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U.S. Zone 4 won the Prix des States in Harrisburg, Zone 2 second (2)

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October 11, 2025

By Staff Writers

HARRISBURG, Pa.--Zone 4 won the $15,000 Prix des States Team Championship for the second year in a row on Friday evening, Oct.10,  at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg.

JJ Torano on Lyon 50 anchored the Zone 4 team with two clear rounds. (Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography)The team of Gabriella Curry, Lily Epstein, Amy Krebs and JJ Torano, of Zone 4 representing Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina,  finished on zero fauls for the win.

Krebs and Torano were also a part of the 2024 winning team.

Winning the silver medal with 12 faults was the Zone 2 team of Rylynn Conway, Adriana Forte, Tarin Kiely and Clara Propp represting Pennsylvania, How Jersey and New York.

The Zone 7 team of Campbell Brown, Avery Griffin and Michaela Munson representing Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas won the bronze with 20 faults.

“The group of kids that we’ve had coming up around the last two years are just very, very strong,” said longtime Zone 4 chef d’equipe Kim Land. “They’re well trained; they’re well mounted. They work very hard at the sport. They spend a lot of time doing it.”

“It’s been a build toward this success that we’ve had over the last two years, including the gold at the North American Youth Championships as well with this team," said Land. "These kids also have competed together. That synergy that happens when you have a team spirit like that, it really serves the group, and they feed on each other. There’s an energy that’s created that just doesn’t happen any other way.”

BY THE END of the first half of the two-round, modified Nations Cup format competition, Zone 4 had already shot to the top of the leaderboard on a score of zero.

Prix ded States trophy presentation (Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography)The Zone 2 team, led by Krista Freundlich, and the Zone 7 team, led by Martien van der Hoeven, both went into phase two on 12 faults.

In round two, Curry on Esto de Viscourt went first for Zone 4 over the course designed by Oscar Soberon, and she had her second clear round of the night.

“The first round, Esto jumped fantastic,” said Curry of the 11-year-old Selle Français gelding that she has ridden since earlier this year. “There were a couple of little dicey spots, because, as our first one in, I only got to watch one. So, other than that, he jumped fantastic, and he felt great. Going into the second round, I knew just how to keep him straight, and he already knew where he was going, so I just slowed myself down and felt great. We’ve jumped a lot of big classes, and he just gives me so much confidence and really tries his heart out.”

Next for Zone 4 was Krebs on Jabantos, the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding that she also rode to the gold medal in 2024, and while Krebs two fences down in round two, her first round clear was instrumental toward Zone 4’s ultimate fault-free finish.

“We have quite a history together. I got him when he was 6,” said Krebs. “I did like the 1.15m on him, and he’s taken me so far. He’s exceeded all of our expectations. He’s the best partner that I could ever ask for. He’s really amazing.”

Epstein on Zjechov wemt next for Zone 4, and she bettered her first-round, four-fault round to go clean.

“In round one, one of the jumps I had down because he anticipated left,” said Epstein. “So, then in round two, I knew that I needed to hold him straight there more, and then they all came together very nicely. Having the team event is really special.”

When Torano went, the gold was already clinched for Zone 4, but Torano still wanted to have a clean round for his individual standings.

“It was nice knowing I had a little bit of breathing space in both rounds with how much we were ahead, so I didn’t feel like it was a ‘I have to jump clear’ type of round, but obviously I wanted to,” said Torano who is now in third place in the individual standings heading into Saturday night’s final phase.

Holding the lead on a score of 0.87 points is Avery Griffin of Austin, Texas on Oh My Star Van Strytem, and Curry on Esto de Viscourt is second on an incredibly close 0.88 points.

Clara Propp won the individual gold medal in the Junior Jumper National Championships (2)

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October 12, 2025

By Staff Writers

HARRISBURG, Pa.--Clara Propp of New York, N.Y., on Mistral van de Vogelzang won the Individual Championsip of the USEF Junior Jumper National Championships on Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

Clara Propp on Mistral van d Vogelzang (Photo by Andrew Ryback)On Saturday evening,in the third and final day of junior jumper competition, Propp moved from fifth place for the win,

Going into the final round, Propp was on a cumulative score of 4.8, while just fractions of a point separated the top three, including Avery Griffin on a score of 0.87, Gabriella Curry with a score of 0.88 and JJ Torano with a score of 0.95.

Riders returned to the Harrisburg Coliseum in reverse order of their standings to compete over a course set by Oscar Soberon, and a clear round from Propp and Mistral van de Vogelzang put pressure for the four riders that followed her.

As a least one rail fell for each of them, Propp continued to move up the leaderboard.

With one rail down in the final phase, the silver medal went to Griffin on Oh My Star Van Strytem on an incredibly close score of 4.87, and Torano and Lyon 50 won the bronze on a 4.95 score.

