Tananbaum and Wu Share Grand Hunter Championship at Fairfield June Show
- Catie Staszak
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The Overall Grand Hunter Championship was a shared affair Friday, with amateur rider Brenda Tananbaum and junior rider Valentina Wu sharing the Sunny Pierson Perpetual Trophy.
Both riders finished their divisions with 44 points, with four victories and a third-place finish each. Tananbaum's top results came aboard her Red Notice in the 3'3" Amateur-Owner Hunter 36+ division, while Wu excelled aboard her own Neptune Edition in the 3'3" Junior Hunters.
"My biggest takeaway is that I was able to ride through some nerves today and get things accomplished. My other horses were all really good also today, so that makes me feel really good," Tananbaum said.
Few are as a familiar with the FCHC venue as Tananbaum, who has ridden at Fairfield County Hunt Club - Stables with trainer Jenny Martin-Rudaz for nearly 40 years, first coming to the Club in 1987.
"I've been training with Jenny for that whole time. It's a great partnership and friendship," she shared. "I just love being here. It's my home. I live about a mile from here, and I can't [imagine] riding anywhere else."
Brenda Tananbaum and Red Notice shared the Overall Grand Hunter Championship with Valenina Wu and Neptune Edition. Photos by SEL Photography
Wu's trip to Fairfield, meanwhile marked her first horse show experience in Connecticut. The 14-year-old form Long Island, NY, has been partnered with Neptune Edition for four years, and the 9-year-old Holsteiner by Numero Uno was Wu's very first horse when the gelding was just 5 years old.
"He's always been my favorite. He's definitely a little spicy sometimes, and he has a little bit of energy over the fences, but he always helps me [out]," Wu shared. "He had never [shown] on the grass before, so this was a great experience for him."
Gallery of Hunter Champions
All photos by SEL Photography
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