If you follow the jumper ring, it is highly unlikely you have missed hearing about our newest Shooting Star, Michael Hughes.  At an unbelievable 12 years of age, Michael has amassed a competition record of which most of us can only dare to dream.  Michael’s parents, Eamonn & Cathy Hughes, have created a winning strategy for developing Michael’s talents utilizing the sale horses that reside in their gorgeous 48 stall facility, Drumnacross Farm, in Goshen, NY.  Michael shows his equitation horse, Showtime, and his three junior jumpers, Tinka’s Girl, Indio, and Labelle.  In addition to his regular mounts, Michael will show other horses that challenge him in ways his regular mounts do not, thereby honing his skills and furthering his education at every show.  Michael’s favorite aspect of his family’s farm is riding the sale horses.  While he is saddened when any of them are sold, he prefers to focus on appreciating that each horse has taken him to a higher level through their work together.



In addition to training with his father in the jumpers, Michael has also added the equitation ring to his reportoire, training with Missy Clark.  Missy was awestruck at Michael’s talent the first time she watched him ride at the ripe old age of 7.  He has experienced outstanding success in the equitation ring, at an age where most juniors are several years away from even considering competing in the USEF.  Not only did he qualify for all the big equitation finals in 2007, he was 10th in the Zone 1 Maclay Regionals, and was called back in the top 30 of the Maclay Finals.

A refreshing aspect to Michael Hughes is his absolute appreciation for all of his mounts.  He has a knowledge far behind his years, recognizing that he must develop trust with his horses.  He understands that you must first build your horse’s confidence in your riding, and that they will respond by doing anything for you.  While Michael had great success in the equitation ring in 2007, his efforts in the jumper ring have hardly gone unnoticed.  Advancing quickly from the low juniors to the high junior jumpers, Michael capped off the end of the summer with a second place finish in a HITS $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic.  If history has taught us anything, it’s to watch out for Michael as he embarks on his goal for 2008 – to ride in his first Grand Prix.