“My horse is absolutely incredible,” said Propp of her 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding. “I’m really happy that it all came together tonight. I feel like I’ve been working on my partnership with him for almost a year now, and tonight really solidified that. Coming into tonight, I was going in fifth, so I knew I kind of didn’t really have anything to lose. I just wanted to put down a solid, clear round and hope for the best."

“EVERYTHING moves around, and, you know, one rail can change a lot or not change anything at all,” said Propp, who previously had won the silver medal in the Championships. “Anything can happen, just keep pushing. Don’t give up and don’t get discouraged if something doesn’t go your way.”

Propp began riding Mistral van de Vogelzang just under a year ago, shortly after the gelding competed at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with Victoria Gulliksen of Norway.

“I’ve been working on my partnership with him for almost a year now and tonight really solidified that,” she said.

“Every team you get to jump on is an experience,” she said. "Coming into the final in fifth and leaving as champion has taught me that anything can happen. “You have to just keep pushing through and don’t give up.”

Finishing  with the individual silver on 4.87 penalties was Avery Griffin of Austin, Texas on Oh My Star Van Strytem,

Griffin entered Phase III at the top of the leaderboard, but had a single rail in the final round.

“I was just thinking about the course and what my horse needed from me,” she said. “He jumped really well. We just got a little flat, which is where the rail came from, but I was really happy with the way he jumped the rest of the course and the shape he had while doing it.”

JJ Torano of Wellington, Fla., on Lyon 50, a 2014 Hanoverian stallion, won the individual bronze on a score of 4.95 after also having one rail down in the final round.

Torano’s horsemanship and classic American style of riding also won him the William C. Steinkraus Style Award, presented to a Prix des States junior rider who best exemplifies correct technique, sportsmanship, and respect for the sport.

“I look to McLain Ward a lot,” he said. “He’s a bit of a mentor to me and always helps me. He really preaches style and equitation, so this award is a great steppingstone towards hopefully being where he is one day.”

Olivia Sweetnam won the Hunter Seat Medal Final (2)

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October 13, 2025

By Staff Writers

HARRISBURG, Pa.--Olivia Sweetnam of Wellington, Fla., and Lexington, Ky., won the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final over 157 juniors after two rounds and a four rider work-off on Sunday, Oct, 12 at the 79th Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

Olivia Sweeetnam on Efendi (Photo b y Andrew Ryback Photography)For the past two years, Sweetnam has been one of the four riders chosen for a final work-off, and this time, the victory was hers.

“This is my fourth time doing Medal Finals, I believe, and I’ve been lucky enough to have a really good go all three times,” said Sweetnam, who finished in fourth in 2023 and in fifth in 2024. “This is my third year in a row testing, and I’ve tragically messed up the test both other times. So, I’m really happy to be able to pull it off today! I’ve been wanting to win this final for a really long time.”

Finishing in second place was Parker Peacock of Pfafftown, N.C., and Lily Epstein of Coral Gables, Fla., was third

In an impressive, and likely unprecedented, feat for trainers Ken and Emily Smith, all three of Sunday’s top finishers train for the equitation at the Smith’s Ashland Farms.

Following the first-round course, judges Ralph Caristo and Michael Tokaruk selected the top 25 to advance to round two.

“For the first round, I just wanted a smooth, consistent round. I didn’t want many changes in pace,” said Sweetnam. “All three rounds actually were very suited to my horse, so I’m very thankful for that. Efendi is the best, and I knew that he was beyond capable of this. He’s done it before with different riders, so he’s really the talent in the pair.”

“I’VE BEEN RIDING Efendi for I’d say almost two years,"said Sweetnam. "This is my second finals season on him, my second year at Medal Finals. He means so much to me. I’m so thankful to be able to ride him. I remember when I was like 10 years old, and I watched him win this final with Brian Moggre. I was in awe. He’s amazing. I’m beyond lucky to be able to sit on him.”

Sweetnam was called back in second place heading into round two, and she held that position going into final testing of the top four.

Peacock, who had been in fourth after round one, was called back on top, while Epstein, third after round one, held third place.

Emi Richards of Middlefield, Conn., who was called back 24th after round one, made a huge leap up the leaderboard and was called back fourth going into the work-off.

Adriana Forte of Watermill, N.Y., .called back in first after round one, had a rail down in round two and dropped to eighth.

"Emi Richards was in a group so close together in our judgement that any one of that group could have moved up said Caristo. "Emi's second round was extraordinary."

This is the sixth or seventh time I've judged the Final, and this was the best riding I've ever seen," said Caristo. "The one I felt sorry for was Adriana, having that rail down."

For the test, Caristo and Tokaruk asked riders to compete over a shortened course that included two counter-cantered fences, a trot fence and the demonstration of a hand gallop.

