For Immediate Release:
Upper Marlboro, MD – September 28, 2013 - The Capital Challenge Horse Show began today at the Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. This is the first day of the Capital Challenge Equitation Championship Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. The Capital Challenge Horse Show runs through Sunday, October 6. The equitation age divisions were held today with over fences classes in the outdoor and indoor rings, joined by a flat class indoors. There were seven age division champions rewarded.

Alison Cooney of Chappaqua, NY, was the 17 Year Old Equitation champion on Wittewa. The division is sponsored by Frank Madden Show Stables. Cooney placed first and third over fences and was second on the flat. The reserve champion was Abigail Johnston on Caden, who finished second over fences and first on the flat.

Cooney has ridden Wittewa, or “Leon” as he's known in the barn, for two years. She described the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding as “a goofball.” She continued, “He was so soft today. He was on an open stride, and he helped me out. He's a great horse.”

After finishing fourth in last year's North American Junior Equitation Championships and riding in her final junior year, Cooney was excited to start out with a championship. “I'm so excited. It's such a nice way to start out,” she acknowledged. “He feels good and I feel like we're working well together, especially indoors. You have to adjust a little bit, adjust your eye. I feel ready, and he's perfect.”

She added, “I really like this ring. There's enough space to get going, and I like the footing. But it's not too big that it's not a challenge. You get ready for indoors, and it's good preparation.”

For Immediate Release

Upper Marlboro, MD – September 24, 2013 – The 2013 Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) presented by The Gochman Family is just days away, kicking off on Saturday, September 28, at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The show begins with its Equitation Weekend presented by Bigeq.com, and the fantastic competition continues through October 6 with top USEF “AA” rated events. The management team at Capital Challenge looks forward to welcoming many of the nation’s top horses and riders for its 20th year of exceptional equestrian sport.

Equitation Weekend Welcomes the Nation’s Top Young Riders

One of the highlights at Capital Challenge is the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Finals, which will be held during Equitation Weekend on Sunday, September 29. Following a year-long qualification process, the nation’s top children’s riders will compete through two rounds in an attempt to take the national title. Fifteen-year-old Avery Hinson of New Albany, OH, sits third in the standings coming into this weekend’s competition and looks forward to the opportunity to show.

This is Hinson’s third and final year competing in the children’s medal classes and her first year qualifying for the finals. Hinson rides with Angela Moore at Stealaway Farm in Dublin, OH, and will show Elaine, an 11-year-old Warmblood mare that she recently leased.

“It is quite surreal to finally be going to the THIS Finals and I’m so excited to have this opportunity,” Hinson noted. “Last year I was in the top 40, but was knocked out in the final week, so it is a relief that I made it this year! Even though it is my third year competing in the THIS medal classes, they didn’t get any easier.”

Hinson is happy to be sitting third in the country coming into the finals and explained that she tried to be as consistent as possible at every show this year.

For Immediate Release
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Upper Marlboro, MD – September 10, 2013 - The 2013 Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS), presented by The Gochman Family, would like to alert all exhibitors that specific biosecurity protocols have been put in place for everyone’s safety at this year’s show and will be strictly enforced. Biosecurity forms are mandatory for all competitors and can be found along with all other competition forms on the competitors page of the Capital Challenge website.

The Capital Challenge Horse Show will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The 2013 dates are Saturday, September 28, through Sunday, October 6. The show opens with the Equitation Weekend, presented by BigEq.com, and continues Monday, September 30, through Sunday, October 6, with the USEF “AA” rated event.

The complete prize list is available for download on the official horse show website www.capitalchallenge.org. In addition to the entry blank, also available for download are: the feed and bedding pre-order forms, stabling request forms, and the Biosecurity Protocols.

All necessary precautions are being taken to ensure that competitors arrive healthy and happy, and horse show manager Oliver Kennedy is working hard to make the process as easy as possible.

“Horses arriving to the show will not be allowed off their trailers without the necessary paperwork,” Kennedy stated.”The horse show has added knowledgeable staff to help with the process and create a quick system of checking and unloading. We ask that all exhibitors be prepared with up-to-date vaccinations and paperwork so that things can move quickly and easily.”

Regarding Biosecurity Protocols for horses arriving at Prince George's Equestrian Center, it is Mandatory that all horses have the following paperwork dated no earlier than September 22, 2013. Proper paperwork will need to be presented prior to horses unloading. Horses will not be allowed into their stalls until paperwork is presented.

This includes:

1. A Statement of Health signed by a licensed veterinarian dated no earlier than September 22, 2013. It MUST certify that the horse has:

* Been enrolled in a regular and consistent program of vaccination against EHV – 1 and EHV-4 with the most recent booster being within 120 days (since June 6, 2013); * Has not shown symptoms of, nor been treated for, EHV – 1 and or EHV-4 within the past 28 days; and

* Has not been exposed to any horses that have been treated for or shown symptoms of EHV – 1 and or EHV-4 within the past 28 days.

2. A separate CCHS statement of health including a temperature log of the seven days prior to arrival for each horse, is required. A form for this purpose is available online at www.capitalchallenge.org.

Please check the Capital Challenge website prior to shipping for arrival procedures and any updated requirements and paperwork.

The Capital Challenge Horse Show looks forwards to welcoming horses and riders for its 20th year of exceptional competition. For more information, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org or visit the Capital Challenge Horse Show page on Facebook!

In its 20th year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year's show will take place on September 28-October 6.

 

Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country's best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes.