Competitors came out in droves June 27 to school hunters under the cool shade offered by the pecan trees at Melanie Wyatt's Foxtrack Farm. Even though the temperature was almost as high as the weekend before (during the Foxtrack Horse Trials), the hunter riders braved the heat and in a turn-about scratched fewer classes due to heat than the eventers.

"The hunt people appreciated the generosity of the shade of my pecan trees," said organizer Melanie Wyatt. "The course held up even though it was dusty. We have two new hunter courses nestled in-between the cross-country jumps (for the horse trial schooling shows). We try to do our best for competitors. We built three new jumps for the hunter riders."

Christan Killian, a student from St. Andrews College riding for Mary Alice Farina, showed two of Farina's Welsh driving ponies. Killian won the Super Low Hunter class riding Royal Rain, who jumped around in good form with knees smartly snapped.

Foxtrack student Liz Phelps rode Mel Wyatt's Honor to win a Junior/Adult Hunter over Fences class. Bill West, who judged the adults and juniors, also awarded Phelps a blue ribbon in the Advanced Equitation Class.

Mary Hunter of Southern Pines, rode her chestnut Proff to win the second Junior/Adult Hunter over fences class after warming up in the Low Hunters with a second place finish.

Sarah Brown, fresh off a win at last week's Horse Trials, kept the pressure on with Tric Hill's McAuley, winning a Low Over Fences class. Brown also won the Advanced Equitation Flat class.

Cricket Gentry and Never Better Magic put in a good solid round to win the second Low Hunter Over Fences class after placing third in the first class. "Mel's venue under the shade of the pecan trees continues to be the best deal in Southern Pines for the summer," said Gentry. "I haven't jumped Magic much since last year and he was a little rusty the first couple of trips but the third time was the charm. I stayed out of his way enough for him to put in a decent round. I appreciate Mel and her crew giving us an opportunity for a fun day in a great setting." Magic was on a roll, showing off his gaits on the flat to add another blue ribbon to his collection in the Low Hunter Under Saddle class.

Savannah Russell has forged a good relationship with Espresso, owned by Diane and Jim Westbrook. Russell won all three Children's Hunter classes with the pony.

"Due to the Foxtrack magic, Espresso is turning into a useful, quiet little horse," said Wyatt. "His owner was on hand to see him go."

Liz Rose was kept busy judging the children's ring, where budding young equestrians showed their ponies. Melissa Keener took the lion's share of blue ribbons in the maiden division.

The next Foxtrack Hunter Schooling Show is scheduled for July 18.

RESULTS: SUPER LOW OVER FENCES 1: 1.Adonis, Tracey McCarthy 2.Major, Kaitlyn McVeigh 3.Dale Whinny, Christan Killian 4.Monday Magic, Leslie Baldwin SUPER LOW OVER FENCES 2:1.Dale Whinny 2. Oliver 3.Adonis,Tracey McCarthy 4.Major SUPER LOW FLAT:1.Amerdansk Lady Isabel, Christan Killian 2.Moday Magic 3.Never Better Magic,Cricket Gentry 4.Sugar Pie, Jane Thomas LOW OVER FENCES 1: 1.McAuley, Sarah Brown (Tric Hill) 2.Adonis 3.Monday Magic 4.Champ, Beth Pennington LOW OVER FENCES 2: 1. Never Better Magic 2.Proff, Mary Hunter 3.Champ 4.Sir Norman, Halie Jackson (Betty Poyser) LOW FLAT: 1.Magic 2.Monday Magic 3.Proff 4.Champ JR./ADULT OVER FENCES 1: Honor, Liz Phelps 2.Sir Norman 3.Champ 4.Proff JR. ADULT OVER FENCES 2: 1.Proff 2.Honor 3.Sir Norman 4.Champ JR./ADULT FLAT: 1.Honor 2. Sir Norman 3.Champ 4. McAuley CHILDRENS OVER FENCES 1:1.Espresso, Savannah Russell (Diane Westbrook) 2.Oliver, Kayela Smith 3.Chandler, Laura Lindamood 4.Gabby, Kate Liner CHILDRENS OVER FENCES 2: 1.Espresso 2.Major 3.Oliver 4. Holly Dolly, Nicole Lindamood CHILDRENS FLAT: 1.Espresso 2.Oliver 3. Holly Dolly 4.Major ADVANCED EQUITATION FLAT: 1. McAuley, Sarah Brown 2.Honor, Liz Phelps ADVANCED EQUITATION OVER FENCES: 1.Honor,Liz Phelps 2. McAuley, Sarah Brown INTERMEDIATE EQUITATION FLAT: 1.Espresso, Savannah Russell 2.Oliver, Kayela Smith 3.Chandler, Laura Lindamood 4.Charlie, Tayler Ailerson INTERMEDIATE EQUITAITON OVER FENCES: 1.Chandler, Laura Lindamood 2.Oliver, Kayela Smith 3.Charlie Tayler, Ailerson 4.Major,Kaitlyn McVeigh

BEGINNER WALK TROT EQUITATION: 1.Cadence, Isabella Maset 2.Miracle, Madeleine Gutschmit 3.Sugar and Spice, Gabby Cochran 4.I'm a Little Tuffy, Delany Warren BEGINNER WALK HUNTER: 1.Miracle, Madeleine Gutschmit 2.Im a Little Tuffy 3.Cadence 4.Sugar and Spice MAIDEN EQUITIAON: 1.Up N Atem, Melissa Keener 2.Ballerina, Collete Lieber MAIDEN HUNTER: 1.Up N Atem 2.Ballerina MAIDEN EQUITATION OVER FENCES: 1.Up N Atem MAIDEN HUNTER OVER FENCES: 1.Up N Atem NOVICE EQUITATION: 1.Oliver, Alexa Pollat 2.FaZeyna, Tristyn Murphy 3.Independent Skip Bar, Megan Knoblin 4.Cheyanne, Martha Owens

NOVICE HUNTER: 1.FaZeyna 2.Independent Skip Bar 3.Summer Sunset ,Cheyanne Ward 4.Oliver, Alexa Pollat NOVICE EQUITATION OVER FENCES: 1.Summer Sunset 2.Cheyanne 3.Oliver 4.Independent Skip Bar NOVICE HUNTER OVER FENCES: 1.Cheyanne 2.Summer Sunset 3.Blue Boy, Lindsay Waters 4.Oliver SHORT STIRRUP EQUITATION: 1.Grace the Ace, Maggie Tally 2.Cadence, Kaitlin Jesner SHORT STIRRUP HUNTER: 1.Grace the Ace 2.Cadence SHORT STIRRUP EQUITATION OVER FENCES: 1.Grace the Ace 2.Cadence SHORT STIRRUP HUNTER OVER FENCES: 1.Cadence 2.Grace the Ace LONG STIRRUP EQUITATION: 1.Jean Pedrick, Gatsby 2.Wendy Harris, Cheyenne 3.Margi MacDougall, Irish 4.Yvette Wood, Skippy LONG STIRRUP HUNTER: 1.Irish 2.Gatsby 3.Skippy, Yvette Wood 4. Cheyenne, Wendy Harris LONG STIRRUP EQUITATION OVER FENCES: 1.Irish 2.Skippy 3.Gatsby LONG STIRRUP HUNTER OVER FENCES: 1. Skippy 2.Irish 3.Gatsby.