Rcharrds, Epstein and Peacock all chose to walk and then pick up the counter canters,while Sweetnam landed on the counter canter and held it flawlessly and nailed each aspect of the test to ultimately clinch the victory.

"Olivia's round was just beautiful," said Caristo. "The counter canters she did was the difference."

Peacock rode Montverdi, owned by Ashland Farms, while Epstein rode her own Charlie Brown.

“I wanted to stick with the plan I felt my horse would execute the best,” Peacock said. “With him being newer to this, the simple change was the better option for us in the test.”

“I wouldn’t change a thing,” said Epstein. “My horse is incredible. He’s always there for me and happy to go around and answer all the questions. Honestly, this has been a great day and a great week.”

Charlie Brown won the Doris H. Clark Memorial Perpetual Trophy as the mount deemed by the judges to be the Best Equitation Horse.

“I thought, all in all, the field was quite good, but certainly the top ones really separated themselves," said. Tokaruk. "I thought the first round did a great job of testing the skills of the riders without being overly harsh and punishing to the horses.”

“All three of these girls had great days, and that’s why they’re sitting on top," said Tokaruk. "In the end, Olivia was the best, so she pulled it out and had three excellent rounds. Hats off to her and her horse and her team, and for second and third, those two guys also did a fantastic job. They should be really happy with how they’ve done.”

“This is the future of our sport," saidCaristo. "There’s nothing like it, and right now, I think our sport is the pinnacle of what it’s going to be for the future. I think it’s amazing.”

Keys Discount and Ethics won the two Stakes at the Virginia Fall Races (2)

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October 13, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

MIDDLEBURG, Va.--Jack Fisher trained horses that again dominated in a steeplechase meet, this time at the Virginia Fall Races on Saturday, Oct. 11.

Ethics ridden by Freddie Procter (Photo by Tod Marks)Fisher had three winners, including in both Stakes, and had horses finish first, second and third in the Three-Year-Old Hurdle Stakes.

Riverdee Stable's Ethics, ridden by Freddie Procter, won the $50,000, 2 1/8 mile Will O'Keefe Memorial Three-Year-Old Stakes by 2 lengths in 4:06 45 over Scorpius and Cooper, both also trained by Fisher.

Mrs. John R.S. Fisher's Keys Discount, ridden by Graham Watters, won the $50,000, 3 1/4 mile National Sporting Library & Museum Timber Stakes by 10 1/4 lengths in 6:38 over Marcel Magic (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson, and Wagner (ire), trained by Todd Wyatt.

Fisher's third winner was Potus, another owned by Riverdee Stable,and ridden by Watters, who won the $20,000, 3 mile Maiden Timber by 4 1/4 lengths in 5:37 2/5 over Glencorrib Sky (Ire), trained by Leslie Young and Total Joy (Ire), also trained by Young.

Ethics was bred and raced by Calumet as a 2- and 3-year old with only one third place finish from four starts,

"I watched him race as a 2-year-old at Kentucky Downs," said Sean Clancy, syndicate manager of Riverdee Stable. "He fell out of the gate and was far behind, but he finished 10 when he should have been dead last. I thought right then he'd make a jumper. He certainly had the pedigree."

ETHICS is by Hard Spun out of a Blame mare.

"As a 3-year-old, he ran in a maiden claiming, at the  beginning of the year, and then I bought him privately in February," said Clancy. "We turned him out for two months, and then he learned to jump in April."

Ethics ran on the flat twice in maiden claiming races for Riverdee in July and August.

"We screwed up the plan in the first race," Clancy said. "He ran too close to a fast pace and finished ninth. Then in the second race he finished four but showed me enough to be a jumper. He was never bought to be a maiden claimer on the flat." 

Ethics then won in a his first race over fences, a maiden special weight at Colonial Downs before running in and winning the Stakes race at Middleburg.

"He's run twice in two weeks now," said Clancy. "If he's good coming out of that, he'll run next in Camden on Colonial Cup Day."

Keys Discount has now run four times in 2025, all in Stakes races, and he's won four times, and he seems to get better ever time he runs.

The way he won in Middleburg was impressive.

He went right to the lead and led by five lengths, increasing his lead throughout the race to lead by 14 lengths at the last fence and was eased in the stretch to win by 10 1/4 lengths.

 Julie Gomena saddled Stonelea Stables' Risk Taking, ridden by Bernie Dalton, to win the $40,000 Maiden Hurdle by 4 3/4 lengths in 4:07 3/5 over Verbal, trained by Young, and Getti'downtoit, trained by Mark Beecher.

Tom Garner saddle Butler Hall Racing's Take Your Seats (Ire), ridden by Evan Dwan to win the $30,000 Optional Maiden Starter, division 1, by 2 3/4 length in 4:06 over King of Tsavo (GB), trained by Young, and Fiery Dart, trained by Keri Brion.

