Decisive Win for Das at Fairfield August Horse Show
- Catie Staszak
- Aug 15
- 2 min read
Annika Das had never before contested a championship event when she came forward for the Connecticut Hunter Jumper Association (CHJA) Medal Finals at the Fairfield County Hunt Club.
But you wouldn't have known it from her riding. The 15-year-old was poised in her finals debut, besting a competitive field in the CHJA 3' Junior Medal Final at the Fairfield August Horse Show. She and her 10-year-old KWPN gelding Lucinus van de Eijkhof led the first round with a score of 85 before securing their victory with a strong flat test of the top 12, followed by a mistake-free final test of the top four riders over fences.
Kayden Myrick finished second aboard What the Flip, while Addison Lussen rounded out the podium with Henri HX.
"This is my first finals ever, including my first CHJA Finals," Das said. "At first, when I found out these finals were held on grass, I was a little nervous, but my horse seems to love it more than the sand!"
From Darien, CT, Das trains with Heather Gnewuch and Isabel Rudaz at West Lane Riding. She was partnered with Lucinus van de Eijkhof, known as "Louis" in the stable, last fall.
"I started leasing him in September, and we did a six-month lease to buy and bought him in March," Das said. "While this is my first finals ever, he's done them. He's an accomplished horse and has done bigger jumps. He's really good at everything and he'll just go with [whatever I ask him]."
Das' trust in her partner was evident as she navigated her test under pressure. Among the tests required were a rollback on the counter lead, a halt after the second fence, and two changes of lead in front of the judge.
"Louis can get strong sometimes, but he listens really well, even when he's strong," Das said. "He always comes back [to me]."
As her award ceremony commenced, Das appreciated the opportunity to celebrate her win with her local riding community.
"I just love the environment [at this horse show]," she said. "A lot of barns come here that are based close by, and so we know a lot of the people. It's a lot more close-knit, and I've already met a lot more people at the show [this week]."
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