13-Year-Old Natalie Vargo and Art of the Deal Win First World Title in Hunter Hack

By: Brittany Bevis

Out of the 15 qualifiers that returned to the Hunter Hack finals this afternoon, 13-year-old Natalie Vargo was not only the 13 and Under winner and Level 2 winner, she was also named the World Champion. Vargo’s partner for the class today was her 12-year-old gelding Art of The Deal, a gelding by Artful Investment and out of Skamokawa.

This is Vargo’s second trip to the AQHYA World Show with “Rocko.” Last year, the pair placed third in Hunter Hack.

“It feels awesome,” she says. “It’s a dream come true. I got third last year, so I just tried to beat the rider I was last year. When they got down to the top five, I thought wherever I ended up, I’ll be happy. Then, the girl who was Reserve is in my barn, so it was very fun.”

The Reserve World Champion in the class today was Madison Eichstadt with It’s My Lucky Detail. Overall, it was a very successful day for the girls’ trainer Jessica Johnson. Vargo has competed under the guidance of Johnson for the past five years, since she was just eight years old.

“Jessica told me to ride up to the distance I saw, press forward, and give the best ride I could,” she says. “He’s so fun to jump. He’s kind of like a worm; He gets a little wiggly, but I love him.”

Tomorrow, Vargo and Rocko will compete in Equitation Over Fences and then Equitation on the Flat on Wednesday. Also, Vargo will switch mounts to Classy Minute Man, aka “Chuck,” for the Hunter Under Saddle preliminaries.

Hunter Hack:

1- Art Of The Deal/Natalie Vargo

2- It’s My Lucky Detail/Madison Eichstadt

3- Real Time Minute/Calley Huston

4- Executive Hotrodder/Nicholas Furlong

5- Beyond Captivating/Nya Kearns