Gratia Prince, owned by BJF Racing, trained by Barry Foley and ridden by Harry Beswick, won the $30,000 Optional Maiden Starter, division 2, by 3/4 length in 4:06 2/5 over Fouroneohsmoke, trained by Brion, and Maryland Moon, trained by Wlliiam Dowling.

Young saddled Sharon Sheppard's Chosen Judge ridden by Dalton, to win the $35,000 Ratings Handicap hurdle by 1 1/4 lengths in 4:07 4/5 over Dante's Fire, trained by Neil Morris and Artistic Choice (Ire), trained by Young.

Beecher saddle South Branch Equine's i Can Only Imagine (Ire), ridden by Wattere, to wn the $30,000,2 5/8 miles Steeplethon by 12 lengths in 5:31 2/5 over Gun For Success, trained by Gomena, and Animal Kingston, trained by Morris. 

Mark Beecher as trainer and Virginia Korrell as jockey dominated Genesee Valley (2)

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October 14, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

GENESEO, N.Y.--Armata Stable's Crealion, trained by  Tom Garner and ridden by Virginia Korrell was disqualified on Saturday, Oct. 11 due to not weighing out at the correct weight at the Genesee Valley Hunt Races.

Crealion ridden by Virginia KorellThen 48 hours later the National Steeplechase Association Stewards Advisory Committee ruled that the disqualification of the horse was not warranted.  

"When i weighed out, I was one-tenth of a pound under," said Korrell. "It used to be that jockeys were allowed a half pound leeway, but that was changed this year. Tom argued the decision and it was changed."

Originally, it was announced that South Branch Equine's Master Seville, ridden by Nevin, won the $15,000 Amateur or Apprentice Rider Timber by 5 1/4 lengths in 5:40 3/5 over Project Two (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, and Rhyhmia, trained by McKenna.

The Steward's ruling reinstated Crealion, and dropped Master Sevile to second and Project Two to third.

With that ruling, it meant that Korrell had ridden two winners, Crealion and The Butler Yates in the Timber Stakes and a second placed horse, Hey Teacher..

 "Crealion has run about 35 times," said Korrell. "Tom got him last year, and I rode him in some races. Then he wasn't himself this spring, so we gave him the summer off. He's a nice horse, and he jumped really well." 

The Butler Yates, owned by Greenlights, trained by Young and ridden by Korrell, won the $25,000, 3 1/2 mile Timber Stakes by 3/4 length in 6:54 2/3 over Goodoldtimes, trained by Beecher, and Hard Games, trained by Neilson.

"I rode and schooled The Butler Yates quite a lot when I worked for Leslie."said Korrell. "He's very uncomplicated now. He used to be quirky, when he came over from Ireland. He used to be very slow over the fences, but that was the best he's ever jumped." 

THAT RULING meant Beecher saddled just one winner and two second placed horse in the three races, instead of the two winners he'd thought he'd had,

"We had a good day, with two winners at Genesee and one in Middleburg," said Beecher before the ruling was announced.

Along with Beecher's two wins at Genesee, I Can Only Imagine (Ire) won the Steeplethon in Middleburg.

But despite the change in results, Beecher still had a good day with a winner and two seconds at Genesee.

Old Style Humor (Ire), owned by Runnymoore Racing and ridden by Dan Nevin, won the $15,000, 3 mile, Maiden Timber by 1 length in 6:09 3/5 over Hey Teacher (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson, and The Red Fox, trained by Todd McKenna.

"I've had Old Style Humor since the spring," said Beecher. "He had a couple of runs in the spring. He won a point-to-point race and was fifth in a steeplethon. This was his first race this fall, and I felt he was the best horse."

"He may go to the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup in the non-winners of two," he said.

"Master Seville is a good old boy," said Beecher. 'I've had him since he was 4. He has five wins under rules, and he's also won some point-to-point races. He always shows up and runs his race."

"Goodoldtimes is another good old campaigner," said Beecher. "He was third in the Maryland Hunt Cup this spring, He'll probably head to the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup."

Bull Run Hunt won the PNHS Hunt Night Championship while Cheshire won the featured Hunt Team class (2)

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October 14, 2025

By Staff Writers

 HARRISBURG, Pa.--For the first time since 2019, the Bull Run Hunt l won the Hunt Night Championship on Monday, Oct. 13 at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show,

Cheshire won the Hunt Team classEighteen hunt teams, made up from riders from across 11 different hunt clubs in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey participated in Monday’s Hunt Night competition.

Throughout the evening, riders participated in Field Hunter, Hunter Under Saddle and Hunt Team classes in order to earn individual ribbons and points towards the team championship.

Bull Run Hunt traveled up from Mitchells, Va., with the goal of having a good time and enjoying their horses.

“We have fun,” said Becca Pizmoht, who serves as a board member for the hunt and coordinated their trip to Pennsylvania. “We like to compete, but we also have fun. We don’t take ourselves all that seriously. Our hunt motto is, before we all go off every time is to say, ‘What are we going to do today?’ and we all cheer, ‘Have fun and kick on!’”

