Show News & Results
2008 Jump Orders/Results by Date
Numerical Jump Orders/Results
- Budwesier Grand Prix
- Good Hands Competition
- NAL Speed Finals - Laura Chapot
- Intensity Describes Big Jump
- Gambler's Choice
- Play On Plays On
- Hunt Night
- On Top All The Way
- Land on Top
- South Rises Again
- PA National Horse Show OPENING Champions
- 63rd Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show, October 9-18, Features Country's Best Equestrian Competition and Entertainment
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride Will Be Featured Attraction of the 63rd Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show
- 2007 Show Recap
- 2006 Show Recap
- 1999-2007 Show Results
Budwesier Grand Prix
Saturday, October 18, 2008
History repeated itself as Kent Farrington and Upchiqui won the $75,000 Budweiser Prix de Penn National for the second time, closing night of the 2008 Pennsylvania National Horse Show.
Suspense is the essence of competition. Farrington faced 28 very tough competitors to repeat this win. The seventh of 10 clean trips in the first round, Farrington knew speed would be a prime factor in the jump-off.
"Upchiqui is an exceptionally fast horse," said Farrington, 20. " He's a great horse. He covers the ground faster than most horses and is quick over the fences."
The 11-year-old Belgium Warm blood needed to be quick. He was chasing a time of 39.99 seconds, set by Todd Minikus and Pavarotti; and, would be followed by McLain Ward and Phillipa who had beaten him as well as Jill Henselwood on Black Ice, another speed queen.
Upchiqui, jumping according to plan and form, galloped on towards the last fence –the highest jump at 5'1" on the courses. He stopped the clock at 37.94 seconds, chopping almost 2 seconds from Pavarotti's round. Neither Ward nor Henselwood could catch them.
The top three were Upchiqui, Pavarotti and Phillipa. Leading Open Jumper Rider honors went to McLain Ward. This was his third time to win that title. He won it in 2001 and 03 also. Laura Chapot won this year's Leading Lady Jumper Rider title.
The courses, designed by Michel Vaillancourt, proved excellent at sorting the good riders from the great ones throughout the show. He was pleased with the number of clear first rounds as jump-offs are great for spectators.
"There were a couple of lucky rubs," he said. "Fences that should or would have come down in other rounds, didn't. But it's good to get a break once in awhile. These are world class horses and riders. They got better as the week went on."
Good Hands Competition
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Twelve competitors in this year's National Horse Show Saddle Seat Good Hands Championship. A16-year-old Owensburg, KY native, Ellen Medley Wright riding Kalu's Can't Stop the Magic took top honors.
"She was extremely fluid," said Judge Lisa Waller of Knoxville, TN. "She nailed every point of the test. She's very aggressive but her riding looks effortless."
This was the second year for Wright to compete in the Good Hands at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. "Everybody hopes but you never know," said Wright. "I knew I did my best. I really liked the test--the small elements made it very intricate. It (my ride) felt great."
The test had the top 10 horses entering the ring diagonally on a counter canter, halting half way across the ring and picking up the left lead. At the rail, riders had to stop, jog across the ring, initiate a right hand circle still at a trot. Halting half way around the circle, riders had to pick up a right lead canter to finish the circle and continue straight to the arena edge and halt. Riders then had to drop their stirrups and trot, rising on the left diagonal around the end of the ring and down the sideline. Even dark pants couldn't hide swinging legs.
Lillian Shively co-owner of DeLovely Farms and Wright's trainer, was pleased. Familiar with both horse and rider, she noted how strong a horse Kalu's Stop The Magic can be—especially trotting back towards the in-gate without stirrups.
Wright clearly handled the test well and adds the Good Hands Championship to her current standing as the World Champion Junior Saddle Seat rider.
Second place went to Jacqueline Beck of Alisoviejo, CA Sarah Jane Smith from Cincinnati,OH was pinned third.
For Belle Owen, 13, who also rides with DeLovely, earning fourth place was a dream. "I came in hoping to make the cut, so I am really excited," she said. This is a highlight in her eight years of riding.
NAL Speed Finals - Laura Chapot
Friday, October 17, 2008
Finally, Laura Chapot – the Division's top qualifier for the last three years, won the $25,000 North American League Open Jumper Speed Finals at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Riding last in the field, the privilege of qualifying first, helped.
