NAL Jumpers Sprint to Wins at 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show

Ingram, Danhakl, and Holland Take Grand Championships

The 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show welcomed jumpers to The Show Place Arena for the first time on Thursday, October 3, for the North American League (NAL) Finals. Earlier in the day, the Amateur-Owner Hunters determined their champions, while the Adult Hunters dominated in the outdoor arena.

Johnson Wins Between College Classes

It was an exciting finish to the $10,000 NAL 1.15m Amateur Jumper Final presented by SmartPak, which had 23 entries in the opening round and 10 return for the jump-off. As the double-clear trips accumulated, the times kept falling. The timers would stop at 32.319 seconds for Wynter Johnson of Cornelius, NC, and her own Cessna, who entered the ring as the winners for the victory gallop. Just after them in second place were Kendall Casaccio and her own Indigo ES – last year’s Final winners – with a time of 33.291 seconds. Jeanne Reid and Atalante d’Uhart, owned by Arly Golombek, finished third in 33.296 seconds.

“I felt that everything flowed super well,” said Johnson of her rounds. “All the jumps were set in a good place where you could find them well out of the corner, and then the jump-off was super fun. Down the last line, we did the seven strides and kind of had to get up there to get that done. I definitely think that's where we made up the most time.”

Johnson described Cessna, a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare by Cardento, as “my dream ride of a horse.” She continued, “We connect super well together. She takes such good care of me. I know that I can trust her, and I definitely feel like that's the most important thing.

Johnson had a busy day, having attended classes at North Carolina State University in Raleigh in the morning and driven to Maryland for her evening competition.

“I am on track to graduate a year early, and school is very important to me,” said the Chemistry major. “I love to do this, so I try my hardest to be able to come to the shows. I had class this morning, and I drove four hours here to make the Final. I’m definitely glad that it was worth it to come and show today.”

Johnson was presented with the Best 1.10m/1.15m Amateur Jumper Rider Award sponsored by MeadowGrove, Inc. and received The Belfield Trophy donated by Julie Karpan as well as The Black Friday Memorial Perpetual Trophy donated by Alyson and Therese Gurney.

Kosloske’s Three-Second Victory

In the $10,000 North American League (NAL) 1.15m Junior Jumper Final presented by EquiFit and sponsored by Honor Hill Farms, 33 qualified entries took to the course to contest the class, while 12 were clear to the jump-off.

Blazing to the win were Jole Kosloske of Tampa, FL, and her own Floralie in 29.955 seconds. In second place were Katherine Mercer and GVS Goodwins Queen, owned by Frog Pond Stables, who finished double clear in 33.292 seconds. Gray Neville and her own Valeria were third in 33.298 seconds.

Kosloske, who trains with Jimmy Torano, took her experience from the first round and made a solid plan for the jump-off. “She dipped a little right after jump five, so I knew in the jump-off not to do that,” she recalled. “I was trying to keep in the time and be clear. Jimmy told me for the last line to do seven strides and that I would see it. When we walked it, it was eight strides and a very long seven, but Floralie covered that for me.

“The last line definitely is where we made up time,” she continued. “We were running out of that. After the one-stride, she did that inside turn really well. I saw the distance, and it worked out perfectly.”

Kosloske has ridden Floralie, a nine-year-old Selle Francais mare by Qlassic Bois Margo x Diamant de Semilly, for a year. The mare previously competed in FEI competition with Yuri Mansur of Brazil and was brought to the U.S. by Olympian Kent Farrington.

“She is very kind, and she tries very hard for me, which I appreciate with my choices,” she described. “She’s just so sweet and loves peppermints.”

For her win, Kosloske was named Best 1.10m/1.15m Junior Jumper Rider Award sponsored by Memorial Park Hunters. Both Kosloske and Johnson received awards donated by EquiFit, SmartPak, The Clothes Horse, and North American League.

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.

Romeo Woos the Judges

It was all heart-eye emojis as Romeo stood for the Grand Amateur-Owner 3’6” Hunter Championship sponsored by Finally Farm and received the Dr. Harold M.S. Smith Trophy donated by Dr. Suzanne Smith and Dr. Peter Craig. Romeo and John Ingram of Nashville, TN, had a first and two seconds over fences along with a win under saddle to take the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” 36 & Over championship sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare. Those top ribbons gave Ingram his first-ever Capital Challenge grand championship.

“The funniest thing to me is, I was looking at the trophies out there and my daughter Martha's name was already on it,” he laughed. “So, I guess I'm glad to say I'm in good company. Thank goodness I can kind of keep up with my kid.”

Martha Ingram piloted Romeo, a 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Diarado, to the grand championship in 2022 when John broke his collarbone, but once healed, John took the reins and never looked back. In 2024, they competed in the WCHR Hunter Spectacular at the Winter Equestrian Festival and were reserve champions at the Devon Horse Show.

“He is kind of a horse of a lifetime, honestly,” noted Ingram, who puts Romeo a “half-step” above his other famous mounts Hush and Airport 48. “He's beautiful, he jumps great, he can win the hack, and he's game. When it's a big moment, he's right there for you. He’s a horse for particularly big moments.”

Ingram was presented with the Best Amateur-Owner 3’6” Rider Award sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare and awarded The So Many Ways Challenge Trophy donated by Karen Kramer. Sophie Gochman and Colter won the $5,000 WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’6” Challenge sponsored by Robinson Ridge.

