Eight-year-old Traci rides Little Manhattan to top honors in the Walk/Trot division.
View full sizeEight-year-old Olivia Traci gets a kiss from her mother Nicole and a high-five from a friend after winning the Walk/Trot division Friday at the Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic.Marge Fernbacher / Special to The Plain Dealer
MORELAND HILLS, Ohio — Olivia Traci of Aurora led the field in horse show competition Friday, winning on the opening day at the Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic.
The 8-year-old Traci rode Emma Kurtz's Little Manhattan to top honors in the Walk/Trot division. Her first place, two second places and a fourth earned 24 points. The Reserve Champion -- with 20.5 points -- was Lauren Childs of Chagrin Falls on Tye Dye.
The championship in the Walk/Trot/Canter division went to Morgan Moran of Ravenna on My Hobby, owned by her mother Barb Moran. Morgan Moran earned 24 points, finishing ahead of Juliana Hillestad of Wadsworth.
"[My Hobby is] really fun, and he loves to jump," said Morgan Moran, who won the Walk/Trot division last year. "That's the best part about him."
A special section of classes for riders with disabilities also was held Friday. Competing were 26 riders, ranging in age from 5 to over 50.
Horse show action at the Metroparks Polo Field resumes at 8 a.m. today and continues through Sunday, July 18. The $30,000 Cleveland Grand Prix, the feature event of the eight-day show, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. July 18.
For more information, visit clevelandhorseshow.com or call 330-903-9915.
Marge Fernbacher is a freelance writer in Willoughby Hills.