Maddie Tosh Claims PBIA North American Junior Equitation Championships

Maddie Tosh of Milton, GA, topped the Palm Beach International Academy (PBIA) North American Junior Equitation Championships on Sunday, September 29, during the 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com. She combined scores of 91.66 and 93.33 to take the blue in The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.

From an original field of 115 riders, a callback welcomed the top 20 to return in reverse order based on their first-round scores. After taking reserve in the 2023 edition of the class, 18-year-old Tosh impressed in the irons of Dr. Betsee Parker’s Daktari with the high score of 184.99 for the win.

This year, Paige Walkenbach, 17, of Paradise Valley, AZ, was reserve champion aboard Cent 15, owned by Walkenbach Equestrian, and Caitlyn Gidley, 17, of College Station, TX, rode to third on NKH Darco Son, owned NKH, LLC. 

“This is my last junior year and my last equitation finals with [Daktari],” said Tosh, who is committed to the University of Georgia’s NCAA equestrian team beginning fall 2025. “We've both grown up together, so we have a great partnership. I've been his only equitation rider in all the finals, and he was my first horse for all of that. I think our partnership is something that allows us to strive.”

Three panels composed of two judges each awarded scores, and the average of the three resulted in the rider’s overall mark. The first panel was made up of Rob Bielefeld and Tony Sgarlata, Andrea Wells and Geoff Case sat on the second panel, and the third duo was David Beisel and Alice Coke.

“I wanted to stay smooth, make sure the turns worked out nice. We ended up doing a tricky inside turn back to the vertical through the bounce,” said Tosh of a risk she took over the Ken Krome-designed course in the second round. “That was the one thing I was a little worried about; making sure he had his eye on it. It worked out perfectly—he was right there with me and luckily, he knew what he was doing.”

Tosh returned as the penultimate competitor after earning the second highest score in the opening round and moved into the lead. Coaching her ringside was her father and accomplished hunter rider, Hunt Tosh. “I have such a strong team behind me. My horse and team deserve it way more than I do,” said Maddie Tosh, who trains with her father as well as John Brennan and Missy Clark of North Run. “They couldn’t be here, but I’ve been texting with them and everyone at North Run is so supportive. My dad and I have such a strong relationship, and we've done this together for so long. He knows exactly how much pressure to put on me to make ‘Doc’ and me shine.

“This is a special horse show; we've won three finals in this ring now,” continued Maddie Tosh of her past CCHS experiences. “This is all the best of the best people here, and I think it's a great way of opening competition for the rest of the year.”

For her win, Maddie Tosh was presented with the Best Equitation Rider Award, sponsored by Bob and Anne Braswell of Terrapin Hill Farm, and trainer Hunt Tosh was given the Leading Equitation Trainer Award, sponsored by Leslie Steele and Acres West.

Kate Hagerty of Terrebonne, OR, and Mae Mannis of Big Pine Key, FL, were both presented with the EMO Equitation Trip of the Show, sponsored by EMO Insurance, for having the highest scoring equitation round in the age group equitation divisions. Hagerty and Mannis both pocketed 90s in the 17-Year-Old Equitation Section B on Saturday.

The Glena Wirtanen Sportsmanship Trophy was also awarded on Sunday to Campbell L. Hudkins, 17, of Farmington, CT. This honor is given to a junior Equitation Showcase competitor, selected by the stewards and schooling supervisors, that exemplifies qualities of a true horseperson, sportsmanship, horsemanship, and turnout of both horse and rider.

While the Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com, has concluded, the 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show continues through October 6. The $10,000 North American League (NAL) Adult Hunter Finals, presented by LAURACEA, will be featured in Monday’s coverage.