Sweetnam and Casaccio Speed to Victory in North American League Jumper Finals

The 2023 Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, got everyone’s adrenaline pumping on Thursday, October 6, as riders raced over the course for wins in the North American League (NAL) Jumper Finals, and two champions were crowned.

In the $10,000 NAL Children’s Jumper Final, presented by EquiFit, Collin Sweetnam of Wellington, FL, turned and burned with Just Noble to claim the top prize in 34.580 seconds. Kendall Casaccio of Marmora, NJ, and Indigo ES ran away with the win in the $10,000 NAL Adult Amateur Jumper Final, presented by SmartPak, in 36.048 seconds.

The Best Children’s Jumper Rider Award, sponsored by Memorial Park Hunters, went to Sweetnam, and Casaccio earned the Best Adult Amateur Jumper Rider Award, sponsored by MeadowGrove Inc. For her award, Casaccio received the Belfield Trophy, donated by Julie Karpan.

Thirteen horse-and-rider combinations found the clear path over the challenging track designed by Joe Carnicom (USA) and Megan Rawlins (CAN) to advance to the jump-off.

“In the first round, it was pretty tricky for us in a small indoor under the lights,” noted Sweetnam, 13. “There was a lot of pressure. I think she handled it well, and I handled it well. When I went clear, I just got some water and I chilled out for second, then went over my jump-off to be prepared.”

One of the first to return to tackle the short course, Sweetnam put the pedal to the metal, setting a time to beat that could not be caught.

“The jump-off was quite straightforward,” noted Sweetnam. “There were no really sneaky turns; I just went really fast and tried my best, and my horse was amazing. In the first round I was nervous, but in the second round I was like, ‘I got this. I’m prepared.’ It was very fun zipping around that ring.”

Sweetnam has been partnered with the 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare by Character 1243 since November 2022, having inherited the ride from his sister, accomplished junior rider Olivia. While they were completely in sync for this victory, it wasn’t always smooth sailing.

“She’s pretty small, but she’s very, very quick,” said Sweetnam of the mare known as Noelle in the barn. “During the winter, the whole time she was very hard to learn on. It looks so easy because she’s so smooth and so fast, but once you get on her, she’s actually difficult. She’s very quick, but you win a lot when you get to know her. Once I got to learn her, she was amazing.”

For Sweetnam, horses are running through his veins. His father is Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam, currently ranked twelfth in the world, and his mother is top trainer Ali Sweetnam at their family’s Sweet Oak Farm in Wellington, FL. When asked about his family, Collin did not hesitate in expressing his appreciation for their support.

“My dad inspires me a lot, and he’s amazing,” he said. “My mom is incredible, and she helps me a lot with my nervousness.”

Vivian Golden, 14, of Wyomissing, PA, raced into second place in 35.167 seconds with her own Chester, a 16-year-old Warmblood gelding by Camero M. Completing the top three was Grace Lowe, 15, of Arlington, VA, aboard her own Kilbrackan Blue Jay, a nine-year-old irish Sport Horse gelding by Plot Blue. They crossed the timers in 37.961 seconds.

The $12,500 NAL Adult Amateur Jumper Final, presented by SmartPak welcomed 31 entries into the Show Place Arena, but only one would come out the winner. Kendall Casaccio of Marmora, NJ, and Indigo ES were fastest out of a jump-off field of nine for a wire-to-wire victory.

Casaccio and Indigo ES set the time to beat at 36.048 seconds as the first ones to return for the jump-off over a course designed by Joe Carnicom (USA) and Meghan Rawlins (CAN).

“In the last line I did do a winger,” she laughed. “I did seven strides down the last line, which was a little bit of a stretch for me. I did really commit, and she had my back, so that’s all I can ask for.”

She then had to wait in the schooling ring to see if her time would hold.

“As I was walking around the schooling area, my heart was racing, because the in-gate kept announcing my time as the one to beat, the one to beat, the one to beat,” she remembered. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, did all these horses go and I held on to it this long?’ Because typically the first is the worst spot in the jump-off, but I was so happy that I was able to hold onto it the whole time. It was definitely a pressure cooker for sure.”