The leader was Anne Kursinski and Lorenzo with the solitary clean round and respectable if not fleet time of 63.385 second. Others had gone faster, but not without dropping or scattering rails. Chapot and speedster Bradbury knew what they needed to do and they did it! They came; they jumped; and, they chopped more than three seconds from Kursinski's time.
"It was a perfect trip," beamed Chapot, acknowledging that being second was getting annoying. "The course was tougher than I expected. There were bending lines and not many options. Turning inside to save time made the combination more difficult. You don't see a vertical, oxer, oxer combination very often. But, Bradbury was smooth; and, he's so fast!" The winning time wa s 60.211.
For anyone who ponders the value of time, the three seconds between first and second places, were worth $2,000 of prize money. Kursinski placing second, squeaked ahead of Callan Solem on VDL Torlando by a time fault of one second. Although Solem's round was clear, VDL Torlando was slow--earning a single time fault. That moment cost $1,250.
Olympic Team Gold Medalist McLain Ward was third. Unable to duplicate her double clean rounds from Thursday, Goldika 559 snagged a rail leaving the in and out. Their time was a blistering 54.533.
"That's the sport of it," said Ward. "She jumped beautifully and still had a rail. Show Jumping is a "what have you done recently" sport." He will take on Chapot again in the $75,000 Budweiser Prix de Penn National tonight at the Farm Show Arena. It will be the same riders, different horses facing yet another exacting Michel Vaillancourt course.
The final day program offers different breeds and different disciplines—the hallmark of the Harrisburg Horse Show. There is something for all equine athlete fans, beginning with the Amateur Owner Hunter Grand Championship, the UPHA Saddlebred Walk Trot Equitation Championship, the "Good Hands" National Saddle Seat Championship, pleasure driving and the six draft horse hitches. The 63rd annual show closes with a performance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police performing their musical drill.
Twenty-eight matching black horses with matching tack and riders armed with lances jog and canter intricate but precise figures to music. The Mounties audition for the special three year assignment to the drill team. About 90% have no previous riding experience. If selected, they spend a year learning to ride and master the drill. They last performed here in 2004. It is spectacular!
NAL Speed Finals - Laura Chapot
Friday, October 17, 2008
Finally, Laura Chapot – the Division's top qualifier for the last three years, won the $25,000 North American League Open Jumper Speed Finals at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Riding last in the field, the privilege of qualifying first, helped.
The leader was Anne Kursinski and Lorenzo with the solitary clean round and respectable if not fleet time of 63.385 second. Others had gone faster, but not without dropping or scattering rails. Chapot and speedster Bradbury knew what they needed to do and they did it! They came; they jumped; and, they chopped more than three seconds from Kursinski's time.
"It was a perfect trip," beamed Chapot, acknowledging that being second was getting annoying. "The course was tougher than I expected. There were bending lines and not many options. Turning inside to save time made the combination more difficult. You don't see a vertical, oxer, oxer combination very often. But, Bradbury was smooth; and, he's so fast!" The winning time wa s 60.211.
For anyone who ponders the value of time, the three seconds between first and second places, were worth $2,000 of prize money. Kursinski placing second, squeaked ahead of Callan Solem on VDL Torlando by a time fault of one second. Although Solem's round was clear, VDL Torlando was slow--earning a single time fault. That moment cost $1,250.
Olympic Team Gold Medalist McLain Ward was third. Unable to duplicate her double clean rounds from Thursday, Goldika 559 snagged a rail leaving the in and out. Their time was a blistering 54.533.
"That's the sport of it," said Ward. "She jumped beautifully and still had a rail. Show Jumping is a "what have you done recently" sport." He will take on Chapot again in the $75,000 Budweiser Prix de Penn National tonight at the Farm Show Arena. It will be the same riders, different horses facing yet another exacting Michel Vaillancourt course.
The final day program offers different breeds and different disciplines—the hallmark of the Harrisburg Horse Show. There is something for all equine athlete fans, beginning with the Amateur Owner Hunter Grand Championship, the UPHA Saddlebred Walk Trot Equitation Championship, the "Good Hands" National Saddle Seat Championship, pleasure driving and the six draft horse hitches. The 63rd annual show closes with a performance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police performing their musical drill.
