Currie Cooper and Paris Charm Dazzle for Grand Pony Hunter Champion

Ponies stormed The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, on Saturday, October 7, during the 30th anniversary of the Capital Challenge Horse Show. Currie Cooper, 12, of Point Clear, AL, and Paris Charm bested a field of more than 100 small, medium, and large ponies for the Grand Pony Hunter Champion title, sponsored by Pegasus Show Stable and The Endicott Family, receiving the VanderMoore Designs Trophy.

Riding in just her fourth show with “Paris” and in her Capital Challenge debut, Cooper impressed the judges over both days of competition. On Friday in the Outdoor Arena, Cooper piloted the 15-year-old Welsh Pony mare by Halifax to the high score of 89.50 in the conformation over fences class, earning the Best EMO Pony Trip of the Show, to kick off the division. They then strutted to the top of the under saddle class, picking up their second blue ribbon of the day. Cooper and Paris kept their hot streak alive into Saturday’s deciding day of competition, notching a third-place finish over fences with a score of 86.50, and a final win in the handy with a score of 88.75. Their stellar results propelled them to the Medium Pony Hunter division championship, sponsored by Ox Ridge Riding & Racquet Club, and ultimately the overall Grand Pony Hunter Champion title.

“I thought my rounds were really good,” reflected Cooper, who trains with Richard Cunkle along with the team at JET Show Stables. “I was really happy I found all my distances, especially in the handy when I made some really sharp turns.”

While Paris is still a relatively new mount for Cooper, the flashy liver chestnut is no stranger to the winner’s circle at Capital Challenge, having claimed the Medium Pony Hunter division championship in 2022 with owner JJ Torano. Now, Torano has stepped into a more supportive role helping his pony to shine with a new partner in Cooper.

“JJ rides Paris a lot, and he’s really supportive and gives me tips,” shared Cooper. “She’s really fun and easy. She gives me a lot of confidence. She’s really sweet, but she’s a little bit skittish, so we give her tons of treats.”

The Best Pony Rider Award, sponsored by Archibald Cox and Brookway Stables, was awarded to Cooper for her Grand Pony Hunter Championship. For this honor, Cooper was presented with The Kitty Borissoff Memorial Trophy, donated by her many friends.

Reserve champion in the Medium Pony Hunter division was received by Katherine Mercer, 12, of Wellington, FL, who rode Goldhills As You Like It, a 15-year-old Welsh Pony mare by Gayfields Call the Cops owned by Frog Pond Stables.

Finley Baras, 12, of Bedford, NY, earned The Harper Taskier Wright Memorial Trophy, given in memory of Harper by her loving parents Michael and Alexandra Borisoff Wright, friends, and family whose lives she touched, for her championship in the Small Pony Hunters with her own Spring Fling, an eight-year-old Welsh Pony Cross mare by Charmsley Cormac. The reserve championship of the Small Pony Hunter division, sponsored by Cheryl Olsten, was Logan Baras, 9, of Bedford, NY, with Reagan Jarrett’s Dream Big, a nine-year-old Welsh Pony mare by Tradalebelleman.

Emi Richard, 13, of Middlefield, CT, was presented with the Tampa Horse Show Trophy, donated by Dr. Suzanne Smith, for being champion of the Large Pony Hunters aboard Tresoro, a nine-year-old Dutch Riding Pony by FS Champion de Luxe owned by Gray Neville. The reserve championship in the division went to Vivian Golden, 14, of Wyomissing, PA, aboard Betsee Parker’s Brixton, a 13-year-old Dutch Riding Pony by Charivari.

Richard also won the $2,500 World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Pony Challenge, sponsored by Sweet Oak Farm, with Prestige, a 12-year-old Belgian Riding Pony by Ive van de Delthoeve owned by Swede Ventures LLC.

Colin Shippam, 13, of Philadelphia, PA, was presented with the Stewart-Warner Cup for pony riders, which is given in memory of Laurie Gilbert Stewart and Mary Warner Brown by Donald E. Stewart, Jr. and Louise W. Serio.

Additional champions were awarded as follows:

Small Junior Hunter  16-17
Sponsored by Three Ships LLC
Champion: Babylon, ridden by Ariana Marnell and owned by Marnell Sport Horses

Large Junior Hunter 16-17
Sponsored by Beacon Hill Show Stables
Champion: Drumroll, ridden by Caroline Signorino and owned by Meridian Farm LLC

Children’s Hunter Pony
Sponsored by DFG Stables
Champion: Sahara, ridden and owned by Taylor Silvius
 

Hailey Guidry and Byzone Mail Deliver the Win in the $10,000 North American League Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Final

Hailey Guidry, 13, of Wellington, FL, and her own Byzance Mail bested a field of 29 competitors to take top honors in the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Final, presented by R & R Hunter Horses.

Ten horse-and-rider combinations produced a clear first round to qualify for the jump-off over a course designed by Ken Krome (USA). Guidry was able to jump fault-free on both of her mounts, first with Byzance Mail, and then with Ezmeralda EH Z.

“The four-stride to the five-stride lines were a little tough because it was from left to right and not really straight, but she did it absolutely perfectly,” explained Guidry of her ride on Byzance Mail through fences 8, 9, and 10. “It rode very well for her since she’s a tiny little mare and she can go around the turns very quickly.”

In the jump-off, rounds got faster and faster until Guidry stopped the clock with Byzance Mail in 33.468 seconds. Maddie Tosh, 17, of Milton, GA, gave it a good shot, but just came up shy of the time to beat, crossing the timers in 33.992 seconds for second-place honors with Kennedy vd Rechri, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Va Vite owned by Julia Curtis.

