Excerpt from article by Jennifer Wood
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 29, 2010 – The best junior hunters in the nation went head-to-head today in their respective divisions to determine championships at the 52nd Washington International Horse Show. Shawn Casady of Midtown, TN, rode Cachet, owned by Caroline Spogli of San Diego, CA, to the final junior hunter division championship.
Although Shawn Casady hails from Tennessee, the 10-year-old Warmblood mare Cachet kept the California vibe alive when she and Casady won the Large Junior 15 & Under championship for owners Caroline Spogli and Cavallo Farms of San Diego, CA.

Casady piloted Cachet to first place over fences and third place under saddle for the division championship. Walk the Line (owned by O’Mara and Donald Stewart) and Abby O’Mara of Rumson, NJ, were the reserve champions after they placed first and fifth over fences and fifth under saddle.

Casady is fifteen years old and gets the ride whenever Cachet’s owner, Caroline Spogli, is unavailable. They competed once in the winter, a handful of times this summer, and have made the full indoor tour through Capital Challenge, Harrisburg, and the WIHS. Casady said of Cachet, “She’s a blast to ride. She’s a sweet mare. She has a really good feel and a sweepy stride. Most of the horses I ride are mares and she fits in. I’ve always gotten along with mares.”

Casady was champion at the WIHS in 2008 in the Large Pony Hunters and he was excited to win again. He remarked, “It’s an honor to win here and it feels good.”

For full results and more information, please visit www.wihs.org.
Photo Credit: Photos © Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.