Twenty-eight matching black horses with matching tack and riders armed with lances jog and canter intricate but precise figures to music. The Mounties audition for the special three year assignment to the drill team. About 90% have no previous riding experience. If selected, they spend a year learning to ride and master the drill. They last performed here in 2004. It is spectacular!
Intensity Describes Big Jump
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Only three of 31 horses came away clean in the $25,000 Pennsylvania National Big Jump. McLain Ward and Bluechip Bloodstock's veteran campaigner Goldika 559 were the sole competitors to have the winning double clear rounds. Brianne Goutal, 20, aboard Ralvester edged Michael Morrissey, 23, on Crelido; both took rails down in the jump-off, but Goutal did it about a half second faster.
Even winning, Ward admitted, "It was a very difficult course." "I was surprised as how strong it was," said the Olympic Team Gold Medalist "The triple came up early—even for as fast and careful as Goldika is. She's an amazing horse, incredibly competitive. I just have to wind her up. I feel lucky to have had her for the past six years. I take nothing for granted."
The triple combination, to which Ward referred, dashed the hopes of 10rider and one horse simply refused. Riders had to jump the 4'9"x 5' wide triple bar, regroup in two strides for the first, airy 4'11" vertical. The third element, another airy 4'11" vertical was a mere single stride away.
Like all the courses Michel Vaillancourt has devised for the Championships determined at this show, the rider must read the course and guide the horse. This means having a plan but being flexible enough to make minute adjustments instantly should the horse jumps a little bigger than usual or not jump as big, to move the horse forward or restrain it.
Ian Miller, nine-time Canadian Olympic Team member and owner of a two-fault round offered this explanation: "It's a really good course. You walk it, but the problems are not obvious. That's the art of good course design."
Ward and the rest20of the Grand Prix riders will have several more opportunities to test their skills on Vaillancourt's puzzles as the Pennsylvania National Horse Show continues through Saturday. Ward and Goldika return for the North American League Open Jumper Speed Final Friday. Ward will ride another horse, but he's got his eye on the $75,000 Budweiser Prix de Penn National the last night of the show. This is one of the few Grand Prix's Ward has yet to win and, for him, "winning never gets old."
Gambler's Choice
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Laura Chapot and Bradberry literally ran circles around the competition to win the $10,000 Gambler's Choice at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.
Dealt the number one spot, she galloped into the ring, jumped 14 fences, garnered 1120 points in 58 seconds. She asked the chestnut gelding to jump the 5'3" Joker on the way out of the ring. Their round earned 1320 points.
"He is fast…very fast," said Chapot. She figured on 10 fences in the 50 seconds, but "we ran out of fences at the end. I had to improvise. Bradberry has his own way of going and it suits my style." Apparently—their three extra fences earned 70 points. Chapot rides Bradberry for owner Harold Vogel of Basking Ridge, NJ.
Hip Hop with Leslie Howard up was second, 110 points behind. Beezie Madden and Danny Boy were third with an 1190.
Gambler's Choice is unique because there isn't a specific course. All fences can be jumped in either direction. Fences are valued by their difficulty. Riders try to maximize points in minimum time. When time is up, the rider can opt to jump ‘The Joker' for a 200 point bonus. If the fence falls, the pair relinquishes 200 points.
Michel Vaillancourt's course suggested card tables---four fences in a rough circle at either end of the ring. Riders may jump any fence twice for credit, however, if they knock down any, they not only lose the value of that fence, but they can not return to it.
Chapot completed two clean turns around the far "table," jumped a transition fence midway down the ring for 50, crossed the center twice for 320 and that was her plan. Time to spare and not particular plan she jumped the closest fence, turned back and headed for the next highest valued fence with an intermediate jump worth 20 on the way.
"It was a good course. It had a lot more options than most Gambler's Choices," Chapot said. "This is Bradberry8 0s first indoor show. Yesterday, his first time in the ring, he jumped so high, I was concerned, but he really settled down."
This win along with his maiden efforts on Wednesday earned Bradberry and Chapot the Open Jumper Speed High Score Award, edging Olympian Beezie Madden and Play On, who had won Wednesday's contests.