Three time reigning champions Keswick Hunt Club was reserve, while Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Foxhounds team won the featured Hunt Team class.

Dr. Anne Renzetti, Julia Marinan and Kelsie Haverlock were on Cheshire;s winning team, while Cheshirse team 2 of Skylar McKenna, BuzzFisher and Christina Jerell placed fourth. 

McKenna on Sovereign Fund also placed second in Field Hunters Under 35.

RADNOR HUNT'S Debra Taylor on HSH Dom Perignon won the Field Hunters, 36 and over, with Lauren Newmeyer on Fine Date was third, and Newmeyer was also fourth in Ladies Hunter Under Saddle.

Lance Taylor on Vroom was third in Gentleman's Hunter Under Saddle.

Representing the Bull Run Hunt were riders Sarah Good, Camryn Nixon, Amelia Thornton, Hazel Nash, Lucy Rabb, Suzanne Chapman and Becca Pizmoht.

“It’s an honor to be at one of the big indoor horse shows, and fox hunting is such a tradition; it’s the root of the sport,” said Pizmoht. “It’s special to go in this ring, and all of the people that have competed here, all the USET members and all of the successful hunter/jumper riders. It’s special to ride in the ring, and it’s special to be a part of it for our hunt.”

One of the Bull Run Hunt riders, Suzanne Chapman tied with Missy Luczak-Smith of New Market-Middletown Valley Hounds for Hunt Night Leading Lady Rider.

Chapman won the Ladies Hunter Under Saddle  and was fourth in the Field Hunters 36 & Over with Argos, while Luczak-Smith was second in both classes on FVF Just Watch.

“It’s pretty special,” Chapman said of winning at the Pennsylvania National, which she’s been coming to for 20 years. “It’s a great feeling for sure.”

Luczak-Smith was similarly emotional about winning the Leading Lady Rider title.

“It makes me teary,” she said. “It’s really special. This is a really special show. It means a lot to me. It’s really fun to be able to do something with my horse and to enjoy a different discipline. I’ve shown hunters for a long time, and it’s great that this horse show supports and recognizes the fox hunting industry.”

The win in the Field Hunter, Riders 35 and Under was Sarah Good of Bull Run Hunt on Two, Too, To.
Kristin Schlachter and Como MBF won the Ladies Side Saddle Championship. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

Debra Taylor of Radnor Hunt in Pennsylvania rode HSH Dom Perignon to win the Field Hunter, 36 and Over

In the Gentleman’s Hunter Under Saddle, Sandy Rives and Charm won for Keswick Hunt Club of Virginia.

“We had a great night,” said Rives, who has now won the Gentleman’s Hunter Under Saddle five times. “I’m very proud of our team this year because we brought up a whole group of horses and riders, and we were able to be reserve champions against a really, really good team of Bull Run. I’m quite pleased to have won the under saddle on an aging Thoroughbred horse that really went very well. He’s over 20, and he really pulled himself together and really, really hacked well.”

Topping the Hunt Team class for the Potomac Hunt Challenge Trophy was Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounts Team 1.

The evening also hosted the Ladies Side Saddle Championship, which was won by Kristin Schlachter riding Como MBF. while Jennifer Cassidy and Bogart were reserve.

Boyd Martin on Miks Master C won the inaugural US Equestrian Open Eventing Final (2)

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October 15, 2025

By Staff Writers

LEESBURG, Va.--Four-time Olympian Boyd Martin on Miks Master C was clean in the final jumping phase to win the inaugural US Equestrian Open Eventing Finale on a final score of 28.7 on Sunday, Oct. 12.

Boyd Martin on Miks Master C (Photo by Avery Wallace)“It’s an incredible feeling to win here,” said Martin of Cochranville, Pa. “This event has been so well organized, and Morven Park is one of the best venues in the world. For years, we’ve all seen the potential here. Morven Park has beautiful cross-country tracks, great rings and a world-class facility. The US Equestrian Open has brought in amazing prize money and attracted the country’s best horses and riders and to win this inaugural event is a huge honor.”

Miks Master C is a newer mount for Martin, having previously been campaigned by fellow U.S. Eventing Team rider Liz Halliday .

Martin begin riding Niks Master C just over a year ago.

Martin said this victory holds special significance for him, personally, his team, and the supportive team behind Miks Master after taking over the ride following Halliday’s accident in 2024, and the growing partnership he’s developed with the talented gelding.

“I’m so grateful to the owners for trusting me with one of Liz’s top horses," said Martin. "Miks Master C is a legend. He was Liz’s top hopeful, and this whole year we’ve just been getting to know each other. He’s an incredible horse with the right mix of power, grit, and heart.”