Casaccio has ridden Indigo ES since the spring of 2022 after she purchased the horse from Emil Spadone, who has helped train her at shows since she was 14 years old. “She’s a little quirky, but I just love her to death,” said Casaccio of the 10-year-old KWPN mare by Dantos. “She’s such a sweet horse in the barn. She’s a little weird; she’s a little spooky at certain things, but I totally get her. She gets me, and I get her, and I really do love her.”

Casaccio and her main trainer Chrissy Covarrubias, whom Casaccio has trained with for 20 years, make a good team at horse shows taking care of the horses themselves and braiding.

Having shown at Capital Challenge Horse Show since she first competed in the equitation age division at 14, Casaccio was excited to take home a big win. “It means so much,” she expressed. “I have been so hungry for a win like this with this mare, because she’s amazing and I just love her.”

The Best Adult Amateur Jumper Rider Award sponsored by MeadowGrove, Inc. was awarded to Casaccio. For their win, they were presented with The Belfield Trophy donated by Julie Karpan.

Second place went to Charlotte Powers of Leesburg, VA, with Escot 6, her own 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Escudo I. They finished the jump-off clear in 36.625 seconds. Madison Smyth of Dayton, MD, and Encore, a Selle Francais gelding, placed third in a time of 37.197 seconds.

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.
 

Repeat Grand Championship for Stephanie Bulger and Hemingway

For the second year in a row, Stephanie Bulger of Bridgehampton, NY, and her longtime partner Hemingway secured the honors of Grand Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3” Champion, sponsored by Missy Luczak-Smith. The pair won two over fences classes and picked up an additional two second-place ribbons for the championship in the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3” 36 and Over division, sponsored by Karina Brez Jewelry. Bulger was also presented with the Missy McCutcheon Memorial Trophy and the Best Amateur Owner 3’3” Rider Award, sponsored by Spring Mill Farm.

“He has felt amazing the past couple of days,” commented Bulger of the 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding. “He is special all the time and puts a tremendous amount of integrity into everything he does. He also knows when it’s time to really turn it up. I just have to put my heels down and hold on.

“It means so much to win here, especially with the trophy being named after Missy who was a sweet, sweet lady and always brought a smile to everyone,” continued Bulger. “It’s a big honor to win her trophy and to compete among the best of the best. You had to have a score of 85 to even jog in that last class so there’s no room for error. It feels extra validating to all the hard work.”

This was an emotional victory for Bulger who had Hemingway come into her life two weeks after her son was born and has been watching them grow up together for the past eight years.

“Hemingway means the world to me. He is the horse of many lifetimes,” she expressed. “He’s a wonderful horse and a real gentleman. He knows his job beautifully. I just try to stay out of his way and let him shine. We have a wonderful partnership, and I’m extremely lucky to have him.”

Reserve champion in the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3” 36 and Over division was awarded to Brad Wolf of Memphis, TN, and his own Sebastian, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Cancara. The champion of the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3” 18-35 was Private Practice, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Lordanos ridden by Martha Ingram of Nashville, TN, and owned by John and Stephanie Ingram, LLC. Callie Seaman of New York, NY, and Moonshine, an 11-year-old Selle Français gelding by Untouchable, owned by Hallowell Lane Farm LLC, claimed reserve champion honors.

Caroline Ingalls and Concerto Capture Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” Championship

Caroline Ingalls of Rancho Santa Fe, CA, rode her own Concerto to the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” Championship, sponsored by Finally Farm. Ingalls piloted the 12-year-old Westphalian gelding by Cathanos to top honors in the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6” 18-35 division, sponsored by The Hallman Family and MerryLegs South LLC, to secure the overall grand title. The pair won the handy stake with a score of 87.5 and also earned two second-place ribbons and a third place in the under saddle.

Ingalls and Concerto were presented with the Dr. Harold M.S. Smith Trophy, donated by Dr. Suzanne Smith and Dr. Peter Craig. Ingalls was named the Best Amateur Owner 3’6” Rider, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare and awarded The So Many Ways Challenge Trophy, donated by Karen Kramer. The reserve championship in the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6” 18-35 division went to Martha Ingram of Nashville, TN, and John and Stephanie Ingram, LLC’s Jenkins, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Charisma.

“He’s felt great especially because I hadn’t really jumped a full course on him in about a month,” explained Ingalls, 32. “We wanted to give him some nice downtime and make sure he was really sharp for this show. He was fantastic, and we put in some great rounds. Today he was really on fire in the handy and so lovely to ride. I think he really rises to the occasion and Indoors is a lot more interesting to him than the shows that we go to all year.

