Abigail Hardy and My Secret Past Come Back From Injury to Win Congress Working Hunter 13 and Under

By: Brittany Bevis

13-year-old Abigail Hardy is certainly no stranger to the winner’s circle, with now three, career Congress Champion titles under her belt. However, it’s been awhile since Abigail and her horse, My Secret Past, made an appearance in the show pen.

“We just took him to a show last weekend for the first time since the Youth World,” she says. “We didn’t get to show there because of an injury.”

Despite the absence of much prep time, Abigail was very pleased with “Kam’s” performance. The tearful win seemed a more than fitting result for this evening’s class, since the team also won Youth Equitation Over Fences last year.

“He’s a very funky horse,” Abigail says. “He has his attitude and his moments, but he’s more than wonderful to be around. I was so nervous that I didn’t know what to think. Going in first was the scariest thing ever!”

Despite their frightening draw in the working order, Abigail and Kam were able to settle their nerves and come away with a big win. Abigail says she relied on the guidance of her horse trainer, Allison Applegett, who provided some sage advice before she entered the pen.

“She said to keep my pace to the first fence. Allison said not to go in there slow to the first fence, because I wouldn’t make it. We went in there and did everything right, and we showed!”

Abigail will also compete at the Congress in classes like Youth Equitation, Hunter Hack, and Hunter Under Saddle, some with Kam and a few with her other horses, Pass The Details and Hope You’re Hot Like Me.