Upper Marlboro, MD – September 28, 2014 – The Capital Challenge Horse Show held three major equitation finals on Sunday of Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com.  Victoria Colvin, riding Clearway, repeated victory in the Private Tutoring Services North American Junior Equitation Championships. In the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children's Medal Finals, Hayley Iannotti riding Quasa Granda was victorious. Eleanor Hellman and Nigel took the win in the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Championships. Hunter competition begins on Monday, September 29, at the Capital Challenge Horse Show and continues through Sunday, October 5.

There were 79 entries in the Private Tutoring Services North American Junior Equitation Championships, and riders contested a course set by Kenneth Krome. There were five judges for the day's finals: Jeff Ayers, Linda Andrisani, Scott Fitton, Mark Jungherr, and Scott Williamson. In the first round, Colvin and Clearway, a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding by Cheenook owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, went straight to the top with a score of 90.20.

Colvin said of the courses, “He has a really big stride, and all of the lines were pretty much (riding) easy today. I think the first course was a little more challenging than the second one, but he handled it great.”

For Immediate Release
Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Upper Marlboro, MD – September 25, 2014 – The Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS), presented by The Gochman Family, is pleased to announce some great improvements to the facility at Prince George's Equestrian Center (PGEC) this year, including footing upgrades in all of its outdoor rings. CCHS celebrates its 21st anniversary in 2014 beginning this Saturday, September 27, and continuing through October 5 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Shannon Bethel of PGEC is proud of the work that has been done to improve the facility in recent years and hopes that exhibitors enjoy the very best show experience with their horses at this year's Capital Challenge Horse Show.

Bethel explained some of the facility work that has been done, stating, “In between our last two shows we went in and removed the entire base of the main show ring outside. We took 14” out, and we installed an entirely new drainage system and a completely new base. We also installed all new fiber footing and then Capital Challenge had David Lauinger top it off with his footing to make it even better. We ended up with a ring that is absolutely the best we have ever had. You can ride during pouring down rain storms or anything else. It turned out perfectly.”    

Championship went to Bases Loaded and Ava Free.
Winning is nothing new for Victoria Colvin at Capital Challenge. This is the third year in a row that she has taken home Grand Junior Hunter Champion and Best Junior Rider honors, and she swept the tricolors in the 15 & Under divisions.

“We always aspire to do great at all of the shows, but we don’t really have any set goals. Just to go around nicely and not fall off!” she said with a smile. “I think the fall shows, everyone wants them to go well since they’re the biggest shows of the year for the hunters.”

Pilla was the Children’s Hunter Pony division champion. In the evening session, Reid Patton took the top prize in the $10,000 North American Junior/Amateur Jumper Challenge Final Round sponsored by ARIAT on Twisther. The Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at the Prince George's Equestrian Center, concludes on Sunday, October 6.
   “I’ve always had terrible luck at this show. I couldn’t get myself together here,” Madeline Schaefer of Westminster, MD.  At the young age of 12 she has been able to change her bad luck at Capital Challenge in a big way. The talented rider rode Armani to the lion's share of awards today on two ponies.

Q and Susan Baker, and Sutton Place and Katie Robinson in the Amateur-Owner and Adult Hunter divisions. In the evening session, the fastest jump-off round came from Elizabeth Kirby and Winter White for the win in the $10,000 Children's/Adult Jumper Challenge.

The remaining highlight class of the week for the professional hunter riders is the $5,000 WCHR Professional Finals, presented by the John R. Ingram Fund, for the top six hunter riders in the country on Friday, October 4. The Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at the Prince George's Equestrian Center, will run through Sunday, October 6.

The Amateur-Owner 3'6” Hunter 36 & Over champion, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare, was Sambalino, ridden and owned by Becky Gochman of New York, NY. They won two classes and were second over fences, and they placed third under saddle. The reserve champion was Lyn Pedersen, who rode Silhouette to second, third, and fourth places over fences and the victory under saddle.

For Immediate Release

Upper Marlboro, MD – October 1, 2013 – Nine championships were awarded today at the Capital Challenge Horse Show presented by The Gochman Family, honoring the best hunters in the country. Along with the Second Year Green Working and High Performance Hunter divisions, championships were given in six Future Hunter divisions and the Performance Hunters 3'6”. The Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at the Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, runs through Sunday, October 6. Don't forget, you can watch all of the champions' jumping rounds by clicking on the “Individual Rounds” button at www.capitalchallenge.org. 

The professional hunters will wrap up their divisions tomorrow. The highlight classes of the week for the professional hunter riders are the $25,000 WCHR Professional Challenge, sponsored by Pony Lane Farm, on Wednesday, October 2, and the $5,000 WCHR Professional Finals, presented by the John R. Ingram Fund, for the top six hunter riders in the country on Friday, October 4.

In the Show Place Arena, the first championship awarded went to Queen Lattifa, ridden by Hunt Tosh for Kenneth and Douglas Wheeler. The pair received two firsts and two seconds over fences and were sixth in the under saddle in the Second Year Green division. John French and Oscany, Inc.'s Small Celebration picked up the reserve championships after a first, third, and fourth over fences and a win under saddle.

Tosh, of Milton, GA, has a new ride in Queen Lattifa, an 11-year-old Westphalian mare, and this was their fourth show together. After winning a championship at the Devon Horse Show, Kenneth Wheeler “fell in love with her,” Tosh said. He added with a smile, “(He) spontaneously bought her without me ever riding her. He came to me and said, 'We have a new horse!' He saw her and had to have her.”

For Immediate Release
Upper Marlboro, MD – September 29, 2013 – There were three competitive equitation finals held today during the Capital Challenge Equitation Championship Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. Victoria Colvin was victorious in the North American Junior Equitation Championships on VIP Z. The win in the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children's Medal Finals went to John Porter on Kennebec, while Conor Perrin and Gelato won the blue ribbon in the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Championships. The Capital Challenge Horse Show runs through Sunday, October 6, at Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.

All three of today's finals were held in the Show Place Arena. Starting out, there were 78 entries in the North American Junior Equitation Championships, and the top 20 from the first round returned for the second round. It was a lead from start to finish for Colvin, who was the only rider in the class to score in the 90s in both rounds. She took the first round win with a 92.20, and topped that with a 93 for a total of 185.20 for victory.

Second place went to Megan McPherson on Great Expectations. She scored 91.20 and 84.53 for a total of 175.73 for second place. Alison Cooney and Wittewa were third with a total of 174.21 after scores of 88.29 and 85.92.

Due to Colvin's large margin of victory, no test was needed. Colvin was relieved that she didn't have to return for a test, but didn't know how many points she had won by. “That was nice that it was over after the second round. I like having two rounds and done!” she agreed. “I didn't really see the points. (The announcer) just said it was enough to not have to test. I think it's awesome and better than to win by .25 or something!”

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.