This class has special significance for Chapot as it was named for one of her famous former mounts, three time American Grand Prix Horse of the Year, Gem Twist. Gem Twist enjoyed a nine year career including the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Open Jumper action continues at the Farm Show arena with the $25,000 Pennsylvania Big Jump and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride beginning at 7p.m.
Play On Plays On
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Olympian Beezie Madden showed her mettle by sweeping both the $5,000 Speed Challenge and the $5,000 Power & Speed Open Jumper classes at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. And, she did it riding the same horse--Play On.
Going 17 of 37 in the Speed Challenge, Madden's strategy was simple: go fast!
Six riders had gone clean, but slow. Madden dropped one rail, that added four seconds to her time, but her time, 64.582 seconds was a full 2 seconds faster than closest rival.
"The course was good--a little difficult. There were jumps right on the rail and they were solid," Madden said. "It's good to be indoors. Indoors different, less space. He went fast. I'm really happy."
She has worked with Play On, an11-year-old chestnut20gelding, for five years. "He's made slow progress. He's very careful and alert to his environment," she said. He won two Grand Prix events this year, one in New Jersey, the other in Estoril Portugal.
His progress was obvious when he returned two hours later to capture the Power & Speed.
In this class, horses must jump faultlessly over the first, Power portion of the course, then shift gears showing speed and agility on the Speed section. Toppling rails in the Power section disqualifies the horse from the Speed phase. The power jumps were 4'7" to 4'9" high with spreads between 4'9" and 5.'
"Although the jumps were bigger, they seemed easier to get to," she said. Play On and Madden made it look like a romp in the park. Navigating the Power triple as well as the in and out cleanly, they stopped the clock almost two seconds faster than second placed Night Train.
Play On will show again Wednesday before having a week's respite before his next Grand Pri x. Madden rides her other horses through Saturday's $75,000 Budweiser Prix de Penn State Grand Prix. Her competition through the week includes fellow Olympian McLain Ward.
Join the fun at the Farm Show Arena for The Gambler's Choice at 7 pm. Admission is $18 for adults, $10 for children under 12 and seniors. Proceeds from the Pennsylvania National Horse Show benefits the Harrisburg Kiwanis Youth Foundation and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation.
Hunt Night
Monday, October 13, 2008
Just how far would you go to have fun?
The Battle Creek, Michigan Hunt Club shipped their horses nearly 800 miles to participate in the Pennsylvania National Horse Show's Hunt Night. Miriam Whelan, who manages the Battle Creek Riding Club with her husband Jim, wanted to support this Hunt Night tradition.
Originally, the three major indoor horse shows, Harrisburg, Washington and Madison Square Garden, featured Hunt Nights to bring the various hunts together for camaraderie and competition. Harrisburg is the only remaining showcase for field hunters and riders. This year 14 teams represented 10 Hunts.
All Whelan had to do was suggest going and three stalwart hunters agreed to load up their ponies and go. First, there was a little preparation as the team had not shown in years.
"Field hunters are different from show hunters," explain Whelan, originally from Greenwich, CT. "Their form is not always ‘picture perfect.' We had to practice a lot! We did a lot of gymnastics—combination fences, lead changes, tuning our control in smaller spaces and, of course, touching up our style."
Jerrold Falk on Silver Lining was pleased to be sixth in the Gentlemen's Hunter under Saddle. He was the only ribbon winner of the team.
"We're in it for the fun," Kathleen Pew said. Her h orse, Dazzling Dan unseated her in the Hunt Team competition. Despite a game effort to stay aboard, they parted company just before the final fence. Riderless ‘Dan' went on to jump the final fence with the team. Dusting herself off, she was still smiling. "I didn't even fall off when we practiced." An avid hunter, she joins Battle Creek twice a week from September to April, even if means flying home from Florida.
Actually hunting was key for another team member, Kathleen Neuhoff, DVM,. She brought four horses and has hunted every day since her arrival. A real hunting devotee, Neuhoff drove 11 hours through Thursday night, arriving at Robert Kinsley's South Branch Farm in York at 5 o'clock Friday morning. "We had time to unload and water our horses before going out with the Elkridge- Harford Hunt.
