Week one of Aiken's Winter Classic wraps up today

The first week of Progressive Show Jumping's Aiken Winter Classic Week 1 wraps up today at Highfields Event Center, with one of the day's highlights being the $10,000 Mini Prix.

Among the competitors seen at Highfields Event Center Saturday was Sara Ward, who has enjoyed recent success with her horses, Blink and Isaac. She is making the transition from junior rider to amateur rider.

"I'm going to be doing my two amateurs, Isaac and Blink, and the Mini Prix with Ludwig Storrgard," said Ward. "Next week, I'll be doing the same classes, but I have a first-year horse I'll also be showing. The Aiken Winter Classics are a nice way to start off the winter circuit."

PSJ's Rick Cram and Aiken resident Bruce Duchossois were among those receiving Committee Excellence Awards from the United States Hunter Jumper Association at the USHJA meeting held in Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 8-11.

One of Cram's goals is to become a USHJA board member, and he currently serves on the USHJA Show Standards Committee. The committee came up with a new program this year that will be implemented at all USHJA shows across the nation. The "Members Choice Award" will be an online survey open to all exhibitors who compete at USHJA sanctioned shows and will be used to poll the industry to honor a horse show that goes above and beyond what's expected.

"We recognize the exhibitors for all they do every time they show in the ring at every show," said Cram. "Not that people take it for granted, but there's a handful of show managers out there that have a lot of passion in what they produce and want to produce a product that people want to come to, and I happen to be one of those."

This will provide exhibitors with an outlet to help improve shows by providing their input by voting, said Cram.

"I've always wanted people to provide me with feedback, so I can make the improvements and make it right, so everyone can have a good time," said Cram. "That's part of the secret to why we're succeeding - we're listening to people."

Highfields Event Center is located at 147 Warehouse Road.

For more information, call 649-3505 or visit www.psjshows.com.

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