Quest Proves His Worth

It isn’t often that you hear about a pair that stay in the same division for 11 years, but Stephanie Danhakl and her longtime mount Quest have achieved that milestone. Even more impressive, they are still at the top of their game. The pair placed first, second, and second over fences on the way to winning the division championship in the Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunters 36 & Over and gaining the Grand Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunter Championship sponsored by Woodhill Farm. The pair was presented with the Missy McCutcheon Memorial Trophy donated by Susie Baker, Dr. Michele Hollis, and John Yozell, and Danhakl won the Best Amateur-Owner 3’3” Rider Award sponsored by Spring Mill Farm.

Danhakl and Quest won these same awards in 2016, and at the steady age of 17, Danhakl is still amazed at the vitality and consistency of the KWPN gelding by Verdi.

“For him to be grand champion eight years ago and again today, in such a competitive division where you have to score in the 90s to win a class, truly just speaks to his heart and what an incredible horse he is, as well as the care that he gets,” said Danhakl, who trains with Scott Stewart, winner of the In Disguise WCHR Trainer Award sponsored by Jim and Ellen Toon of JT Farm. “He's really the same as he was. You know, certain horses, they feel older, or year to year, they might feel a little different. He's really been the same for 11 years.”

Danhakl also attributed their success and Quest’s longevity to his personality. She said, “He's very easy on himself. He's actually has a bit of blood, and he’s not ever tired. Last year, actually, I almost got bucked off of him.

“Quest has a big personality, and he's a brilliant horse,” she continued. “He's probably the smartest horse I've ever ridden, and he pretty much always rises to the occasion. He's kind of a freak of nature, I would say.”

While Danhakl has won four Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Championships (two at 3’3” and two at 3’6”), winning at Capital Challenge is still exciting. “It never gets old to come to a great show like this against the best of the best and deliver great rounds and come out on top,” she acknowledged.

“I still get jitters and butterflies. I always try to let the horse shine and not get in the horse's way. I feel so lucky to be able to have these partnerships with the horses, and to be able to come here, even when I have so many things going on at home,” said Danhakl, who has two kids under the age of two in Dover, MA.

Ending her day with another victory, Danhakl and Tufton Avenue won the $2,500 WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’3” Challenge sponsored by Milestone, LLC/Havens Schatt.

Holland Receives the Royal Treatment

With two wins over fences and a score of 90 in the stake class, Andee Holland of Miami Beach, FL, and Lochridge Prince won the championship in the Adult Amateur Hunter 50 & Over division sponsored by Ocean Echo. Their top ribbons also garnered the Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Championship sponsored by Steve Martines. They were presented with The Equus Entries Challenge Trophy donated by Equus Entries and Sue and Ralph Caggiano. Holland won the Best Adult Amateur Rider Award sponsored by Phoebe Weseley and River Run Farm LLC. Her trainer, Jimmy Torano, was presented with The Gail Knieriem Memorial Trophy sponsored by Evermore.

Holland and Torano found “Prince” four years ago when Holland wanted a horse that could contest the Adult Hunters. “I immediately fell in love with him, and he’s absolutely perfect,” said Holland of the KWPN gelding by Ampere. “He’s so easygoing, calm, and affectionate; he’s everything you would want him to be. He’s really perfect, and I’ve never had a horse like him before.”

Holland previously rode in English Pleasure saddle seat classes with Saddlebreds and Arabians before making the switch to the hunter/jumper discipline 15 years ago. She has trained with Torano for 10 years.

“I started riding in the hunters because it added another dimension with jumping, and it piqued my interest and was more challenging,” she explained. “It was a whole new thing for me. I got a horse first when I was 13 years old, and ever since then I’ve always loved horses.”

In her third time showing at Capital Challenge, Holland notes that is one of her best wins and a big accomplishment to score in the 90s again. “He had the perfect energy, and the distances came up great, especially in the second round,” she said. “Both rounds were everything I could have wanted. It means a lot to be grand champion here. It’s a great honor and very exciting.”

Additional champions included:

Amateur-Owner Hunter 3'3" 18-35
Sponsored by Pine Hollow Farm
Sandori SCR, Caroline Signorino, Meridian Farm LLC
Private Practice, Martha Ingram, John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC

Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” 36 & Over
Quest, Stephanie Danhakl, Stephanie Danhakl
Scout’s Honor, Irene Neuwirth, Irene Neuwirth

Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” 18-35
Sponsored by The Hallman Family and MerryLegs South LLC
Colter, Sophie Gochman, Sophie Gochman
Jenkins, Martha Ingram, John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC

Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” 36 & Over
Sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare
Romeo, John Ingram, John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC
Coconut Grove, Irene Neuwirth, Irene Neuwirth

Adult Amateur Hunter 50 & Over
Sponsored by Ocean Echo
Lochridge Prince, Andee Holland, Andee Holland
Rocklyn, Anne Byers, Anne Byers

Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49
Notorious, Stephanie Bulger, Stephanie Bulger
Si Bene, Stephanie Bulger, Stephanie Bulger

Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35
Sponsored by Lainie Wimberly and Brigadoon Show Stables, Inc.
Crush, Sachi Kawabata-Porto, Kimberly Stewart
Casallo, Jessica Yeager, Anna Mae Saunders

The 2024 CCHS continues on Friday, October 4, with the Ariat National Adult Medal Finals as well as the $30,000 WCHR Professional Finals, presented by Walkenbach Equestrian, and the start of the junior and pony hunters.