She brought four horses and has hunted every day since her arrival. "Friday, Saturday and Monday," said the small animal vet and podiatrist, "was with Elkridge-Harford. Sunday we rode with Mr. Carmel and Tuesday will be Green Spring. We'll go home right after hunting." In fact, the horse she showed, House20of David hunted earlier and was standing in for the horse she planned on showing. That horse was sore after hunting. All of her horses are rescued/retired thoroughbreds. Neuhoff is familiar with traveling for her passion. She lives in South Bend, IN and drives two hours each way to hunt with Battle Creek.
So did they have fun? Would they do it again? You bet! Look for them next year, perhaps they will bring two teams!
On Top All The Way
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Oklahoma native, Kels Annabelle Bonham, took the lead early to win the prestigious USEF/Pessoa Hunter Seat Equitation Medal -- the highlight of junior weekend at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Riding 61st of 268 contestants, Bonham had about 75 seconds to impress judges Alex Jayne and Tamara Provost. She definitely did, topping the call back lists throughout the day.
"This was my fourth year to compete here," said Bonham. "I've never made it into the second round, so that was my goal! To win? I'm in shock! Overwhelmed!," she said, beaming through a tear streaked smile.
"I rode the McCormack's 11-year-old Oldenburg, Sundance. He won last year and placed before that," she explained. "I first showed him at the Regional Competition in Westport, CT about two weeks ago."
It was a good match, because judges Jayne and Provost agreed that her rides over both the first and second courses put her way above the others.
"I was very nervous going into the second round, but I was pleased it was a ‘hunter type course.'" said Bonham. "My trainer Missy Clark and I decided I should go for smooth, really smooth. I knew I had to seize the day. This was my last chance."
Seize the day she did and it was a long day to seize! Bonham was up at 2 and showed just after 8. She had about nine hours to wonder how she fared.
Except for Bonham, the final test shuffled the top six.. Matthew Mettel of N. Falmouth, MA moved from third to second, while "The Boss'" daughter, Jessica Springsteen, Colts Neck, NJ, improved from fourth to third as Julianna Fischer slipped from second to fourth. Amelia McArdle, Barrington Hills, IL called back sixth, switched with Michael Desiderio from Chester, NJ dropped to sixth,
Riders representing 32 states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces vied for the Hunter Seat Equitation Medal.
Fox Hunting is the discipline honored Monday evening beginning at 6:30. Terrier races, a parade of hounds and the North American Horn Blowing Championship offer show additional aspects of hunting. The evening culminates with the 3-horse hunt teams from recognized Hunt Clubs in a four state area.
Admission is $12 for adults, $7 children under 12 and seniors. Proceeds benefit the Kiwanis Youth Foundation and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation.
Land on Top
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Taylor Land,16, whisked the Adequan/USEF Junior Jumper championship at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show with barely a rail. Fresh from winning the Jr. Jumper Prix de States team competition Friday, Land carried only 2.07 faults into the third and final round, a half rail ahead. Mavis Spencer and Clementine Goutal were at 4.00 and 4.91 respectively.
Riding in reverse order, Land had the benefit of seeing her competition sort out the challenges of Michel Vaillancourt's course. Her closest competition had clear rounds.
"Either a hero or a zero is what I figured when I went in," said the Alpharetta, GA native. "Canaille tends to go right, so the approach to the first oxer of the triple was to our advantage She is so game but I had to ride her forward into that jump." Six horses of 14 faltered took rails in triple combination.
"Canaille keeps her head up which lets me sit in the back seat a little—that helped too," she said. Land and 12-year-old Belgium Warmblood have been together for two years. This is the second year they have shown at the Farm Show Arena.
Second place went to Mavis Spencer aboard Winea Van't Vennehof. Spencer won the first night's competition and dropped a rail on the final fence in the Prix de States team competition Friday. "I get really nervous before I go in the ring," the Santa Monica native admitted. "I could hardly breathe, but Winea is a try-er. She always gives her best. Mistakes are more mine than hers."
Although Spencer was not able to make up for her single error the night before, she did have a flawless round and earned the coveted Steinkraus Style Award, named for Olympian William Steinkraus.
