Sterling Malnik and Automatic. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography.
Equitation riders took to the Kentucky Horse Park Friday afternoon July 29 in the Stonelea Ring for the 2022 Kentucky Summer Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Showcasing some of the top young junior athletes, the competition was stiff as several horse-and-rider combinations competed in several medal classes to acquire points toward 2022 indoors season finals.
In the end, Sterling Malnik rode Automatic to top honors in the ASPCA Maclay, while Katelyn Martin dominated the USHJA Hunt Seat Medal.
Sterling Malnik is a seasoned equitation rider, earning several big wins including the Split Rock Equitation 15-17 Championship and the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search. She and her mount, Automatic, a 13-year-old Warmblood gelding, gracefully met each jump and navigated the course as smoothly as possible. They took a slightly more inside-track ride, opting for inside turns, helping them to secure the leading title in Friday’s ASPCA Maclay.