“When Liz first bought him, I was extremely jealous,” he said with a laugh. “Mikki is totally my type of horse. He has a lot of Thoroughbred in him. He’s one of those horses that moves like a Warmblood, but thinks like Thoroughbred – a true three-day eventer with an amazing gallop.”

AFTER THE cross-country phase , which featured a traditionally challenging and technical Derek di Grazia designed course, Will Coleman of Ocala, Fla., on the veteran Off The Record entered Sunday’s jumping phase as the overnight leader on his dressage score of 25.1

But a rail at B of the triple combination opened the door for Martin and Miks Master C to move to the top of the leaderboard.

Coleman placed both second and third, second on Off The Record, and third on Very Dignified, a horse that Coleman wat riding in a CCI4*-L competition for the first time.

Coleman on the two horses had just two of the three clear rounds on Saturday over the CCI4*-L course.

Off The Record finished on a final three-phase score of 29.1, while Very Dignified finished on 35.4.

“It's an awesome cross-country course on one of the best eventing-specific venues in the U.S.,” said Coleman. “Anyone who is curious about eventing or wants to see what eventing all is about; they got such an awesome taste of that here at Morven Park this weekend.”

“The cross county  course was good and very technical,” Martin said. “You had to ride it almost like a jump-off. It rewarded forward, efficient riding and showed how beneficial it is to practice pure show jumping on the side.”

“This is just the beginning,” Coleman said the future of the US Equestrian Open Eventing Final and Series. “What US Equestrian has built with this series is something that’s going to continue to grow, build more momentum, attract bigger crowds, and more prize money, which is really exciting for us as athletes, for our owners, and for our teams.”

Kate Conover on Clear As Day was Harrisburg Grand Hunter Champion (2)

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October 15, 2025

By Staff Writers

HARRISBURG, Pa.--Kate Conover on Clear As Day won the Grand Hunter Championship at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Tuesday, Oct. 14,

Kate Conover on Clear as Day (Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography)With four wins and a second place in the Green Conformation Hunter, Conover won the Grand Green Hunter Championship with enough points to also to also win the Grand Championship.

“It’s very special,” said Conover. “I’m from Pipersville, Pa., originally, so I was coming here as a kid and watching, and this is a big deal for me. Coming from this state to win Grand Hunter Champion, it’s amazing.”

Clear As Day is normally ridden by Nick Haness, but he was unable to ride this week, so trainer Carleton Brooks asked if Conover would ride him in Harrisburg.

“Nick is one of my best friends, so we kind of share horses,” said Conover. “I’ve ridden horses when he’s not here in the past, so he gave me all the directions I needed to have a successful week, and Carleton’s program is great, so it was really fun to come here.”

“He’s as easy going as can be,” Brooks said of the gelding. “He likes to lay down a lot, and he can be frisky, but he’s always been show, all show. By the time he comes to the horse show, he’s all show.”

Michael Britt-Leon on Cannon Beach was the reserve champions in Green Conformation Hunters.

HUNT TOSH on Cannon Creek was High Performance Hunters Champion.

It was “Cannon’s” first show since competing at the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship, so Tosh was eager to see how the gelding would go after the break.

“It’s always a little nerve-wracking, thinking if you’re making the right decision or not,” said Tosh. “He went in there, and he was spectacular yesterday; 95, first class and great in the handy. He’s such a dependable horse, and he’s always wonderful, and I’m lucky to be able to ride him.”

The High Performance Hunter reserve champion was David Wilbur on Cannon Beach.

Michael Britt-Leon on Cannon Beach won the 3’6” Green Hunter Championship, and Britt-Leon was also awarded the Leading Hunter Rider Award.

“He was quite green when we got him, and he just gets better and better and better every single week,” said Britt-Leon. “He’s been a really fun horse to bring along. Shari Rose, who we bought him from, finds so much quality in the horses. She’s an excellent, excellent, excellent horsewoman, one of the best. So, I trust her, and when I see one that I like a lot that she has, and she tells me it’s a good one, it’s always worked out to be a great one.”

The reserve championship in the 3’6” Green Hunters was Crystal Young on MTM Nonchalant.

Tori Colvin won three Championships.

Colvin's success in Harrisbug began early in her junior days and now continues in the professional divisions.

On Tuesday, she won three championships, including the 3’9” Green Hunter Championship on Dicoblue PS , the High Performance Conformation Hunter Championship on Jenkins and the 3’3” Green Hunter Championship on Et Cetera.

“He was really good,” she said of Dicoblue PS. “In the first round yesterday, he was maybe a little nervous, I think with the lights and everything out there. But he went out and got a 95 in his first round, which obviously doesn’t say he was nervous, but he was just a little more starstruck than normal. He gave really, really good efforts, and then today he was super relaxed. He jumped great. He’s just a very, very lovely horse.”