Clementine Goutal of NYC, NY finished third with Kelline Fonroy. Like Spencer, she went clear, but had a rail the Prix de States competition. At 18, she will move into the Amateur Jumper Division.
Despite six contestants taking down one or mo re of the triple combination, course designer Michel Vaillancourt noted how much the riders had improved over the past two days.
South Rises Again
Friday, October 10, 2008
"It's Southern girls and the way they rode" to paraphrase the Beach Boys that won the $10,000 Adequan/USEF Prix de States Junior Jumper competition at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Of 30 horses, only 3 went clean in the first round and all were from Zone 4 (AL, FL, GA, MS,TN, SC). The South led going into the second round by 12 points or three rails. "My horse, Lola, was a little anxious at first," Juliana Fisher,16, of Lake Worth, Fl, said, from within an embrace of happy teammates. "I went into the second round just wanting to improve." And, improve she did going clear.
The second round saw 10 clean trips. Three of these came from Zone 10 (CZ, NV) moving them to a close second a s Ann Marie Walker, from Mobile, AL, faltered with Radio Flyer with two rails and two time penalties.
"My horse was perfect in the first round," the 17-year-old said, "but she can be a little fickle and maybe a bit tired."
It was up to14-year-old Reed Kessler of Wellington, FL and Taylor Land of Alpharetta, GA. This is Reed's first year jumping at this level and she was surprised she qualified. She was glad to be riding on the same team with her best friend, Taylor. Reed had a rail in the second round after her clean first trip. Pressure shifted to Taylor, 16, riding anchor for her team and the final rider to compete.
"Canaille was an angel," she beamed. "I've ridden him for two years and have complete confidence in him. He did so well in the first round, I just figured we'd go in the ring and do it again. And, we did!"
This is only the third time in 30 years of Prix de States Jr. Jumper competition that the South – Zone 4, has won. The first time was 27 years ago when both Ta ylor Land's parents, Kim Kratish and Jay Land rode. "They were not even dating at the time," said former Zone 4 Chef d'Equip trainer Missy Clark. "Isn't that a great story?!"
Taylor Land is leading going into tonight's final phase of the Jr. Jumper Championship with her friend Reed, fourth.
Second place went to Zone 10, the 2007 winning team. This year the team was: Sophie Benjamin, Rancho Santa Fe; Saer Coulter, San Francisco; Carle Cook, Woodside; and Mavis Spencer of Santa Monica. Their final score was 12 faults to Zone 4's 4.
Zone 2 (NJ, NY, PA) finished third with a total of 20 faults. Riding for Zone 2 were: Clementine Goutal, NYC; Julie Lourie, NY; Kimberly McCormack, NJ;and, Chelsea Moss, NJ.
Junior Weekend continues at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show with the third and final phase of the Junior Jumpers Individual Championship at 8:30pm. Sunday features the USEF/Pessoa Hunter Sea t Medal Finals with more than 240 entries.
PA National Horse Show OPENING Champions
Thursday, October 9, 2008
WEST BEATS EAST IN JR. JUMPING FINAL
Mavis Spencer of Santa Monica, CA aboard Winea Van't Vennehof won the $5,000 first phase of the Adequan/USEF Junior Jumper Championship. Spencer rode second to last in the field of 30. Winea, a dark bay with a truncated tail, wound through the course in just under a minute, clipping full seconds off her competitor's times. Only second place finisher, Kellinefonroy with Clementine Goutal was faster, but they dropped a rail on the fifth fence.
"There is a god!" exclaimed Michel Vaillancourt , the course designer, after Spencer completed her ride. "I had expected more clean, but it's quite satisfying to see a late round that's clear." Only three riders managed the 15-obstacle course without knocking down a rail. For the first of the three-night Junior Jumper Championships, Vaillancourt kept verticals to 4'7" and spreads of 4'9."
"They are coming in confident, but are making little mistakes. They need to change strategies from fast to clean," he said.
Despite the diff iculties which included two eliminations, five different geographic zones were represented by the top five finishers: Spencer, CA, is Zone 10; Goutal, NYC, is Zone 2;. Natalie Johnson, MA, represents Zone 1; Taylor Land, GA, is Zone 4 and Catherine Pasmore, VA, is Zone 3. Nine zones are represented this year.
