Brooke Hagerty Doubles Down in THIS National Children’s Medal Finals

Brooke Hagerty of Terrebonne, OR, contested a work-off for the second day in a row to win the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Finals on Saturday, September 28, during the Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com. After winning the EMO Insurance Agency/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final – East on Friday evening, the 16-year-old once again led a victory gallop around The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.

A field of 40 riders spent the year earning points towards qualification for the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, which consisted of an opening jumping round, followed by a return of the top 10 in reverse order of their first-round scores.

“I wasn't planning on doing this final this year, but once I started being successful in the classes, I set it as a goal,” said Hagerty, who is a junior at Upper Echelon Academy and finished third in the 2023 THIS National Children’s Medal Finals. “This will be my last time doing it, so I really wanted to go out and win it, and we delivered exactly that.”

Three panels each composed of two judges evaluated the class over Ken Krome-designed courses. Panel one included Alice Coke and Andrea Wells, panel two was Tony Sgarlata and David Beisel, and panel three was made up of Julie Winkel and Geoff Case. Each panel provided one score with the average of the three resulting in the rider’s overall mark.

After the completion of both rounds, Hagerty and Collin Sweetnam, 14, of Wellington, FL, were pitted against each other in a work-off to determine the final placings after their two-round totals were separated by less than a single point. Sweetnam led after round one with the top score of 89.66, which was combined with a second-round score of 88.66 for a 177.32 total. Hagerty coupled an 88 in the opening round—to sit fourth—with a 90.83 in the second round for a 178.83 total.

“I was excited to test. I got to watch Collin do it and see how it rode, and I feel like I executed it really well,” said Hagerty, who piloted Astro de Ravel, an 11-year-old Selle Français gelding owned by Olivia Robertson. “He's an experienced equitation horse, and we’ve had an amazing start to the finals season. He's the best horse I've ever ridden.”

Astro de Ravel delivered once again for Hagerty, and the pair was foot perfect to emerge as the winners under the direction of trainer Valerie Renihan, based at Findlay’s Ridge in North Salem, NY. Sweetnam was named the reserve champion aboard Kosher, owned by Brookside Pine Farms, LLC.

Highlighting action in the outdoor arena on Saturday, Taylor Cawley, 15, of Wellington, FL, bested a field of 28 for the North American Junior Flat Equitation Champion title. The top three riders from each age group equitation division throughout the Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com, went to work on the flat, and Cawley won the honor for the second consecutive year riding Oki d’Eclipse, owned by Sea Horse Investments. Trained by Stacia Madden at Beacon Hill Show Stables based in Colts Neck, NJ, Cawley came to the flat championship after taking the tricolor in the 15-Year-Old Equitation Section B division.

Earlier in the day, six Section B age group equitation division champions and reserve champions were named as follows:

• Champion Kenzie Smith of Shoreham, NY, and Reserve Champion Dylan Clark of Wellington, FL, in the 12 & Under Equitation
• Champion JJ Torano of Wellington, FL, and Reserve Champion Faith Schuttemeyer of Boynton Beach, FL, in the Grafton Ridge 13- & 14-Year-Old Equitation
• Champion Taylor Cawley of Wellington, FL, and Reserve Champion Parker Peacock of Pfafftown, NC, in the Two Goals Farm, LLC, 15-Year-Old Equitation
• Champion Adriana Forte of Water Mill, NY, and Co-Reserve Champions Paige Walkenbach of Paradise Valley, AZ, and Harper Phipps of Locust Valley, NY, in the Kent Farrington, LLC, 16-Year-Old Equitation
• Champion Maddie Tosh of Milton, GA, and Co-Reserve Champions Mae Mannis of Big Pine Key, FL, and Kate Hagerty of Terrebonne, OR, in the Ashland Farms 17-Year-Old Equitation

Luca Endzweig Wins $10,000 North American League Children’s Hunter Finals

Children’s hunters took to The Show Place Arena on the first Saturday evening of the 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show, where 12-year-old Luca Endzweig of Palm Beach, FL, topped the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Children’s Hunter Finals, presented by Charles Ancona.

Twenty-eight riders challenged the first round after qualifying throughout the country over the last year. The top 12 returned in reverse order of standing for a second jumping round with scores combined for an overall total.

Endzweig impressed judges David Beisel and Julie Winkel in both rounds. She pocketed an 88 to top the field in the opening round and secured the opportunity to return last with the top 12.

Riding Tibri’s Simply Red, an eight-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Tibri, LLC, Endzweig posted an 86 in the second round to seal the win on a 174 total. She beat out Kenzie Smith, 13, of Shoreham, NY, by one point. Smith posted a 173—boosted by the top score in the second round of an 87— to finish second riding Mirage for owner Charlotte Rossetter. Third-place honors were presented to Lucy Massucci, 15, of Redington Beach, FL, riding her own MTM Cocktail. Together they paired two 85s for a 170 total.

“I think this is one of the biggest wins I have ever had,” said Endzweig, who started competing at Capital Challenge in 2020 with her small ponies. “I love coming here every year.”

She felt the pressure returning last with the lead in hand. “I was definitely nervous [coming into the second round], but my trainer told me to focus on riding my course,” said Endzweig, who has had the ride on Tibri’s Simply Red since the end of 2023. “I always say he’s the sweetest in the barn; he’s kindhearted. He’s definitely my heart horse.

“He’ll save me from anything and bend over backwards for me; he’s the best animal ever,” added Endzweig who said that her horse is what gave her the confidence to tackle the second round and hold on to the win.

The NAL offers year-long series in six divisions – Adult Hunter Presented by R & R Hunter Horses, Children’s Hunter Presented by Charles Ancona, 1.10/1.15m Amateur Jumper Presented by SmartPak, 1.10/1.15m Junior Jumper Presented by EquiFit, 1.20/1.25m Junior/Amateur Jumper and 1.30/1.35m Junior/Amateur Jumper Presented by Parlanti. The NAL qualifying season runs from September 1 through August 31. NAL qualifying classes are open to all competitors, but only current members are awarded points. Annual memberships are only $45 per rider.

The 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show continues Sunday, September 29, with the Palm Beach International Academy North American Junior Equitation Championships and the $10,000 NAL Adult Hunter Finals.