Foxtrack Training Center held the first of five schooling horse trials on May 27 to kick off its summer show series.

Despite being held on a holiday weekend, the Sunday event drew more than 40 competitors.

The day before the show, Foxtrack had a schooling day, allowing horses and riders to get a feel for some of the cross-country fences in advance of the competition. Schooling days will be held the day prior to each Foxtrack horse trials this year.

Foxtrack owner and head trainer Mel Wyatt said the fun atmosphere, the ample shade and the inviting jumps that provide just enough of a challenge are what keep riders coming back to the horse trials each summer.

“The shows are always very successful and a good time for all,” Wyatt said.

Kathy Bennett and Make My Day had a picture-perfect run in the novice division, finishing on their dressage score of 29 to win the class. Maria DiGiovanni and her River Breeze just edged out Kai Hadlich and Wyatt’s Townsend Hill for the second-place ribbon.

Fresh off a second-place finish in the maiden division at the Carolina Horse Park’s starter horse trials two weekends prior, Amanda Hogue and Lucky Strike moved up to beginner novice and finished on their dressage score of 32 to win division B.

They overtook Kiki Nordlander and Clever Boy, who led after dressage with a 31.4 but incurred a few time faults on cross country. Campbell Jourdian and Sapphire landed in third.

Heather King and CF Baltic Royal T really wowed the crowd in the senior maiden division, earning the best dressage score of the day from judge Kris Hamilton and adding nothing to it to garner the victory. She finished on a final score of 26.

Wyatt said she’s looking forward to a series of well-attended shows this year.

“We’re NCDCTA-recognized this season, so we’re pulling in horses and riders from all over the state,” she said.

Complete results can be found online at www.foxtrack.net. The next trials is scheduled for June 17.