Competition intensifies as the top four qualifying junior riders ride in teams representing their home zones in the $10,000 Adequan/USEF Prix Des States. Seven of 10 Zones will be represented by full teams. This class uses a modified Nation's Cup format. Teams ride in flights. The team with the lowest number of faults after two rounds, wins. The Prix des States is slated to start at 7:15pm. Admission for adults is $12, for children and senior citizens, $7. Proceeds benefit the Harrisburg Kiwanis Youth Foundation and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation.
NUMBERS GAME IN PONY JUMPER FINALS
Clear rounds20book ended the $5,000 North American League (NAL) Pony Jumper Finals, but eliminations littered the midfield. Twenty-three of the top pony jumpers qualified to compete, but as the eventual winner, Abbie Ross, 13, of Wheaton, IL, said, "This was the biggest course I have seen. I was excited to be riding here for the first time, but I know just how competitive the other riders are."
This win marks several firsts for Ross. This is the first year she is campaigning her sister Lillie's pony TNT, the first time she has show at Harrisburg and her first year in NAL Pony Jumpers. For this Edison Middle Schooler, that's a lot!
After the first pony went clear, spectators were surprised when eight, nearly a third of the field, were eliminated through multiple refusals or unscheduled dismounts. As course designer Michel Vaillancourt noted ponies either go clean or stop. It was a relief to have three clear rounds providing competition for the jump off. Gillian King on Crum Creek was not able to duplicate her clean round over the shortened course, but both Ross and Elizabeth Solomon aboard Hip-Hop managed a double cl ear. Ross edged Solomon by about a half second.
"TNT is really fast. She turns nicely, too," said Ross. Because TNT is so experienced, Ross has learned to sit up and not lean! " When I lean then TNT leans and it feels like she might fall over," she said.
63rd Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show, October 9-18, Features Country's Best Equestrian Competition and Entertainment
The majestic Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride will join with more than 1,200 of the winningest horses in North America to make the 63rd annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show an extravaganza of equestrian competition and entertainment. The show is held October 9-18, 2008 at the State Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, Harrisburg, PA.
The show is one of only four US venues for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride in 2008. The Musical Ride, which will appear each of the last four nights of the show, is a thrilling exhibition of precision horsemanship, as 32 perfectly matched horses and riders execute a variety of intricate figures and cavalry drill choreographed to stirring music. Outfitted in scarlet uniforms, tacked in ceremonial saddlery, a Canadian maple leaf brushed into the croup of each horse, the horses and riders perform with military precision in formation at the trot and canter.
The Pennsylvania National Horse Show is one of the nation's premier equestrian competitions, featuring over 1,200 of the best horses and riders from throughout North America in ten days of virtually nonstop competition. The show awards eleven national championships and more than $350,000 in prize money. Tens of thousands of horse enthusiasts throughout the region and across the US attend the will enjoy the unparalleled competition, family activities, excellent shopping, and the opportunity to watch the very best in equestrian sports in action.
The show's signature event is the $75,000 Budweiser Grand Prix de Penn National, held Saturday night, October 18 at 8 pm, in which Olympic and World Cup veterans ride fast and jump high over a challenging course of obstacles up to five feet high and six feet wide. These same elite riders bring a variety of horses, and each evening session, Tuesday through Friday, October 14-17, opens with a thrilling Open Jumper class.
The Pennsylvania National begins with four days of competition for junior riders under age 18. Among the eleven national championships decided at the PNHS is the Adequan/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships. Three legs of competition for teams from across the US and Canada and their individual members takes place
Thursday through Saturday evenings, October 9-11. On Sunday, October 12, nearly 300 young equestrians ride for hunter equitation's pinnacle, the prestigious Pessoa/USEF National Hunter Seat Medal Final. Thirty percent of past winners have gone on to represent the US in international competition.
Young riders also compete in the National Horse Show ‘Good Hands' Saddle Seat Equitation Championship, held Thursday and Saturday afternoons, October 16 and 18. In addition, the PNHS will host the American Saddlebred Horse Association Northeastern Regional Championships, and the North American League championships for adult and children's hunters and jumpers, open jumper speed horses and pony jumpers.