Jordan Kilkenny on Animated was Reserve in the High Performance Conformation Hunters, Jennifer Hannan on Chilled was Reserve in the 3’3” Green Hunters and Daniel Geitner on Aeronautic was Reserve in the 3’9” Green Hunters

Teddy Davies rode Gentleman de Reve to place sixth at Pardubicka (2)

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October 16, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

PARDUBICKA, Czechia--Teddy Davies on Gentleman de Reve placed sixth in the Velke Parducka, the 4 3/4 mile most challenging steeplechase in the world.

Stumptown, the winner, and Gentleman de Reve, the grey over the fourth fence, the texis Last year, Davies was the first American ever to ride in the Parducka, and this year he is now the first ever not only to finish the race but also earn a place on the podium, reserved for the top eight finishers.

It's a crazy race," said Davies, 21, a senior at Delaware University majoring in business. "There are so many fences you never see in this country, and 40 percent of it is over plowed fields."

The course includes huge hedges, and one, the fourth fence,the Texis, has a huge, wide ditch on the landing side, water jumps, an in and out and banks along with hurdles and steeplechase fences.

"There's a huge ditch after the texis, and the hedge is so big you can't see over it, even sitting on top of a horse," said Davies. "You have to get up as much speed as possible going into it so that you have the momentum to get over it." 

"We got there on Thursday.and I walked the course Friday," said Davies, who traveled to Parducka with his father Joe. "I rode Gentleman de Reve for the first time Saturday and skipped over a couple of hedges on him."

"More horses get taken out by loose horses or fallers, so I wanted to get a good start in the race," he said. "I wanted to get out in front, and I knew my horses is a good jumper. I kept him tucked in the rest of the race."

DAVIES led over the first few fences and then lay second or third for the rest of the race.

Teddy Davies on Gentleman de Reve, the greyThree fences from home, Gentleman de Reve had a bad fence and stumbled on landing.

"He's a small horse,"said Davies.  "Not so small but small in relation to the other horses in the race. Other horses were bumping him, and between his getting tired and being bumped he made a little mistake. That took his momentum out.

"It takes a lot out of a horse, running over those plowed fields.

"It was cool to finish the race and get to be on the podium," he said.

An Irish horse, Stumptown (Ire), trained by Cromwell Gavin, won the race, with High in the Sky (Fr)  second and Caryjape third.

Gentleman de Reve is a Selle Francais, which of course means he's not qualified to race in America, where races are only open to thorougbreds.

"He's a really cool horse," said Davies. "I've never ridden that type of horse before, but I figured him out pretty quick. I never hit him in the mouth, so he trusted me."

"He went to Ireland, and he's with Peter Maher, a very successful trainer of cross country horses," said Joe Davies. 

"It's a tough race, but I saw a video of him running around a field today," said Davies. "We'll give him a little time and then he might go to Punchestown. "Maybe he'll go in the cross country race at Cheltenham.."

"I get a pretty long winter break, and my teachers are good about my missing classes, so I should be able to go to Punchstown. Riding at Cheltenham would be an amazing experience."

"His Mom (Blythe Miller Davies) rode a winner at Punhestown," said Joe. "Last year Maher gave Teddy a ride at Punchestown."

Joe said he was amazed at the condition of the course.

"They had a team of 20 repair men that replaced the divots during the race." said Joe. "They're very sensitive to the welfare of the horses, The course is just as challenging as it was 50 years ago, but it's not as dangerous. Horses seldom get hurt now because the ditches and water are munch shallower."

"We stayed in the village, and there was a fair." said Joe. "It was fun to be immersed in the culture of Czechia. We went to Prague for a day before coming home."

Tori Corts won the $30,000 1.40m Welcome jumper class in Harrisburg (2)

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October 18, 2025

By Staff Writers

HARRISBURG, Pa.--Tori Corts on Semi Automatic won the $30,000 1.40m Welcome on Thursday evening, October 16, at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. 

Tori Corts on Semi Automatc (Photo by Andrew Ryback)He actually hit the first jump, which is very unlike him, and then he touched the second jump as well,” Corts said of her first round. “So, then I was like, ‘All right, it’s fine, he’ll get into it.’ Then I came around, and I had a really bad distance, but then he started jumping really, really well.”

“There was an inside turn from fence one to two, and I didn’t really want to take the option,” said Corts after the jump-off. “I saw that when Laura Chapot went in, she actually didn’t do it. So, I was like, ‘Okay, maybe I won’t have to do it.’ Then, my brother-in-law’s cousin told me, ‘Just commit to it. Just do it.’”

Corts did it, and it paid off as she finished in a winning 40.26 seconds.

Second in 42.60 seconds was Seth Vallhonrat on Lordy-P, and Chapot on Ginola was third in 42.73 seconds.

Corts bred Semi Automatic and also competed the gelding’s mother, Rockstar, in the junior jumpers.