“This is an incredible show,” continued Ingalls. “This was my very first indoor show when I was 14 years old. The first time I ever came into this indoor I was just blown away because of the atmosphere. Capital Challenge is one of the biggest horse shows now, and one the most important hunter shows.”

After taking a short break from riding, Ingalls decided she wanted to get back into the sport and found Concerto during the winter of 2016 when the gelding was five years old. Ingalls quickly realized Concerto shined in the hunter ring and has been bringing him up the ranks since.

“He has such an incredible resume at this point, and I’m so grateful that all of that has been with me,” commented Ingalls. “We’ve been through a lot, and I’ve gotten to see him grow over the years. I think a win like this definitely means a lot when it’s a horse you’ve developed a really big partnership with. Horses like this don’t come around often at all, and he’s a special one.”

The Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6” 36 and Over championship, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare, was awarded to Katie Robinson of Buffalo, NY, and Robinson Ridge, LLC’s MTM Plus One, a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding by Captain Jack. Irene Neuwirth of Culver City, CA, and her own Juan Carlos, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Casall, received reserve champion in the division.
 

Rindy Dominguez and Frosted Freeze Out the Competition for Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Championship

Rindy Dominguez of Barrington, RI, piloted her own Frosted to the title of Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Champion, sponsored by Steve Martines. The duo picked up two blue ribbons over fences and a second place under saddle to earn the championship honors in the Adult Amateur Hunter 50 and Over division, sponsored by Ocean Echo.

“He's felt amazing,” said Dominguez of the nine-year-old Holsteiner stallion by Connor. “He keeps stepping up to the plate. Every venue that we send him to, he just does what he’s asked. He answers every question the right way and does it with such style and grace. He’s a stallion, but you would never know it if you watched him. He’s just an amazing horse that wants to win. He’s careful, sensible, and has a huge amount of talent.”

Dominguez imported Frosted from Belgium in October of 2022, and he began his hunter career at the beginning of this year. Although they are a newer combination, the pair definitely caught the judges’ attention with two scores of 88 over fences.

“He actually was from Ukraine and was doing the jumpers there,” explained Dominguez. “During the war, they brought him to Belgium. We bought him from Belgium and then imported him last October. He’s a stallion, so he stayed in quarantine for a month, and then started doing the Green Hunter 3’3” division with Jennifer [Hannan] in January, and then I started doing him in the Adult Hunters.”

For their grand championship, Dominguez and Frosted were presented with The Equus Entries Challenge Trophy, donated by Equus Entries & Sue and Ralph Caggiano and the Best Adult Amateur Rider Award, sponsored by Phoebe Weseley and River Run Farm LLC. Trainer Jennifer Hannan was presented with The Gail Knieriem Memorial Trophy, sponsored by Evermore.

Reserve champion in the Adult Amateur Hunter 50 and Over was earned by Laura Karet of Pittsburgh, PA, aboard Dinner at 8, a nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Bretton Woods owned by Glade Run Farm LLC. Champion of the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 division, sponsored by Lainie Wimberly and Brigadoon Show Stables, Inc. was received by Brittany Warden of Washington, D.C., and Glebe Ventures LLC’s Canyon, a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding by Warrant. Reserve champion was awarded to Sachi Kawabata-Porto of La Canada, CA, and Kimberly Stewart’s Crush, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Corlensky G. Maryann Zeira of Basking Ridge, NJ, rode Lesley Dryden’s Milo, a six-year-old Warmblood gelding, to champion in the Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49, sponsored by LifeVac. Reserve champion in the division was given to Jaclyn Fisher of Murfreesboro, TN, and her own Nureyev SCF, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood by Diktator Van de Boslandhoeve.

Competition will continue on Friday at the 2023 Capital Challenge Horse Show with junior hunter divisions, pony hunter divisions, the $2,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur Owner Welcome, presented by Voltaire Design, and the $2,500 NAL Medium Junior/Amateur Owner Welcome, sponsored by Wolf Creek Equine Hospital. The highlighted classes on Friday will be the WCHR Adult Amateur Challenge, sponsored by Kate Considine & Willow Brook Stables, the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals, and the $25,000 Professional World Championship Hunter Rider Final, sponsored by The Rein Family.