A week of competition for various breeds and disciplines begins Monday, October 13, as mid-Atlantic foxhunters gather for Hunt Night, featuring terrier races and a Parade of Hounds. Wednesday through Saturday, October 15-18, competitors include graceful hunters, thrilling jumpers, high-stepping American Saddlebreds, thundering draft horses, easy-going western horses, and speedy roadster horses and ponies. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride will appear each evening, October 15-17 between 8 and 9 pm, and on Saturday, October 18, as the final event, following the Grand Prix.
Kids love horses, and families can treat them to free pony rides and other activities on Saturday, October 11 and Friday, October 17, when one child 12 and under is admitted free with a paying adult. October 15 to 18, families can visit the Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers and horses in their stabling area anytime between 9 am and 9 pm. Before and after their evening appearances, when the entire troop is present, kids can interact with each rider and collect baseball-style cards featuring officers and their mounts.
Shopping is so popular with both spectators and competitors that many visit the show mainly to shop. More than 50 vendors from across the country offer hours of shopping for exclusive apparel, furniture, fine arts, gifts, jewelry, equestrian supplies and much more.
Since its inception in 1945, the event has raised $1.5 million for youth literacy, educational, therapeutic and recreational programs through the Harrisburg Kiwanis Youth Foundation and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation.
October 9-14, general admission is $12 or $7 for seniors and children ages 12 and under. October 15-18, general admission is $18. Tickets are $10 for children and seniors October 15-17. No discounts are available Saturday, October 18. Reserved premium seating is available Grand Prix Night, Saturday, October 18, and tickets range from $22 to $50. The show begins at 8 am or earlier each day and continues through the evening every day but Sunday, Oct. 12, when it ends around 7 pm. A complete schedule is online at www.panational.org. General admission tickets are on sale now at http://panational.org/event-tickets.php. Reserved seats for Saturday night October 18 go on sale September 2 -- phone (717) 770-0222 weekdays between 9 am and 4 pm.
(Photos, interviews and press passes are available: Please contact steph@paequestrian.com)
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride Will Be Featured Attraction of the 63rd Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show
 Photo by John McQuarrie |
Click here to see the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride |
The world-renowned Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride will make the 63rd annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show one of the stops on its 2008 tour. The troop of 32 matched horses and riders will perform nightly Wednesday, October 15 through Saturday, October 18 at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, Harrisburg, PA.
The Musical Ride consists of the execution of a variety of intricate figures and cavalry drill choreographed to music. Demanding utmost control, timing and coordination, figures are performed in single file, two's, four's and eight's at the trot and canter. Formations include the Dome, once featured on the back of the Canadian fifty dollar bill, the Charge, executed at a gallop with lances drawn, and the March Past, a salute performed to the strains of the force's Regimental March.
The first officially recorded performance of the Musical Ride was in 1887, and it was first performed for the public in 1901. Members of the Musical Ride are police officers who after at least two years of active police work volunteer for duty with the Musical Ride. Most are non-riders who complete several months of training to become both riders and ambassadors of goodwill. Riders stay with the Musical Ride for two years, ensuring an annual rotation of half the riders. Thirty-five riders, thirty-six horses, a farrier, a sound technician, three NCO's and an Officer in Charge travel in four tractor trailers with the Musical Ride. The troop also appears on Canada's Parliament Hill, and in parades and special events.
The RCMP has bred and raised its own horses since 1939, as only five percent of the world's horses are black and only a percentage of those have the necessary conformation and temperament to meet the needs of the Musical Ride. The horses are a combination of thoroughbred, Hanoverian, Trakehner, and Anglo-Arab bloodlines. RCMP horses must be black, elegant, uniform in size, substance and temperament, stand 16 to 17 hands tall, weigh between 1,200 and 1,400 pounds, and have conformation that lends itself to health and longevity. They must be people- friendly and able to withstand the rigors and changes in food, water, climate and stabling that comes with traveling nearly thousands of miles between May and October each year.
The Pennsylvania National Horse Show is the country's largest multi-breed indoor horse show, featuring competition for more than 1,100 top horses and riders from across North America. The show runs October 9-18 at the Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, PA. For ticket information or a free brochure, phone (717) 770-0222 or visit www.panational.org.