“I did not watch anyone do the jump-off, unfortunately, because I got right on,” said Guidry, who trains with Abby Blankenship of Three Ships LLC in Sheridan, IN. “I was just trying to think of a plan that I could do as easily as possible. I wanted to go very smoothly and try not to have any rails and be very quick. Honestly, I was so surprised at how fast she could go because I’ve never actually gone that fast with her. I’m very proud.”

Guidry closed out the competition with a second double-clear effort, this time aboard Ezmeralda EH Z, an 11-year-old Zangersheide mare by Emerald van’t Ruytershof owned by Honor Hill Farm LLC. Though they were fast in 33.468 seconds, it would be a third-place finish and the night belonged to Guidry’s first speed queen, Byzance Mail.

“She’s such a queen,” commented Guidry of the12-year-old Selle Français mare by Iowa owned by Honor Hill Farm, who is known as “Bee” in the barn. “She’s been so perfect, and I’ve been so lucky to be able to come here on her. It was the goal, but I really didn’t expect to win especially because I had a children’s jumper, and I had a rail unfortunately in the first round. I just wanted to come back and have two clear rounds and I did.”

Elodie Watrous, 16, of Wilmette, IL, who finished in fourth with I Mose VLS was awarded the Best Low Junior Jumper Rider, sponsored by Bunker Show Stables. Alexis Mierzwa of Winchester, VA, was named the Best Low Amateur Jumper Rider.

Isabelle Ehman and Aston des Etisses Ace the North American League Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper Final

The $10,000 1.30-1.35m NAL Medium Junior/Amateur Final, presented by Parlanti, closed out the evening competition, with 18 starting horse-and-rider combinations. Seven left all the poles in the cups to advance to the jump-off, where Isabelle Ehman, 17, of Milton, GA, and her own Aston des Etisses turned in an electrifying performance, victoriously crossing the timers in 33.832 seconds.

Hot off her win in Friday’s $2,500 NAL Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper Welcome, Ehman was second to tackle the first-round course designed by Ken Krome (USA).

“The first-round course didn’t seem too bad,” said Ehman, who trains with Don Stewart. “We were really making sure that we were going to box the seven-stride line to the liverpool, because we watched the class before, and it seemed to get a little tight. We were planning there, and then in the last line, I was just making sure I got him off the front rail in that last six-stride.”

As the first to produce a clear effort in round one, Ehman was first to return to contest the jump-off. The remaining riders chased her time, but ultimately, she could not be caught.

“Coming back first can be a little bit of a disadvantage, but we had a plan going in beforehand, and we just wanted to be super tidy everywhere and do the least amount of strides possible,” described Ehman of her jump-off. “Luckily ‘Aston’ is very good at jump-offs, so we were able to execute the plan exactly how I wanted to.”

Aston is a relatively new partner for Ehman, only taking over the ride this spring. Previously, the 13-year-old Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago*HN x Quidam de Revel) was campaigned by U.S. Olympic veteran Margie Goldstein-Engle through the 1.45m CSI5* level, but Ehman had yet to test him in an indoor arena.

“We were just coming for a good experience,” said Ehman. “We definitely didn’t expect the results we ended up getting this weekend, but I’m super happy with how he was. Aston has a really big stride and he’s quick across the ground so I’m able to leave out or add. He’s very adjustable so small rings aren’t a problem, and big rings aren’t a problem.

“He’s actually got quite the personality,” she continued. “He can be a little tricky in the barn depending on if it’s dinner time, but he’s the sweetest horse. He always gives me 100% in the ring, and I just love him so much. He is very trustworthy, and I know he’s always got my back.”

For her win in the $10,000 1.30-1.35m NAL Medium Junior/Amateur Final, presented by Parlanti, Ehman was presented with The Remy Martin Perpetual Trophy, donated by Rolling Acres & Melanie Wright, as well as The Congressional Cup. She was also named the Best Medium Junior Jumper Rider, sponsored by Rosemont Farm, and is the first rider to win both the $2,500 NAL Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper Welcome and the $10,000 1.30-1.35m NAL Medium Junior/Amateur Final in the same year with the same horse.

“I love coming to Capital Challenge because the atmosphere is always great and riding in the indoor is really special, especially when you win and get to do the victory lap around the ring. It always adds a special touch to it,” concluded Ehman.

Second place, in a time of 35.393 seconds, went to Elise Stephens, 17, of Whitefish Bay, WI, with Diablo, a 15-year-old KWPN gelding by Andiamo owned by Ashland Farms. Olivia Sweetnam, 15, of Wellington, FL, had the final double-clear performance of the night in 35.967 seconds aboard Ina, a 10-year-old KWPN mare by Durango VDL owned by Triple S Group.

Lisa Butzer, of Boca Raton, FL, was awarded the Best Medium Amateur Jumper Rider honors.

The North American League Finals are the culmination of the NAL’s year-long Series that includes classes at hundreds of horse shows across the United States and Canada. The NAL offers year-long series in five divisions: Children’s Hunter, presented by Charles Ancona; Adult Hunter, presented by LAURACEA; Children’s Jumper, presented by EquiFit; Adult Jumper, presented by SmartPak; Low Junior/Amateur Jumper, presented by R & R Hunter Horses; and Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper, presented by Parlanti. The NAL series conclude with year-end finals for those who accumulated the most points in their divisions over the course of the season.

Competition for the 2023 Capital Challenge Horse Show will conclude on Sunday, October 8, with the $5,000 WCHR Junior 3’6” Challenge, the $2,500 WCHR Junior 3’3” Challenge, sponsored by Noelle Wolf Stables LLC, and the $1,500 WCHR Children’s Challenge, sponsored by Stephanie Bulger & MeadowView. The final Junior Hunter and Children’s Hunter champions and grand champions will also be crowned on Sunday.