Catie Boone and Naleida won the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Jumper Classic on May 26, 2007, at the Devon Horse Show. Photo by Randi Muster

June 2, 2007 – Devon, Pennsylvania –Kentucky's Catie Boone enjoyed victory in the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Jumper Classic held May 26, 2007, at the Devon Horse Show in Devon, Pennsylvania. Boone is a Junior Rider Ambassador for JustWorld International, a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization founded to work as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world by helping underprivileged children.

Unusual circumstances made Boone's win even more impressive. About three-quarters through the first round, a thunderstorm forced organizers to halt the competition. Having already jumped a clear round to qualify for the jump-off, Boone and her mount, Naleida, were sent back to the barn to wait out the storm. When competition resumed an hour later, Boone had to warm up her horse again in preparation for taking on six other jump-off challengers.

Boone followed Jessica Springsteen, who had gone clear and posted a quick time, into the ring. Despite the wet conditions, the 17-year-old managed to shave valuable seconds off of Springsteen's time and capture one of the biggest victories in her young career.

"Jessica and her horse are both amazing and I thought they had it. Even though the ring was swampy because of the rain, I wanted to give it my all. I tried to be tight and tidy, and I was able to beat her!" said an elated Boone.

While Naleida earned the Junior Jumper Championship title, Boone, who had also won a Junior Jumper class earlier in the week riding Cher 14, was named the Leading Junior Jumper Rider of the Devon Horse Show.

She has been partnered with Naleida, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, for a little over a year since buying her from former coach, Lauren Bass, when Bass retired from competition. At last year's North American Young Riders' Championship in Lexington, Virginia, Boone and Naleida claimed the Individual and Team Gold Medals in the Junior division.

"She is a show ring horse," explained Boone who now trains with Olympic medalist, Norman Dello Joio. "She is very competitive and wants to win just as badly as I do, she has just as much desire to do well. She has a lot of personality, and we have a really close connection."

A high school student in Lexington, Boone felt that becoming a JustWorld Rider Ambassador would be a perfect fit with her busy competition schedule.

"I am always at horse shows which means that I am always away on the weekends and miss a lot of days of school, so I have never been able to get involved with any types of community service or other school activities," said Boone. "Becoming involved with JustWorld made it very easy for me. I am able to give to JustWorld just by doing what I do, and I am able to help other people at the same time."

During the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, Boone participated in the Training Show held in January at Belle Herbe Farm, and attended the fundraising dinner that evening with her family. Over the past four years through its fundraising endeavors, JustWorld International has raised almost $2 million for its project sites in Honduras, Cambodia, Kenya, Senegal, and Brazil.

"I was thrilled to hear about Catie's success at Devon," said Jessica Newman, Executive Director of JustWorld International. "She is a very talented rider and a hard working student. It is wonderful to have a young woman like Catie representing JustWorld and setting an example of 'youth helping youth', inspiring so many other young people in the equestrian world to support JustWorld's work."

Founded in 2002, JustWorld International raises awareness and funds in the equestrian community to support humanitarian projects that benefit impoverished communities and children in the developing world. Cooperating with local partners, JustWorld International implements sustainable, culturally sensitive education, health and vocational projects. For more information on JustWorld International and its upcoming fundraising events, please visit www.justworldinternational.org.