picked up a pair of blue ribbons in the 3’ USHJA and 3’3 Performance Hunters on Week 12 and ESP Spring 1. This pair placed 12th in the $10,000 National Hunter Derby.

Twelve weeks of competition have come and gone and we at True North could not be more proud of our horses and riders for their success and commitment to the sport as well as the horsemanship that is integral to their efforts! Every year we come to WEF more prepared , with better horses, better competition, and a better understanding of what it take to get the best results day in and day out. It is all only possible with the incredible support behind the scenes with the Riders, Trainers, Grooms Barn Management, Vets, Farriers, Body Workers, Parents, Spouses and many more.

We are excited for some quiet time at the farm in Mundelein as we prepare for upcoming Spring and Summer Shows. We look forward to solidifying our new partnerships and adding to the lessons learned from this winter’s competition. We are grateful for the humbling experience it is to spend our lives with the animals that we love the most! Stay tuned for what the rest of 2024 has to offer!