“Their canter is really similar,” Corts said. “On Rockstar, I always felt like I could see my distance through the turn. I feel the same way about him. He’s super careful and really wants to win.”

“Obviously all my horses I’ve had throughout my career – I love them all, but he’s a little extra special, I have to say,” Corts said.

IN THE $20,000 1.30m Welcome, Chapot won the class on Tyson’s Fury for the second night, and Chapot’s third class in a row.

Chapot finished in 30.46 seconds to win

Chapot has been bringing the 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare up the levels over the last four years.

Finishing second in the $20,000 1.30m Welcome was Christian Coyle on Ma Pomme de Tamerville in 31.18 seconds, and Marylisa Leffler and Zaza Z was third in 32..88 seconds

Sophie Broown-Proctor on Incandescent was Amateur Owner Hunter Grand Champion. 

As a junior studying finance at Fordham University in New York City, Sophie Brown-Proctor does not have as much time as she would like to ride, but thanks to her trainers Nicole and Jenny Wright, her horse Incandescent was in top form coming to this year’s Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

Brown-Protor won the 3’6″ Amateur Owner Hunter 18-35 division championship and the Grand 3’6″ Amateur Owner Hunter Champion.

“Incandescent honestly was really the same everywhere which was a really good feeling, and everything came out of the corner really nicely for me,” said Brown-Proctor.

Marybeth McGee was the 3’6″ Amateur Owner Hunter Championship 36 and Over on Sergant Drew Wu Jof.

“I’ve never been champion at a big national horse show, and it was so emotional,” she said. “He’s the best horse ever, and he’s just been so consistent all season.”

Monica Spencer of New Zealand leads the Maryland 5* after dressage with Caroline Pamukcu second (2)

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October 17, 2025

By Staff Writers

FAIR HILL, Md.--Monica Spencer of New Zealand on her 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Artist, had their international personal best score and leads following the CCI5*-L Dressage competition at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill on Friday, Oct. 17,

Monica Spencer on Artist (Photo by Allen MacMillan)Spencer finished Dressage with a total score of 23.7 with Caroline Pamukcu on HSH Blake second on a score of 28.2, Felix Vogg of New Zealand on Cartania follows close behind in third on 28.3 and Boyd Martn on Commando 3 fourth on 31.0.

Spencer, now based in the U.S., on Artist helped New Zealand win a team bronze at the 2022 World Eventing Championships, has completed many 5* events, including a strong showing at Kentucky this year and had a top finish at Maryland in 2023.

“We really enjoyed ourselves out there and he was offering me plenty of energy, but I managed to keep a lid on it and he showed himself off well, so I was really pleased,” said Spencer. “He’s a good boy.”

“I’ve had him since he was 4, so we’ve been together a little while, and he’s just been a great horse for me, he has taken me all over the world,” said Spencer of the former racehorse. “We come to these big events and I’m just thankful to be here. He just tries so hard.”

Pamukcu and HSH Blake also had their best ever 5-star score and the first time she has gotten below a score below 30.0.

“THIS IS our first time at the 5 Star level, and I am just over the moon with how he performed,” said Pamukcu. “He felt like he really enjoyed himself. When I came into the arena, it’s like he kicked into another gear and just felt happy which made me happy.”

Caroline Pamukcu on HSH Blake (Photo by Allen MacMillan)Martin won the inaugural Maryland 5 Star in 2021 and is among the favorites in this year’s 5th annual event.

“I was pretty happy with Luke,” said Martin of his mount that lead after say one.. “He is a very talented horse and he’s got an amazing ability. The biggest challenge I’ve got is to keep him settled under a lot of atmosphere, and he went around and did a very nice test today. I was pleased.”

After theCCI3* dressage, Maryland native Isabelle Bosley leads with a score of 24.8 on Conner, an 8-year-old gelding.

“I was thrilled with him,” said Bosley. “I’ve had this horse for a couple years now and he’s always been a bit of a hothead, but he really stayed with me and I felt like I could kind of push a little bit more with all of the marks. He’s the best he has felt in the ring. He has leveled up for me and I am just so proud of how much he has matured over the years. He came out and did everything right today.”

Alyssa Phillips on Rockett 19 is close behind in second with a 25.5, while Olivia Dutton on Jewelent, who had Thursday’s top performance, is third on 28.1 with Tommy Greengard on Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad fourth with 28.2.

Dutton is fresh off her first international victory at last weekend’s Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials, where she won on Sea of Clouds,

“It was great to have a good weekend last week and it is nice to have that extra confidence boost coming into this week,” said Dutton. “I am on a new horse and we are still getting to know each other so I am just going to ride the best that I can.”

On Saturday, riders will compete over the cross-country course designed by new course designer, Pierre Le Goupil.

The event is being streamed globally via ClipMyHorse.TV and regionally via Maryland Public Television.